First Food!

This morning we gave Gavin his first taste of rice cereal! I am not so sure he really liked it...not sure he really knew what to do. I made some homemade organic brown rice cereal and added some breast milk to make it thin. I really can't wait to introduce more solids and can't wait to make them myself. I did a LOT of research about baby foods while I was on bedrest and decided that I would make all of Gavin's food. I just think that there are so many benefits to giving an infant "real" food opposed to the jarred stuff. (Plus it is very easy to do and will save $!) There will be no preservatives, no additives, and it will be organic. We buy mostly organic anyways, but I will be sure to give G mostly organic. I also am excited because the produce box we get each week has tons of organic veggies and we will be able to give Gavin all the veggies and fruits we cook to eat! I even made a "baby food" binder filled with recipes and ways to make homemade baby food. (One of the projects I actually finished while on bedrest:)

So here is Mr. Gavin having his first taste of food!

I am moving!

Last night Gavin decided that he was going to learn how to scoot on his belly...he pushes his bottom up in the air, pushes his legs up, and pushes with his arms. He goes backwards across the room...ANYTIME we put him down now. WHAT?!? My baby is MOVING??? Here he is on the OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE ROOM...in just a few minutes he did this!

Only God knows why...

I am feeling so sick right now. I called home today to talk to my Mom and got the news that my brother-in-law Scott's dad died suddenly this morning. He died in his home while working out. My heart sank when I heard this. I cannot believe it, no one can. I just feel sick to think that this could happen so fast, so sudden, just like that. My heart hurts for his family. For his wife. For his kids and his grandkids. He was a very sweet man and amazing with his grandkids. I just keep thinking of them...

So today I held Gavin a little more. Hugged him a little harder. Kissed him a million more times. Told Derek I loved him many extra times. Told my Mom I loved her each time I talked to her. Thought about how my life and the people in it are not guaranteed. Thought about how there is no way to ever know what tomorrow brings. I thought about how we all take our life for granted sometimes. We don't think "it could happen to us" and we get caught up in silly things that should not matter. Today I tried to remember that we are put on this earth by God, and God is the one who will take us away. I tried to find comfort, but it is hard. I believe that God gives us our life so that we can do great things. He may only give us a short life. He may give us a long life. I don't know why things happen the way they do. I continue to have questions. In the mean time I will stop and remember that I only have this day. I will make the best of each and every moment I am here on this earth.

I pray that Scott and his family are able to find some peace and comfort in each other as they go through this terrible time. I don't have many words to say...I do have my prayers.

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39

{Gavin 23 Weeks}

-You love to lay on your tummy. You roll over from both sides. You have started to push up with your arms when you are on your belly.

-You love to nurse. Sometimes every 2 hours. This is more than fine with me. I cherish this time, especially since I have been back at work.

-When your Dad gets home from work you smile really big and flap your arms.

-Your favorite position when being held is up on my shoulder, and you love to eat my shirt and neck...I have drool on my left shoulder almost all day long. I love it.

-When you get fussy in the evening, your Dad puts you in the baby carrier and wears you around the house. You guys take the garbage out, work out in the yard, and work in the garage. You also spend lots of time in front of the mirror...you just love it. You always need to be busy.

-You get very excited when your grandma comes over to visit. You give her really big smiles.

-You go to bed every night at 7pm...we will not talk about how much you sleep, you have not mastered this skill yet;)

-You grab at things with both hands now. Everything you grab goes straight to your mouth.

-You have started blowing bubbles with your lips and drool all over the place. We go through about 8 bibs a day.

-We almost always dress you in PJ's because they work the best with your never ending moving legs and feet. Socks and shoes never stay on, so PJ's work the best! Sometimes someone will say "He is still in his PJ's" and we will agree and say we did that on purpose!

-You have taken an interest in Arnold. You notice when he is around and watch him move throughout the house. You even like to "pet" him. We are not so sure that he likes it as much as you do;)

-You love to take your bottle every night from your Dad...and you get very upset if you see it before it is time to eat. We hide it from you while you are getting your bath for this reason.

-You giggle when we play peek-a-boo. Your laugh is the sweetest noise I have every heard.

-Sophie the giraffe is still your favorite teething toy. Its your favorite toy period.

-You sleep better when it is raining outside. It has been raining a lot lately.

-Sometimes you nap for 20minutes and sometimes 2 hours. We never know.

-You just got your first jogging stroller and went for a jog with Daddy. You slept the entire time.

-You fuss when you get bored or frustrated. You know we will come to the rescue...you know this too well.

-Some days you spit up 10 times, some days you don't spit up at all.

-You love to read books, especially ones that are soft and you can eat.

-You love to watch people when we go out, and you flirt just a little.

-You are the sweetest baby in the whole world. We thank God each and every day that you are in our lives. We love you Gavin!

Gavin and friends

Today Gavin had his friends Madeleine (3mo) and Nicholas (7mo) over for a play date:) I am pretty sure it was more meaningful for us moms:) Madeleine is my friend Hilary's baby, and she is just so sweet. She is the same way G was at 3 mo....needs to be rocked and held all the time...and also has a sensitive tummy like G...kinda funny because it seems like Hilary is going through all the same stuff we went through! Nicholas is Laura's baby, and one of Gavin's first Friends:) It was so funny when we put them all together for this shot...the boys just laid so still and looked so confused...and Madeleine was wiggling all over the place! Here they are, each 2 months apart. It is SO crazy to see the differences from 3---5---and 7 months!

Never say Never

I thought it would be fun to think of some of the things that I thought I would never do...here it goes!

1. Change my shirt, pants, bra, and sometimes even socks 4 times a day due to spitup
2. Buy most of my post maternity clothes at Target (And its VERY rare that I get new clothes these days!)
3. Leave on a shirt all day that is covered in spitup because we are not going anywhere
4. Sing songs about poop all day
5. Spend the entire day just loving on my baby (Staying in our jammies)...and thinking every inch of him is the cutest thing I have ever seen. Every INCH
6. Run around the house like a mad women doing dishes, cooking, doing laundry, writing blog posts, going to the bathroom, SHOWERING AS FAST AS POSSIBLE every time G is asleep because he is like a ticking time bomb!
7. Ask to see G's poop all the time
8. Refuse advice from people. Although it is always given with good intentions, I am able to say thank you and learn for myself:)

{Gavin 22 Weeks}

Here is Gavin doing what he does every night. Eating his feet in the bath. He is pretty flexible!