Why snow days are fun...

Well, we've basically been house-bound for a week now from the "winter blast of 2008", and we may not catch a break until Tuesday. We hear a lot of the main roads in Portland have been driveable on some days, but our neighborhood requires chains or skis to get out so we've opted to stay put. In addition to working from home last week, Paul and I also had fun entertaining Gavin, baking cookies, watching movies, and playing in the snow. We hope everyone out there is staying safe and warm and enjoying the holiday season!

Gavin watching Daddy make a snowman

Our backyard

Our street (notice the garbage & recycling which has been sitting out for a week!)

Gavin clowning around before going outside

Our snow angel

Paul's snowman somehow became a snowdroid
We tried to see if Gavin could sport a mohawk, but this kid has so many cowlicks we just couldn't make it work. At least he was enjoying it.

Laughing in the Saucer

We opened Gavin's Christmas present a little early to see what he'd do and he loved it! He was so amazed at his new perspective that he started laughing hysterically (which he's never done before). We ran to get the video camera because we were so excited and caught the tail end of it.

More videos

Oh, and we forgot to mention that our 3-month-old prodigy is also READING now. Okay maybe just looking at the pretty colors in the book, but he's trying to help turn the pages now, so that's progress.

This 2nd video is of our neice, Eilise, and nephew, Charlie, enjoying a day at OMSI (a kid-centered interactive science museum) while visiting us over Thanksgiving. They could have spent the whole day there!

3 Month Montage

Gavin turned 3 months last week! He is smiling all the time and really interacting a lot with people and with his toys (we're currently working on grabbing). He found his fist recently and likes to suck on that, and has started to smack his lips, although we're not sure why. He's also gone from having little chicken legs to cuddly roly-poly squishiness. :)


talking to Grammy

standing, with Aunt Krissy's help



something about Grammy's couch makes me sooo happy


enjoying tummy time - finally!

watching the tropical animals dance
practicing his kung-fu fighting skills - skidoo!






his first snow day!

sleepy Gavin

All tuckered from his playmat workout

A shout-out to Daddy's alma mater

Obviously, we're still working on his photogenicness. The last one cracks me up everytime I see it.

Thanksgiving

We had a great Thanksgiving this year! The Arizona McLaughlins came out to visit us and meet baby Gavin, and stayed with us for a few days. Everyone had a great time holding Gavin and taking turns feeding him, especially Eilise! My family also came up for the turkey dinner so we had a full house that day! It was so great to enjoy time off with family and just catch up. Here are some favorite shots from the weekend.

15 people in our living room

Pat, Charlie, Shelley, and Eilise

the McLaughlin clans

chillin' on great-grandpa's lap

squishy cheeks

quality time cuddlin' with the cousins

the master jr. chess players

how you doin'?

Beaver Believer

Gavin still believes...

(even if OSU did fail miserably against UO).

Thanks for the hat & booties, Gretta! :)

Gavin Drunk and Happy

Gavin finds his bottle intoxicating...

Conversations with Gavin

Gavin's latest [over]achievement is talking, and boy is he a chatterbox! Here's what he had to say after getting his diaper changed yesterday.

Random Smiles

Gavin is almost 10 weeks now and the smiles are coming more often. Pat-a-cake & You Are My Sunshine are almost always a hit with him, as well as getting his diaper changed.

playing pat-a-cake with daddy marking it with a "B"

The only drawback of living in a forest...

8 weeks old

Gavin is 2 months old now and cuter than ever. Here is this week in pictures...

concentrating on the monkey

tummy time with Daddy (someone please wash my hair!)

Bubba with his baba

sawin' logs with friend, Lorenzo

zonked!

looking "sheepish" :)

I love hugs!

Family Portrait

A few weeks ago, my family gathered to celebrate my grandmother's 80th birthday. Since we were all in the same state for 1 day, we decided to get some formal family shots taken by a pond where my grandparents live. Here are some where people are not blinking or where the baby isn't screaming...

Our little pumpkin

Happy Halloween!

Gavin wasn't too pleased with us, but at least we got some shots of him in costume! :)