As Gavin's second year comes to a close, I'm amazed by how much he's grown, learned, and accomplished in the past 12 months. In 2009, Gavin...

• celebrated his first birthday.
• enjoyed his second Easter, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.
• saw the Gulf of Mexico, Atlantic Ocean, and Appalachian Mountains.
• grew 3 inches and gained 6 pounds (a far cry from 2008 when he grew 10 inches and gained 14 pounds!).
• visited museums, outlet malls, parks, a school, toy stores, swimming pools, a pumpkin farm, a gym, and went hiking, hiking, and more hiking!
• played in the snow - twice!
• started the year with 8 teeth and ended with 16.
• fell in love with books. He began the year only tolerating a few rhyming books. A few nights ago, I read to him for two hours.
• started the year confidentally walking and is ending the year running, climbing, jumping, and mastering stairs.
• learned to feed himself, weened from a bottle and all baby food, and no longer uses a highchair.
• celebrated as both Dad and Mom turned 30.
• grew from LEGO novice to LEGO master.
• moved to a new house and into his own room.

... and otherwise kept us thoroughly entertained by his adorability, in awe of his growth and development, and in love with him more every day!