Farewell 2009! It's been fun!

What a crazy year we've had! It's been full of joy, new experiences, exhaustion, and frustration. But that's what it's like to be a new parent, right?!

I'd like to share our past year in review..

JANUARY
Gavin started laughing. I mean really laughing. Straight from the gut. It was wonderful! His belly just shook when he got going:)
He also outgrew his swing. I have a big boy. I love every ounce of him!!

Poor baby got the dreaded RSV and a double ear infection last year...but he recovered quickly.

FEBRUARY

Chunky monkey started eating "real" food and loved it!!

He also learned to roll over!

Loving the jumper!

MARCH

Gavin can sit alone. Yeah!

His buddy Kate! They were born the same day. Cousins and buddies!

We also had sorrow this March. We lost a good friend/neighbor. We miss you Holly! Riley is being well taken care of and we know you are watching down on her with many smiles!

Bath time!!

APRIL

The weather is getting nicer and we are spending more time outside!

Wagon rides are the best!APRIL

Easter was fun.

Gavin learned his new spitty trick.

He also got his first bruise:( What absent minded parents would allow this?! Poor babe! He looks really crazy in this picture!

MAY

Aren't feet amazing little attachments! Who knew they could be so fascinating.

Mommy and Daddy also took me SWIMMING!! Awesome!

JUNE
Daddy's 30th birthday. Say Cheese!

Now this is fun...swimming in a BIG pool!

Hanging out with the cousins..Kate and Avery!

JULY

I met a fabulous group of people at good old Fricker's! Many of us still gather once a year, the third week in July, after traveling from many different directions. We have added a new generation...We love the Quarry!!

Splish Splash.

Quarry fun!

I can't wait for Cedar Point! Roller Coasters are a blast!

AUGUST
Mommy's 30th, we took a hayride!

I can walk!First boat trip on Grandpa Bill's boat.

SEPTEMBER

Daddy had to have surgery the day before my birthday. He tore his ACL, but he is going to recover fast!

Happy Birthday baby! Eat some cake!

Balloons are magic!

OCTOBER

Happy Halloween! Gavin was Chicken Little this year.

We carved Moose A. Moose.

We also decorated, instead of carving, another pumpkin. Gavin was great at putting the eyes on...and taking them off.

His own pumpkin:)

A trip to the pumpkin patch.

NOVEMBER

Finally! Gavin is interested in doing projects and fun! We made our first painting today!

Another day we stuck pieces of "everything" to some contact paper. He had a blast this project!

Gavin has demonstrated he is a very tactile learner. He is very hands on everything! He learned quickly to put the balls in this rain spout! love it!

DECEMBER

Naturally, we read the Night before Christmas on Christmas Eve. Doesn't mommy look tired. These new teeth have kept us up for quite a few nights.

He was miserable on Christmas (and the prior few days, because of teething) I tired to cheer him up with breakfast.

We also hit the lights at the zoo this year.

I know this is only a mere glimpse of our year in a handbag and I have to say that I wish I could post a gazillion more pictures to share here. (but never fear, I will have many, many, MANY more coming in 2010!)

I feel this year we've been there and done that. (and yes I do know, that I don't even know the half of it)

We've had the sleepless nights. Although we have also been EXTREMELY blessed with a son that started sleeping through the night before two months old. Jealous anyone?!

We managed to learn how to give him his first bath and all the consecutive ones to follow...from baby tub above the sink to the big boy tub that we coax him to stay sitting down in.

We've nervously paced around the room wondering why he won't stop crying.

We've walked and rocked and bounced and sang...and repeated...and repeated...and repeated.

We've managed doctor's visits, vaccinations, several ear infections and even RSV and breathing treatments.

We've traveled many of hours long car rides to visit family.

We've been absurdly proud when he smiles, laughs, rolls over, walks, talks, or masters a new toy.

We've done it. We're parents. And he's alive. He has turned an us into a family!

I think we just might make it:)

Happy New Year Everyone!!

Mmm Mmm

Remember the book I found to help disguise vegetables into other dishes so kids will eat them? Well, I've been trying it out quite a bit and it is working fantastically! I will hide vegetable purees into all kind of food that Gavin eats, and offer the exact vegetable as a side dish sometimes. I chuckle when he refuses the broccoli or cauliflower, etc, and then gobble up what I've served him. This is way too easy!!

Here is Gavin eating Italian Meatloaf leftovers that are full of turkey, carrots, and celery. He is also learning to use a spoon and/or fork, although most of the time it falls off the utensil and he uses his little hand anyway. He has the concept down.

Some of our favorites so far are:

• Scrambled eggs (with cauliflower, sour cream and parmesan cheese)
• Italian Meatloaf (I made it with ground turkey, carrots and celery)
• Mashed potatoes (with cauliflower)
• Pancakes (with sweet potato /or pumpkin)
• Chicken nuggets (battered with beets or sweet potato and then breaded are the two I've tried)
• Buttered Noodles (with yellow squash)
• Pink Pancakes (beets)

I've also made chocolate chip cookies with chickpeas and while I don't think they are very good, Gavin eats them up. Also I tried to make some lemon Raspberry Cupcakes with yellow squash and beets. Another one I won't make again. I think I baked them too long too.

But that's how you learn what works and doesn't work, right?

Christmas in Dayton

On Sunday we traveled to Dayton to conclude our holiday festivities at Aunt Jeanna and Uncle Steve's house. Gavin did a super job in the car ride down and is even in better spirits then past few days. He is still crying out in his sleep occasionally but not waking up.
Be gentle Gavin, this is much nicer than your play set at home. It's amazing how he went for the same pieces he plays with at home though. The angel, cow, momma (Mary) and the sheep.

I love this picture of Daddy and Gavin hanging out reading a new story.

Tim and Mike.

This is the back of Tim's new dress shirt he got for Christmas. No wonder he was willing to "dress" up. I see this going with us on vacation this Spring!

Kristie had a fabulous poem to read that kept everyone paying attention during the gift exchanging process.

I left my gift right next to Mr. Right's right-hand man's, left boot...... omg, someone make it stop! haha

Aunt Jan...no one has ever been so excited with a Snuggie:)

Hi Mike and Matt!

Worst puzzle ever. I may have kept trying had it been a larger bill in the middle. I still haven't figured it out.

During the white elephant gift exchange, Danny ended up with a collection of 5 and a quarter floppies. They are making a return Dan! Get yourself a Commodore 64 and let's play some Ghostbusters!

What got everyone excited this year to get together was to see little Bennett!! Bennett is my cousin Holly's son. They live out of state and it was there first time traveling so far with the little man.

I'm not sure if Gavin just told him a joke and Bennett thinks it was dumb, or maybe Gavin is smiling at the bomb in his pants and Bennett is saying, Dude, you stink!

It was fun seeing the boys together for the first time! And Holly had the most fabulous teething drops with her that they had been using with B. She let us try them while we were there for the afternoon. Holly, I'd like to bow to you...they have changed our home. We went out last night to get some and for the first time, we ALL slept through the night. Wonderful Wonderful Drops!! And all natural makes them even better. I don't know how they work, but they do!

Mommy and Bennett :)

Everyone say "flying pig house!"