My boys

I am in love with these 2 boys. In love.

Please!

I just got home from running a few errands and wanted to share my frustrating story...I had to stop at 2 places, the post office(where I could just drive through) and Target. I have only been to Target a few times with G as I don't think he should be around lots of people yet. We walked in Target and he was in his seat in the stroller...with the shade up because he was sleeping. A really loud lady came up to me and asked me if there was a baby in my stroller. Duh lady, I said yes. Then she proceeded to PULL THE SHADE DOWN TO TOUCH GAVIN-WITHOUT EVEN ASKING ME! ACK! I about had a hear attack, and swiped her hand. Yep, that's right I smacked her hand as she was about to TOUCH HIS FACE! OMG! I politely told her that I would appreciate it if she did not touch, just look. She looked at me and said "Oh, OK, I could do that." Sheesh! I could not believe it!

Ever since Gavin was born I have been a little more of a "germ freak" than normal, but rightfully so. The day after he was born the pediatrician said the most important thing we can do is keep him from getting sick these first few months...and whats the easiest way to do this???? WASH YOUR HANDS!!! We all know that this is the biggest way to prevent the spread of infection (Yes, I am a nurse) But why does no one think to do it??? I guess people forget, and I understand that. That's why I am his GERM FREAK MOTHER, PLEASE WASH YOUR HANDS:)

My poor nephew Griffin is in the ER right now due to an asthma attack due to a cold, that he probably got from someone NOT WASHING THEIR HANDS! I know, I know, kids get colds. I get that. BUT there are SO many new bugs out there, and a lot of them are resistant to many antibiotics...not to mention the SWINE FLU that has already killed 2 infants where I work. Some will say "well I never had to worry about this when I was young..." or "I never washed my hands all the time when I had kids..." and I just have to remind them that there was no H1N1 then...there were not NEARLY as many resistant strains of flu out there back then. Not to mention that it is the FIRST line of defense against meningitis, hepatitis, and bronchiolitis. It is different now. People are bringing things back from other countries...People are on WAY more antibiotics than they need to be....and people are abusing antibiotics which leads to resistance. Much more could be said here.

I feel like I am lecturing but I just can't stop thinking about how important it is for us ALL to please, please, please stay in when you are sick. Don't expose people while you are contagious. Keep your kids in when they are sick. WASH YOUR HANDS WHEN YOU ARE SICK. WASH YOUR HANDS WHEN YOU ARE HEALTHY. If you are going to interact with a newborn, infant, toddler, or child, then please wash your hands. No, it does not count if you washed them "before you left home." No, it does not count if you washed them "20 minutes ago." You need to wash them right before you touch them, ANY part of them! It is always better to be safe than sorry.

Ah, I feel better now that I said that, and I hope at least one person reads this and remembers to wash their hands----the CORRECT way:)

{Gavin 6 Weeks}

Our sweet boy is 6 weeks old! Every day he seems older and bigger...and I can't believe how fast time is going! He is very aware of us now, and likes to watch whatever we are doing, at all times. He will follow us as we move around the room and smiles every once in a while:) Gavin LOVES to be the center of attention, and he lets us know!

Gavin has been doing "tummy time" a few times a day and he generally likes it for about 5 minutes...yesterday when we were outside doing tummy time, he got tired after 5 minutes and just laid his head down and closed his eyes to sleep. Oh, he melts my heart:)

Gavin has somewhat of a nightly routine going on and slowly we are seeing a pattern to some parts of the day. He still eats and sleeps pretty much whenever he wants during the day...well I guess the night too!

He is getting pretty heavy...and one of the positions he loves to be in is with his head and arms over your shoulder...which kinda hurts your back after a while! I think he may be hitting the 12lb mark...

His face it starting to look more like a little boy to me, and less like a little newborn...and I see SO MUCH of his Daddy in him...especially with some of the looks he gives me;)

After my bath!

How chunky is he??? Seriously, we kiss this chunkey monkey one million times a day:)

{Gavin 5 Weeks}

I can't believe that my little newborn baby is already over a month old! I just can't understand how time can go by so fast...and how much he has changed in these 5 weeks! He is such a sweet little man, and I miss him when I am away from him for more than 30 minutes!!! (Which does not happen often!)

On Saturday morning Mom and Dad left California and we miss them so much! Having Mom here for the past 7 weeks was such a dream to me...I was looking forward to it for so long and had so much fun with her here...I am really not sure if I could have done it without her the past 7 weeks. Gavin misses her too...he misses her singing to him and playing with him...but I do give him a kiss every day for Grandma.

Gavin has started to really enjoy the peace and quiet when he is sleeping and tired. He used to like noise, but now he appreciates a dark quiet room to sleep in. We moved the coking chair in his room so we are able to rock him to sleep at night:)

5 hour stretch~!

Just for my own record, I wanted to write about Gavin's night last night...He had his first 5 hour stretch between feeds...for him that is GREAT! It is usually 2-3 hours! We have definitly established some sort of night time routine, and it usually starts around 6 or 7pm. He eats around 6 or 7, then plays a little, then gets tired and we give him his bath...he starts to fall asleep in the bath tub, its so cute! He is SO relaxed in the tub:) After his bath we swaddle him up and put him in bed...

{Gavin 4 Weeks}

Here are some of the pictures that we have taken since Gavin has been a month old:) Mom and Dad have been here helping out, and it has been so nice:) I am so thankful that my Mom has been here the past 6 weeks...I am not sure what I would have done without her! Now that dad (I mean Grandpa!) has been here, he has been hanging out with Gavin a lot, and G loves it!

Today Gavin had his one month check-up and everything went really well! Here are his numbers:

Weight-10 pounds 13.5 ounces---75th percentile!

Height-22.3/4 inches---90th percentile

Head Circ-38.3/4cm---50th percentile

Gavin has developed more head control lately and he is able to lift his head while on his belly for tummy time. When we are holding him up by our shoulder, he will move his head back and forth, and would jump out of our arms if we let him, he is SO strong!

Gavin loves to hold onto your finger anytime, esp while he is eating:)

G only really has one cry so far...its still his hunger cry. When he is tired he lets out little cries here and there, and is able to be consoled without needing to cry too much. As for pain, he usually just squirms and moans until he either burps or farts, and then he is a happy little man!

Gavin loves to watch your face and will follow it where ever it goes...he also has started to open and close his mouth while watching me do the same.

G still has a little baby acne, but it has cleared up a lot in the past week...he also now has "cradle crap" (as Gma says:) on his poor head, so we have been brushing his hair a lot!

Gavin still eats every 2-3 hours, and still loves to eat...He has been getting only breast milk for the past week, we have not needed to give him any extra milk at night because I am finally making enough!

Gavin continues to LOVE his nightly bath and it really tires him out! He is one stinky boy after a day, so it is nice to have a clean baby at night...and he loves it!

Gavin is starting to really like to "play" and is watching moving toys and objects...he loves his red, black and white play mat, and just stares at it! He also loves to be sung to/talked to at any time...and likes his lullaby CD's in the car:)

Overall Gavin continues to be a great little (or big!) baby and is so relaxed most of the time...he is pretty easy to read, and I am starting to see his different moods and needs. The only issue that I am having is the fact that mom and dad (gma and gpa) leave on Saturday...I will miss them so much:(

Photo shoot with Gma G

Oh how he loves her:)

First night in his bed

Last night was the first night that Gavin slept in his crib in HIS room...and it went pretty well! Gavin is SUCH a loud sleeper and he has about one million noises that he makes...keeping his mommy up most of the night. So last night we thought we would try to put him in his room in hopes that we may get better sleep. (His door is 2 feet from ours and there is no problem hearing him;)

For the past 3 weeks Gavin has been sleeping right by me in his baby seat or bassinet, and I have not really let him cry too much during the night. When he wants to eat he squirms and fusses a little...and it will lead to a cry if I wait long enough. Well, last night I did not hear the fussing and squirming, only the cry...and boy was it a cry! Each feeding I woke up to a very hungry boy who would scream as loud as he could until I came to get him (Maybe 30 seconds...I have never ran so fast in the middle of the night)

Even though it sounds dramatic with him screaming, it was a pretty good night! I was able to sleep in between feeds and fall back asleep after...Also, did I mention how good this baby is? Each time I fed him I would put him in bed wide awake and he would fall back asleep on his own...we are so lucky!

I hope I did not speak too soon;) Hopefully tonight will be a good one too!

Baby Gavin's first photo shoot

***Side note: Gavin rolled over today for the first time! During his photo shoot I had him on his belly...and he rolled to his back all on his own! He is ONLY 3 weeks!!!

We miss you Aunt Erica!

We are all so sad today...Erica left to go back home...We just loved having her here and it was so neat to see Gavin love his aunt so much. Thanks for coming to visit and thanks for helping so much with Gavin:)

It's Love

I listened to this song a lot towards the end of my pregnancy...now when Gavin and I listen to it he goes right to sleep:)

Is it the face of a child
Is it the thrill of danger
Is it the kindness we see in the eyes of a stranger
Is it more than faith
Is it more than hope
Is it waiting for us at the end of our rope

I say, it's love
I say, it's love

Is it the one you call home
Is it the Holy Land
Is it standing right here holding your hand
Is it just like the movies
Is it rice and white lace
Is it the feeling I get when I wake to your face

I say, It's love

I say, It's love

Is it the first summer storm
Is it the colors of fall
Is it having so little
And yet having it all
Is it one in a million
Is it a chance to belong
Is it standing right here singing this song

I say, It's love

I say, It's love

Is it a veil or a cross
Is it the poet's gift
Is it the face that has launched over thousands of ships
is it making you laugh
is it letting you cry
Is it where we believe that we go when we die
Is it how you were made
Is it your mother's ghost

Is it the wish that I'm wishing for you life, for you life, for your life the most

Gavin's first play date:)

Here is Gavin with his friend Nicholas:) My good friend Laura (from work) came to visit us...Nicholas is 3 months old and so so cute!

{Gavin 3 Weeks}

Baby Gavin is now three weeks and doing very well! He continues to be such a good baby and still only has one "cry," his "hangry" (hungry+angry) cry is all we hear...and as soon as he eats he stops;)

Gavin is still not really on any kind of schedule, but we have noticed that he does usually take a long afternoon nap after he has been up most of the morning. He is usually up for the day at 6 or 7am and stays up for most of the morning. If we go out in the car or stroller, he always sleeps, so that's the only time he sleeps in the morning.

Gavin is still eating every 2-3 hours. He is a good burper and Daddy is great at getting some good burps out of him! During the night he sleeps in between feeds and I have been able to get about 1-2 hours at a time of sleep...never knew how much sleep you do not get with a newborn!

Gavin is starting to smile more and it seems that it is not just gas smiles:) He is a very happy baby just hanging out in his chair, swing, or on a blanket on the floor...he just loves to be talked to. He is really starting to notice more around him and watch you when you move. His two favorite songs so far are "twinkle twinkle little star" and "you are my sunshine" and he just stares at you when you sing...

Gavin also LOVES to be held. I swear he would sleep all night if I let him sleep on my chest. He loves to snuggle and hold his hands up by his face.

2 Week Check-Up

This morning Gavin went to see Dr. Copeland for his 2 week check up. I am very proud (because I finally feel like I have enough milk for the hungry little boy) to say that Gavin now weighs 9 pounds 8 ounces! He was born at 8 pounds 12 ounces, went down to 8 pounds 3 ounces and is now up to 9 and a half pounds! She said she would be happy if he was at least his birth weight...and he sure passed that up! He also grew 2 inches and is now 22 inches long. He is 60Th percentile for weight, 80Th for height and 50Th for head circumference.

Gavin was not very happy when the doctor checked him out, and screamed like he had never eaten before...so I fed him right away and he was a happy little man:)

Gavin is still wanting to eat every 2 hours overnight, and every 2-3 during the day. Dr. Copeland said that this was completely normal and eventually he will go longer. Most nights Gavin does well sleeping in his bassinet from about 11pm to 3am (with a feed in between of course!), but then he wakes up and wants to be held...I am so lucky to have grandma and dad here to take care of him so that I am able to get at least 2 hours of sleep at the beginning of the night...without those couple hours I would probably go insane! Then in the morning Gavin and Grandma hang out for a few hours while I rest again...Gavin has his awake time with Grandma and they sing and read...Gavin loves her:)

Sorry for those who don't want to hear about his pooping schedule, but we think its pretty funny! Every morning around 4 or 5 Gavin starts grunting and passing gas and trying to go to the bathroom...and about 8 am when he is in his bouncy chair (that vibrates) he goes poop! Never fails, we put him in the bouncy seat, turn it on, and its like his own little potty:) Really never thought I would be so excited for my baby to poop! HA!

After his bath Grandma brushed his hair to stand straight up...it looked so cute, like a little man!