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!



These speak for themselves...

Here are some more family photos. They really capture the emotion that was taking place when they were shot...

Just a few short moments after his birth!  This is what it's all about...

Aunt Kasey was there for the entire birth...and I mean ENTIRE :)



proud daddy...

Bring on the paparazzi...

The first night went really well.  We decided to keep Gavin in the nursery during the night and then keep him in our room all during the day...in order to simulate what our plans were for home.  Gavin received lots of visitors today...Nana, Papa, Gran gran, Big Momma, Aunt Tiffany, and the Shabbazz clan. 

Aunt Tiffany got up really early in the morning to catch the first flight into New Bern.

Nana

Bring on the paparazzi...

Big Momma...

Aunt Kasey...

 

Next another Homecoming Celebration...

Our SECOND miracle for the week...baby "G's" arrival!

I woke up with some pain early Friday morning around 0245.  I was unsure about what I was feeling so I laid in bed for another hour or so before waking Adam.  I then began to track, what I now know are contractions, and they were all over the board...some 30 minutes apart, some 10 minutes.  I had a scheduled doctor's appointment later that morning at 0830 with my regular doctor, Dr. Joyner. After discussing with Adam, we decided to go ahead and give the family a "heads-up" on what I was feeling so they could get a start on the long drive here.  We also decided to "hold-out" from going to the hospital until after my appointment at 0830.  Wow, that became harder and harder to do because by 0630 my contractions seemed to be less than 5 minutes apart.  We decided to get dressed, pack the car, load the car seat, and head to the doctor a bit early.  The plan worked because the docs office called me back very shortly after we got there.  It took Dr. Joyner less than 30 seconds to check me and see that I was 5cm dilated with contractions at 2-3 minutes apart and to get to the hospital ASAP!!! So now my concerns that I was just experiencing severe gas pains were quickly put to rest :).
Dr. Joyner was taking call at noon on that day, so I was really trying to hold out until he got to the hospital!  After arriving to the hospital, they rolled me into the labor and delivery room and began the epidural process.  I was sooooo nervous about missing my opportunity for the meds but it all worked out. Shortly after receiving the meds, I was at 9 cm!  This labor was progressing quickly...so I thought.  Dr. Joyner came in to check on my progress and said that he wanted me to continue to contract the baby down in order to prevent me from having to push too long.  This process took about 5-6 more hours but was well worth it in the end.  I only pushed for 52 minutes. During this "down" time our extended family, the Shabazz's (minus Shaheed) came to visit and hang out.  Kasey and Adam were troopers, each doing there part...fetching ice chips, food for each other, blankets, and just plain loving!
All the hard work and determination paid off at 4:17pm on October 15, 2010...with the birth of our first born son Gavin Spencer Cromwell.  He weighed in at 7lbs even, 20 inches long!

Waiting patiently...

The Shabazzs

My loving husband...what a trooper!

Laughing, cutting-up, and enjoying the time...

He's here...

Our new family!

Daddy and Baby G bonding time

Thanks Dr. Joyner for being a great doc!

Our bundle of joy...

Aunt Kasey loving on her Gavin

Aunt Andi doing the same

Next up... a couple of days in hospital to recover before going home.  Grandparents are in route and have been since about 4:00 in the morning! Papa, Nana, and Gran Gran arrived around 9:30 that night.  Big Moma would be arriving around 9:00 the next morning along with Aunt Tiffany! 

Gran gran...

Papa

After the visitors left for the night.  We settled in as a new family and began a journey that would mark our lives forever!

3 days pre-Gavin...

After Adam's return on Monday, we spent the next three days hanging out, spending some much needed family time with Tobiah and each other.  Adam worked on his "honey-do" list that I created for him...replacing light bulbs, puttting together the pack-n-play, and other odds and ends.  He even managed to work on his bike a bit and get it ready for riding again.  On Thursday night, we decided to head down to the ball field and watch McCalls play.  They were in tournament play and it was a great night, mid-60's, no rain, and lots of good friends.  These three days were much needed and appreciated time...little did we know what was on the horizon!

Our FIRST miracle of the week...Adam's safe arrival home!

Wow what a week this was. Adam arrived safely home on late Monday night, October 11, 2010 with VMAQ-2 ADVON! He had been traveling for about 5 days straight and working on little to no sleep (I think he totalled only 6 hours of sleep in 5 days). But he was in great spirits when he walked off the bus at 2230 that night. What a welcome home. I am 38 weeks pregnant and little did we know what was in store in just a few short days :). Tobiah was beside himself (as usual) when Adam comes home from deployments. Tobiah forgets about the world around him and it becomes him and daddy again! It is truly fun to watch!

Waiting for Adam...

Just getting word that they are almost here!

They're here!!!!!

The best part...

Meeting Gavin again after 6 months...

  Adam's biggest fan (besides me, of course)!