Gavin turns TWO

Happy 2nd Birthday, Gavin!

Two years old! What a time of learning, independence and growth (both physically and mentally). Gavin it clever, curious, loving and AWESOME! My two favorite parts of the day ...

1) When I see him at lunch, on days he is home with his nanny, or after work, he runs to me with a huge smile and shouts "Mommy's home!" and it is like we haven't just seen each other a few hours ago. He has also started hugging our legs one at a time and putting his head on our shoulder when we carry him. Both = adorableness!

2) Our night time routine. I wrote about it in our Christmas letter this year, but I have to say it again. After bath time, jammies, one last drink of milk and water and brushing teeth ... the fun part starts. All three of us snuggle in our bed and read a couple books. Then we each get a kiss, a hug with pats on our back, a handshake as he says "meet you", a high five, knuckles and a wave "bye bye, love you, night night" and a see you when the suns up "sun's up". Then I get a few minutes of snuggling in his glider in his room and then he goes in his crib usually rolling right over and falling asleep. 

Up this year ... letting the paci go, potty training and a big boy bed, what a year ahead! He already goes #1 on his Thomas potty seat (thanks Auntie Caitlin) every night before bath time, but that is as far as we have pushed/started training. We plan to start this summer since he will be home everyday while his daycare is closed. 

Unfortunately we found Gavin in his crib this morning sick (not fun to find a little person in their crib with yuck all over!). We put him on a bland-o diet, and he has been okay since. One more day limiting his food and we are hoping that is the end of this. Since he started going to daycare twice a week he definitely has been sick a lot, but we are grateful for his overall health ... our biggest blessing! 

At his 2-year appointment today he weighed in just over 25 lb. and measured just over 33 inches - back to about 50% after being way lower at his last appointment. Besides some seasonal allergies, this viral infection and a few past ear infections the little guy is doing great. We didn't want to do his last immunization shot with him being sick so one more of those sometime in the next few months then he is good until his 2 1/2 year appointment. 

Stefan and I kept up the tradition we started of having spaghetti on Gavin's birthday but he didn't get to partake fully, he had plain noodles. Tomorrow we are planning on cupcakes and the rest of his presents once Stefan gets back from work. then Sunday we will hang out as a family before Stefan and I go to dinner for our anniversary on Tuesday - eight years!

This is Stefan's last Saturday work day since the NFL combine is next week. He'll be in Indianapolis for the week making sure his athletes are well taken care of. Wishing Stefan, his colleagues and their athletes success and health next week ... I know they all put in a lot of work. 

Wishing himself happy birthday yesterday morning. 

Some of his presents, a few more I hear are on the way.

Feeling better at night. Laughing after seeing Uncle Matt's special birthday video (featuring Thomas, a tractor and a lion!)

I found him here this morning after he ran out of his room. I didn't hear anything so thought he was in trouble (he broke two things yesterday around the house!), but this was too sweet. He is looking at his picture of him and "Papa Jim" on a tractor that G&G H sent him in his birthday card. Sweet boy!