Over the weekend, Gavin saw Santa Claus for the first time ... at the mall ... from a distance. Gavin is currently going through a very shy stage and with all of his recent teething tears, there was no way I was going to sit him on Santa's lap knowing he'd burst out crying. I just didn't want to subject him to anymore crying if it could be avoided. Still, Gavin was able to glimpse him from the second floor of the mall. See Santa very tiny and blurred out in the distance?

Our Christmas tree has been surrounded by Gavin's fence since it was erected in our dining room knowing it was no match for Gavin's curious fingers. I took the fence down last night just to see how interested Gavin would be in the tree.

He pulled a few ornaments off but, overall, wasn't as destructive as I would have guessed. Still, the fence is back up to prevent any pokes in the eye and to give Doozer sanctuary from Mr. Grabby-hands in her favorite sleeping spot on the tree skirt.

One of Gavin's first ornaments was given to him last weekend by his grandparents.

I've been neglecting development updates lately and want to capture a snapshot of Gavin's latest habits as his first Christmas nears:

• Gavin says, "hi," but it comes out as, "haaaaaaaaaaaaa!" It seriously takes him at least five seconds to say a one-syllable word.
• Gavin loves to clap. He claps at himself we praise him and will clap along with a group, like this past Sunday when Aunt Kristen finished playing a piano-organ duet at church.
• He also loves to wave goodbye. He is able to sense when someone is leaving, usually because they are putting shoes on or he hears keys jingling, and starts waving his arm wildly. Half the time, he waves both arms at the same time.
• Gavin currently loves to yell, "mamamamama," at the top of his lungs. He also mutters, "dadadadada," softly while playing by himself. I wish he'd switch the volume settings on these babbles so I don't hear my name yelled harshly all the time! ;)