Gardner is developing his own little personality, and I love watching it unfold like a flower, new petals showing themselves each day. He and I have a daily "laugh fest" as I undress him for his nighttime baths (he finds this activity hilarious for some reason....). He looks at me with a wary eye as I dance around the house with my favorite music playing loudly. It's almost as if he's wondering what kind of household this is going to be, with these random lively spells he beholds.

He gets noticeably cranky when I set him in his highchair in the kitchen with me, as I go about my cooking or cleaning. He looks at me as if to say, "Mom, pay attention to MEEEE!" I've even caught him banging his fist on the tray a couple of times (let's hope that was not intentional).

He is shy around new people, but once he's set in new surroundings, he becomes glittery-eyed and personable, making everyone coo and coddle. He knows how to work the crowds.

And he loves the cats. He reaches his fingers out to stroke their long fur as they walk past him, and he gets this cute little half-smile that seems to say, "We can be friends someday."