Just Like Gabe

So, I'm guessing one of you 'fans' out there mentioned to Gavin that Gabe ate rocks in our backyard when he was about this age; And since Gavin must at least attmept to do everything Gabe does....well, see for yourself! Rocks=cookies.......maybe I need to try these rocks, they MUST be tasty!

 

Hmmmm...Grass

Gavin is such a passive baby. He is really fine with most anything. This isn't his first time on grass, but he really is ok with new textures and things. He just doesn't want to be locked down in any way...carseat, high chair, walker, etc. He wants to do everything Gabe does, so if Gabe is running in the grass, he wants to crawl around out there too. If Gabe is in the sandbox, Gavin wants to eat sand and get dirty too. It is so sweet.

 

GOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAL!

Gabe is so interested in soccer. He loves to watch our neighbor's middle school aged son play and he loves to take his soccer ball to our other neighbor's house to play with their 2 yr old son too. Gabe talks about soccer alot and wants to carry this small black soccer ball with him anywhere he goes. He has a few shirts with soccer balls on them and some Elmo soccer underwear too.

He's got a good leg and he knows not to pick the ball up with his hands. Guess we'll have to find a little "Under 4" soccer league soon that he can join and learn more of the rules and techniques. I can't wait to be a real SOCCER MOM! Although, Rob says pro-soccer isn't a "money sport" so Gabe will have to learn to play other things as well like football, baseball, basketball, golf or tennis....cuz THOSE are the $$$$ money sports.

 

Can you tell me how to get, how to get to Sesame Street?

Oh, wait, I'm already there. Hi Everybody!!!

We went to the local Children's Museum last week to experience the Sesame Street exhibit and see a show. It was awesome. Gabe and Gavin really loved it. There were so many things to see and do. No characters, which is unfortunate, because I think they would have really enjoyed seeing them, but we had a blast playing in Big Bird's nest and getting on TV with a muppet! It was really a cool exhibit and Gabe sang and danced along with the live actors and the other children during the play. There were interactive things for the kids to do and a giant train table to play on. For the parents, there was info about the original songs, cast, and characters from 1968 when Sesame Street first aired. So glad we went!

Starting them young....

Gavin just discovered the liquor cabinet in our living room and he's just drawn to it like Popeye to his spinach!

We have in the past used the old home remedy to rub whiskey onto his gums for teething, but now I think he wants it! We've created a monster, or an alcoholic, or a McMillon. Guess we'll have to babyproof that cabinet door better so he won't get into the tequila, at least until he's 2!

Slurrrrrrrrrp...

Gabe loves noodles of really any kind. He wants to twist his spaghetti onto his fork just like we do. Here he is slurping up some yummy flavored noodles that we bought. Delicious!

Big Helper

Gavin follows Mommy all over the house and cries if she gets too far out of his sight or far enough that he gives up on crawling after her. He crawls around and gets into everything along the way. It's really tough to keep up with him, a 2 yr. old, and do any chores around here or try to get all 3 of us ready to go anywhere in a timely fashion! I'm sure you can imagine.

So, here he is helping me do dishes and load the dishwasher...."Big Helper". I have all of these maternal fears of him falling into a steak knife, or whacking his head on the counter top, or poking his eye out with a fork, getting closed in by his older brother, ingesting detergent or dirty dishwasher water.....the list keeps growing.

Cutie Patootie!

This is really Gavin! This is his true, adorable little personality. My friend says he has an "old soul". He is such a sweetheart. Loves to cuddle and be held. Gavin looks up to Gabe so much and is growing up so fast to do so many of the things his big brother can do.

He pulls up to stand next to our coffee table and just grins. He reaches for things on the table and can walk all the way around it while holding on. He lets go to turn around to grab the sofa, a chair, or someone's leg who's sitting nearby. He smiles alot, but is quite serious too. He is much more passive than Gabriel. They are starting to get along well. They are Mommy's pride and joy!

Look at that face! Ugh! Just melts ya!

No Pushing

I work hard to get Gabe to be gentle with Gavin, sometimes, with no luck. I guess it's making Gavin 'tougher' in the long run. I used to worry so much about the slightest bruise or scrape, but now as long as no one is bleeding or broken, we're in good shape! Boys are so rough and tumble, I'm learning.

So, we were outdoors eating Popsicles recently (which is why both of their faces are stained red). They loved it and it was hot enough to eat the whole box. Gavin was standing in the walker on the patio, getting a bit frustrated with not being able to move it around independently. I pushed him back and forth a little so he could get a feel for it. Then, Gabe began pushing him a bit more. Gavin laughed and liked it. So, of course, this encouraged Gabe to do it more!

They ran, pushed and laughed all over the patio for 30 minutes or more. It was a riot. I caught this photo and it was one of only a couple that weren't a total blurrrrrr.

Gavin Graduates

Well, it's all a blur...Mommy feels like she's been pregnant and had no sleep since 2004! Well, I guess that's technically true....Anyways, due to the circumstances, she is unable to recall when Gabe was turned around facing forward and got his big carseat instead of the infant carrier. Might have been around his first birthday? But, the more current news is...

Gavin has officially joined the ranks of his big brother. At 10 months of age, he is a forward facing car passenger!

Mommy had a garage sale this spring and cleaned out some things to make room for new. She earned enough loot to go and get Gavin a big boy car seat, just like Gabriel's. Gavin is not nearly the well-behaved, cooperative car passenger that Gabe was and still is. Gavin hates being confined in any way and fusses, arches his back and tugs at the straps, so we thought this change might help him some. It seems to be comfortable enough to sleep in but he still hates the car. Oh well. Guess it will grow on him. Maybe the DVD player will help distract him when he's awake so he can at least grin and bear it.

The 2 of them look so adorable in their matching carseats facing the front of the vehicle and riding in style. Ugh! I just can't stand it!

QUACK!

Gabe is an animal lover and has been making all of the animals sounds we can think of for months now. He might just be destined to be a veterinarian?

We went to a local park and saw a lake full of ducks. I think if there hadn't been a rail there and if I hadn't been present to constantly caution him, he'd have jumped in to swim with them. They were pretty aggressive and we didn't have food for them, but they followed us in the water as we walked the perimeter of their lake. It was a gorgeous, hot day.

Gabe ran and played at the park, but seemed to like the ducks the best. We even spotted a frog and a turtle on our little journey. Gavin enjoyed cruising in the stroller and watching Gabe.

Gabe can't wait to go quack, er, I mean back! tee hee

Suds in the Sink

Gavin probably got his last sink bath this weekend. It was a tad bittersweet for Mommy. I was just trying to do a quick wash and rinse before he had a major melt-down at bedtime, and it was easier than filling the tub.

He's so big, he almost didn't fit and I had to use the sprayer to rinse him because he's so grown up and sitting tall. He kept trying to stand up and reach for all of the things on my window sill. He loves water and splashing around. Guess it will be 'tub time' for him from now on. (pout, frown, sniff, sniff).