Gavin Blog = The Gillard Gang

Check out our new blog - The Gillard Gang.

www.gillardgang.blogspot.com

Our family is growing so we thought we should update our blog to reflect that.
Check back soon to meet the new addition to our family.

Scott, Stacy & Big Brother Gavin

Happy Fall

We hope that everyone is enjoying this fall season - we have definitely been having lots of fun, especially around here in Cincinnati these last few weeks. It is hard to believe that our family is about to go from 3 to 4 very soon....next fall - we will have to get 2 boys pics together with the pumpkins - let the fun times begin!

More pics from the Pumpkin Farm

Look at me on this tractor all by myself!

Little bitty chic - so cute! And we didn't choke it this year (yikes... remember last year?)

Loved riding on the Fire Truck - and ringing the bell!

Daddy had to help push - as our legs are not long enough yet.

Look at those pigs - and boy did they stink

Love this photo - look at all those pumpkins!

(We did the same pose last year... crazy how much they change in a year)

Look at all the pumpkins we picked out - getting back on the hayride to head back.

Pumpkin Farm

Two of our favorites - fall weather & going to the pumpkin farm (Burger Farms in Newtown).

The weather was fantastic today and Gavin helped pick out all of our pumpkins too. One for each of us, including Baby G #2, as he will be here before Halloween this year.

We had a great time and this is truly my favorite time of the year!

Dancin' with My Friends

We grabbed some dinner tonight at the Dilly Deli (one of our favs) and the Hansbauer's (minus Joe - we missed you) joined us for some yummy food on the patio outside. During our dinner, we noticed that the Marielders Group (elderly community group) was having a social event across the way. And boy was the music jammin and the old folks dancin! So after dinner we all had to join in! As we were leaving - yes they were doing the Cha Cha Slide - classic!

Thanks for a fun night!

Barber Shop

Scott has been taking Gavin to the Barber Shop he has gone to for a while - Mariemont Barber Shop (where we used to live). A fun outting for Daddy & Gavin together.

I had never been with them to the Barber Shop - so I went with them tonight. Such a big boy sitting there all by himself in an actual barber chair.

He thinks the trimmers (buzz noise) tickles too... so cute!

Gavin is growing up so much right before our eyes!

*And a little disclaimer - I have less than 2 weeks left before our new little man arrives. Hard to believe that we will be a family of 4 (and may I note - 3 of which will be boys) very soon!

Thomas & Percy and now Bertie

Gavin has loved Thomas trains for quite some time now.... and the train table that (aka - small tables pushed together from IKEA - yes, we get creative) is in our family room is literally played at every single day on multiple occassions.

Our newest Thomas friend is Bertie who is battery powered - and pushes around all the other trains. Little Bertie has been a huge hit at our house!

(and we will be using lots of batteries with this one for sure!)

Go Bertie Go!!!!

BlueGrass for Babies

Last night, we all headed to BlueGrass for Babies with our friends - the Hansbauers. It was in Eden Park, a beautiful amphitheater in the Mt. Adams area of Cincinnati.

The family that started this event hosts in because their son was a patient at Cincinnati Children's Hospital - so all the proceeds from the event go to help the hospital. And it is very fun for kids - and families too. We had a great time - and there was lots of stuff to do there too.


Gavin made a homeade shaker with stickers & rice.... new instrument at our house.

Kicked the soccer ball around for a little bit

And the most fun he had was playing with Greta - running up and down the aisles, hiding under the benches, playing with the trees & here they were playing with a ball.

Later that evening we saw a much older child that had climbed into a tree behind us....so guess what - Gavin wanted to then climb the tree too. Not quite tall enough to put him up there....

We had a great time at this event and it was our 2nd time going. Thanks Hansbauer's for a fun evening out with the kids....

Hot Tub = New Swimming Pool

At our new house, we have a hot tub which is pretty cool - although I feel like we don't use it all the time, we were definitely in it more when it was colder. So since it has been so hot this summer - we have turned it WAY down so it is like warm pool water.

Since Gavin has been wanting to "go back to the pool" (and the pool is closed for the fall/winter), we let him try out the hot tub - i.e. swimming pool to him over the weekend. He could even stand up all by himself in the middle and enjoyed turning on the jets, "turning on the bubbles" too.

And when you forget towels.... you just go naked before heading into the house!

Now that is a cute little bum....

I want to help....

with my tools too Daddy!

Over Labor Day weekend, Scott put together all of the new nursery furniture (which we are ready to go and the room looks super cute!) - and Gavin immediately ran downstairs to get both of his toolboxes because he wanted to help too. Just too cute... and so Daddy put him to work!

Thanks for helping make your little brother's room so special....

Singing 5 Little Monkeys

This was back in March too - singing 5 Little Monkeys with Daddy!

Do ever take Videos of Gavin - Oh yes... here we go!

So we are going back through our videos that we have taken for several months now.

Here is one from March (6 months ago) - Gavin/Daddy watching themselves while they are taping (which can be distracting for a 2 1/2 year old) and creating knock-knock jokes with some of Gavin's favorite people.

Best Toy Ever

We had a great time at Jackson's 3rd Birthday Party at Recreations.

Gavin's favorite thing to play with there was the Extreme Roller Coaster.
He wanted to get on it over and over again... it is pretty cool and went really fast too!

Let's Make some Cupcakes

We had a fun afternoon making chocolote cupcakes... and someone really enjoyed eating the mix right out of the bowl too.... lots of sprinkles too!
Look at that pretty cupcake - "Can I eat it Mommy?"

Fun Times at the Zoo

Yes - they found a turtle in the pond... Magz & Gavin

Sitting on the Zoo tram waiting to go!

WOAH - that is a silly face for sure!

Well Gavin got on the Merry-Go-Round... and this was a pic right before it started... then Gavin wanted to get off. He just doesn't like those rides - what are you gonna do?!?!?!

Thanks for a fun day at the zoo Maggie!!

Zoo - visit with Magz

Last weekend, we made a quick stop at our local Cincinnati zoo (which is fantastic by the way...).

Maggie went with Gavin and I and the weather was just perfect, mid-70's- couldn't get any better than that.

Love the Vacuum

Gavin really enjoys using our little vacuum and helping clean up around the kitchen.

We of course love it too.... and he points out where there is dirt all the time (have I created this little clean/neat freak?!?!?!?)

Enjoying the Summer - poolside

Let's see them muscles.... GRRRRR!

Swimming in the big pool

(no pics of mommy right now in a bathing suit - we will wait till next year for that)

Getting sleepy after lots of playing/swimming at the pool (love those snuggles....)

Happy Summer to everyone - we had a HOT one... but a very fun/busy one!

Pool Time

We spent LOTS of time at our pool this summer. One of the perks of where we live now is they have a community pool, clubhouse & tennis courts. Because it was SO hot this summer - Gavin/I especially made many trips up to the pool to cool off. AND - Gavin always wanted to get into the big pool and swim - which was great! It was fun hanging out up there, eating lunch and then heading home for naptime.

Playing the Piano

After one of the bridal showers for Amy, Scott/Gavin came over at the end and we got some 1-on-1 time with Aunt Mimi.... and playing the piano too.

I wonder if Gavin is going to be a musician?

Now That's Alot of Kids

We got a chance to visit with my high school friends & all their families while we were in IL.

This is the 2nd year we have all attended the Balloon Fest - and it is a tradition that we sit the kids down from youngest to oldest. All of my friends have at least 2 kids, 3 kids and a 4th one on the way. Gavin is the 3rd youngest as of now until Baby Gillard arrives - and then Baby Hugge in December.

I like these rides because....

I'm with my Grandma...
And my Daddy!!!

Carnival Rides - not quite sure?!?!

At the Balloon Fest there were a handful of rides for kids. So our first stop - the motorcycles.

Gavin was so excited - we got our tickets, got on and waited for the ride to start.

(He looks like such a big boy in the first picture... tear, tear, tear...)

After getting his seatbelt on (if that is what you call it... really?!?!?!) - and the ride started, he quickly realized that he needed to hold on tighter - and our little man takes after my family so doesn't have the longest arms & legs. We went around, maybe 2-3 times, and then had to stop the ride to get Gavin off. He wasn't feeling it at all....

Maybe next year Gavin - but then again, I have to point out that Gavin is definitely our "cautious" child and not super adventurous. I have a feeling this next little man is going to be our crazy one.

Balloon Fest - Lincoln, IL

The Gillard family was visiting in IL for Amy's bridal showers - but also took some time to stop by the annual Balloon Fest in Lincoln, IL. It is pretty cool to see all these hot air balloons go up and fly into the sky... here was Gavin & Grandma watching one about to fly off!

I LOVE my Uncle Ryan

Gavin LOVES playing with his Uncle Ryan.... as you can tell!

And - we are excited for the big wedding in November - and yes, Gavin is going to be the ring bearer (let's hope he fulfills his duties) and can't wait to officially call Amy - Aunt Amy!