2 month milestones!

And, boy, is that an understatement!  These past couple of months have been like nothing we have ever experienced.  We are soooooo blessed to have such a beautiful baby boy (inside and out)! 

Unfortunately Adam has been working a TON of hours and has been flying nights for the past couple of weeks.  Thankfully, he has been able to participate in some things in the mornings though.  For instance, this week started off with interviews of potential nannies because I am planning on returning to work, part-time, after we get back from the holidays.  I'm pretty sure we have found someone that Adam and I are very comfortable with watching AND CARING for Gavin.  We will let you guys in on who it will be, once things have been finalized.

Today Gav had his 2-month checkup.  Most of the time we love going to his check-ups to see how much he weighs and hear about all the progress he is making.  This time was a little different  because the visit included...SHOTS!  He handled them like a champ though.  Mommy had a harder time with it than Gav, I think.  Thankfully, daddy was able to be there to comfort both mommy and his son. Gavin got an "A" for his progress.  He weighed in at 12.2lbs (gaining 2.5lbs in a month) and was 22.5 in. long.  Thank you Lord for his health!

Visit from Nana and Papa at 7 weeks

Nana and Papa arrived at the airport on Friday afternoon with sunny skies and semi-warm weather.  Gavin was passed out in his car seat.  He loves sleeping in his seat but hates to wake up in it :).

"Nope, I'm not ready to wake up yet."

They quickly began loving all over the G-man.  I'm sure he felt so special!  That night we just hung out as a family enjoying each others time.  Saturday was more of the same.  We didn't even leave the house and I stayed in my running clothes the entire day.  It was great!  The SEC championship game was on t.v. and we grilled steaks to go with the game.

Nana and Papa even got in on the fun of bath time too!

 Then on Sunday, we went to church (still a little late-we really need to work on that).  I ended up in the nursing room with Gav, where he slept peacefully in my arms. After church, Nana and Papa gave Adam and I some "time-off" while we went to our friends baby shower.  Little did Adam and I know, but Nana and Papa gave Gavin his very own photo shoot! They got some GREAT pics.  Here are just a few...

they were even able to get Tobiah

Happy baby

His new Christmas outfit...thank you Nana

Not a big fan of tummy time

Nana enjoying Gav after he wakes from his nap

That's good stuff!

Papa singing to his grandson.  Gavin was glad it was Papa singing and not his mommy or daddy :). 

Getting one last kiss before they go.

Nana was also able to capture our first family photo since coming home from the hospital...never mind how tired Adam and I look :).

More fun to come...



Good times at 6 weeks old...

What a week it was...we enjoyed what looks to be the last bit of warm weather for a while. My boys played outside while I was able to sit and drink some coffee, decaf of course, and watch the leaves fall from trees.  Great times!

Adam is really enjoying Gavin. He loves getting kisses, while Gavin will still let us :)!

Our friends, the Larsons, came to visit too.  Miss Phoebe did a great job holding Gav while he moved around.

Thanksgiving Weekend 2010!

Great time with family, friends, and fun! We started the long weekend with Gran-Gran's arrival on Tuesday afternoon. Gavin was excited to see him!

Then uncle Brock and aunt Betsy arrived the next day...more loving for the G-man!

We began preparing the Thanksgiving feast that Wednesday night...and, wow, what a big help family can be.  I forget how much help extra hands can be until they are here.  Thank you Berryhills and Gran-Gran you guys made Thanksgiving "easy."

We started off our Thanksgiving day with a race at 0800.  It represented many "firsts" for our family...Gavin's first 5K, my first race since having him (6 weeks ago), and our first race as a complete family (minus T-money)!  The Berryhill's decided to join in the fun too.  I have to say I am very proud of all of us...running on little to no sleep. 

Yes...we figured out the car seat was crooked and fixed it BEFORE the race :).

Notice all  the smiles-kinda :)

After the race and still asleep! Gavin was tired from all the exercise.

Next up we attended the 2nd annual Thanksgiving Football game.  The Shabazz's arrived just before game time and we loaded up in 2 cars and headed out.  The Capps family (aka the Colts), Adam's squadron buddies, and others played for 2.5 hours...while the rest of us played armchair quarter back.  Tobiah made it to the game too.

The Armchair quarterbacks

 Notice Gavin was passed out AGAIN...

The Colts vs. the Others

The "Cromwell plus" Clan

Notice who stills has the energy... 

The aftermath...

By 12:30...we had ran a race and played some football, now it was time to EAT!  We ate around 3:00 that afternoon.  Thanks to the efforts of our good friends the Katsotis's, we enjoyed a wonderful, non-traditional, Italian meal...including raviolis, lasagna, sweet potato casserole, green bean casserole, salad, fried okra, and Italian bread.  It was grrrreaaatt!

I would have to say Gavin's first Thanksgiving was a success with lots of love and family time.  We are very blessed, as a nation, family, and individuals.  Thanks be to God, our Lord and Savior! 

Sunny Saturday with a UFC Night

What a great day!  Weather was mid-sixties and sunny.  We started out the morning with a 3 mile run as a family.  Gavin started out not liking it but quickly fell asleep while feeling the motion of the jogger. It was our first "long" run as a family so we were very encouraged by Gavin's response.  Then Tobiah got some one on one time with Adam while he gave him a good brushing!

Later in the evening, the Shabazz's came down to spend the night and enjoy some UFC 123!  Gavin enjoyed all the extra attention and loving he got from family. 

Thanks uncle Shaheed for burping me!



and cousin Samadah for bathing me!

Gavin enjoyed his bath time and then quickly fell asleep after an eventful night!  I made sure and handed out ear plugs just in case Gavin doesn't want to sleep all night.  We will see...

Helping out with the laundry...

We had another great day.  Daddy was gone all day to Florida to "retire" a prowler so mommy, Gavin, and T-money enjoyed the day without him.  Gavin and Tobiah even chipped in and helped mommy with the laundry.  I managed to capture a smile from the G-man while I was folding clothes. 

Unfortunately it would be the last smile of the evening.  We had a rough night due to Gavin struggling with gas pains. I did do some research and found ColicCalm, which is a form of gripe water. It is all natural and approved by the FDA so we will see if it works!  Keep you posted...

1 month old...officially!

Today was a big day for the G-man and I.  Gavin had his 1 month checkup with Dr. Warren this morning and received glowing remarks!  He weighs a whopping 9.5lbs, up 3 lbs since leaving the hospital.  He has also grown to 21 and 3/4 in from 20 inches in the hospital.  He received his second HepB shot.  That hurt me more than him, I think.  Next we tackled Walmart and did some much needed grocery shopping.  He did great right up to the end. He had enough of the carseat and wanted to eat. 

So much has happened in just a short month...we can't wait to see what the next month brings (hopefully more sleep among other things)!

4 weeks old and counting...

Another week of "firsts".  I am starting to see that children learn fast and grow up quick, for sure!  This week Gavin FINALLY got the concept of  "feed, wake, sleep".  He is really doing good during the day and during his nap time.  Although the "cry it out" method is controversial, Adam and I are firm believers that it doesn't hurt the child to whimper for a few minutes while he is trying to settle himself.  In fact after this week, we couldn't be more sure of it.  Gavin's "wake" times are not very long right now because if he gets overstimulated, it is harder for him to fall asleep.  This cycle is good for mommy and child in order to set a pattern for both.  We are also trying to establish 7:00am as his first morning meal.  After he eats his breakfast, I try and read to him while he "talks and smiles".  Another first for this week, is Gavin smiling and it is too much fun.  This week he has started focusing on stuff in the house, us, and the dog.  Other wake ideas include Daddy time, walks, running errands, swing, and tummy time.  I think Gavin's favorite, right now, is reading with mommy or daddy.

Today, Gavin attended his first birthday party...Happy Birthday to Caleb Capps.  He was a trooper.  Although my plan of feeding him and then using the car to soothe him to sleep didn't quite work as planned, he was very much awake and alert.  He did eventually fall asleep in his car seat and slept great for the ride home.  What a good boy!

3 weeks old and counting...

This week has been a good one. We have been making big strides at  night.  Gavin is starting to figure out how to sleep at night and take naps during the day.  We also started a "night-time" routine in order to help Gavin differentiate between the day and night...bath time comes between 6:30-7:00, followed by feeding, then swaddling, the night-night.  He loves taking baths...daddy even got in on the fun!

For Gavin's 3-week birthday, we decided to try bottle feeding so that daddy could get in on the fun and maybe I could sleep for 4 hours straight.  Gavin did great. He gobbled it down like a champ...taking 4 ounces!  So I doubled my workload by pumping on top of breast-feeding but it is well worth it for Adam and I. We also figured out that he really loves tummy time...he sleeps like a "baby" :).

This week, although tiring, has been very rewarding.  We are all learning each other and figuring out what works and what doesn't.  I look forward to next week and the milestones that we will accomplish. 

Happy 3 Weeks old to me!

Starting week 2...

This week started off with more"Firsts." Sunday the Cromwell clan packed up and ventured out to church.  We decided to feed the little guy right before leaving so that he would fall asleep in the car seat.  Our plan worked!  We just carried the car seat into church where Gav remained asleep the entire time.  What a trooper!

Because our plan worked so well for church.  We decided on Monday night, to meet the Shabazz's at Texas Roadhouse for Gavin's first restaurant trip.  Again we left the house a little early, pulled over at a rest stop, fed "G", and continued on our way to the restaurant.  Gavin fell asleep on the ride there and remained asleep for the entire meal AND ride home!  Again, success!

Early this morning, Adam took off to Sweetwater, TN to pick up our latest addition...another motorcycle (MY motorcycle according to him :).  So today marks a first...the first time Gavin and I will be by ourselves ALL DAY.  I have to admit I was a little nervous but, as always, Gavin is being a trooper. 
This morning we even ventured out on a walk...all by ourselves. 

So far so good...

Happy 1 week old to Gavin...

We have truly enjoyed being home as a family, while Adam has been off work.  We are all finding out our new roles in the house, including Tobiah. 

It was "daddy" time for Adam and so he decided to take Gav outside.  It was a beautiful warm, sunny day.  Then he decided they could both enjoy the sun...and so, Gav and dad soaked up some rays.  Gavin loved the warmth.  He was out in 5 seconds flat.

Our next venture for the day was going on our first family walk.  Gavin did pretty well.  Tobiah doesn't know quite what to do with the stroller yet.  He doesn't pull, surprisingly, he walks right beside us.  What a good boy!

Overall the week was a success!  Gavin is averaging every 3 hours at night.  We are still working on getting our days and nights straight but we are adjusting well to each other.  We have learned things such as: the power of Gavin's "potty" reach...both number 1 and 2, how to function on little to no sleep, that Gavin could possibly be lactose intolerant just like his daddy and papa :).  And we have learned that Tobiah needs extra loving whenever possible!