The Christmas Cookie Decorators at Work :)

Just a few of the best Christmas Cookie Decorators hard at work. If you need sprinkles don't hesitate to call on Mr. Jake. He sure knows how to use them!

And the cake was goooood!

What a wonderful year we have had! And we couldn't have made it without all the love, support, PRAYERS, encouragement....pep talks...from our family and friends.

So Today Gavin ate cake :)

Gone a little bannana's...

I have gone a little bannana's on Gavin's birthday party preparations....I think its just a ploy to keep from really accepting my little baby is about to be a toddler in about 4 days. Man has this year flown by...

First Hair Cut

He's looking like a little man...

He's Walking

Little man started taking a few steps here and there around October 10, and then we moved to the combo of crawling when more speedier, tired or just easier. But the weekend before Thanksgiving..it just clicked and now he is walking EVERYWHERE!

Home Projects

Hubby and his dad have been crafty over the past few weeks and sweetly marked off a few items on the honey do list around the house...

Before...

After....

Still painting on this project...hard with a little guy whose all over the place. But we continued the molding from the formal dining room around the front door and up the stairs to break up the two story wall. Next projects...tiling and more painting :) Then hopefully back to decorating or landscaping...

Because I am ready to see my little man...

Weekend at the Lake

This weekend we were graciously invited for a wonderful weekend at the lake with our dear "Tech" friends...can't wait for football season to start just so we can see each other regularly. Adam took some great pictures of Gavin playing Saturday evening...the guys just don't realize how the little mini me's are going to start following them around in the years to come.

Thanks Lowe's for a wonderful weekend. Can't wait for Clemson!

On the Move...

Trying to get caught up...

Work has been crazy to say the least these past few weeks...hoping to get caught up on all the little things soon but until then....can you believe on Friday my little man will be 8 months!!!

Some of you might recognize these doors from some of my maternity pics thanks to Rhonda. Funny to see the finished product ;)

Some pictures of Gavin on the beach...he loved it so can't wait to take him back!

Giggles

A little fish....

Little man loved watching all the big kids, enjoyed kicking around...and most of all...a really good night's sleep after a trip to the pool! Can't wait to take him back!

Such a sweetie

Don't you just want to kiss him! He is such a sweetie and so much fun! We had a relaxing half birthday yesterday! The boys napped so I got some quiet time!

Matt let me splurge for a DSLR this weekend...so loads of pictures to come from all my practicing with my new camera :)

Baby Boot Camp

This week at school, it has just been little Bryson and Gavin. So Mrs. Christine has gotten to spend a lot of time with Gavin...something I love about his daycare. She has declared the week Baby Boot Camp with as much ab workouts as she can get in during his mat time. As a result....We almost have a sitter!

Memorial Day Weekend

Memorial Day weekend was a great weekend with family and friends. My parents came up on Friday evening and we enjoyed a Saturday afternoon in Chattanooga. So good to spend some time out about with them...and enjoy little man seeing new things...that in a few years will probably having squealing with delight as he scares his mommy with them.

Checking out the alligators...

He loves the carrier...and of course I like the built in workout of carrying around an extra 17 lbs!

On Sunday we had a sweet service at church with the Lord's supper..but the sweetest part was dedicating Gavin. We were so blessed to be joined by our parents, siblings, MaMa and some really special friends that we claim as family.

Gavin really liked Pastor Mike...and we just kept waiting for him to start "talking" during the prayer :)

5 Months

My sweet son,

What a fun month this has been! It seems like everyday there is something new...playing with a different toy, finding your feet, finding that you can put those feet in your mouth, trying solids for the first time, and best of all you finally rolled from your back to your tummy! It's so sweet to watch you play with daddy and giggle at him! And all the silly stories coming from school...your conversations with Olivia, holding hands with all the ladies...chewing on Olivia's arm! You are quite the ladies man! And then of course your notorious diapers...you seem to enjoy your days there and love all the attention!

You still love your hands whether its chewing on them or staring intently at them. You have also discovered mommy's hair and how to pull it! The blue blanket is still a must...now you even love for it to cover your face while you fall asleep. You play with it and have started being silly by covering your face and making these huffy puffy sounds. It scared me at first because it sounded like you were struggling to breathe! You still love your swing and I have no idea what we will do when you are to big for it.

Attacking the lion now...

You are finally mobile...its amazing to watch you start to understand rolling..mobility is almost here when you put together that you can use this rolling technique to get places!

Cereal

So the experiment with solid foods has begun....sometimes he refuses...sometimes he eats it with no problems and other times.....
he just gets messy and wants the spoon!

Mother's Day

Matthew and I are very lucky to have wonderful moms. They have been very supportive, encouraging, Godly women and over the past 14 months have been wonderful as we have entered our own journey of parenthood. And God has provided even more blessings with all the other wonderful Moms who are apart of our lives...grandmas, aunts, friends...so many that I can't begin to name them all. I hope each of you had a wonderful Mother's Day!

Mother's Day weekend was an eventful weekend for our little family. Saturday we headed to the Columbus/Phenix City area to spend time with my Mom and Grandmother. It was nice to get to spend some quiet relaxing time with both of them. And to let Gavin spend some time with his Great-Grandmother.
And of course, his Granddad was there to spoil him...with trying to give him a cookie...and walking him around outside...

Sunday we celebrate with Matt's family. It was a little more active than our Saturday celebration...Gavin was able to meet and play with a few of his cousins! And of course some time with his Great MaMa..and her famous sleepy pants! She can get any baby to sleep!

My two cool guys...my cup over flows!

Just a Swingin'

Quick Update

We had a great visit with Dr. Holladay this morning. Little man is weighing in at 16 lbs 1 oz and 25 1/2 inches long! He's in the 75% for both. Our little piggy has reached the max amount of formula she wants for him to intake so we will be starting cereal and adding veggies in the near future! Oh we will miss the days of bottles only!

Gavin got his second round of vaccines. He slept through the first two but the third woke him with just a small cry! He is such a trooper! We are blessed with such a sweet baby...just pray he stays this way :)

He almost....almost finished the roll from back to tummy at the doctor's office..won't be long before he is mobile! In the past two weeks, he has changed so much. He is enjoying is jumper and exersaucer even more...so many more coos and jibbering and just all around playfulness has increased. Enjoying every moment of it!

Happy 30th Birthday to my Hubby

Happy Birthday to my sweet Hubby! So glad I get to celebrate with you!

In honor of my love....30 reasons why I love you...and well like you most days :)

1. He makes me laugh, especially on days I need it
2. He suffers through seafood restaurants
3. He washes the bottles without being asked
4. He no longer puts the dryer sheets under the couch
5. He's older than me!
6. He deals with my crazy need to plant flowers, and shrubs...and trees..Pike's is a dangerous place
7. He handles my indecisiveness with decorating...
8. He's good to his parents and family
9. He loves our baby
10. He eats like a 5 year old
11. He LUVS ice cream
12. He tells me I am beautiful even on my worst days
13. He's hot
14. He loves little debbie more than me
15. He lets me shop...no questions asked
16. He loves to travel...I can live with the beach not being his favorite :)
17. He cleans out the dishwasher
18. White and gold run this his veins...but he understands his need to say a little War Eagle everyone once in awhile
19. He surprises me with flowers
20. He loves Jesus
21. He stands up for what he believes in...
22. He loves sports (some days I wish they weren't all on TV though)
23. He's supportive
24. He understands Tech women
25. He's a silly daddy
26. He's getting fashionable...coming along way from the purple vest
27. He rarely gets angry
28.He let me have three friends that visit every other week
29. He is a wonderful provider
30. He loves me

Look What I Did...

4 Months

It's been awhile since I have posted but it's been a busy few weeks. I returned to work just over a month ago and we seem to have found a routine. Gavin really enjoys school and has a wonderful set of caregivers. He is in a room full of girls! Girls that make two of him!

We have survived his first cold for Gavin to turn around and have allergies from all the pollen. We ventured south for the first time Easter weekend since Matt had to work and enjoyed a visit with my parents, aunt and uncle, and Papa. Papa was so happy to finally meet his great grandson!

Oh the mischief to come...

Feeling the grass..he wants to walk so bad!

In the past few weeks, his sweet personality has been blooming. He is so calm, happy, and full of smiles! So Nosy! He wants to sit up or be walked around constantly...I think we are going to skip rolling over all together! He continues to love his swing and has a hard time waking from napping in it :)

Just woke up....sleepy eyes...

The blanket in the picture below was made by a good friend Lisa. Gavin has become attached to it. He loves putting his fingers through the little holes. You can give it to him when he's fussy and he calms down. I know its early but I think we have found his "blankie" and the daycare ladies ask that we bring it everyday :)

And for the Grandmas...

Wow...

First week at home...

2 months old and waiting on Mom to turn on the mobile...

Snow Days...

Oh...I think...I think it might be snowing....

Yup, its definitely snowing...and I am stuck inside....NOT FAIR!!!

So we took him out to experience the snow falling....

Overall we were close to 3 inches at our house. It was beautiful but definitely can understand why our friends in the North get tired of it after a while...

So Gavin's silly parents decided to try out the new jogging stroller so we could pose him for a few pictures...and say he got to play in the snow. But he went to sleep...I guess being toasty warm with a full belly will do that for you!

Matt and I enjoyed playing in the snow...built our little snowmen and threw a couple of snowballs with the kiddos across the street. It was a good day! :)

Six Weeks...

I am amazed at how much he changes every week. His face is filling out even more. Its scary how he holds his head a certain way that I see my dad and then another way I see my brother....he definitely is showing a temper, too! His little voice is changing from the sweet terradactyl newborn cry to a deeper demanding cry. I can't believe I only have six more weeks at home with him...its almost like we are in a time warp seperate from the rest of the world. Daddy left us for the first time for his usual January trip to Philadelphia and Aunt Tori came for a quick visit while he was gone. Gavin did wonderfully during our shoe shopping...he slept the whole time! We ventured out a little more by ourselves this week. At first I feel so frazzled trying to handle him...the diaper bag..the car seat...the stroller...hopefully I will get the hang of it soon.

He still grunts all the time and sucks on his hands....I love his wake up routine. He starts with his hands shooting up in the air and then small grunts....that get louder and louder. At least you get fair warning that the plane is coming in for a landing....get that bottle ready!!

One Month

Gavin has changed so much in just a month. Below is an after bathtime picture...smelling like a honeybee as his cousin Hank would say...and he LOVES bathtime.

The best time is just after he has his bottle...he has a series of faces but one in particular that just says satisfaction...the picture below just doesn't do it justice!

And of course the arms and legs are always moving...