at long last…

here they are! presenting the new pictures:

If you click on the pictures they will open bigger so you can see them better.

Gavin and Lilah cuddle on the couch

Cuddling (or possible scheming)

Lilah poses on the couchwalk

Fun together

Gavin getting the tubtoys clean

Excited about a toy

but I haven’t had a chance to upload any yet.  hopefully soon I will find the time.  In the meantime, here’s an update.

Gavin is speaking more and more and singing too.  He is loving being in a two kid household as he has discovered some new techniques for playing with his sister.  He calls her “babywawah” and he runs up and down the hall calling her to come after him.  He also uses his empty juice cup to try to lure her.  He loves to give her hugs and help to take care of her.  He’s always urging us to give her more babyfood and if we aren’t quick enough he will head over to manage the situation himself.

Lilah is sooo big now.  Not abnormally so, just she’s such a different baby than she was 11 &1/2 months ago.  She’s standing unassisted for a few seconds and mimics noises and nods her head and waves.  She is always hunting for food and she adores her big brother.  She gets so excited when she sees him she waves her arms around.  Lilah loves music and will do a little bobbing baby dance to tunes she particularly likes.

They are sharing a bedroom now which they see to enjoy.  Lilah wakes up in the night often, but doesn’t seem to disturb Gavin most of the time.  Of course, seeing as he can sleep through her screaming two feet away from him in the back of the car I’m not too shocked by this.

Gavin still loves to cuddle and give kisses and hugs and I am so grateful that he hasn’t outgrown affection.  I hope he never does.  I realized recently that Gavin’s spoken language is different than other kids his age because his vocabulary is so much more limited, but his comprehension is the same.  So, some words he uses have many separate meaning and can carry a whole set of instructions or expectations in ways that usually only happen in very sparse poetry.  I only realize the basis for this when we are with other people who are baffled by a single word Gavin says has a much more elaborate meaning to him and to me, coming from him.  I wonder if this will effect his later communication or if it will just be left behind as his vocabulary becomes larger.  As an example:  the word “water” coming from Gavin can mean any of the following:  I’d like to wash my hands 17 times in a row, it’s raining, I’d like a bath, I need to pee,  I see a liquid substance that isn’t juice, there is a wet spot that needs to be cleaned up.  The word “green” means any color, something green, a marker, a crayon, I’d like to color, I’d like to draw.  I think it’s fascinating how something I commonly perceive as a preset group of rules that apply equally to all people are actually very fluid.

here are a few favorite pictures from the short but sweet time at the beach in California

Erin, Lilah & Gpa McC

Chris and Lilah

Gavin and Gpa McClenahan brave the wavelets

Packing the sand for a sandcastle tower

Getting ready to tip it upside down... (Gavin's excited!)

Who's in charge and who's helping here?

Lilah & Erin down the beach

Lilah is enjoying herself almost as much as Erin

More Erin & Lilah

Gavin had more than one party for his third birthday.  He’s a lucky boy.  Here are a few highlights:

Hey, this looks pretty good!

Meara, do you really think we should open this?

It’s so pretty wrapped up!

Playing with new alphabet and number stickers

Gavin named all of them and started on a second round before we distracted him with cookies shaped like stars.

What Lilah did at Gavin's party...

She’s wondering if she can make it to any wrapping paper bits before Gavin takes them all away.

Lilah and Grandpa McClenahan

Playing catch with Meara

Gavin and Grandma Reynolds looking at a special card

It has cars that move! Big hit with Gavin!

A group shot of most of the Reynolds

Gavin is reaching for the wheelchair handles here. Great Gma and Gpa R. got some wild rides from Gavin.  Everyone involved enjoyed it quite a bit.  Lilah is watching in hopes she can participate in the wheelchair race events next time.

Gavin with Grandma & Grandpa Johnston

Gavin hopped right up to sit with them on the bench here.

Some Johnstons on the way to the beach

Some of the Johnstons at La Selva on the way down to the beach and some Reynolds on their way up met in the middle.

Pictures of us enjoying the beach will be coming next.

in this episode, we find Lilah, who has seen her brother’s antics and wants to get in on the fun: