19 weeks - a year for patrick

brycen john 19 weeks
gavin's bedtime blankie :)

Life here has been moving and grooving.  The boys are getting bigger each day.  I just adore watching them grow and learn about the world around them.  Brycen has this amazing smile and giggle that can melt your heart.  Such big dimples on that chubby face.  He went for his 4 month appointment and weighed in at just under 17 pounds and 26 inches.  He loves to suck anything he can get his hands on, his most favorite is his thumb.  He is reaching and grabbing things in his world and loves to grasp our fingers as he drinks his bottle.  It is so cute.  He also loves to play in the tubby and giggles at his brother as he helps me to wash him!  

Gavin has turned into such a two year old.  He is so grown up sometimes it brings a tear to my eye reflecting on that little baby I used to cuddle at night and hold in my arms as he fell to sleep.  He still does like to cuddle and give hugs and kisses!  That I love about him :)  His language continues to expand with each encounter.  He is starting to label names to people in his life and find ways to help us understand what he wants by labeling foods and objects he needs.  His new favorite saying is "O-Kay", which he says to acknowledge us or when something falls.  The other morning I heard a loud bang in the living room from the kitchen, as I was running to see what happened I heard him inform me that he was "O-Kay" LOL :)  Love him :)

making balloons out of pipe cleaners 

little heart throb

getting ready for his haircut

haircut time :)

Last week we celebrated Patrick's first birthday with him.  It was so great to see all our friends and share such a wonderful milestone in Patrick's life!  Where has the time gone...too fast....too fast

the balloon did not leave his hands

music for everyone

lunchtime

In closing, here are some more bathtime photos to share.  Gavin is loving dying his water a variety of colors and I am enjoying Brycen's little toes.  I look forward to attempting a group bath soon...stay tune!

4 & 22 - the future is so bright

Its been almost a month since my last post and I am finding it hard to believe that I have been so aloof with posting :(  But then.....then I remember that I am now back at work and time seems to go by in a different way!  Being back at work is nice but being both a professional teacher and mom is hard work.  When I get home I am exhausted but I still manage to get the boys out exploring and playing with friends.  

Brycen has some solid head control now and enjoyed being in a sitting position.  He has explored the jumper and rolled over from his belly to his back a few weeks ago.  He is not a fan of belly time but we make sure to try it each day.  He loves to look in the mirror and just started holding objects and interacting with them by exploring his sense of touch and taste.  His favorite by far is Azul his bunny rattle from his Busia.  

We look forward to bringing him to his four month appointment.  I would be surprised if he weighs in at less them 16 pounds.  Already he can fit into Carter's (which run small in my opinion) size 18 month LOL.  That is what he is wearing in that photo with Gavin at the top.  In Gap clothes he is wearing 6-12 months and I think he will out grow them soon.  Like Gavin he has a long torso which makes onesies a difficult fit.  Here are some special photos of him exploring his world...

In the mirror us two

Bath time without the hammock!

Gavin feeding Brycen :)

Gavin's skills are exploding around us.  Some new favorites are feeding himself cereal with milk, climbing out of his crib and climbing up his dresser (this makes me very nervous though we temporarily ceased it), and using new vocabulary in context.  Some of his favorite words/phrases are "nice", "gross", "one more please", and "let's go".  Though we have language barriers still he has found a variety of ways to express what he wants and how he is feeling.  

Gavin loves bubbles!

Futures so bright, I gotta wear shades :)

Ride 'Em

New Jammies :)

Even though the weather has been chilly...we have tried to get outside each opportunity we can to move and groove.  Of course I love to take photos outside with the boys.  I can only imagine how sick of seeing photos they will be when they are older LOL  When we can't get outside we enjoy taking rides through the car wash, playing with play-dough, exploring with magna-doodles, and building structures with pipe cleaners.  

branch anyone? by the way nice outfit LOL

We played with this for 40 minutes snickers :)

Telling me about the ball....

another ball....hummm I see a trend

Gavin and dad playing at the playground :)

Love the sun in this photo!

Swinging is a favorite and this day he tried the big boy swing for the first time :)  WHOO HOO

My attempt at a group shot ;/

until another time....adios

3 and 21.....let it snow oh what fun

Brycen - 3 months / Gavin 21 months

New Years Eve has come and gone.  The Christmas tree is down and the boys are another month older.    This year Gavin was more aware of the changes around the house for the holidays.  He loved the tree and he helped me to decorate it with photos of our family from the year.  It was a creative way to decorate so it was interactive for him.  He would often take photos off and replace them in new locations.  The lights were by far exciting to look at and he loved the bells on his stocking :)  

On Christmas Eve we had dinner with Busia and Pop which included family presents.  The boys got awesome new blankets, featured in their weekly / monthly photos, and some great clothes and toys!  Gavin loves his new animals and bath toys :)  

Gavin also enjoyed playing with the wrappings from his presents and being pulled in an old school wooden toy.  He had a blast celebrating with the family.  Brycen and Gavin both got into their special jammies from Auntie Elissa and Uncle Tim before heading to bed that night!

Christmas morning the boys woke up to a tree full of special gifts from Santa.  Gavin appeared a bit perplexed by the event but eventually dug into his new cardboard blocks which he enjoys building towers around himself with. 

That evening we enjoyed a Christmas brunch with Ridge and his family.  I attempted a group shot and this is all I could muster with two toddlers on the move.  Chicken and waffles was a super way to end the evening 

                          

Though Gavin did not have an opportunity to visit with Santa this year....partly due to a busy time of year and us not wanting to bring anymore germs to the family LOL, he posed with the life-like Santa at the Honda dealership. This past week we picked up my (our) new family car!  So exciting!!  It is now living with us and it makes me happy :)

In closing,  we did have some snow so Gavin, Chad I ventured out while Brycen was napping.  It was so much fun to watch his excitement as he explored.  Of course I enjoyed photographing the event!

 Let's close with a Brycen collage just because he melts my heart!