Stopping to smell the dandelions with Gavin

Those flowers were handpicked for me and gifted with the question,  "Does that fill your bucket Mommy? "

The closest we'll give him to a baby brother

And he's happily changing his diaper.

Not pictured?  The body slams both brothers gleefully put the baby through 2 minutes later.

They really do grow overnight!

Gavin woke up this morning with his footed pajamas like this:

Safe bet it's time to go shoe shopping!

 

Pros and Cons of a Boy's December Birthday

As experienced today by our own December 14 babe Gavin. (TWO ALREADY?!?!)

"Ooo!! [Two!]"

 

Con: Most people's time, and budget, are spent already planning for Christmas.

Pro: Most people's time and budget are spent celebrating the holidays and spending time together!

Living the life of the baby brother, he tagged along for all of his big brother's events today. Sounds terrible right? But, no! It was all part of my master mommy plan! All of the day's events were also special occasions for Gavin! It was as if a perfectly orchestrated second birthday event list had fallen into my lap!

While everyone else was planning the special events, we got to just attend and give him the best day ever! (I owe you one Leslie!)

We began with Gavin's first pony ride. Yup, I said it, he rode a freaking pony for his birthday. Okay, it was part of Ethan's school's holiday celebration. But don't tell Gavin! He was THRILLED to go INSIDE his big brother's school like a big kid and ride a PONY!!

Look at those little legs!!!

You can't tell, but he was making clippity cloppity noises the whole ride, he's obsessed with horses!

Ethan didn't mind it either!

"I'm getting away with murder here! The perfect gift for him fell into my lap!"

Even his best friend Malcolm was there!

(Who is only a couple of months older, look how much longer his legs are!)

Amazing right? Well that's not all! Instead of napping after the two hour party, we then moved to another awesome event!

A bowling birthday party! In the same day Gavin got to play with a horse and balls, two of his all time favorite things!

Con: Mommy and Daddy are also consumed with holiday preparations!

See, we got Gavin a police car cozy coupe for his birthdays. He's going to LOVE it! I he runs around the house making siren noises and saying "Dada! Car! Weee ooooo weee ohhh!"

I couldn't take it out of the box and assemble it because where the heck can I hide a CAR from these boys!? Nor did I have the time! So last night, after an evening with friends (and a couple of glasses of wine later), I pull open the box ready to assemble his gift.

What the ?!?! Inside I find a Webster's size book of directions that detail the need for a hammer, a power drill, TWO adults, and THREE HOURS for assembly. I thought I'd seen a lot of pieces with last Christmas' toy, but this car took the cake.

So instead Gavin got an empty box and a promise, mommy swears she'll build this for you!

Pro: I got the toy on a Black Friday deal, and bonus win, Gavin IS only two so a box was a pretty spectacular gift!

Con: There's so many sweets all season it feels silly to bake more cakes (he already had gingerbread cookies at the first party and birthday cake at the second!).

Pro: Seeing your chocolate loving boy light up for his own cupcakes is a great excuse for more sweets in your house!

 

Happy birthday to my favorite stocking stuffer!

How much you've grown from two years ago!

 

 

Big Cats and Little Cats

Gavin's been enjoying doing animal noises and his favorite two are captured here!

 

Wheeeeeeeeee!!!

Ethan is THRILLED his baby bro is growing up so fast and is always giving him "lessons" (so Montessori of him!). Lessons on walking, using his "inside voice", throwing balls, and now slides!

First they went together.

 

Then Gavin was ready to roll.

His expressions might lead you to believe he was going down a super sonic fast slide. He moved more like a snail :)

 

On to higher heights!

The boys decided to give Mommy a heart attack.

Wheeeeeee!!

 

Baby no more!

Guess who took his first steps!!!

Watch out world!

Monster Trucks or Naps? Which would you pick!?

When the chance came up for Gavin and I to go visit my family in Florida, Chris and I jumped at the chance to devote some special individual time with both boys. Being brothers, they usually have to share us and we have to do activities that both are able to do together.

During this week though, we we able to indulge them, and indulge we did!

Ethan and Chris's week was filled with sports, trucks, and sweets!

Gavin and my week was filled with cuddles, crawling, and long lingering naps. I think I might have won the better end of the deal activity wise ;)

First time ice skating!

"I fell down, and I got back up and tried again!"

Staying out after bedtime!

Fueled by hot chocolate and a cookie of course!

Monster truck show!!!

Coolest way to block out the engines' roar!

Bro'n out!

Birthday cake at a friend's birthday party!

Pizza and yogurt too!

 

Gavin and my trip gave us what we'd been looking for too! On top of visiting family, tons of snuggles! Here he is on the plane and at the airport.

 

 

 

Matching PJ's & Christmas Eve Joy!

Christmas Eve 2012

What a difference a year makes!

Gavin's first Christmas last year, days home from the NICU.

Wow I've grown!!

I totally put them in matching pj's!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ending the night setting out cookies and milk for Santa.