Mickey Sighting!

6 Months Old!!

(Hey, hey, it's my 1/2 BIRTHDAY!!)

Yes, the little man turned 6 months on Saturday, June 28th. Wow, a 6 month old. We are kind of glad he does not have the crawling thing down yet....you will see his attempt at the bottom of the blog. Along with tummy time and the practice of pushing up, Gavin is getting the sitting thing down, but his balance needs some work to help prevent the "face-plant" when he grabs for a toy.

(Hey, these sweet potatoes would taste better if dad would hit my mouth)

The week was crazy as Jill was working downtown in Minneapolis, taking care of things, putting in long days. Gavin and Daddy hung out in the evening and Gavin even convinced Daddy to get wings from BW-3! Gavin was also introduced to sweet potatoes.....he is sold. He had decided that maybe they needed marshmallows, butter, and brown sugar.

(M-I-C-...K-E-Y.....M-O-U-S-E!)

Grandma B joined Rob, Peg and the kids @ Disney World earlier in June and brought back some special ears just for Gavin. I don't think he knew just what to make of them, but went along with the fun. The weekend started with Gavin's 6 month old wellness check-up. Our little man weighed in at 16 1/2 lbs. and 26 3/4 inches. He was "thrilled" to get 3 more shots....actually he did pretty well, only crying for a few seconds after each one.

(Yo, Rocky!)

Gavin did have a rough week, getting away one extra day with out getting his nails clipped....bet he will let me clip them earlier next time. Nothing like going to the doctor's office shortly after a battle scar like this. At least it healed up some. It looks pretty good here, it looked worse the day before the picture.

(Playing with Dad)

Stacy and Steph came Friday night and hung out with us until Saturday afternoon. We enjoyed an evening @ Benihanna's with the two of them and our cousins: Kelly, Dustin, Monica, and Brent. While we were out, Gavin had his 1st "non-family" babysitter, Caitlin. She is Kelly and Dustin's neighbor. She took care of Alex and Gavin while the adults were out. Mommy wasn't too much of a nervous wreck leaving him for the first time.

Until next week! Enjoy these 5 pictures of Gavin attempting the pre-crawling position.

(Hmm, this feels right)

(Ah, ...sliding here!)

(Yep, pretty sure I'm loosing it!)

(I've lost it!)

(!#%#!)

Good Traveler

(Who says I'm crabby?)

So Friday, Gavin was putting hours in the car seat again. He does pretty darn good. He had to make a trip to Eau Claire and while he was there, he was happy to see Grandma B. and Papa T. He also got to see Mary Nelson, Ingrid's mom. He enjoyed hanging out while we ate at Mike's Smokehouse....yummy!

(Whew, walking to Target really tuckers a fella out!)

Saturday we hit the MOA....Cary was thrilled.....actually he had fun pushing Gavin in the stroller and taking in the quality people watching. Gavin had plenty to look at too while mom looked for deals since this little man is growing like a weed. It will be fun to see how big he is this week Friday, when we visit the doctor for his 6 month wellness check up.

( The typical result after the 7:00 PM feeding...can you say BEDTIME!)

Mommy was away for part of the day Sunday. She was at cousin Monica's baby shower, so the boys hung out for a while and then daddy did take Gavin to the Harley dealer in Lakeville to grab some parts for the bike. Gavin thinks leather is cool! It won't be long and maybe we can find some chaps for Gavin to model.

(I'm still not crabby)


( I know that he doesn't get the crossed legged sleeping position from daddy)

Short Week at Daycare

Well, G had 2 days of daycare this past week since Cary only had to work Tue-Thu. He still had fun playing with the friends at daycare, but also had fun at home with daddy two days and Grandma B on Thursday, since daycare was closed.

(Just puttin' my feet up...even if I'm asleep)

(Gavin, Carolynne, and Jill)

Gavin got to meet Carolynne for the first time this week. She was in from Philly on business and it was great to have her meet the "man". We had a nice outing at Major's for dinner.

(Is he showing us his feet or his butt?)

Gavin is also becoming a rolling machine, he is quite the little busy body. He's been rolling onto his tummy more and more, in fact he fell asleep face down a couple times.....he had to be exhausted, or he never would have stayed that way.

(Gavin and Daddy at the MN Zoo on Father's Day)

For our first Father's Day, we went to the MN Zoo as a family. Gavin really didn't care much about the animals, but was looking at everything else as we walked the various trails. Gavin continues to get smiles from passers by. He is a cutie, and he knows it.

(Umm, I don't think that looks right?)

We also are having Daddy teach Gavin the ropes in the kitchen. He is quite the student. He was getting a lesson on how to make crab stuffed chicken breasts...........YUMMMY!

(Gavin enjoying sitting on Carolynne's lap)

He has really become quite the talker, squawking a lot!! He also has found that if he is unhappy, he can utilize a very high pitched scream......NOT funny at all. Daddy has a remedy, but we won't share what that is....ha!

(Do you think he was exhausted?)

Gavin and Daddy are going head to head this week on nap time. G has been a good sleeper through the night, but is not a big fan of the afternoon naps. From this picture above I would say Daddy won that round.

Week 23 - Mommy and G weekend!

(Is that camera edible?)

Gavin had another great week, he continues to be a happy little guy and we are enjoying him so much every day. He is getting really interactive, and a couple times this week I found him just laughing and playing in his crib. He is a squirmy little guy, and changing his diaper is getting to be a challenge because he likes to arch his back and try to get away.

(G and Uncle Rob are stylin as twins)

(G showing Gram his toys)

Gavin and I spent the weekend hanging out while Cary went golfing with some guys from school. Friday night we just hung out at home and snuggled. Saturday we went to visit Gram and attended a couple of graduation parties. By the time we left the last party and got home it was after 10pm and having left at 8am both mom and G were tired and ready for bed. I figured out that throughout the day Gavin had been in and out of his car seat 12 times, no wonder we were tired. I am so thankful that he is a good baby and is flexible on days when things aren't quite "normal"!

(Grandma B has the touch to get Gavin to take a little snooze)

Sunday we decided to hang out at home and walk to Target while we waited for Dad to come home. I think we were both very happy to have Daddy back that night!

(Mommy and G snuggling on the couch...it doesn't get any better than this!)

Gavin had another first this morning...his first shower! G had a good blowout and needed a bath before day care so we decided the quickest way would be to put him in the shower with Cary. He didn't cry, but didn't really know quite what to think!

(G sporting his new robe)

Week 22 - Visit to Eau Claire

(It is getting difficult to get a picture without his hands in his mouth)

I can't believe my baby is 5 months old already, I must admit it made me a little emotional. It is really amazing to watch how much Gavin is changing each week! He is getting to be such a big boy! We love to play with him and watch him interact with his toys. He loves to talk with his sweet little voice and is starting to get louder!

We experienced a few firsts this week...

1. Gavin started rolling over more consistently this week. I don't know if he was showing off for Heather and Patrick or if he just decided he wanted to be able to reach more toys, but he has started rolling from him back to his belly. I'm not sure I'm ready for him to be mobile.

2. Gavin had his first experience peeing outside. We ended up making a stop in Baldwin on our way to Eau Claire because Gavin was hungry, when I got him out of his car seat to feed him I discovered he had "blown out" his diaper and his outfit. Cary ended up changing him in the grass of the Kwik Trip...he was laying in the grass buck naked and decided to pee all over...including on Cary, himself, the changing pad and the grass. (I stood by laughing and taking pictures)

(Daddy on the road-side change)

3. Gavin got to watch mom and dad experience Olson's Homemade Ice Cream in Chippewa Falls for the first time...I doubt there will be too many more times where he just watches!

4. Gavin started "helping" feed himself his cereal...and always manages to get some in the little bit of fuzzy hair that he has.

(G making himself at home at Patrick and Heather's)

On Saturday the three of us went to Eau Claire to visit Grandma B, Papa T and then went to a bbq at Heather and Patrick's house. It was fun to see everyone and show off our little man (we weren't complaining about Papa T's choice to meet for ice cream either). On Sunday we had a baby shower for Heather to help her get ready for the arrival of Baby Sullivan, Gavin came to the shower and hung out with Grandma B. He was a good little boy for her...but he didn't want to eat. Either he thought mom should feed him because she was there, or the milk wasn't "the right" temperature. Apparently he doesn't like cold milk, but as soon as dad finished golfing and warmed up the bottle he drank it right down, what a little stinker! Kristi rode home with us and Gavin enjoyed having some company in the back seat. (I brought my camera, but didn't manage to take any pictures at the shower).

(We love this smiley little guy)

(Mommy pulling double-duty...enjoying a Blue Moon and carrying G around)

(G is ready for summer!)

Overall it was a good week and a good weekend!

Weeks 20 and 21 - Double Feature

(Hello...you looking for me?)

(Gavin in his "big boy" outfit...and yes that is drool all they way down him)

Well I guess we are keeping busy at the Krusemark household because we never got around to posting last week, so this week you get a "double feature"! Gavin is really growing, he is getting long and he is even starting to get some hair. He loves to play in his exersaucer and likes anything that he can chew on...including his own hands. He has started to find his voice and likes to talk!

Last weekend Gavin, Daddy and I went down to Grand Avenue to go for a walk and to get ice cream. Mom and dad thought it was a great way to get some fresh air, a little exercise, and to get Gavin to take a long nap. Well we got exercise, and fresh air...but Gavin wasn't about to miss something along the way and didn't sleep a wink until we got in the car to go home! Going for a walk used to instantly put Gavin to sleep...that doesn't happen anymore, now Gavin wants to check out everything around him.

(Gotcha Monkey...)

Gavin had a few rough nights of sleeping, a couple of which resulted in Gavin and Daddy sleeping in the chair, and all 3 of us very exhausted so we decided to do a little "Ferber method sleep training"! Night one Gavin cried for a total of 35 minutes, and we went in after 3, 5, and 7 minutes to "reassure" him that we were still there...and by the 10th minute he was sleeping and slept until morning! Night 2 we only ended up only having to go in once and then he slept the rest of the night! Since then he has been sleeping all night long and napping like a champ at daycare. (Looking back it was totally worth it, but it sure is hard to sit and listen to our little guy cry) It is amazing at how much better we all feel, and Cary and I even got to spend some time together watching a movie after Gavin went to bed because we weren't totally exhausted!

(Daycare wears a little guy out)

We had a pretty relaxing Memorial Day weekend, we went for a couple of long walks (we frequently walk to the new Target by our house), grilled out and hung out at home. Sunday we went to a birthday party for a friend, and then we all headed over to Canterbury Downs to watch the horse races. Gavin was a good little partier!

(G modeling his new hat and shades)

Today Gavin and I met Spencer and his Auntie Heather at the mall, Spencer slept the whole time we were there...and Gavin didn't sleep at all! We are getting excited to meet Baby Sullivan in just a few more months!

(Gavin and Spencer at the mall)

(Did someone say luau?)

Week 19 - Mom's First Night Away/Mother's Day

(My hands are my favorite thing to chew on...and the best part is my mom and dad can't take them away from me)

Over that last week I've really noticed that our little guy is changing a lot. It seems like he is growing from the time we drop him off at daycare until we pick up him. He is starting to master eating cereal from a spoon...maybe that cereal is making him grow?

(What is going on?)

Gavin is totally obsessed with the tv, I think he would be totally content all day watching Baby Einstein (don't worry we aren't going to find out if that can really happen!) We are starting to wonder if Gavin is going to get teeth soon...he is drooling all the time and EVERYTHING goes in his mouth (including our shoulders). It seems he is starting to play with toys and is mastering the exersaucer.

(I'm so happy my mom is home again!)

Last Thursday I had to go on my first overnight trip to DC for work. While I was sad about leaving, I was really looking forward to sleeping all night without one ear listening for our little guy. I arrived and went out with some co-workers for a nice dinner and tried to hit the hay early. I think my body must not be programmed to sleep all night anymore because I still woke up in the night! Gavin and daddy had a fun night hanging at home and getting Buffalo Wild Wings (Daddy swears that was Gavin's choice!) By the time I arrived back in Minneapolis I was ready to be home with my guys and I thought that the plane was never going to arrive at our gate! I sped home and enjoyed lots of hugs and kisses. While we all survived, I'm fine not traveling again anytime soon! (at least until I'm done breastfeeding for sure!)

(Hanging out with Grandma B and my cousins sure wears a little guy out!)

Saturday we met Grandma B, Rob, Will, Ella and Matthew at Red Lobster for an early Mother's Day lunch. Gavin had a fun time hanging out with everyone but he missed his Auntie Peg! We then headed over to Hudson to meet the crew and the girls went for pedicures while the guys hung out with Gavin and Lucianna...and then we ate Carbones! What a great day.

(Mommy and Amanda enjoying ponies)

Sunday was my first Mother's Day and we spent the day hanging out as a family! I was treated to cinnamon rolls and juice for breakfast, took a nap, went for a walk and then Cary grilled delicious steaks and asparagus for dinner! I'd say it was a perfect first Mother's Day.

(Gavin and Mommy snuggling on Mother's Day)