The First Thanksgiving

I was going to post about Thanksgiving and then I realized that I never posted about last year's Thanksgiving. So that's what this post is! (I know it's pathetic that I am still determined to catch up ... but I am going to do it!!)

Last year we were going to bless Gavin the Sunday after Thanksgiving and so we had both families come in to town. We decided the best option was to combine families and have a big Thanksgiving dinner! Our friend's Dave and Brittany were out of town and they were nice enough to let some of our family stay in their house and to allow us to host Thanksgiving there.

Hillary was in town for a few days before so she and I split up the dishes for dinner. Once everyone else came in to town they helped out as well. We had plenty of food and it was delicious!!

Our little turkey was only 2 months old!
These were just some funny pictures of him that I wanted to post.
Caitlin, Brian and cousin Taylor.
Josh, JJ, Hillary, Margaret and Taylor again.
Jonyce, Greg, Mom and Dad.
Heather, Kevin, Seth, Rachel, Kadin and Kaylee.
The food was delicious!!
Andrew thought it was really good!
It was pretty cold outside but the kids still had a fun game of duck, duck, goose!

Even though he didn't get to eat any turkey, Gavin still had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

We had such a wonderful Thanksgiving. We were so blessed to have all of our family there to celebrate with us. It was a great first Thanksgiving for Gavin!!

"Phone Home"

It's been really cold here lately and so I try to keep Gavin bundled up while he is at the pool. His little hands get really cold so Suzanne put her gloves on him. They didn't quite fit. When I saw the picture it reminded me of another little guy with long arms and really long fingers. Do you see the resemblance?

Birthday Party: Swim Team Style

Gavin has the most wonderful babysitter, Suzanne. She is a swim team mom who watches him for me every single day while I coach. She is so great with him and he loves her! She asked me if she could throw a little birthday party for Gavin and I said YES!! There is a group of moms that sit up on the hill overlooking the pool and they all love Gavin and help watch him sometimes so they all got in on the action and had a little party.

He wasn't quite sure about the hat that I put on him to wear to his party. (But he kept it on the entire time!!)
Suzanne brought him some bright orange cupcakes. This was his first taste of cupcake goodness.

He wasn't quite sure what to do with it.
But he finally figured it out.

And he loved it!
Other parents were so sweet and also brought him presents to open.

He got this fun book along with a few other books that I don't have pictures of.
He got these stacking cups that he absolutely loves!
He got the jacket that he is wearing and also this fun fish puzzle. It has little magnets on the pieces and came with a fishing pole to pick the pieces up.
He also got this fun ball game. He loves, loves, loves this thing! He is really good at it and pushes the balls down himself.
All the kids wanted to play with Gavin's new toys.
Gavin is such a lucky boy to have so many people that love him. It was so great of these parents to have a little party for him. It really means a lot to me to know that he is so well taken of while I am working.

What a happy birthday boy!

1st Birthday Party!

We wanted to have a fun little get together for Gavin's 1st birthday. We decided to invite some friends over for a party!

We decorated the apartment and got ready for everyone to come over.
Gavin had fun with his friends Mirene and Lauren there. He loves to hang out with other little kids.

Mirene and Yuka enjoying some cake.
Lauren sneaking some yummy treats.
Gavin was so excited that his little girlfriend Betsy came to his party!
And she even brought him a present!
The big birthday cupcake!
Gavin didn't really know what to think of everyone singing to him.

We then tried to feed him a cupcake. We have never given him something that big on his tray before, so I don't think he really knew what to think of it. He just sat and played with it for a little while.


I finally had to put a little bit in his mouth to show him that he could actually eat it.






And he loved it!!
It was such a fun party! We have the greatest friends for coming and helping us celebrate this big day for our little guy.

Happy Birthday Gavin!! We love you!