Gavin's First Birthday

We had a great trip home, even though typically it went by way too fast. We had Gavin's party on Sunday and we didn't get to Ill. till Saturday afternoon so it was a mad rush to get things together for it. Unfortunately on Sunday morning there was a death in Jacob's family. That made the day a little sadder and understandably not many Abels made it to the party. Besides that, the party was a good time. My mom had borrowed a blow up jumper thingy from a friend to keep the kids happy. There were only 3 kids but it worked really well and I thought it was a great thing to have. Gavin adored all the attention and ran around like a crazy person half the time. When it came time to blow out his first candle his little cousin Peter, who is 2, did it for him. Gavin got to eat his first cake and he LOVED it. Actually he got more icing than cake but he didn't care. He got so many good gifts!! He got lots of big boy toys (he loves playing with them - great for me :) ), he got quite a few adorable summer outfits (I want to change him 3 times a day so that he can wear them all), and gift cards and money which always comes in handy with a 1 year old. He also got an adorable book with a teddy bear that goes along with the story - so cute!. Everyone was really generous and Gavin did pretty well for the first birthday of his life! After the party when we were cleaning up, his Winnie the Pooh balloons that said 1st birthday stuff accidentally flew away into a tree across the road. I was really bummed because I wanted them for keepsakes but they were high in a tree, there was nothing we could do. Later, right before we left, either my mom or Jacob's mom (or both I don't remember) started yelling that the balloons were moving and all of the sudden they flew out of the tree and somehow went over the building and ended up flying down Main st. Jacob and Rachel took off chasing them - Jacob kicking of his shoes and Rachel throwing her purse down- yelling all the way. They did catch them (actually they got stuck on something so they stopped but we will ignore that) and it was one of the funniest things I've seen. I realize that is a story were you really had to be there to understand everything but trust me it was funny and in the end we got the balloons back.

We had a really good visit with both our families and again Gavin loved all the attention he got. One time at the Abels' he was touching there fireplace when his Grandpa started shaking his head and saying NO. Gavin thought that was hilarious and he would go over to the fireplace and barely touch it just to make grandpa do it again. He laughed his little head off (that's what the first picture is of)

On Wednesday, his actual Birthday we lit his candle again and put it on his mutilated cake. He got to eat more cake and this time he did eat the actual cake, it made a BIG mess. My parents had saved their gifts so he had plenty to open on the real day too. It was just a really nice day and the only thing missing was Aunt Ellie who couldn't be there.

We were lucky when we were there this time because Gavin actually slept - we were there last June, September, and December- and he never slept! We actually left early at Christmas because of it. Before he never had a crib at my parents, we just put him in his playpen and that did not go over well. This time my Aunt Karen borrowed one for us and it worked. It was good that he slept so well this time because now he is walking (running) and using a lot more energy.

Trip Pictures

Here are a few pictures from our trip back home for Gavin's first birthday. I have to say that I took HORRIBLE pictures. Not that the pictures themselves are bad it's just that I barely took any at the party and I didn't get many pic's with Gavin and our families. On the last day I had to have him pose with each family member, which of course didn't work out that often because Gavin doesn't sit still unless HE wants to. We had a good time though and when I have a little more time I will write all about it.

Gavin's Great Aunt Mary Ann made these birthday cakes for him. The little one was his own personal cake that he got to eat by himself.

Here's Missy's boy, Cameron. Isn't he adorable? I bet he got the sunglasses from his Grandma and Grandpa Studnicki (that's were Gavin got his)

Gavin's first six months

Here are some pictures of Gavin's first six months. (in no particular order)

Cute Pictures

Bath Time

I have some cute pictures of Gavin's bath today and a funny story to go along with them. He woke up wet from his afternoon nap (happens all the time) and so I gave him a bath. He was in a very good mood and Aunt Ellie kept making him laugh. He also kept doing the funny side tongue stick out. When he decides he is done with his bath he just starts to get out all on his own. He throws his leg over the side of the tub and you have to grab him quickly. It is so adorable to watch. Once done with his bath we all went to his room. I put a fresh shirt on him and then went to the changing table to grab a diaper. I turned around and saw Gavin sitting on the floor- peeing!! I ran over but it was too late, he was done. I leaned over to take off the now dirty shirt and my glasses kept sliding down (they are kind of broken). Ellie tried to hold them on for me but they fell off. She picked them up and tried to put them on but she missed at first and got my mouth and nose. Once she got them into place I noticed there was moisture all over the lenses, I took them off and sure enough they were covered in PEE. She had not only put them on my face but also on my mouth!! It was disgusting.