1.5

We have a one and a half year old! Gavin seems like a completely different person from last month. He now talks on his own as well as repeating us what we ask him to. Common words we've heard this month are, car, cheese truck, ball, grandma, bus, monkey, elephant (seriously, and still not MOM!?).

He loves reading and will read and point at everything car/truck and animal. He points at his book and exclaims, "uh!!" and expects you to tell him what it is he is pointing at. This can last for half an hour. He's a little sponge, soaking it all in.

Having puffy pancakes for breakfast. He insists on doing things that we do all the time. He eats with adult forks and spoons most of the time, eats off of glass dishes at times, sits on his potty when we're in the bathroom, lays on our pillows when we lay down, etc. 

Trooper hiding upstairs, away from the vacuum...for once, not terrorizing Gavin.

"Do I have something on my face?" We're desperately trying to find new things that Gavin will eat so that he won't be only eating peanut butter, eggs, cheese and bread until he's 10. He sure does love his carbs though! He's a whopping 26.5 lbs (with clothes). He is now weighed on a scale standing up like an adult. 

Front row seat for Baby Einstein. We've been limiting the time that the TV is on in the background with Gavin around. We don't want him growing up with the TV on all of time, especially since we've noticed that he's been watching it a lot more. Instead we have dance parties, and listen to music all night long.

Um, Gavin, there is a little something on your eye lash. 

First experience with Quinoa and ate it up! We also had success with red peppers and water chestnuts. 

His favorite activities are playing, climbing, dancing (the wheels on the bus, row row row your boat, anything Zumba and "If your happy and you know it") and playing with friends. I love seeing his expression when he gets to be with other kids. I can't wait for him to move to a new daycare this September and be with older kids. 

Easter egg coloring this weekend

Next year should be more successful, once we understand patience a little better.

Finished product!

This last month included several doctor visits and one hospital visit. I'm hoping spring brings a healthier time of year! We've already been to the hospital twice in his short life and am on a first name basis with many doctors. 

Happy year and a half little man!

Seventeen

Our boy is creeping up on 17 months this next week. He seems like a completely different boy compared to last month.

He went from 6 teeth to 11 in one month, including 4 molars! He seems to understand most of what we ask of him, and still doesn't say too much since we know what he wants most of the time. A few new words are hot (hawwt), please (peas), dog, and papa aka grandpa.

We recently bought him a potty (only because it was on clearance) and he has started sitting on it, fully clothed. We're no where near potty training, but starting to introduce him to his spot.

We had a few play dates this month. A pancake date at our house, and visits to Eagles Nest, Rosedale, slumber party and the Community Center indoor play maze (picture above and below).

 Breakfast with friends

Playtime with Noelle

Playtime with Liam

His personality shows more and more each month. He has always loved hats, is obsessed with trucks, loves animals and his friends. Also loves greeting strangers, seeing grandparents, his cousins, and talking in his gibberish language. He goes to mom when he's upset, tired or wanting to relax and goes to dad when he is ready to play and run around. He is learning that Trooper is bothersome and is often doing a "talk to the hand" motion to try to get him away. No luck yet. 

Today we took a hike on a trail nearby. Trooper ran the trail while Gavin was plowing through the snow, riding in his jogging stroller.  We cannot wait for the summer heat, swimming, biking, walks, runs and everything outside. It's only a few short months away, thankfully!

Feb Pancake Date

In an effort to get out of the house and entertain the child, we've been having breakfasts together often. This weekend, Gavin hosted his first pancake date at his house.

"Table for one please"- Noelle

Chaos

"Hi, mom!"

Catching up

Love seat 

Checking out the snow

Collecting shoes

It's so fun to have kids so close in age! We get to catch up and the kids mostly entertain themselves. 

Month 16

Can January be over yet? We've all been sick most of the month and are ready for a streak of healthy days.

Gavin had a bough of scary breathing that ended him up on Prednisone for 10 days and nebulizers every 4 hours + an additional breathing med. Mark had influenza for 9 days, starting on the first day of his new job. I had a surprise stomach flu (that Mark now has) that came out of no where this past weekend, on top of a sinus infection and Gavin has a cold again. I'm tempted to build a bubble around my house and not leave for a long time. They say that if your kid doesn't get sick when they are babies, they will get it when they get to kindergarten. Ugh.

In other news, Gavin is almost 16 months. We're a few days early, but close enough.

This ball maze is his new favorite toy. The cups stack on top of one another (and he knows the order!), he drops the balls in, laughs as they fall and does it all over again. I love how (rarely) easily entertained they are.

He is 30 inches long and 25lbs...he's stopped gaining weight since running everywhere he goes. He is in the 10th percentile for height and 40th for weight

Here is Gavin on his second day of life! I came across a picture of him on my mom's phone and didn't even recognize my own child! He doesn't look like his newborn self at all anymore. He was 6lb 9oz and 19in long at birth.

Sleep has been hard to come by around the Pound house lately. Between the dog and Gavin, no one has been sleeping. Mark said it best..."we get a few long naps per night." I think Gavin would sleep fine if a.) he were healthy and b) the dang dog didn't have to poo at 2am every night. Trooper tap dances all over the house to get us to wake up, and in turn wakes the baby up. He is still sleeping 10-12 hours at night and a 2-4 hour nap in the middle of the day.

Gavin is all about adult cups and water bottles to drink out of. He wants to do what we are doing, so the highchair isn't used often anymore. He's frequently at the table with us, using adult silverware, eating what we are and drinking out of our cups (no wonder we're all sick!)

He's gotten one additional tooth since last month, putting him at 7 teeth (although he doesn't let us check often, so it may be more). We've also started a routine of brushing them at night. He's gotten a lot more independent this month and and wants to try new things. A few of his new favorites are taking sled rides around the living room (not enough snow outside), dancing and playing tickle war. He has also started to "check our diaper." At first I could not figure out why he kept trying to open our pants in back and then realized he was mimicking what we do to him. 

This month we went out for breakfast with friends Noelle and Willow, a wedding shower for my brother and future SIL, ran around with his cousins Ellie and Leona and Jr. and a few friend dates with his friend Liam. We hope we'll have more friend dates next month!

Not many new words this month...still has a language all his own. He still completely understands what we ask of him when we ask for a bite of his cracker, to go get his milk, or saying open/close and hot, don't touch. I guess Mark didn't start talking until he was 2, so sounds like someone might be just like dad! 

Pounds

Winter Months

Great weather for sled rides

Second time in the snow!

Trooper and Gavin play with playdough

...or just eat it.

15 months going on 5 years

Big boy turned 15 months on the first. He's a little tornado and we love him. 

Still wearing 18-24 month clothes

Still only 6 teeth (hasn't gotten any new ones for several months)

Still taking one long three hour nap per day and sleeping 12 hours at night

Loves to eat teddy grahams, cheese, crackers, yogurt, bread, smoothies, sweet potato, hamburger and eggs

Has his complete own language with few recognizable words aside from Mama, Dada, all done, and ball.

He knows much of what we tell or ask of him, but just responds in his own language then goes and does what we ask (most of the time). A common word of his is "duka-duka," and we have yet to figure out what it means. 

Loves balls, the puppy, cars, boxes, laundry baskets, bouncy toys, puzzles, blocks, stacking, trains, Baby Einstein, The Wheels on the Bus, forts, tunnels, baths, walks, reading, pointing to anything and everything, fake crying, and being chased.

Dislikes having his face wiped or touched, sitting still for any amount of time (even in our lap), going to sleep, pears, peas, and being out of sight of mom and dad. 

Hopefully this next month brings a few new words and a new tooth or two!