Catching Up

It's been awhile since my last real post. Here's an update from the past couple of weeks. Gavin is growing, growing, growing. At the breastfeeding support group today, he weighed 9 lbs 2 oz. It think this puts him around the 10th percentile for weight...a little better than the previous 3rd percentile. But, I've vowed to not overly worry about comparing him with his peers. He is a healthy, thriving little guy. So much so that a couple of weeks ago, he officially outgrew all of his newborn size clothes. His legs and feet just popped right out...

Our trip to Florida was wonderful, given that it started with worries about Gavin's fever. He did fantastic with all of the travel. Here he is with his wings. The flight attendant also gave him a certificate documenting his first flight. He sure was the hit on the plane rides!

Here's just a random picture of him relaxing in Florida...deep in thought.

With Grandma Mary and Grandpa Fred...



And we had to get a few pics of him on the beach, even though he didn't spend much time outside. He was cautiously left inside during the sunny, hot days, only coming out in the mornings and evenings for walks.

We came back from Florida just in time for Easter. Here's Dad filling in for Gavin on the Easter egg hunt. Next year, Gavin will be able to run around and find his own eggs.

Here's Dad's findings...

Well, I'm off for now. While we have a little angel most of the time, he does have his moments. And he's having one right now. Time to fill that belly and get him to bed!

Happy Easter!

Smiling...Caught on Camera

Family Photo Opp

Splish Splash!

We made it to Florida...after a couple of scary days at home. Gavin had a fever on Wednesday and then again on Friday when we were supposed to be leaving for Chicago (to fly out the next morning). I took him to the doctor on Wednesday with a temp of 100.5. He also was a little more fussy than normal the night before. He was looked over and we were told he was fine and just to keep checking his temp. The doctor who saw him thought he may just have a virus and it would pass. His temp was normal at the office. So, I continued checking his temperature and then it spiked again at 4:00 on Friday to 101.2. Just when I thought we were in the clear and, of course, just when we were supposed to be leaving for vacation. So, Brad and I took him into Express Care at Advantage Health that evening and canceled our hotel for Chicago. Fortunately, he again was examined and his temp was back to normal, so we were given the go ahead on traveling to Florida. We certainly would have canceled if necessary, but we're glad it wasn't. So, after one hour of sleep (for me), we drove to Chicago for our 6:00am flight. Gavin was an angel for all of the travel, sleeping through both plane rides. And now, we're here and enjoying our time. And his temperature has been normal thus far. Pray for us that he remains healthy and happy!

Here are a few pics...more to come later!

Watch Out Pavement (and Beach)!

As of today, I have the go-ahead on running again...yippy! So, after a 7 and a 1/2 week break, I'll be hitting the pavement. If only the weather was a little nicer, I'd be able to take the little guy with me. I suppose it will have to wait until next week when we're in sunny, warm Florida!

So, good-bye to these last 7 pounds and this out of shape belly. My new pair of Asics Kayano's await me!

Belly and Bath Time

This morning, I attempted another round of tummy time with Gavin. Other attempts have ended quickly in a screaming fit. This time, there was no screaming, but we didn't have a very active participant in the session.

A little too lazy to lift my head. But that turtle is pretty cool.

The session started with wide open eyes...

...but ended like this.

Last night, we gave Gavin his first "real" bath in his tub. Earlier this week, his umbilical stump finally fell off, giving us the green light to submerge (well, not quite) him in water. Overall, I think he liked it.

Splashing around

Look at that face!

All bundled up with Mom and Dad

More Fun Playing with Picasa...Collages!

Silly faces

Black and White (since I can't figure out the video option)

Catching flies

A message from our youngest Irishman...

Play Time

This past week, Gavin has been more alert and awake, although he still sleeps away most of the day. He enjoys play time in his new Boppy play gym. And with the weather becoming more spring-like, we've been able to get the jogger out and take a few walks. I'm getting an itch to go for a run, but I have to wait until my six week postpartum check up. Hopefully I'll be able to hold back until then with the nice weather tempting me. I'm really feeling ready to dust off the running shoes.

In other news, I took Gavin to his 3 week well child visit with Dr. Quiroz today. Again, the highlight of the visit was his weight. He weighed in at 7 lbs 1 oz. So, he is certainly gaining at a great rate! He was 6 lbs 14 oz on Monday at the breastfeeding support group. For me, it's such a gratifying experience to know that he is eating well. Feeding him is one of my favorite things about being a mom--a true bonding experience. All else checked out well at his visit--still waiting for his umbilical cord stump to fall off. Then he can have a REAL bath. I think he's going to like spending some time in the warm water. I'm predicting that we have a swimmer on our hands. We'll have to test it out this summer in Grandma and Grandpa's pool. If he's anything like his mom, we won't be able to get him out of the pool in the years to come. Good training for all those future tri-athelons!

We've been getting out of the house more this week as well. I've been reluctant to take him out too much with the cold and flu bugs out in full force. Gavin made his first visit to Grandma Mary and Grandpa Fred's house on Sunday. And we went to Babies R Us on Thursday to buy a gift for second-cousin Blaise who was born this week. Then, tonight, we ventured out to a restaurant for the first time. Gavin slept the entire time we ate. Such a good baby! Our big trip to Florida is fast approaching--just 3 more weeks!

Here's a picture update...

Visiting Grandpa and waving to the camera.

We introduced a bottle this week (and started pumping) to get Gavin ready for my return to work in May. He did really well with it...and Dad enjoyed getting to feed him.

Relaxing in my "short, bald, and toothless" outfit from Aunt Nancy.

Playing in the Boppy gym. Those bugs are so silly!

Big blue eyes--time will tell if they stay blue.

My first walk...which I slept through. And mom fits into her favorite running jacket again! Yay!

Gavin in Black and White

I've been having fun playing around with our Picasa software. Here are the results of some of my playing...I love the black and white pics. I tried to create a video of these, but couldn't get it to upload. Either way, the pics are too cute!

Heavy Weight Champion of the World...well, not quite

Gavin had his first doctor's appointment last week Friday. Grandma Shirley came with Gavin and me. This was just my second outing with the little man (I have yet to do it on my own), so it was so nice to have an extra pair of loving hands to help out. Everything went very well at the appointment. And the highlight was Gavin's weight--he gained back the weight that he lost while in the hospital. When he was born, he weighed 5 lbs 12 oz. At discharge, he weighed 5 lbs 7 oz. Then, Brad and I took him to the breast feeding support group at St. Mary's last week Monday, and he weighed 5 lbs 8 oz. So, I was excitedly surprised to see that by our appointment on Friday, he weighed in at 5 lb 12.5 oz--back to his birth weight in just 9 days! The goal was to be back to birth weight by two weeks. It's so reassuring to know that he is eating well!

This weekend, we celebrated Grandma Mary's birthday. Gavin bought Grandma a huge tub of Jelly Bellies, her favorite. Unlce Andy and Aunt Karen got to meet Gavin for the first time, in person. Andy was in Switzerland for work when he was born. So, Gavin did get to meet him and Aunt Karen via webcam a couple of days after being born. Now, he got to meet them in person.

Here are a couple of pics from the weekend. One explanation, without getting too political (that's not the purpose of this blog)...Uncle Andy bought Gavin an Obama bib on a recent trip to Washington DC. We all give Andy a hard time for voting for Obama--so, as a joke, he picked up this bib. And now we joke that little Gavin's generation will be responsible for paying off the $800+ billion stimulus (aka pork) package, so he may as well wear the bib. So, I do not mean to offend any of our blog followers who did vote for Obama. While I didn't vote for him, I support our country and hope that his efforts will improve our economy. Enough said.

Our little family

Grandma and Grandpa

No comment.

Uncle Tim

Aunt Karen

Uncle Andy