Gavin (Month 13)

13 months exactly
We went on a long walk and happened upon a group of people flying kites.  You were mesmerized by the 20+ kites whipping around in the wind.

Your "monthly photoshoot - - this time, outside, at the park, without a chance of getting a picture of you still!  As it should be, big boy!

Gav-man... you had a big month.
You are changing right before our eyes, literally.

"Nobody puts baby in the corner,"
...except himself!
This is you two days after your birthday.  You went and stood in the corner and Nana and I cracked up! 
(Less than two weeks after this pic, you were walking!)

Sweet, happy boy hanging in the stroller

You were playing with Papa and hamming it up!

Your vocabulary (sign approximations, attempts at talking) has grown exponentially in the last thirty days.  I need to sit down and take inventory of your communication... it's pretty impressive.




A snapshot from the video we took of some of your first steps.
You are now a pro!

You started walking... and completely stopped crawling.  On March 1st (the same day that Gracie had a rough outpatient bronchoscopy... it was as if you knew that we all needed some cheering up that day), you walked about five feet.  I was the only one who saw you and couldn't believe it.  Then, about a half an hour later, Preston saw you.  Then you did it for Daddy.  Within a couple of hours, you were walking across the house!  Now, you walk holding your sippy cup, carrying a car in one hand and a ball in the other (which freaks me out!), you navigate small step-downs at the park and attempt "running" on the grass.  You even walk along kicking balls.  We think you may have been secretly practicing - - you never really took itty bitty steps - - you just decided to walk.

Preston showing your new car - - a birthday present from Nana and Papa.
LOVE this of the two of you!

 

You wondered if Chloe's Daddy would allow you to pick her up in your new ride. :)
You even picked a couple of morning glories for her!

 

Someone said to me the other day... "Holy cow, all of the sudden he looks like a big boy!"  She was right.  You're still a baby - - my baby - - but you're throwing balls, walking, talking... doing all kinds of big boy stuff!

You don't love naps. It's hard to get you down about half the time (unless you're in the car).  This is you... crashed... ONLY if I was holding you.  That day, I decided to snooze with you as it was the only sleep I'd had in almost two days.

Here is the "diaper bib" fashioned by your daddy.  He taped this around you as a solution to the massive amounts of drool you had and and the fact that you'd gone through four bibs in eight hours.  Only your daddy would do this!

This cracks me up! 
 

You and Papa walking around at Preston's baseball jamboree.
As usual, you found "trash treasure" and willingly handed it over.

You love cars, balls, books and bath time.  You spot cars everywhere and have preferences when we are driving or walking through a parking lot as to the types you point out.  You push your toy cars (and your brother's) around on the floor like a big boy (and have, pretty much since you started crawling).   If you're not playing with cars or balls, you're picking up a book (or two or three!) and carrying it over to me, Daddy or Preston and shoving it at us while saying, "buh," which is your way of asking us to read it to you.  During the day, you will often sit through about half of a book before getting up to grab another.  And, at night (or when you're tired), you'll sit quietly through three, turning pages, pointing to pictures and telling me the sounds certain animals make.  Your current faves are "The Very Busy Spider" and "Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?"
At bath time, you love playing with all the boats, sharks and cars, but your most favorite toy is a cute little mermaid (a castoff from your sister!).  You call her, "meh may," (which is a pretty darn impressive pronunciation of "mermaid") and hold onto her while in one hand while you play with the rest of your toys with the other hand. 

"Panty Raider!"
About a month ago, you started going into Preston's underwear drawer and grabbing a pair to carry around!  Now that you know we all crack up at this silly antic, it has become standard practice for you!

You are a ham. A total ham.  And such a lovebug.  You delight in making others smile, you laugh along with anyone who is laughing and sweetly offer up all kinds of love.  I adore hearing you say, "mama" and sign it with increasing precision.  You do the same for daddy, "GeeCee" and Bubba.  All signs mastered (to the extent of your fine motor abilities at this point) and so adorable.