Gavin turns one!

How could it be that we have a one-year-old? Sept 10 marked one whole year with our precious Gavin, and here he is reading his b-day card from his Great Aunt Randa. Anything with a dog on it, in it, around it or about it is A-OK for our son. (You'd think we were dog owners!)

He didn't quite know what to make of his first cupcake. He played with it more than he ate it, which I think we were both fine with, seeing as though that was more sugar than he'd had in his little lifetime. We were blessed to have our families here to celebrate with us. Thank you, all, for your generosity toward our dear son. He is so loved!

Gavin actually got a bigger kick out of feeding Mama and Dada the cupcake than eating it himself. The whole thing was somewhat of a mystery to him, but he smiled big when we all sang him "Happy Birthday," and I think he knew that something special was happening and it might be about him.
These boys get told how much they look alike all the time, as you can well imagine. I just put together that one of the key features of their resemblance is the hair. Yes, it's the hair!
Brent and I have commented many times in the last year about how different our lives are now with Gavin, but whatever the sacrifices that parenthood requires, we wouldn't trade him for the world. We thank God for our baby son everyday.

Mama's trip to Portland...

I would have sworn that Gavin knew, somehow, that I was going away for the weekend, as you can see him trying to stow away in Mama's suitcase while I was getting packed. Admittedly, this did make it harder for me to stomach that I was planning to leave for my first weekend away from my sweet baby boy.

Destination: Portland, Oregon

Motivation: To visit Sarah & Anna, dear friends of mine
In the above picture (taken on Sarah's adorable back patio), Sarah and I are posing with world's most perfect-looking hydrangea that we found in the middle of the street (!) on our way to Happy Hour one night. (Being the money-saver I am, I felt especially good when we later saw a $3.50 price tag on flowers like these at Trader Joe's, another fantastic reason to live in Portland, by the way.)
On Anna's birthday we all went berry picking, which was SO much fun. Being outside, enjoying the sunshine with good friends and their families, eating lots and lots of blueberries...this is one of my fondest memories from the trip.
I was so thankful to be in Portland for the weekend of Anna's 30th birthday! This picture of the three of us was taken at an AMAZING dessert place in town. The food is a pretty solid reason to consider moving to Portland if you're looking to re-locate--everything from sushi to a quaint French bakery two minutes from Sarah's doorstep. I came home heavier but happier for having gone, and Brent had a great time with Gavin. I am so blessed to have a husband who was willing and excited to have a long weekend at home with our son.

Marie-Christine meets Gavin!

This is Gavin with one of my friends, Marie-Christine, on her recent visit with her fiance, Craig. It seemed so strange that one of my dearest friends hadn't met my son until he was nearly one year old, so needless to say I was thrilled when she arrived! We had a great visit, and I was so thankful that both Sister Mary Clarence and Craigy Pants got to stay with us. What a treasured time!

Swimmies & swimmies in the new pool...

Thanks, Grandma & Grandpa Topping, for my new plastic pool! It's so cool that I may want to break it in in the living room, sans water of course.
Here I am with my buddy, Caleb Schmidt, enjoying my new pool in the backyard. Mommy and Auntie Andrea said it was hard to catch us both smiling and looking anywhere near the camera at the same time, so I guess this is as good as it gets. Go figure...