Gavin tried some avocado today…and hated it. He much prefers apple or yogurt. I guess he’s got a sweet tooth already.

My mom brought over a “jumper” yesterday (not the kind you wear, the kind you sit in and jump up and down in) and after several failed attempts, Chris got it set up today. Gavin seemed pleased to be in it. He looked like he was the captain of a very small plastic ship that was rocking around on the water, until you saw his legs waving around underneath.

The things he can do now compared with a few months ago are pretty amazing. He’s got very good arm and hand control, passing toys between hands easily. He holds onto things longer now too, so often when I pick him up to take him somewhere, a few steps later I realize we are also taking a toy or a blanket, a magazine or my water bottle with us. He can easily turn both front to back and back to front and has been sleeping on his tummy pretty exclusively. He can sit by himself, a bit wobbly. He can also stand for a few seconds when holding onto something. He moves five feet or so across the floor from where he starts, and scoots backward quite well. Forward is more of a problem but he usually gets where he wants to go.

He giggles alot at certain games like when his mama munches on his knees (“mmm, delicious knees” ) and peek-a-boo and rocket launch into the air. He is still having some schedule/teething/sleep issues, but I feel very lucky to have such a happy and easy-going baby. I do think that some of that is because of how Chris and I respond to him, but I certainly think Gavin deserves a great deal of the credit too.

I was talking with Chris about all the horrible and scary things that happen in this world and how I’m terrified that someday Gavin will have to deal with painful and angering and awful things that people do. Sometimes I wish he could grow up and live in a different world from the one I have come to know. But today I was thinking about that again and realized that I’m very happy that Gavin is here in this world, and he seems happy to be here, and Chris is happy he’s here, so I think that all in all it’s probably a good thing he’s here in this world, to bring some much needed joy to all of us.