Gavin Giggles- 9 month edition!

Ethan and Gavin are perfect brothers! Ethan loves to MAKE people laugh and Gavin loves TO laugh! Here's Gavin giggling at Ethan dancing around with a box on his head.

Gavin Giggles- 9 month edition!

Ethan and Gavin are perfect brothers! Ethan loves to MAKE people laugh and Gavin loves TO laugh! Here's Gavin giggling at Ethan dancing around with a box on his head.

 

Growing Up Each Day!

Ethan started singing this song at home today. I had never heard it before, apparently he learned it at school. You'll notice underlying Montessori messages in it, including referring to "work" at school and practical life skills like washing and polishing. It makes me a little choked to think that I wasn't with him while he's learning and growing, he really is growing up!

Obama's Tiniest Supporters!

Gavin was in DC wearing one of my favorite shirts. A pic of Barack Obama reading "Obama, Baby!" given to us by our good friends Caroline and Frank when Ethan was a baby (see the original story here).

Similar ages + same shirt + same city = collage time!

Re-election year:

Inaugural year:

Then and now with their absolute favorite fearless leader, DADDY!

 

Gavin Giggles- 9 month edition!

 

Ethan and Gavin are perfect brothers! Ethan loves to MAKE people laugh and Gavin loves TO laugh! Here's Gavin giggling at Ethan dancing around with a box on his head.

Gavin Giggles- 9 month edition!

 

Ethan and Gavin are the perfect pair of brothers! Ethan loves to MAKE people laugh, and Gavin loves TO laugh!! Here's Gavin's giggles at Ethan putting a box on his head and dancing around.

 

I love my morning commute!!

Five mornings a week I drive forty minutes to an hour round trip dropping off Ethan to preschool, and it's one of my favorite parts of the day! Ethan and I are both excited about all the projects we will each tackle or friends we will see over the next three hours. We excitedly chat the whole way there. Meanwhile, the drive coincides exactly with Gavin's nap! So while we chat or sing, here's Gavin in the backseat!

You might recall my mentioning our school's drop off procedure (and the anxiety it produced my first day!).

The staff comes to the car door and unbuckles Ethan from his carseat, moms are strongly discouraged from getting out. Ethan now walks into school all by himself now, shaking the hand of the Director to say "Good Morning."

I love this now. LOVE. Why the change of heart?

Gavin continues his nap uninterrupted! He gets a full morning snooze and is a happy and rested boy the rest of the morning! And I get to catch up on NPR, uninterrupted by a three year old!

What do I love even more than the morning commute you may ask?

When Chris does it and Gavin and I snuggle and nap together!

Gavin's Turn! First Junior Playdate!

With big bro in school in the mornings, I'm able to fulfill the goal of dedicating some one on one time with Gavin! He had his first baby only play date with his buddy, Malcolm. Malcolm is the baby bro of Ethan's buddy Lucy and three months his senior.

Over two years ago, Ethan's friend Lucy hosted Ethan's very first play date in the very same living room!

THEN: Here are a couple of shots of them rolling around.

NOW: Still buddies today! Here's a more recent picture of them and another pal, Evan, at the fair!

I am sure I'll have then and now pics of Malcolm and Gavin one day too! (their mom and dad are pretty darn cool, so even if the kids don't get along, we're still coming over!)

 

Note: the astute observer might notice the first play date had soft baby blankets under their delicate bums. Sorry second children, we don't worry about those things anymore! A little dirt won't kill ya! ;)

Daddy's Little Helper

Who needs a toy lawn mower when you get to use the real thing with Daddy?

How long until I can put this on his chore list! ;)

"That's not a 'baby toy' Gavin!"

Tip to all of my mommy friends pregnant with their second, don't let your oldest help you remove dangerous items from the baby sibling. I made this mistake, teaching Ethan when it's not a "baby toy," we have to take it from Gavin. Well, Ethan has figured out that anytime he doesn't want Gavin playing with ANYTHING, from a toy Ethan wants to when Ethan just wants to annoy him (or more accurately me), he yells the disclaimer, "That's not a baby toy Gavin!" as he snatches it away!

Well finally, today the boys played TOGETHER with the same toy, in complete harmony!! I documented this victory as, of course, I'm sure Ethan will do his disclaimer and snatch again tomorrow. One step at a time!

Don't miss the last pics to see how happy it made Gavin to play with his big bro!

He even let Gavin prop himself on his head!

How did you teach your children to play together when the youngest became mobile?

He may not have a pincher grasp...

But he sure found a way to get those Cheerios in this morning!

(another first!)