Gavin (Month 5)

Dear Sweet Gav-man,

I blink and another month goes by.  You continue to be a happy and pretty easy going little guy... as long as you're busy and not hungry!  You definitely like being out and about and I wear you a lot so that you don't miss what's happening around you!  If you're not smiling, you look very serious. I think you get that from daddy. And, in your seriousness, you are quite observant - - always watching what's going on around you, taking everything in. You continue to change constantly and grow like a weed!

Your fifth month was full of firsts...

On June 18th, you played in your new exersaucer/bouncer and had a blast.
 

You now spend time in there several times a day.  And, several times a day I am wiping the entire thing down from the tremendous amount of drool that endlessly drips from your sweet (wet!) mouth. 

On June 19th (mommy and daddy's 13th anniversary and the one-year anniversary of when we found out I was pregnant with you), you found your feet for the first time. 

Sadly, on that same evening, you got your first fever. It was a doozy... enough so that I called the doctor in a slight panic like a brand new mommy. We have no idea what caused the fever, but it was gone the next day with no other symptoms.  As for your feet, well, they are often found in your mouth... even when you're nursing, you're holding onto a foot!  And, often, have to wrestle your toes from your mouth so that I can change your diaper!

See?!  These are from your monthly "green-chair" photo session... you couldn't keep your tootsies out of your mouth!

On June 26th, you spent the day hanging with Gracie, Daddy and Mommy at the hospital while your sissy had a few procedures.  She, as usual, was quite the trooper and you proved to be a patient brother.  Later that day, you had your very first wagon ride while Gracie recovered inside.  You loved it.  You LOVE being outside.

I love all these moments I capture between you and your big brother.  You spend a ton of time with Gracie, too, but often I am keeping your quick, constantly-kicking feet from nailing her in the face, or your equally quick, constantly-grabbing hands from getting a handful of her hair, or keeping her from loving you so well (she squeezes too hard!) that I rarely have the chance actually grab the camera and capture them!

You also met your Papa for the first time (since he couldn't come out with Nana when you were born).
Just like Gracie and Preston, you are smitten.

You had another quick visit with your Grampa John.

You, Gracie and Preston indulged me with a mini photo shoot in front of our old house.
I love this picture of the three of you.

You had your first go at kicking a soccer ball!
Since your feet never stop moving, you're a natural and actually kicked the ball right on cue!

You also sat in a swing at the park for the first time, stuck your feet in the spa at our hotel and (this was the big one) we moved! You handled the chaos of our last few weeks in the old house well and weathered the journey to our new home beautifully - - but for the last 75 miles when you cried non-stop until we pulled in front of the house.   Thankfully, you don't detest the car as much as you did after our road-trip in May!

You are, "Boo-dee," a shining light in the midst of our chaos and the stress of the move. You happily greet me with a giddy smile and kicking feet in the mornings and remind me to start my own day with a smile. In fact, you do that for each of us, and we are all very grateful and very much in love with our littlest Swann!

All my love,

Mama
(Mahhhhh-muh)

The Graduate

June 23rd was all about this guy...
(and all of his sweet preschool friends, of course!)

(For the record... I couldn't scan our copy of this pic because it's already packed for the move as is the scanner!
I will post a proper, non-watermarked copy later!)

My three men hanging before the festivities began

It was a BIG night... quite a production! There were performances by each class, a bible study performance and a performance both signed and sung (to "Colors of the Rainbow" from Signing Time... very familiar in this house!). The kids were all adorable!  Preston, who definitely does not have stage fright, had so much fun during each performance!

Waiting for all his friends to get on stage and the music to get queued up.

Getting ready to sign and sing "Colors of the Rainbow"

The only bummer was that I wasn't properly prepared (a total "blonde" moment!) to video during the first song and missed getting that footage which would have included him singing, playing a drum and, like the little leader he often is, kindly reminding his friend to pick up his drum!  Here is the performance I managed to capture...

Then there was dinner, a full graduation ceremony and dancing! (See... I said it was a BIG night!) During the ceremony, Preston's teacher said something about each student as they walked up to the stage. Her words (paraphrased) about Preston, "You sure know how to have a good time, but also know when it's time to get serious... that's rare in a little boy." In the copy of Curious You - On Your Way that each graduate received, she wrote, "Preston, You are such a fun loving, free spirit.  I love that about you!  I'm really going to miss you.  I know you will do great in kinder!"  All such nice things from his teacher of the last 12 months.

Our happy and proud boy!

Preston with his buddy, Butch

Preston... surrounded by girls... uh-oh!  (l-r: Clara, Preston, Lola and Natalie)
(Snagged from fb... it was hard to get the kids together for pics after the ceremony because they were all so excited to start dancing and playing with the balloons!)

With his best buddy, Jonah

We were lucky to capture this quick family shot because all Preston wanted to do was go be with his friends!
(Gracie did not attend and was much happier playing at the park and at home with Pearl!)

Having a good time "dancing" i.e. running around and playing with balloons!

We are so grateful to the directors, teachers and support staff for the guidance, love, education and nurturing they provided our boy every week for the two and a half years.  He has blossomed on every level... I will miss our preschool family, his friends and the friends I've made through him.  Preston is (granted, I am biased) a well-adjusted, confident, intelligent, charismatic and sweet boy who is definitely ready for kindergarten.   Me... well, I am not so ready!