Annual family picture time

Two weeks ago, we had our annual informal photo session. It's funny to think that last year, we thought it was difficult with a barely-walking 1-year-old. But 2-year-old Gavin really gave this photographer a run for her money! We met her at McMenamins Roadhouse, where there is an open field with flowers and a rustic barn where Gavin ran around almost non-stop for 30 minutes. The only time he did stop was to play with door handles. Have I mentioned before how he is obsessed with doors and their hardware? These doors happened to be locked, so it was extremely frustrating that he couldn't open and shut them repeatedly. After about 40 minutes of running around and refusing to go where instructed, he threw a huuuuuuuuge tantrum and we had to cut our session short and leave in a hurry. The photographer actually managed to get a few decent shots with what she was given. And we'll take what we can get, just so we don't have to go through that again for another year. :) Maybe by next year he will actually smile on command?!




She took this one while Gavin was on the loose

This is just before the tantrum set in...

First ever photo of Gavin laughing

This part, he thoroughly enjoyed :)

Our big 2-year-old!

Everyone says it, so we might as well too. We can't believe Gavin is 2 already! It seems like we were just celebrating his 1st birthday. The difference between 1-yr-old Gavin and 2-year-old Gavin is amazing. He is speaking in sentences, counting, running, dancing, jumping, and playing educational apps on the iPad like a pro. :) He surprises us all the time with the stuff he knows, and frequently reminds us that we need to watch what we say around him. :) On the flip side, he is also very sensitive and prone to tantrums. We're still trying to figure out how to deal with those... But, wow, they can be draining!

We had a great time celebrating Gavin's birthday with my mom, dad, Ryan, Derek, Kristin, Meg, and Olivia visiting. I made a Blue's Clues paw print cake because that is Gavin's favorite show (the only show he'll watch). He's a pretty picky eater still, so he didn't try any of the cake, and he also doesn't like to get messy, so there was no smearing of the frosting. (Not that I'm complaining!)

Here are some pictures of the party and Dad & Ryan's visit.

September

Where did the whole month go??? We finally got our summer, then bam! it's fall already. Here are some fun things we did in September. (Gavin's b-day pics will be in the next post.)

Playing at the Children's Museum

Sharing a snack with Madison at Munchkin Playland






Meeting our playgroup at Out of This World Pizza (a gigantic warehouse full of kid fun, and pretty good pizza)




Gavin is still a little tentative when going down slides and likes to hold my hands. So here he is waiting for me. :)




There's also a little scooter racetrack, which Gavin LOVES. The scooters are different colors, but otherwise the same. But Gavin has to try one, then switch to another one a few times, just to get the best one.




Here we are enjoying a family dinner out. Gavin lasted about 20 minutes with the crayons before we had to take shifts entertaining him outside. Now, he always asks if we're "going to a rest-aunt" when we get in the car.


Gavin also loves his coffee outings to Starbucks. Before I reach the counter, he runs ahead of me to the open display case, picks out his "geen juice", and hands it to me to pay. Then he sits in his big person chair and drinks it while Mommy gets her coffee. He loves to "go Stahbucks and get da juice". :)