Week 8 - I'm a Party Animal

(Snuggling with Heather, the birthday girl)

Gavin is growing chubbier and chubbier every day, but we are also noticing that he is becoming more alert, has found his hands, and is starting to "play" with toys a little bit. The best thing is he is starting to smile more! It is amazing to look back to see how much he has changed already.



We had another busy week, Wednesday Gavin and Mommy took a trip to Eau Claire to spend the day with my friend Michelle and her 2 kids Carli (3) and Parker (15 months). Of course I brought the camera and it never left the diaper bag! We then went to visit Nana in the nursing home and had dinner with Grandma B and Dick. Gavin was a great traveler!

(Meeting all these people really wears a little guy out)

Friday Gavin and I went into work to meet my co-workers! He pretty much slept the whole time we were there, and of course everyone thought he was adorable. We also went and had cake to say goodbye to my friend Kristi F. who is moving to PA ;( She has a little guy who is 3 months older than Gavin so he is losing his buddy too. I'm afraid I'm going to be going back to work sooner than I'd like.



Friday night we had dinner with Cary's cousins and got some exciting news! Gavin is going to have another little "cousin" next August. Monica and Brent announced they were expecting and we are very excited!

(Kristi, one of Gavin's favorite snuggle buddies)

On Saturday we went back to Eau Claire for a surprise 30th birthday party for Heather, although she had figured it out before she got there we still had a lot of fun. Gavin was a good little party animal, and got passed all around and then slept the whole way home, we are lucky he is such a great traveler.

(Someone stole Mommy's spot sleeping in front of the fireplace???)

Sunday was spent relaxing and recovering from another busy week!

Week 7 - I'm in Love with an Older Woman

(I'll sleep however you want me to as long as you don't put me down)

Gavin had a big week this week...we started out the week by interviewing day care providers, reality is setting in that my leave is going faster than I would like it to and I am going to be going back to work before I know it! We did end up finding a lady that we are really happy with, it turns her son was in Cary's class 5 years ago when he was teaching 4th grade. She has raised 4 boys and has done day care for 20 years so we think she must be a saint.

(Gavin and Amanda, he loved snuggling with her)

On Wednesday Cary's cousins Travis and Amanda came over to meet Gavin and brought us a wonderful dinner, it was much appreciated and we were excited they could meet our little man!!!

The 3 of us had a hot Valentine's Date at home, Cary brought home wings and we all sat in our comfy clothes...we are becoming home bodies!

(Telling Great Grandma Sis a story...she always believes me)

On Saturday we took Gavin on his first trip to Pipestone to meet his Great Grandmas and visit Grandma Colleen and Grandpa Dave. He did a great job in the car, and was a good little guy as we traveled from place to place and he got passed all around. Gavin gave his first smile (that wasn't just a reaction to gas) to his Great Grandma Sis...and he did it multiple times, it must be her sweet voice that he loved! He hasn't given us another one since, but we are hoping he will soon.

(Gavin's girlfriend Luciana...they still need to bring their moms on dates!!!)

On Monday, after many attempts, we finally got together with our friend's Amanda and Tony, and their 8 month old Luciana...Gavin is quite fond of her already, and we approve! Ok, maybe he just slept and looked at her...but what do you expect?

Week 6 - Getting Chubbier by the Day

(Gavin was stylin in his little frog outfit!!!)

The weeks continue to fly by, I am sad that my leave is already half over! I can't imagine how people go back to work after just 6 weeks. We had a pretty uneventful week, but Gavin and I are staying busy during the day visiting people! This cold has us spending lots of time indoors, I'm hoping for it to warm up soon so that we can start walking outside.

On Friday Peg, Ella and Matthew came over for lunch and then Ella stayed to help me "babysit" Gavin for the afternoon. Ella is almost six and was quite the helper, although I don't think she realized that Gavin would sleep as much as he did! We then headed over to watch Will's basketball game and go out for dinner.

On Saturday morning Grandma B stopped by to see Gavin and bring some Valentine's for him!

(Mama's little Valentine!!!)

Tonight we started interviewing day care people...it is the one major thing on my list that is hanging over my head! I hope to have it figured out by the end of the week.


Gavin is starting to get more active and is finding his hands...or almost, I'm sure in the next week or so he will have discovered those hands are actually attached to HIS body! It seems every morning his cheeks have gotten just a little bit chubbier...he isn't that fragile little newborn anymore!

Week 5- First Super Bowl

(What?)

Jill and I had a good week just hanging out with our little guy. Jill didn’t brave it too much earlier in the week when the temps were dipping down into the negative numbers. By Wednesday, she was a little stir crazy, so she “forced” me to take her out for diner at the fancy Applebee’s in Rosemount. Little G was a sleeping angel the whole time. On Thursday we had another get together with Rob, Peg & the kids; meeting up at TGIF’s in Woodbury. Papa T and Grandma B joined us as well.

(Huggin' Daddy)

Gavin got to hang out with daddy on Saturday and Sunday while mom went shopping at various stores for the necessities….which no longer are the same as they were a couple months ago. Things like diapers, gas relief, and other baby related items seem to fill our cart more and more each trip. Boy have things changed! Jill and Gavin also got to go to Mommy and Baby class. They had a good time meeting and visiting other new moms and babies. Gavin like the girl to boy ratio....the odds were in his favor.

(Pucker Up Buttercup!!)

Dan and Kristi had us over for the game and we all got a kick out of Sydnee their dog. She wasn’t really all that sure about this little bundle of squeeks and cries. It was a good night to relax and hang out with some friends. Gavin enjoyed his first Super Bowl, commercials and all. Gavin was pulling for the Giant’s this year, also known as the "G" Men. He would have placed some money on the game, but couldn’t find a bookie at such a young age. Gavin seems to be changing more and more each day. He is starting to fill out and those cheeks seem to be getting chubbier and cuter each day.

Week 4 - Trips to Eau Claire

(Grandma Ceal & Gavin)

This week held a few adventures for Gavin…we made 2 trips to Eau Claire, including our first overnight adventure!!! On Tuesday Gavin, Peg, Matthew and I loaded into the car and headed over to visit Grandma B and introduced Gavin to my Grandmas; (his great grandmas!!!) They loved holding him and of course thought he was adorable! Great-Grandma Mary was quite surprised at how loud Gavin can toot!!!(he takes after his mom). Gavin was well behaved in the car and enjoyed being entertained by Matthew, and I enjoyed being out of the house and chatting with Peg!

(Grandma Mary and Gavin)

On Friday we went back to Eau Claire, this time to attend the visitation and funeral of our good friend Scottie’s dad, Dick Erickson. It was very sad, but just as Dick would have wanted many good memories were shared. Once again Gavin was a little champ being passed all around and didn’t make a peep during the funeral, and didn’t do too bad sleeping at Patrick and Heather’s house! We are very happy that he has been good in the car so far because with our families living away, he is going to have to travel!

(Hmmm......The Thinker)

While we were in Eau Claire, we received more bad news that my Grandma had fallen and was in the hospital, luckily she didn’t break anything! We were able to go visit her and seeing Gavin just made her face light up…we sure hope she makes a speedy recovery. It also sounds like Gavin will have some new playmates next summer…my very good friend Heather and Patrick are expecting a little one in August as well as our friends Mike and Angie! It is so fun having good friends entering parenthood with us!

(I'm too sexy for my shirt!)

Gavin and I made a trip to the doctor today and it looks like he is getting plenty to eat. The doctor would have expected him to gain 13 ounces, but Gavin had gained 1 pound 13 ounces. She was very happy with his progress…we are watching his cute little face getting chubbier each day, I can’t believe how much he has changed already.

Week 3- Napping is not for me????

(Our Lil' Burrito)

Another week gone by and little Gavin seems to be getting bigger. We haven’t had him weighed for a while, but now that the newborn diapers are getting a bit snug on the bum, we are guessing that he is growing some. Gavin had a play date this week with his cousin Tyler over in Woodbury. They had some serious discussions about whether Butt Paste or Desitin is better for the bum rash. They tabled the discussion for more, first hand or “butt” research to be done.

(Well, one of us was watching the game.)

Daddy was having fun this weekend staying inside, out of the cold. He focused on putting up the wall mount for the new flat screen TV that went into Gavin’s nursery. Now, we all know that the TV is not really for Gavin, but for Mommy, since she is spending many hours in there each week. She is becoming a fan of the HGTV channel.

(Stick 'em Up!!)

Gavin’s most recent outing was going to the 5-8 Club for a Juicy Lucy burger with Mom, Dad, and Papa T. The burgers were D-Lish, and we were back home in time for the next feeding.

(That's Right!! I'm a Star!!)

Thus far, things are good, except we believe Gavin is taking after his daddy in the napping department. Daddy doesn’t nap and Gavin is starting to think it’s better to stay up when he really should be napping. We think that Gavin finds this very amusing.

Week Two-Getting into the Groove

Jill's baby quilt is on the left from when she was a baby, made by a family friend. Grandma B. made the one on the right for Gavin, so that he had one like his mom.

We’ve managed to still be going after two weeks. It is hard to believe this little guy has been with us that long. Cary is proud to say that he has avoided getting pooped on, unlike mommy however, he has been nailed 2 times with the sprinkler system…..even after taking strategic measures!! Gavin is “sneaky”, and loves it.

We also had visitors this weekend. Aunties, Mindy, and Steph and Uncles Stacy and Jerid and kids came to meet our new little "G". The cousin's thought he was pretty neat, just watching him and touching him so gently.

(Ok, so sometimes you just go with the flow, and anyway, I can't dress myself yet.)

Gavin is doing well and had a good visit to the doctor on Wednesday for a general wellness check-up. He is getting stronger and was back up to 7 lbs. He did however shrink in length, but that is due to the cone-head shrinking back to normal.

Gavin has officially been out and about, going to Doolittle’s for lunch with us and Papa T. He also had a big outing to Grizzly’s and Applebee’s too. Sunday, he was strolling around the mall as mommy went shopping.

(Already sleeping on the job)

Other than a few fussy times, he has been a sweet pea, and has been such a good boy. He is excited to watch some more football playoffs next week. Gavin is thinking that the G-men are the ones to watch out for….he secretly is rooting for them, even thought he is wearing some Packer outfits against his will. :)