Fish in the Tank

Drawing 0 - 60 in Weeks

2011-01-23T06:34:00.005-07:00

Gavin often spends a considerable amount of time contemplating an action or being exposed to an idea before committing himself to the action or idea. With drawing and art in general, this has been the case. At daycare, he never seemed to participate much in the art activities led by his teachers. The other kids folders were always packed with drawings and paintings while Gavin's only occasionally had a drawing or a painting. Thinking every kid loves to draw, we have bought various supplies to support artsy activities, but Gavin never seemed to have any interest. I have to admit that I was disappointed that our fridge was not full of colorful scribbles.

I should have been careful what I was wishing for... A few weeks ago, Gavin started to express his desire to draw. This consisted of balls of scribbles of one color, then several colors, then different "textures" using different writing implements (pens, pencils, markers, etc.). Gavin appeared to be making up for lost drawing time. He could easily sit down and draw two dozen pictures in just minutes gobbling up all the spare notebooks and printer paper in the house. At school, he routinely created several drawings a day and tacked them up on the fridge out of reach of Liam.

After a few weeks of scribbles, Gavin began naming them. This occurred during the holidays and Kiersten harnessed his drawings by having him decorate cards. Each drawing got a title like "Slide" or "Fast Slide" or "Long Slide". Many of the drawings seem to be slide-themed.

Then his drawing evolved to the next step -- people.

These are the people Gavin has drawn so far, in chronological order, and they crack me up. I especially like his signature squiggle for hair above each head. I cannot wait to see what he comes up with next.

Liam Turns Four Months Old

2010-03-30T01:05:00.002-06:00

Liam turned four months old this past weekend. In preparation of this anniversary, he has been practicing giggling, babbling, rolling on his side, and smiling. Here he is seen joining the family for dinner and giving his mommy a very adorable smile.

Some of his other activities are turning himself about in his crib, sleeping through the night, and playing with his toy monkey from Uncle Colin.

The Brothers Head to Daycare

2010-03-05T12:38:00.004-07:00

On Wednesday, Gavin and Liam both headed off to daycare for the first time.

Gavin was very excited to take his brother to daycare and introduce Liam to his new surroundings. Gavin accompanied him to the baby room and let us know that he approved. Liam was instantly intrigued by all the new sights and sounds. The only tears were Kiersten's as we left to go back home. For me, I was surprised to find myself excited for Liam. He began a journey that Gavin himself has traveled, enjoyed, and grown from. Liam will soon be making friends that he will know for years as he rises up through the ranks of toddlers and preschoolers just as his brother has.

Back home, it was a strange feeling to be in the house with no kids at all. It got even stranger when Kiersten went to bed to sleep off her work shift. At the same time, the change in atmosphere seemed to invigorate me and the day became one of the more productive days in the past couple weeks.

At the end of the day, I returned to pick-up Gavin and Liam. I was very pleased to find that Liam had not had any troubles adjusting to his new situation. He had eaten well, slept normally, and enchanted his care-givers. Hopefully, he will continue to have an easy time in this transition and we will keep our fingers crossed that his good health will continue despite the assault to which he will surely be exposed.

Freshening Up

2010-02-26T09:38:00.003-07:00

While Spring is still a few weeks off, I felt a Spring Cleaning of Fish in the Tank was in order to help clear out the cobwebs and infuse some new energy. With a new look, I am gaining some momentum to pick-up the FITT legacy, introduce the new fish in the tank, and relate all the new experiences we are having as parents of two kids.

I anticipate to be finished with the look-n-feel changes by the end of next week. One of the first posts you can look forward to is "The Story of Liam" of which many may have heard pieces of the story and few know the full tale!

It's Been a While Since the Last GMG

2009-06-11T05:59:00.000-06:00

It's been a while since the last GMG, but this morning is a classic "Good Morning Gavin".

Project "Little Fuzz"

2009-05-28T20:05:00.001-06:00

You may have noticed that we have been very silent here at Fish in the Tank. And we have a very good reason because we have been busy. Yes, we indeed have a new Fish in the Tank codenamed "Little Fuzz". Without further ado, onto the Little Fuzz FAQ.

When is the kid due?
December 6th.

How far along is the pregnancy?
Just finished the first trimester.

Is it a boy or a girl?
Your guess is as good as ours. We will let you know on December 6th, or thereabouts.

How is Mom doing?
The first trimester was rough in terms of morning sickness and fatigue, but she is in good spirits and is excited.

How is Dad doing?
He is wondering how the hell he will manage two kids on Daddy Weekends.

How is Gavin doing?
He is mostly oblivious although he has twice indicated he would like a baby sister when asked which sibling he would like to have.

Still Getting Used to Snow

2009-04-05T14:04:00.002-06:00

In the first three months of this year, we have received little snow and Gavin has had little exposure to our favorite form of water. In the few sparse snowfalls we had, Gavin was very timid and even exclaimed "Oh no, snow!" one day when I opened the garage door.

Suddenly, the weather pattern has changed. We have received three snow storms totaling something in the ballpark of three feet in the past ten days. While Kiersten and I are happy to finally be living in a winter wonderland landscape, Gavin is still decidedly against trouncing around in several inches of snow.

Our Little Helper

2009-03-04T07:20:00.003-07:00

Last month, Gavin hit the 22 month old mark. He has transitioned from a baby into a true toddler walking and talking all over the place. While new words begin to turn in sentences, one of the more dramatic changes is Gavin's desire to help around the house with various chores and activities.

He first discovered laundry. I believe the initial allure was the noise the washing machine makes and the musical tunes both machines make when pressing buttons. However, Gavin quickly went from spectator to loader/unloader. Since he is literally the perfect fit at the perfect height and able to crawl in to get those stubborn clothes in the back of the washer and dryer, who can argue with him wanting to help?

We discovered next that Gavin likes to help out in the kitchen. After getting tired of lifting him up and attempting to perform cooking while balancing him on a hip, I decided to setup Gavin on a chair and give him some tasks. He turned out to be a master colander loader (I think we see a pattern emerging). Any kitchen helper must be skillful with the measuring cup and spoon. Gavin has demonstrated this necessary skill as well pouring spices into the pot.

I am most proud of Gavin setting up the coffee maker to brew a fresh pot for me!

Can You Say...?

2009-01-20T05:44:00.000-07:00

Have you played this game with your kid? Gavin can repeat or attempt to repeat anything we say. In this installment, we asked Gavin to say several different names: Casey, Zoe, Addie, Grammy, and Grandpa.

Master of Paper Shredding

2009-01-13T20:00:00.000-07:00

I am never amazed at the different forms of entertainment that Gavin finds to amuse himself with. His latest discovery is shredding paper products.

Gavin has achieved a level of proficiency in shredding paper that I thought was only the realm of household pets such as cats and hamsters. He is very happy to receive a paper towel, tissue, or coffee filter and render it into tiny scraps. Occasionally, he is considerate and picks up several of the pieces and deposits them in the garbage can.

The interesting fact is that are instances when it is not appropriate to shred. For example, after washing his hands he is given a paper towel to dry his hands. After finishing the drying task, Gavin heads straight to the garbage can and throws out the paper towel without any shredding (yes, how EC of us...).

Debut Stage Performance

2008-12-05T21:50:00.004-07:00

Gavin made his stage debut this evening. Some of the early reviews rumored to hit the press in the coming days are: "Riveting...", "Captivating...", and "Born to entertain, destined to touch your heart..."

You did not know it would happen so soon and, frankly, neither did we. As a result I managed to get this 70's-quality example of what one would find looking for early childhood pictures of mom and dad. No 8,000 megapixel image that Grammy can plaster on her classroom wall at school or cool movie to stick on Youtube. Gavin was heard mumbling, "Way to go, Dad."

So what's the backstory? We attended the 5th Annual Weekcreekers Holiday Gala -- an annual fundraising event for Weecreekers, Gavin's daycare. We did expect to participate in a silent auction and dinner. By the way, how do you know you live in the mountains? When you bid on a cord of firewood at a silent auction. Anyway, following the dinner, the various classes of children performed skits for their classmates and parents. In true Weecreeker fashion, even Gavin's toddler class, the Turtles, had a turn on stage. Before we knew it, his teachers rounded up the class and gathered the kids on stage. They managed to "hold the line" and shook bells while everyone sang "Jiggle Bell Rock". It was quite cute and thankfully I had taken my cell phone even though I knew I would no signal at the event.

First Sled Ride and Snow Picnic

2008-11-30T11:48:00.002-07:00

With the arrival of our first significant snow in the canyon, Gavin got to open a Christmas present early. He went for his first official sled ride in two popular modes: the relaxing mommy-drawn sled excursion and the fast-paced driveway "hillside" ride. The hillside ride, not filmed, was of course ended by Gavin's first-ever "snow picnic".

Gavin Sings "Ring Around the Rosies"

2008-11-22T20:13:00.000-07:00

Happy Belated Halloween!

2008-11-03T20:28:00.004-07:00

Happy belated Halloween! While this was not Gavin's first Halloween based on the fact he was part of the world last October...it was his first Halloween based on his participation this time around. As you can see, he chose to be a bat. I say he chose, even though Mom picked out the costume, because he accepted the costume and wore it for a couple hours. The first time he tried it on a few weeks ago, he ripped the hood off.

You might wonder where mountain folks go to trick-or-treat. Our neighborhood is not convenient for a Halloween Night out especially for a toddler. We did hear about a kid's Halloween event down on Pearl Street in Boulder. So we scooped up our little bat and flew down to check it out.

It was a party indeed -- a couple hundred kids and parents swirled around the various stores where employees, dressed as witches and other Halloween characters, handed out candy. Although Gavin is walking, we carried him through the crowds and let him pick out a treat when he was so inclined.

Here are the candies that Gavin picked out himself. I have to say, he does have good taste. Of course, Gavin did not eat any of his candy. He just warmed up to buttered toast in the past few days. Sweets appear to be a future acquired taste.

We had a good time and I think we will take advantage of the Pearl Street Halloween in the future. Best of all, Gavin seemed to enjoy himself. He even allowed us to sneak into the county courthouse and vote while we were there.

Guinness World Records: Messiest, Miserable Toddler

2008-10-22T21:30:00.004-06:00

You may have noticed that I began tagging posts as "Toddler". Yes, Gavin has indeed ascended from babydom to toddlerdom. He has taken the name-sake "steps", begun asserting his opinion, and flashing from happy to upset faster than you can say "Wha-".

In this case, "Wha-" gets finished off in my head as "Why the (insert colorful phrase of your choosing) would you smear your lunch over your entire head and then be terribly upset with the results?" Of course, then I realize he has never had a butternut squash face mask before -- he was experimenting. I can imagine the appeal although I can honestly say I have never had one, nor ever will, unless such treatment is applied by Gavin during a subsequent incident.

I hope other parents out there who see this shining moment are giggling about a similar moment they experienced with their own kids at this stage. I have been chuckling the entire time I wrote this, in hindsight.

Daddy's Office or Romper Room

2008-10-16T20:56:00.000-06:00

This kid can walk, climb, scale, fall, dive, and generally get where he wants to go.

First Walk Down the Driveway

2008-09-24T20:00:00.001-06:00

Today, Gavin ventured outside for his first walk. Accompanying his mom, Gavin navigated the bumps, cracks, and varying grade of the driveway. Since the driveway is not exactly a short run, it provided Gavin plenty of exercise being the first time he has explored the yard in bipedal fashion.

We are certain he enjoyed it since he chanted his usual mantra when he is having fun, "Happy, happy, happy, happy..." He also practiced "up", a new word which he has learned. We even think we heard "up, please" after one fall. However, I am willing to admit that is just my proud daddy-brain at work.

And Stretch to the Right

2008-09-15T21:30:00.002-06:00

The fitness genius that introduced you to BAWL is now breaking new ground in the world of toddler-led fitness programs with his new system TAPER, or Toddler All-Purpose Exercise Routine!

Now that ski season is just weeks away, we are using Gavin's innovative techniques to get our bodies tuned for the winter season. Seen here demonstrating his mind-blowing moves, Gavin achieves a physical trifecta of balance, coordination and flexibility using the "O" ball and a xylophone mallet. I guarantee you have never been part of a fitness program quiet like this.

Disclaimer: Please consult your physician before beginning any physical regimen. Anyone with a predisposition to giggling should avoid engaging in TAPER all together as they are at higher risk of injury.

What's In a Word?

2008-09-12T20:00:00.001-06:00

You are absolutely correct. Today's photo has nothing to do with the title. However, it is a good representation of Gavin's progress and you might guess what he is up to. With the abilities to stand, climb, toddle, and crawl, he has access to good 60% of the house. Gavin is keeping us busy, but has not gotten into any serious trouble or messes -- yet.

So onto the title... What's in a word? I've been think about this question in relation to Gavin for quite a while. I am fascinated watching Gavin develop the desire to do things and say things. Even more amazing are the moments when he bridges the gap between the two and begins to communicate.

As many other parents are doing these days, we have introduced Gavin, as well as ourselves, to American Sign Language. He has been able to ask for milk, crackers, "more", and to go to bed for several weeks now. It is an interesting process as babies and toddlers tend to interpret signs in their own way. For instance, Gavin is able to identify dogs by sight or sound and will sign dog by tapping his chest with the palm of his hand instead of his thigh. Whatever works -- apparently he is getting his point across.

As far as the verbal stuff, I think I had formed a preconception of the First Word as a glorious milestone where Gavin would announce some complicate word at least three syllables long and I would beam my parental pride. And from time to time, Gavin has blurted out enough of a word to recognize such as fish or apple. At present, Gavin can say cracker, car, and happy (we think). So between the signing, the partial words, and now the distinct words, what's in a word?

What I have realized is each new word he expresses is a wonder in itself whether it be a new sign he picks up or a new verbal exclamation. It is something I already knew -- that each day brings some new discovery. And on the days Gavin decides that the status quo will suffice, I am just as happy listening to him chant "happy, happy, happy, happy" as he cruises along.

Faces? Did You Say Make Some Faces?

2008-08-18T19:35:00.001-06:00

It has been a long time since we have seen a "Gavin Faces" series around here. Well, if you were itchin for a fixin then here is your shot. You can be sure there is plenty more where that came from!

Don't forget the rest of the faces!

Bubble Snack

2008-08-06T16:04:00.002-06:00

So you want to have a bubble snack? Gavin demonstrates the proper technique for effectively catching bubbles for consumption. If you have caught snowflakes, that provides a good base to work from. There are subtleties, however, and Gavin will go on at length discussing the minute, but important factors.

Silliness aside, he looks like such a big boy!

A Good Diaper is a Clean Diaper

2008-07-25T08:33:00.005-06:00

As you may remember, Gavin made a bold move a while back switching from disposable diapers to cloth diapers. Many products were trialed and evaluated. Only a few met his demanding standards.

To show his loyal support to one of the diaper finalists and to receive a free diaper, Gavin sent in a "diaper in action" picture, or DIA -- not to be confused with Denver International Airport.

You can see Gavin's commercial web debut at Precious Dignity. (scroll down the page)

Exploring the Unknown

2008-07-15T20:04:00.000-06:00

For quite a while, Gavin's sphere of influence was limited not by his stamina when it came to rolling or soldier crawling, but by non-physical boundaries. This was fortunate for us...Gavin would not cross the threshold of open doorway between his room and the hallway, nor would he venture from the living room into the kitchen due to the change in flooring materials from carpet to hardwood. It was almost supernatural, like some spell was holding him back.

Well, sometime in the past couple weeks, the spell was broken. While playing with him in his room one afternoon, he suddenly lost interest in his toys and made a break for the door. I assumed that he was on his way to shut the door (because he cannot leave any open door stay open these days). Much to my surprise, he ignored the offensively open door and continued right over what had been an impassable barrier. Once though, he looked over his shoulder and issued a triumphant giggle. Guess it's time to buy baby-gates.

His bold exploration continues. The DGZ (De-Gavinized Zone) on the first floor has also been dismissed. Gavin has discovered the elusive route to the front door and you can see him surveying his next conquest, The Deck.

New Skill = Less Public Appearances

2008-07-14T05:57:00.000-06:00

Gavin recently acquired a new skill: nose-picking. While I'm all for learning new things, this nose-picking falls into the category of "things-Gavin-never-really-needed-to-know-or-discover".

We are in the process of renegotiating his scheduled public appearances while the exploration of his nasal caverns plays out. Not surprisingly, the PNPF, or preferred nose-picking finger, is also the PPF, or preferred pointing finger. So if you find yourself in the "line of fire" just beware of where that finger has been!

Blackraspberry Wins!

2008-07-12T19:23:00.001-06:00

Gavin received his first taste of ice cream this afternoon. As Daddy was sitting in front of him, Daddy's ice cream, blackraspberry, was the first flavor that Gavin tried. He made faces, let the ice cream dribble out of his mouth, rubbed it all over his face, and, of course, signed for more.

He also tried the other flavors on hand, chocolate (Mommy) and mint-chocolate-chip (Grammy). However, Gavin quickly decided these ice creams were not for him. He's a chip off Daddy's block apparently.

At first, he was spoon fed his first few tastes, but once he selected his favorite flavor, Gavin went for it all in true ice cream licking fashion!

More of Gavin's Favorite Pastime

2008-07-06T18:15:00.002-06:00

We finished off our Fourth of July holiday weekend with a day trip to Rocky Mountain National Park.

All our hikes with Gavin have been local, within twenty minutes of the house, and have been short affairs, less than two miles. None of these hikes required meals or naps. Today, we thought we would push the boundaries outward and upward by taking our longest hike to date. We were successful! Gavin loved every minute of the just-shy-of-three-miles hike that included a picnic lunch above the roaring Glacier Creek. As for his nap, cozily wrapped in Mom's fleece, he promptly dozed off in the car as we left the park and slept soundly on the return trip home.

With a little more planning and organization, we hope to be able to complete some five mile or more hikes that take us to some of the best vistas Colorado has to offer.

Happy Fourth of July!

2008-07-04T17:29:00.003-06:00

This is what our new hometown Fourth of July looks like. A small community parade in our backyard. Gavin mostly liked the parade except for the loud horns from the firetrucks. He was decked out in as much red, white, and blue that he could get his hands on!

We hope everyone had a great Fourth of July celebration!

Sitting In the Crib

2008-06-27T21:00:00.001-06:00

Gavin has been practicing many new skills such as crawling and sitting. His crawl is very similar to one of those autonomous robots you see on science shows, a.k.a. the creature crawl. In the realm of sitting, Gavin has much improved over the past week going from pushing up from on his side into a sitting position to backing himself up into a sitting position, which is oh-so-much-easier as well as being the quicker method. When he awoke early on Wednesday morning, I just knew I would walk in to find him sitting up in his crib for the first time.

The nights have been getting warmer, so Kiersten dressed him in his PJ's minus his usual sleep sack. Along with his new-found sitting skill, this freedom-of-movement was all he needed to achieve this crib-based milestone. He is not pulling up yet, although we are finding many encouraging games to goad him into it, so walking in on him peeking over the crib rail is an exciting moment that is still over the horizon.

Back to Messy Meals

2008-06-23T07:00:00.002-06:00

In the beginning of feeding Gavin solid foods, things were very messy. After a while, though, he got the hang of things, we got the hang of things, and we all settled into a routine where all the food transferred from the jar to Gavin's mouth made it into his tummy. Of course, there were the occasional return-to-sender moments, but they were fairly infrequent or were small in quantity.

We recently turned a corner in the food department and are experimenting with various foods that are not the standard baby puree. Gavin's current favorite item, and mine as well, are Dr. Praeger's Spinach Pancakes. Yesterday, he even stuck his thumb in the pancake, pulled out some spinach chunks (no plums in this case) and deftly ate the the spinach off his thumb. I am calling it the first official moment that Gavin fed himself at dinner. But, we have returned to the days of the messy dinner until Gavin practices this new skill and we find our new equilibrium.

(Mountain) Lions and Tigers and Bears

2008-06-22T16:00:00.001-06:00

For Mom's birthday, Gavin really wanted to go to the zoo to celebrate. So ten months after landing in Colorado, we finally made a trip into Denver to grant Gavin's wish.

Since he is the Kelty hiking carrier's biggest fan, we opted to treat the day as a hike instead of having Gavin use the stroller. We realized immediately that although we were the only family to opt for the baby/toddler on the back, it was the best decision because Gavin was able to see the animals over the fences wherever we went. Gavin got a special treat during snack time as there were free-roaming peacocks on the lawn where we stopped to setup our mini-picnic.

His favorite animals seemed to be peacocks, rhinoceroses, seals, fish, and polar bears. In all other cases, he was more interested in people-watching than animal watching. In the case of the peacocks, Gavin was so interested by them that when the peacocks let out one of their heard-around-the-zoo calls, he tried to echo their call back. His final achievement of the trip was to say "fish", pronounced "fsss", and make the sign at the same time.

Building Towers Is Child's Play

2008-06-18T20:30:00.000-06:00

For months, Gavin has played with the blocks in the picture. This amounted to chewing on them, banging them into other toys, and throwing them as far as possible. While I have showed him how to build a tower on several occasions, all those structures were immediately leveled by Gavin's incredible right hook.

Tonight, Kiersten and I were discussing the fact that Gavin had not experimented with stacking his blocks. At the very moment we talked about this milestone, Gavin expertly lifted a block with two hands and placed it on top of another block. "The crowd went wild!" is an understatement. As Gavin has caught onto Mommy and Daddy's cheering as a positive sign, he was encouraged by our whooping and clapping and continued the exercise by picking up the third block and topped off the block tower.

It was a thrilling and bizarre moment. Gavin spent the rest of the evening practicing stacking with vary success. He is pictured here with his third successful stack.

A Little More Shade Please

2008-05-27T21:26:00.002-06:00

Even though we are knee-deep in projects as new home-owners, we are taking the time to explore the area and enjoy the mountain-living we were striving to achieve. Our most recent adventure took us to Gross Dam Reservoir a short drive from the house. Although it was not a true hike, Gavin insisted that we use his Kelty carrier.

What a life! He might as well have some caviar up there in his cozy perch and fill that that sippy cup with Perrier while you're at it. This kid travels in style wherever he ventures.

Gavin's Big Move

2008-05-08T20:00:00.000-06:00

While I wish the title referred to Gavin crawling, I am instead referring to Gavin's residential move from his second apartment to his first house. After completing a cross-country move within the past year, Gavin was not phased by the prospect of relocating just twenty miles from the shadow of the Front Range into the mountains themselves.

However, much like the popular decorating shows like While You Were Out, Gavin woke up Thursday unsuspecting of the surprising day he would have. He left the apartment for daycare early that morning just like any other daycare day. After a fabulous time with his friends, he strapped into his car seat unaware of the surprise waiting for him.

It only took a few minutes to arrive at his destination, which tipped Gavin off to something being afoot. He chose to go with the flow and see how things played out, although he expected the next item on the agenda to be dinner. He was caught off-guard when Mom walked him inside the unfamiliar building and surveyed his surrounding with a wide-eyed gaze. Dinner arrived, but it was served in a spacious dining room (at his usual dining table) next to a kitchen that flowed into a huge living room. After finishing a dinner conforming to his usual fare, he figured that he should explore the bathing facilities if the Thursday routine was to hold true to form.

Again, a usual fixture, his bathtub, appeared in an unfamiliar room. It was shocking and comforting all in the same moment. They met his exacting standards for hygiene and, more importantly, entertainment -- including the automated bubble blower. He splashed around happily and could not wait to head to his bedroom next.

After drying off and combing his hair, it was finally time to check out his quarters. Although the layout was different, all his furniture had been setup and toys were laid out. How were Mom and Dad able to do all that? His found his new room to be a bit bigger than his old room as well as being further down the hall from Mom and Dad. More space and privacy!

He finished the day with a bottle of whole milk and curled up with his blanky for his first sleep in his new house. Before drifting off, Gavin thought to himself that this new place might just work out after all.

Wildflower Season Begins

2008-04-28T19:14:00.003-06:00

The hummingbirds have arrived and the wildflower season has begun. Apparently, there is a whole field of flowers that will pop-up over the next few weeks at our house. I promised the former owner that I would scour the grounds with guidebook in hand as he once did. The first flowers into the sunlight are the Pasque Flower. I spotted them today while up at the house meeting with more contractors and making a small move of random boxes.

As I also mentioned, the next several weeks are also hummingbird season. I would not have thought hummingbirds made low-mountain elevations home, but their return is a big event along the Front Range. I cannot wait to put the feeders out and catch a few snapshots of them.

Happy Birthday, Gavin...Again!

2008-04-20T21:34:00.005-06:00

Today we celebrated Gavin's 1st birthday. We were not able to get in the planned hike nor were we able to take a stroll along Pearl Street due to a major grass fire west of Boulder. It turned out all Gavin wanted was a trip to the local park playground and have an extra-long ride on the swings.

For his birthday, we had all the usual suspects: decorations, balloons (unpopped), birthday hats, presents, and cupcakes. Gavin seemed to have X-ray vision while knowingly eying his presents. He appeared to be drawn to Volume 2 of Baby Signing Times (pictured holding the wrapped DVD) and the large box on the left in the picture (which received several approving pats from Gavin).

The climax of the afternoon was, of course, the official singing of Happy Birthday accompanied by Gavin's first sugary treat. He loves singing songs and made a bid for grabbing the lit candle. The cupcake itself was a different experience. Gavin's six sense immediately alerted him to the fact that the chocolate delight in front of him was no jar of Turkey & Rice or container of Peas. His natural inclination was to grab and squeeze with all his might and then banish said tasty treat to carpet looming below.

The full set of birthday pictures can be found on Smugmug.

Happy Birthday, Gavin!

2008-04-19T21:00:00.001-06:00

Gavin had his first birthday today. It was a gorgeous day in Colorado as the latest Spring snow storm cleared out. Although it was a big day, Gavin only had plans to catch-up on naps he missed while at daycare this week. His low-key expectations happened to jive with our own plans to delay his celebration until tomorrow since Mom had to work today.

Do not fear, Gavin still had a special day:

He received a special birthday wish from Aunt Jill (a singing birthday card). Gavin loves cards and this was his first-ever singing card providing several minutes of entertainment -- at least until he decided that it was also a snack.
Gavin received a Skype call from Grammy wishing him a Happy Birthday.
Dad and Gavin broke out the Kelty frame pack and went for a short hike in the park.
Dad took Gavin to visit Mom at work since he missed her very much.

Tomorrow we'll have hats, cake, and presents!

Paparazzi Block

2008-04-12T20:30:00.000-06:00

With all the photography sessions that Gavin has been exposed to, he is learning to defend himself against this optical onslaught. He is shown here practicing the "Paparazzi Block", or, as Gavin refers to it, the "pa-ba".

I have taken quite a break here on Fish in the Tank and just wanted to let everyone know that this gig is still playing. Many of you know that I have plenty to discuss between our visit to NYC and buying a new home. Of course, there are new Gavin-related stories as well, such as his escapades flying the friendly skies and starting daycare.

Just one week until the Little Big Guy's birthday!

Growing, growing, growing...

2008-03-18T11:12:00.002-06:00

On the eve of Gavin turning eleven months, here is a little comparison of 1-month Gavin, 3-month Gavin, and 10-month Gavin.

Happy Belated Birthday, Blog!

2008-03-12T08:18:00.002-06:00

March 10th is the blog's birthday! Did you send out an e-card to Fish in the Tank?

It is hard to believe that a year has gone by already. Of course, this is just a precursor to Gavin's birthday in just over a month. Go back to the beginning and spend some time reminiscing and reliving this past year -- The Big Baby Shower Day.

The Dreaded Norovirus

2008-03-09T20:02:00.000-06:00

A happy affair was celebrated this evening -- the return of dinner to Gavin's schedule. The normal fare disappeared from the menu when, a week ago this past Friday, Gavin evacuated his entire dinner into his bathtub.

Until just over a week ago, we had only heard rumors of the evil stomach bug that was taking down families back East and around town as well. We hoped that we would be spared the nausea, misery, and other symptoms of the Norovirus infection. Of course, that was just a fairy tale hope. I watched in horror as first Gavin went through a night of several episodes of vomiting followed by Kiersten falling ill 48 hours later. Unfortunately, she followed Gavin's lead and spent 12 hours commuting between the bed and bathroom, often crawling to make the trip.

Selfishly, I hoped against all hope that I would prove to have the invincible immune system of the family. Yet again, like a 16th-century Spanish galleon in a hurricane, my hopes sank 24 hours after Kiersten fell ill. Now we arrived at a situation that was unplanned and eye-opening. With no family or friends, what would we do if I got as sick as Kiersten? In the end, I proved to be either darn lucky or have that super-hero strength immune system and only had to endure a few hours of the worst that Gavin and Kiersten spent at least half a day suffering. The low point was lying on the floor, too nauseous to get up, with Gavin sitting in front of me miserable and crying and I just did not know what to do.

Kiersten and I recovered quickly and have felt fine for at least a week. Gavin, in the meantime, has had a rough week. His appetite returned quickly, but his gastrointestinal fortitude did not. We used tricks learned with past illnesses and experimented with his diet to help keep him fed, hydrated, and minimize his nausea and vomiting. It was a challenge to keep him happy and he seemed to always be hungry and be miserable for it. Finally, after watching his disposition improve by leaps and bounds over the past couple days, he had a normal day yesterday. Kiersten brought back the old daily menu of cereal, veggies, and meat to Gavin's delight. It has been a while since we have seen him so excited at mealtime!

Introducing Gavin's Movie Quotes

2008-03-08T10:25:00.000-07:00

We are starting a new segment called "Gavin's Movie Quotes". The premise is simple. Along with the usual posting of a Gavin picture, I'll also include a movie quote inspired by said Gavin photo. Of course, I am absolutely ready to be hounded and challenged by this blog's very vocal community (eh-hem...hint, hint) concerning my interpretation. I will accept suggestions for both existing posts and for new quotes with pictures selected from the Smugmug galleries.

Capice? Let's get to it then! Sporting his new cloth diaper, Gavin evoked one of my all-time favorite movies.

Movie: Men in Black

Quote: Jay says to Kay while putting the MIB suit on for the first time, "You know what the difference is between you and me? I make this look good."

That First Year Sneaks Up Quickly

2008-03-07T19:18:00.003-07:00

Gavin received his first invitation to a birthday party. One of his friends from back in NYC is turning one year old in April just a few days before Gavin. Unfortunately, he cannot attend, but that did not dampen his excitement when he saw the invitation -- it was hours of fun. Gavin is a master manipulator and demonstrated repeatedly how well he could rotate the card. Of course, the card was also prolifically licked, as are all objects these days.

I cannot believe that one year has just about passed. Gavin has changed so much, grown so much, and so much has changed in our lives as well. Keep your eyes peeled because something else turns one year old before Gavin does (wink, wink).

First Haircut

2008-02-25T17:45:00.004-07:00

At ten months, Gavin's hair was scraggly and unruly. Something had to be done! This past weekend, we took him to Lollilocks and got him the first-timer treatment. Gavin proved once again to be concerned-but-willing-to-go-with-the-flow. There were no tears, just a few skeptical and dirty looks which quickly turned back into smiles once the cutting had ended.

Gavin Goes Green

2008-02-21T16:39:00.003-07:00

Turning 10 months old just days ago, Gavin decided one can never be too young to begin thinking about one's impact on the environment. The obvious consideration for a green overhaul is his use of disposable diapers.

For quite a while, Gavin consistently produced one full diaper pail of dirty diapers per week. Dad conveniently emptied the diaper pail on garbage day on his way to breakfast and promptly disposed of the smelly stack in the trash outside. Recently, however, Gavin's waste output has increased and the convenient weekly routine has broken down. Not to mention that those boxes of diapers seem to be winding up empty within days of being purchased.

Bring on the cloth diapers. These ain't your momma's cloth diapers! With a multitude of adjustments and fashionable colors, it is hard to turn down this cost-effective replacement for disposables. As you can see, Gavin is excited about his new-found drawers and is particularly pleased with this eco-friendly or economically clever option.

Anyone notice how the top of Gavin's head is equal with mom's mid-thigh. He is the Little Green Giant...

New Faces of Gavin

2008-02-16T23:19:00.004-07:00

It has been a while since we have examined the many faces of Gavin. He is sporting a few new looks which are based on the time-honored tradition of imitation.

First, we start with Gavin's dashing, baseline look -- the very adorable baby boy face we have come to know and love.

Second, we have Gavin's squinting face. It is believed that this face has its roots in Gavin's early weeks when his dad winked at him. A second theory postulates that Gavin began squinting during Christmas and was inspired by the Christmas lights -- altering their appearance by adjusting his squint factor.

Last, we see Gavin in mid-execution of an "elephant call". Again, his dad was spending some quality time teaching Gavin some life lessons. Gavin caught the drift of the lesson in just seconds and was soon trumpeting like an elephant calf. The lesson was captured during the filming of "Gavin: The Documentary" and a preview will be released in the coming weeks.

Technology Is Inevitable

2008-02-10T21:00:00.000-07:00

To give Mom a little space and time to concentrate on job-hunting, I took Gavin out on a pilgrimage I have been meaning to make for a while.

Back East, I used to make a trip to Microcenter or one of the other techo-shrines in Manhattan on a monthly basis. Outside of Denver, however, I have found the tech store situation to be very similar to the restaurant scene in our town -- there are a several national franchise chains, but nothing with a high-caliber specialty. Don't get me wrong...Best Buy and P.F. Chang's have their uses, but sometimes you need more.

Fortunately, there is a Microcenter in Denver. It is at least a thirty minute drive from our home and would definitely have been out of the question to drag Kiersten to. For just Gavin and me, it turned out to be a perfect father-son trip.

Although I want to distance Gavin from the whole technology scene somewhat, I realize that it is too much a part of who I am to deny him or attempt to ignore its influence. Cruising the aisles buckled into his shopping cart seat, Gavin seemed pretty interested as much as an infant can be. There was much grabbing for items hung on racks and boxes stacked on shelves with the intention of licking or chewing, I am sure. Eventually, I selected a new keyboard and put Gavin in charge of keeping it in the cart. He did an excellent job and banged out a catchy, rhythmic beat for the remainder of my long-awaited perusal of all things artificial and electronic.

Uh oh!

2008-01-29T22:39:00.000-07:00

When informed that the kitchen had run out of his favorite meal-time treat, Gavin was visibly distressed. He prefers the bland-but-green-leafy-goodness of veggies like peas and green beans. On his list of least favorite foods are apples (too sour), most berries (too tart), yogurt (too tangy)...you get the picture.

For the time being, Gavin is more a steak-n-potatoes baby, but we will keep trying and hope that his taste buds eventually catch-on to what they are missing.

The Turning of the Tide

2008-01-20T10:00:00.000-07:00

Gavin's prognosis was pretty much on the money. Just in time for his monthly anniversary (he turned nine months yesterday), his symptoms started clearing up.

The biggest difference is his appetite or willingness to use the bottle returned. We were getting worried that he would begin to get dehydrated after a few days of taking in significantly lower-than-normal fluid levels. True to form, he did bounce back.

I learned something not-so-interesting and maybe revolting to anyone else during Gavin's most recent illness. He was incredibly snotty...and not just runny snotty...explosive snotty. We had to deal with quite a bit of mucal messiness. In the past, I found kid snot to be on par with biohazardous, nuclear waste. Not so with Gavin -- it was easy to take being slimed in stride. Maybe it is just because I was more concerned that he was miserable, or that I had already shared his germy goodness, or maybe I know his snot is half my snot on genetic level.

In either case, I am glad that Gavin has returned to his normal mode of sliming, blowing raspberries, instead sneezing all over us.

Gavin's Bad Day

2008-01-17T13:00:00.000-07:00

Although Gavin is generally a happy, cheery lad, once-in-a-while the stars do not quite align and the gods do not favor him -- making for a miserable Gavin. Today was one of those days.

Since we returned from our vacation, it is evident that Gavin, as well as Dad, picked up a bug at day care. The mood du jour is cranky and clingy. Gavin does manage to distract/entertain himself by practicing his rolling. He has gotten very proficient over the past week. Unfortunately, he is quicker than either Mom or Dad realized and Gavin rolled himself right off the bed. Thump! Poor guy.

On top of his unexpected, startling success, a visit to the doctor resulted in a diagnosis of RSV, or "Really Sucky Virus" as I read one parent put it. According to the doc, Gavin has at least a few more days of coughing, runny nose, and decreased appetite.

While Gavin is under the weather and, in the accompanying picture, looks a bit apprehensive of heights, I am sure he will "bounce back" and be his normal self in no time at all.

It's All In There!

2007-12-30T11:19:00.000-07:00

Several people have remarked that Gavin resembles Dad, but he definitely has traits of Mom as well. As captured during his Saturday Night Bath, Gavin showed that he has a laugh and smile just like Mom did back in the day when having lots of fun.

Gavin's First (And White) Christmas

2007-12-25T17:00:00.001-07:00

Merry Christmas!

Despite the original weather forecast, we received a significant amount of snow from this last storm. By morning, a couple inches covered the ground making it an official White Christmas for us. Gavin was pretty excited about his good fortune scoring a White Christmas on his very first Christmas holiday. He insisted we give his new snow suit a test run with a walk in Winter Wonderland.

Kiersten and I were very excited for Gavin's first Christmas, but we assumed that he would barely notice as we conducted our various rituals. At first, he seemed overwhelmed sitting among a pile of his presents unsure of what was to happen.

However, after a little coaching, Gavin got into the full spirit of unwrapping as he discovered the fun of tearing the wrapping paper, tugging on ribbons, and banging on boxes. Of course, he tried to eat the wrapping paper as well. All in all, we enjoyed ourselves and Gavin seemed to have great fun getting 100% attention from Mom and Dad all day long.

Two Front Teeth For Christmas!

2007-12-24T09:00:00.000-07:00

Although Gavin has had both teeth for a couple weeks, they are more visible at this point. More importantly, today was the first time we were able to collect visual evidence of the teeth. Of course, Gavin just saw the opportunity to turn on some extra cute-factor and really nailed this shot.

Gavin Meets Santa

2007-12-23T15:00:00.000-07:00

Time almost eluded us on taking Gavin to meet Santa. Fortunately, we managed to hit the mall on Sunday and Gavin was able to tolerate the hour long wait.

Overall, the experience went well. Gavin was not frightened or traumatized during his first Santa encounter. If anything, he seemed confused by the affair. If his mind could be read, he was probably thinking "Mom, why did you hand me to this strangely dressed character and hide behind that camera whiz-a-ma-jig?" He looked cute while never looking at or smiling at the camera, so we just picked the silliest looking picture of the bunch. So far, the two formal pictures we have had taken of Gavin have been less than ideal portraits. But he is just a baby and that is have the fun of it.

Santa himself did not seem so enthusiastic. I imagine it is more entertaining to meet children who can talk to him. Afterward, I realized there was a subtle change in the air around Gavin. I chuckled as I whispered to Kiersten that I had a theory why Santa was less than thrilled to have Gavin on his knee -- he pooped on Santa!

Eight Months Old!

2007-12-20T10:00:00.001-07:00

Yesterday, Gavin turned 8 months old! It has been quite a ride up to this point -- he is rapidly growing from our little baby boy into a fairly big boy. Approaching 23 pounds, Gavin is wearing outfits in the 1 year old range. Although we loved his infant car seat, we got him a new seat because, as you can see, he was running out of room!

Among his many new milestones are:

His two front teeth came in before Christmas (9 Dec and 16 Dec).
Enjoys eating, especially now that he is getting some protein along with his veggies.
Eats solid food 2-3 times a day.
Sits up for an hour or more at times.
Stands with some help and supervision.

Also, on the eve of turning 8 months, we discovered that Gavin can get into a hysterical laughing fit. Of course, we captured it on video to share!

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Ski Season 2007-2008 Opens!

2007-12-18T17:11:00.000-07:00

We opened our ski season this past weekend with a trip to Copper Mountain. It took weeks of planning and negotiations with Gavin to get him to allow us out of his sight for a day. The terms of the deal were:

We only go away for a day-trip,
Green beans be provided for dinner,
We would employ his favorite, locally-available baby sitter.

Being a shrewd negotiator, Gavin also secured a spot on an upcoming winter land trip. He has listened to the tall tales Mom and Dad enjoy telling him about the Good Old Days skiing in Vermont. Preparing for the kind of legendary cold he has heard about, Gavin found a cozy snowsuit on sale and cannot wait to try it out.

Now This Guy Loves Carrots!

2007-12-02T21:18:00.000-07:00

In the realm of eating, Gavin has explored many foods and has been making some serious progress in increasing his success rate (ratio of food in the stomach versus amount of food remaining on his bib). He can even take the spoon with a small amount of food, avoid painting his face with it, and eat off the spoon.

Gavin has not been an enthusiastic eater, seeming to tolerate most food we have offered. Tonight, he demonstrated his love for carrots (a Dad favorite) as well as the fact that Gavin is indeed a baby. After all, only a baby can wear food like this and still be cute.

Gavin's House of Style

2007-11-28T03:47:00.001-07:00

Gavin has been exploring his sense of style. In our opinion, he can pretty much pull off any look. He debuted his sporty-shades theme in Boulder over the Thanksgiving weekend and attained immediate celebrity status. People who caught a glimpse of this suave boy rounded up their family and friends to share in the moment of stunning infant coolness.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2007-11-23T12:37:00.000-07:00

On the heels of Gavin turning 7 months old, he attended his first Thanksgiving dinner. For the occasion, his Grammy came out for a long weekend for her first Thanksgiving in Colorado.

Gavin eyed the Thanksgiving feast which consisted of a 16 lbs brined turkey and gravy, corn bread pudding, roasted apples and butternut squash, cranberry relish, tossed salad, and sweet potatoes. His menu was less traditional -- Zwieback Toast, cauliflower and squash, and formula.

The Answer Is Four

2007-11-19T19:21:00.000-07:00

Gavin is learning new things each day. Here he shows off a few new practical tips he's picked up:

When you can't find your Zwieback Toast, a nylon strap will suffice to satisfy the uncontrollable desire to gnaw.
The answer is ALWAYS four.

The Classic Eat the Toes Trick

2007-11-14T22:10:00.000-07:00

Nearing his 7-month anniversary, Gavin showed mom he had figured out how to perform the classic baby maneuver, "Eat the Toes".

This was the first time he was observed demonstrating his youthful flexibility (Dad shudders at the thought of trying such an act). Of course, Gavin also provided some insight into his developing common sense...after all, he waited until bath-time to suck on his toes when they would be clean. That-a-boy!

Gavin's Hiking Equipment

2007-11-12T17:48:00.000-07:00

Shopping for Gavin's hiking carrier.

Good Morning, Gavin

2007-11-02T09:00:00.000-06:00

At Gavin's six month check-up this past week, his doctor wanted us to encourage him to get to know his feet and become used to putting some weight on his legs. We also thought his daily play zones have become a bit too routine. Since the activity mat that we received as a gift has been very entertaining -- Gavin even discovered one of the toys was on a pull-cord we didn't know about -- we thought the new activity toy should be an upgrade of the mat. And by upgrade, I mean literally since he would need to stand in the new toy.

As you can see, Gavin was clearly surprised when presented with his new play center. He took it like "white on rice," as my CYO basketball coach used to say when coaching us on defense. Gavin's favorite perch has always been on my shoulder where he can turn and look in any direction. The new play center allows him to do the same, just at ground level. And that seems just dandy to Gavin.

Different Skies

2007-11-01T19:59:00.000-06:00

Funky clouds and spectacular lighting were on the bill for our nightly backyard show known as the sunset. I am not sure what the conditions were tonight, but the clouds were in a formation I had never seen first-hand. It almost looked like someone picked up a small section of calm ocean shoreline and stuck it in the middle of the sky. The picture below is just a snippet of the whole line, so it does not come through. I just liked the post-production colors.

Happy Halloween!

2007-10-31T14:59:00.000-06:00

Good Morning, Gavin

2007-10-28T22:00:00.000-06:00

No caption needed.

The Poop Stops Here

2007-10-26T19:39:00.000-06:00

Today was the first official day of fairly normal gastro-intestinal processing and bowel movements. Since Wednesday of last week, Gavin's dirty diaper production tripled. We certainly did not demand that he try harder in the Number Two Arena, so we are assuming that Gavin had his first viral battle.

Thankfully, he won without any extraordinary measures. He was very uncomfortable, cried quite a bit, got completely off his well-tuned sleep schedule, and was generally not himself. We picked up two tips that we found very useful in dealing with Gavin's bout of viral diarrhea. First, use baby powder in combination with diaper rash creme (or Triple Butt Paste -- I love the stuff). Second, switch to a non-milk-based formula -- Gavin appeared to develop a lactose intolerance since the virus chased out all the good microbes from his system.

While the whole experience was a stinky mess, Gavin put up some impressive numbers:

9 consecutive days of 4 or more poops.
28 consecutive poopy diapers over the course of a 3 day period.
84 total diapers (36 diapers is a normal 9 day period).

How did mom and dad fare? Gavin's previously mentioned sleep schedule had been taken for granted. We have been sleeping through the entire night for several weeks. That, of course, went out the window with the illness. It's one thing to wake up and feed a hungry baby. It's an entirely different ball game to wake up to a screaming baby and change an abnormally messy diaper. However, we knew Gavin had the short end of the stick in the arrangement and he always flashed a brief smile after being returned to fresh and clean state.

As you can see from today's photo, Gavin is exhausted, or pooped if you will, from his ordeal. We are glad it is over and are very happy to return to the normal routine.

Catching On Quickly

2007-10-23T19:36:00.000-06:00

Gavin has been intensely watching his parents at mealtimes the past couple weeks. He has scrutinized sipping techniques of both hot and cold beverages and spent countless minutes analyzing the use of tools that allow them to put stuff in their mouths. You may not be aware of this, but Gavin is a HUGE fan of putting stuff in his mouth. He would like to meet the inventor of such wonderful stuff so that he can offer a congratulatory drool.

Today, Gavin found his moment to shine. Turning his thorough analysis and observations into practice, he demonstrated that he could, in fact, manipulate an object called a spoon and "get it in the hangar" as Gavin has heard his dad say.

Bravo, Gavin!

First Snow Arrives

2007-10-21T22:00:00.000-06:00

The first snow of the season arrived in the Denver-metro area on Sunday. Of course, there have been a few storms in the mountains, but this was the first snow where the snowflakes fell just outside our doors and windows. The picture below is a before-and-after photo, Saturday afternoon and Sunday afternoon, respectively. For the after-after picture, just refer to the before picture...the mile-high style sunshine has already cleaned up the storm.

It is a pretty good system. Places like NYC could use quick-melting snow. Storms only look pretty during the storm in New York. Once it hits the ground, it turns into black goo -- nobody enjoys trodding through that!

We knew the cold and snow were coming, so we have been working on building Gavin's outdoor attire and were prepared for winter weather. There was no way I would let First Snow come and go without showing Gavin, so after bundling him into his winter-wear (Polartec suit, hat and mittens), we took a short walk into the snow. Honestly, Gavin seemed unimpressed. It was barely an inch and the grass was still visible, so I cannot say that I blame him. He impressed me, though, by tolerating the wind better than he usually does.

I am sure he is just waiting to sled down the hill behind our apartment, which just happens to be kid-sized. Do they make infant sleds?

Gavin Goes Skydiving

2007-10-18T07:51:00.000-06:00

So he has not gone skydiving...yet. However, Gavin is determined to perfect his free-fall form long before he begins walking, let alone strapping a parachute to his back.

Good Morning, Gavin

2007-10-12T22:00:00.000-06:00

This guy has really mastered the art of sitting up.

Gavin Meets Rice Cereal

2007-10-09T18:31:00.000-06:00

Gavin ate his first "solid meal" today. I use the terms "solid" and "meal" loosely because the cereal is really a bland paste and he only ate a couple teaspoons. I suppose that's good for a baby...a fiery bowl of chili would probably not go over so well.

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Good Morning, Gavin

2007-10-02T22:00:00.000-06:00

Gavin was a little home-sick for NYC today so we put on his FH t-shirt to make him feel better.

Gavin Laughing In His Swing

2007-09-27T20:38:00.000-06:00

It's been a while since Gavin appeared in a movie here, so here he is. You'll find a few laughs and smiles.

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Turn That Baby Upside-Down

2007-09-26T08:04:00.000-06:00

The first time Gavin made a move to invert his world was on the trip out here at 38,000 ft. Up until a week ago, he had not made further attempts to execute the maneuver. Now, it has become his favorite pastime. Whenever Gavin gets board or needs a little entertainment, he slides down to your lap until he is perfectly positioned across it. Then he arches his back and inches his way across said lap until he can dip his head backwards. Once this has been achieved, then he inserts a fist into his mouth, smiles, and giggles.

Is this a new, disturbing epidemic sweeping our nation's babies? Find out on tonight's Dateline...

Good Morning, Gavin

2007-09-24T22:00:00.000-06:00

"Go Blue and Gold!"

Gavin looks smashing dressed up in the colors of his dad's alma mater (high school).

First Day of Fall

2007-09-23T21:00:00.000-06:00

We celebrated the first day of Fall by taking Gavin on his first hike. The sign welcoming hikers to the trail was a bit intimidating, but Gavin insisted we push on. It turned out that the "hike" was really a stroll with some "natural" stairs. Of course, we were not climbing, so there was nothing we needed to be worried about.

The real purpose of the day's activity was to make a trial run of using our baby carrier for hiking. We have had the Ergo carrier for a while, but today was the first time Gavin was loaded into it on my back. We had hoped that he would like it and that it would pave the way for some light hiking in the near future. Gavin did the normal things we expect from him as if we were just taking a stroll through the neighborhood. I could not see him as I walked, of course, but he did give me feedback through the acts of grabbing my shirt, rubbing his face in my back, and scratching my back with his tiny nails. He is a perfect little back-scratcher, who knew?

Although the walk was short, the falls were impressive and we were pleased with how the baby carrier performed. Next weekend will hopefully find us a bit further in the mountains taking on a more challenging trail.

The rest of the hiking photos are on Smugmug, Boulder Falls (Gavin's First Hike).

Good Morning, Gavin

2007-09-16T22:00:00.000-06:00

Cowabunga, Dude! This picture will most certainly fuel a serious revenge plot later in Gavin's life.

Have You Ever...

2007-09-16T06:54:00.000-06:00

Have you ever felt like the driver in front of you was inexperienced?

The Real Story:
Fortunately, this child was not in the driver's seat alone, nor was the car moving. While I was in the driver's seat of my car, I was not moving either. More on that later.

Good Morning, Gavin

2007-09-13T22:00:00.000-06:00

The weather has turned cooler here, so Gavin is breaking out his fall clothes. Besides sportin' a fine smile, he is showing off a classic one-piece hoodie.

Fantastic Sunset

2007-09-12T22:35:00.001-06:00

There was just the right amount of clouds to catch the Sun just after setting behind the Front Range.

Good Morning, Gavin

2007-09-11T22:00:00.000-06:00

I continue to slack off. However, Gavin is always ready to bail Dad out writing a new post by posing for another picture-perfect GMG shot.

Good Morning, Gavin

2007-09-07T22:00:00.000-06:00

I am way behind in my blogging duties, but wasn't it worth the wait?

Where Are the Updates?

2007-09-03T20:00:00.000-06:00

I know, I know...for the stalkers and other interested parties out there, yes there are more updates coming on the move. In the meantime, I put up a gallery of our move-in and a walk around the apartment complex.

I've had enough of unpacking, assembling furniture, and making trips to the dumpster to throw out boxes and paper. TGITAALW (Thank Goodness it's Tuesday After a Long Weekend) -- Gavin had his first lesson today about acronyms -- and I am looking forward to getting back to work.

Good Morning, Gavin

2007-08-31T22:00:00.000-06:00

Sorry, Ashok. There's a new monkey boy in town.

Translocated

2007-08-28T22:19:00.000-06:00

We did it. Put simply, we left NYC this morning and, on one-way tickets, arrived in Colorado this morning (thanks to the miracle of time zones). In slightly more detail: we closed on the sale of our apartment, got rid of our car, and got our junk carted from NY to CO.

I plan on going back and rehashing events, cover the final thoughts as we left, and talk about our first day here.

For now, enjoy this picture of Gavin deciding that hanging upside-down was incredibly fun while riding an airplane at 40,000 feet.

Moving Day 2: The Actual Move

2007-08-23T20:15:00.000-06:00

As predicted, the stress was gone this morning. Mostly because Gavin decided to be ahead of schedule and woke up at quarter to six. I have never been one to want to crawl back into bed, but lately it seems it is all I'd rather be doing. Since our coffee got packed along with the honey (we didn't specifically say don't pack any food you come across), I figured Gavin and I could just go to the coffee shop. The baristas remarked at how awake he was, putting all us early-rising veterans to shame.

After Gavin set the early tone, the movers arrived fifteen minutes ahead of schedule. Following a quick tour of items to be packed, they went to work hauling boxes downstairs and wrapping up the furniture. I was excited to watch everything leave, except for when a few boxes fell off the cart -- at least it appeared to be boxes without breakable stuff. Still, knowing that we were getting one step closer to the moment when we step over the threshold of our new home became a satisfied relief -- transformed from yesterday's near nervous breakdown.

The activity of moving was not as intense or hectic as the packing, but Grammy gladly took her grandson out for yet another local adventure to help him avoid the crankies. Gavin made his second appearance of the day in one of the three neighborhood Starbucks. This time, however, he slept in the Shrine of Caffeine. Once he finished his nap, somehow he coerced Grammy into buying him yet another book. You might think to yourself "Wow, what a bookworm!", but in reality, these are just pretty chew toys to Gavin.

Before the wandering duo returned, I got a call I had been waiting for all morning from the driver responsible for carting our belongings across the country. We had several items in a self-storage facility and I had to let them in. It was good to meet the driver in person -- I feel better knowing he can put a face to all those items he is truckin' cross-country, even if it makes no difference to him. We chatted about our hometowns, his being in the Denver area and mine, as the driver put it, in "The Queens". I got a real kick out of calling home, "The Queens". His question was phrased something like this, "So, Jeff...are there any good neighborhoods in The Queens? I had a job once in a bombed-out neighborhood and had to pull a Rule 14-111." Note, I am pretty sure I am making up the rule he quoted, but you get the idea.

So today is over, our stuff is gone, and we are feeling that Rocky Mountain High. It is a complete 180 from how yesterday's emotions ran. Now we are looking forward to wrapping up all the last minute items, sealing the deal at the closing, and making our exit from NYC next week.

Good Morning, Gavin

2007-08-23T19:58:00.001-06:00

Many photo applications have a red-eye removal tool. What us shutter-happy parents need, though, is a drool removal tool!

Moving Day 1: Packing

2007-08-22T20:29:00.001-06:00

Today was Day 1 of the move. We have anticipated it for weeks, planned the items which we would need to keep, and discovered we had accumulated a lot of stuff that was not worth moving. In the final preparation last night, I cooked the last meal that I will ever prepare in our Queens apartment -- since my knives and our pots would soon be boxed for Colorado (leave comments if you want the recipe).

We hired the moving company to do a full pack. So far, it seems to have been worth it. The entire apartment was wrapped and boxed in under three hours. I don't think we expected the whirlwind performance of the crew, which consisted of a person for each room. There was barely any room to walk through the apartment for about an hour.

How do you manage a baby in such a ruckus? Trick question, you don't. The solution is to hand the kid to Grammy and let her take him on a long walk through the neighborhood. Maybe stop in a shop or two and buy him some nice outfits and books. By the time they returned from their local tour, the most intense period of the packing was finished.

The walls are bare, the office shelves have been cleared, and the kitchen cabinets are empty. I freaked out when all those things I take for granted being there were suddenly gone. The fact that our home of ten years is going to hold that title for only a few more days is sinking in a bit more each day. I think I'll feel better, even think more clearly tomorrow after the movers remove the boxes and furniture. The apartment will be back in its empty state, almost as it was back when Kiersten and I first moved in together. I'd like to think we are passing on something special to the new owners -- that they will have as interesting and as memorable a journey as we have had living here.

Gavin is a Squeak Toy

2007-08-22T20:13:00.000-06:00

Leave to Grammy to elicit joyful laughter from her grandchild! Applying a little-known, secret technique, Gavin is under Grammy's spell and breaks into laughs and squeaks. I don't know how amusing you will find this, but it sent me into giggles the eighteen times I've watched it.

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Good Morning, Gavin

2007-08-16T22:00:00.000-06:00

Gavin was born with a disapproving look to let you know when he is unhappy...and he hasn't forgotten how to use it.

Good Morning, Gavin

2007-08-15T22:00:00.000-06:00

Gavin discovers his foot.

Good Morning, Gavin

2007-08-13T22:00:00.000-06:00

A well-rested baby is a happy baby!

Home Sweet Home (at least for the next few weeks)

2007-08-12T19:21:00.000-06:00

I returned home tonight from the Colorado recon trip despite airplane equipment problems. When the pilot announced they had a system fault, all I could think of was the Star Trek computer (pick an episode) saying "Unable to comply". Unfortunately, it meant we had to stay on the plane for two hours while they worked on the problem.

The trip was completely successful. We have an apartment and a crib. Now, we just need to make it through the next two weeks and the packing process.

In my absence, Gavin seems to have become a different baby. His babbling has increased and he is beginning to keep his tongue in his mouth -- so that opens a whole new world of sounds he can make. I have been told he his laughing and possibly squealing, too. I cannot wait for him to wake up tomorrow, say hello, and give him his souvenir from Boulder (a onesie that says "Hiker in training").

Colorado Recon Mission

2007-08-09T17:20:00.000-06:00

* DISCLAIMER: Post is not baby-related. There are no cute pictures included. *

The reason baby posts have been non-existent this past week is Operation Rocky Mountain High has been initiated.

The mission:

Primary objective: Secure an apartment.
Secondary objective: Order a crib.
Targets of opportunity: Find a dealership to purchase a car and visit friends.

As of yesterday afternoon, I completed the primary objective. Our new hometown will be in Superior, CO. By NYC standards, the apartment complex is sick. There are many amenities that we will most likely never use, but it is close enough to the Front Range to let us see everyday why we chose to pick-up and move across the country.

Since we hope that the lure of the mountains will also draw some visitors out to us, we asked premiere vacation home designer, CindyB, to work on a furniture layout that would allow us to be like a small hostel. I think you will find the sleeping arrangements for eleven guests cozy, as well as ample space for both conversation and boisterous family-style meals.

Now that the new apartment is finally a known part of the equation of the relocation, I can leisurely tackle some of the other move-related tasks (finding a crib and buying a new vehicle) and visiting friends that live here.

New Faces and Emotions Emerge

2007-08-06T17:54:00.001-06:00

Three month old Gavin had two emotions: happy and upset. Happy meant he was full and well-rested while upset meant just the opposite as well as having a wet diaper.

Four month old Gavin (he is just about there) is developing a wider, subtler range of emotions: excited, content, lonely, mildly annoyed, beside-himself upset complete with tears, and fear. Today's picture is what we are calling "scared" Gavin. He was in a video conference when something caught him off-guard. The Papa-razzi (or Papa-razzo if you are picky) was able to capture this singular moment in time.

The elusive treasure, the Gavin Laugh, has made several more appearances when least expected. Rest assured that I am vigilant and will share that special moment when the stars and camera align.

Good Morning, Gavin

2007-07-27T22:00:00.000-06:00

"Hey, Dad! How's this pose?"

Southpaw

2007-07-26T19:22:00.000-06:00

Southpaw. Up until this week, Kiersten had not heard that particular, alternate term for those of the left-handed persuasion. She was not the only one either and I was beginning doubt my random store of trivial facts until I consulted Wikipedia.

Anyway, you may have guessed where this is going. Among our many observations of Gavin's habits, moods, and likes, we have noticed that his "handedness", or chirality (for chemisty buffs, although not quite accurate), or asymmetric preference (almost sounds P.C.), has continued to develop and mature.

After Gavin was born, we noticed that he had a tendency to turn his head to the left. If I were motivated, I would go check the sonogram picture of him sucking his thumb to figure out his womb-preference, but I will leave that for a rainy day. In the present, he is finally getting the thumb-sucking skill down. And which thumb is the favored target? Exclusively, the left-hand thumb, as far as we have observed to date. So we have concluded at this point that Gavin is indeed a lefty, whether or not it is supported by any specific child development research.

I have been amazed by the learning process of things which are simple in nature to me, but are obviously first encounters for Gavin. Learing this new skill, thumb-sucking, appears to be very important to Gavin as he spends hours each day practicing. He even seems to be very methodical in his approach to mastering thumb-sucking. Watching him closely reveals a very logical approach to the problem:

Extend the hand.
Extend fingers and point thumb toward face.
Keep eye on the thumb.
Slowly move hand, thumb, and fingers toward face.

Unfortunately, at step 4 things begin to break down. The hand goes off course or the thumb is flexed and his knuckle arrives at his mouth, which does provide a sucking target, if less than ideal. He is successful some of the time -- notably during a nap. We have just begun to let him nap and sleep without the "baby straight-jacket", so with availability of free-moving arms, the self-soothing thumb-sucking may increase and help him continue sleeping through the night.

Gavin Attempts a Laugh

2007-07-25T10:00:00.000-06:00

After laughing for Kiersten a second time, we attempted to provoke more laughs for the camera. Gavin tried to placate us, his evil parents, while we tickled and taunted him. He made a valiant effort.

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Gavin Laughs

2007-07-22T16:14:00.000-06:00

Just minutes ago, Gavin laughed for the very first time. Kiersten and I were fortunate enough to both be present for this event.

After returning home from a long walk in the neighborhood, Kiersten was preparing Gavin for his evening routine: dress for bedtime, have a bottle, and go to sleep. As I walked into the bedroom, I caught the end of a new sound I had never heard before. Kiersten was staring at Gavin in disbelief -- she almost looked as if he had just done something not-so-good.

I asked, "Was that a laugh?" Kiersten responded, "I...I...I'm not sure." So we proceeded to talk silly and tickle him. It didn't take long before Gavin pulled in his arms and legs and let out another unmistakable and incredibly cute laugh!

Hopefully, we will be able to capture this on some shareable media in the near future.

Happy Harry Potter Day!

2007-07-20T22:00:00.000-06:00

Gavin hopes you are enjoying your copy of Deathly Hallows as much as he is his.