0 to 2 in 287 Days...and Living to Blog About It!!!

Gwyneth Nine Months Old~ November 3, 2010

Nine Months Old~ November 3, 2010!!!

Dear Gwyneth,

This was a really big month for you!  All kinds of new things  happened and we couldn't be any more proud of each of your accomplishments!  In one short week you learned how to do three exciting new things...read below for details. 

*  You had been working on sitting on your own since September 23rd and finally a few days past your nine month birthday, November 12th, you mastered sitting indpendently literally over night.  You are SO proud of yourself and love looking at life from a new vantage point.  You haven't figured out how to push yourself up into a seated position but you can sit forever on your own and have even learned how to "fall" gracefully to get down to the ground.  This is huge because in the begining you would get tired and just rear back.  Not so much fun for you or mommy!

*  You decided to help mommy out and began holding your bottle on your own on November 14th.  However, you are quite the snuggler and will only do this when it is completely necessary, LOL!

*  Then, on November 18th, you got up on all fours and rocked back and forth for the first time.  You act like you want to crawl but get frustrated that all the rocking doesn't get you anywhere...then you tuck and roll to whatever it is you want.  So, that means at about 9.5 months you were rocking solidly!  I think we are very close to the infamous army crawl, just in time for Christmas probably.  How exciting!!!

*  You still are the toothless wonder.  No, this isn't a typo.  I didn't accidentally leave it in from month 8.  You still do not have any teeth.  Honestly, you chew on everything and I just can't imagine it will take much longer.  However, I feel like I have been saying that for months now.  Your teething toy, a giraffe named Sophie, sure does get a workout every single day.

*  You are sleeping well through the night.  You still go to bed around 7 or 8 and wake up around 6 or 7.  You seem to average 11 hours of sleep a night.  I was reading in a baby book the other day and it said, "Some baby's don't require a significant amount of sleep.  They might only sleep 11 hours at night and an hour during the day."  I laughed out loud because this is totally you.  I would love for you to nap like your brother, but it just isn't happening.

*  You eat level two baby food three times a day.  You like fruit with cereal or yogurt for breakfast, a veggie and fruit for lunch, and a dinner jar and fruit jar at dinner.  You usually take a bottle in the morning, another one at 10:00, another at 1:00, another at 4:00, and another at bedtime.  You are really just a snacker.  You still take anywhere from 4-6 ounces at a time which means you get about 25 ounces a day.  You tried eating small chunks of banana, cheese, and some cottage cheese this month.  Let's just say that solid foods are not quite your friend yet.  You'll get there though.

*  At your nine month appointment you had only gained a little from your cardiologist appointment.  You were 17 pounds 1 ounce and 27 and 3/4 inches.  I guess you will probably grow out of your infant carrier in height before inches.  We have a 30/30 carseat, so you are well on your way.

*  You seem to know who dada is and enjoy yelling his name.  Sometimes it sounds like you say mama when you are crying and want some love.  However, I think we would have to call your first word dada. 

*  You are becoming much more assertive with your brother.  Now, when he takes a toy of yours, you sometimes do a high pitch scream and begin to cry.  I am sure this will be a familiar sound for many years to come.

*  You love your brothers "paci" bear named Woof Woof.  So, we are thinking Santa might need to bring you a similar one for Christmas.  Gavin really doesn't like having to share Woof Woof.

*  You are really ticklish under your right arm and in the crease of your neck.  We get big belly laughs whenever we tickle you there. 

*  You love watching your brothers every move.  I think you are taking mental notes and, as soon as you are mobile, you will be attempting all of his little tricks.

*  For Halloween, you were the most beautiful little Tinker Bell and Gavin was Captain Hook.  You were quite the pair.  I would love to say I got a really cute picture of the two of you together...but I didn't.  All three times you were both dressed up, you wanted nothing to do with one another.  So, I just took really cute pictures of you individually.

*  I ordered new stocking for all of us with our names on them for Christmas.  I just can't wait to see how much fun you have with wrapping paper and boxes.  I know that was Gavin's favorite part last year.

You are so much fun baby girl.  We love watching you grow and love seeing you figure out the world around you.  We can't wait to see what exciting things you will learn to do in your tenth month of life.

Love you bunches!

Mom and Dad

She can make anything look cute...

I have to say that Gigi can even make a hospital gown look cute!  However, I hope to never have to see my baby girl in a hospital gown again.  In her short little life, she has already spent too much time at the hospital.  Thank goodness today's procedure wasn't a big deal.

She had to have a swallow screen, and this is fairly common for preemies and/or babies that spent a lot of time being fed through a feeding tube or gavage.  The worst part of it was having to wake her up at 4:30 and feed her a bottle and breakfast so she could make it until after her procedure to eat again.  The poor thing was starving by the time she was done and could have a bottle at 9:30.  And, because nothing can ever go as planned, when they were doing the procedure, the machine malfunctioned and we had to move her to an entirely different room.  She held it together pretty well until we went into the second room.  At that point she was not only hungry but tired also. However, we finished and all is good. 

Then, for the fun part of our morning, we went back to the NICU to see some of our favorite nurses and doctors. 

It does my heart so much good to go visit the people that became part of our family during Gigi's stay in the NICU.  I am always surprised how much they remember about our little family.  Although it was nine months ago, it feels like a lifetime.  However, it is part of Gigi's story.  I would have rather brought her home right away, but it doesn't matter when she got to come home...just that she did.  Forever grateful for my two beautiful, healthy babies!

A Little Time Away...

hip, hip hooray!

Well, we had not gone anywhere, overnight, just the two of us since right before Gavin was born.  Oh, wait...we went to the hospital to deliver Gigi.  That's romantic, right?  That counts, right?!?!?

So, thanks to our dear friends Lynn, Jake, and Emily we had the opportunity to sneak away for a night.  We went to Holland, Michigan and stayed at a really cool hotel.  It is the first certified "green" hotel in the midwest.  I really wish I would have thought to snap a few pictures at the beginning of the stay.  The room was really cool and all 56 rooms are designed with a unique look.  Holland has such a village feel.  Lots of shops and yummy restaurants all within walking distance.

We did manage to get a couple of pictures while enjoying the yummy food and drink of a few different restaurants. 

But, I will say we missed this little face...

And this little face...

It's always good to go on vacation but is even BETTER to come home to these two little smiles!

 

Nine Months and Twelve Days

This is a picture of Gavin on the morning of February 3, 2010.  He was nine months and twelve days old and about to become a big brother.

At the time Uncle John took this picture, we didn't know if Gavin was going to have a baby brother or baby sister.  Mommy and daddy were at the hospital having a baby and big brother was on pins and needles waiting to hear the news.  (Who are we kidding?  He wasn't on pins and needles.  He was having a ton of fun being spoiled by Aunt Mary, Uncle John, and Gindy)  His little sister was born at 3:46 p.m.  However, Gavin wouldn't be able to meet her for a whole other month because she had to stay in the NICU and get stronger.

Today, November 15th, Gwyneth is exactly how old Gavin was on the day she was born.  This is a picture of her today at 9 months 12 days.   

Gavin is the BEST big brother.

Gigi is the BEST little sister.

As much of a blessing as both of them are, all I can say is, that I am glad I am not in the hospital delivering another baby today, LOL!  I think three babies all 9.5 months apart might be a bit much.  Don't you?!?!?

Dustin's Birthday Celebrations...

One of the many things I love about my husband is how excited he gets about his birthday!  In his house growing up, when it was your birthday, it truly was your special day.  I think this is something that really stuck with him over the years.  From the moment he would wake up in the morning, he would say, "I can do whatever I want, because it's my birthday!"  I will say since becoming a dad I have noticed his birthday attitude changing just a bit.  Now, all he really wants to do is to spend the day with his family getting extra love from his two little peanuts.  However, I still wanted to make his day special.  So, I went out and got all of his favorite things and made a very yummy dinner and cake.  In the end, the cake ended up being more for Gavin than daddy.  Gavin loved all the candles on the cake and especially enjoyed eating a really big piece all on his own.

Here is a picture of daddy blowing out his candles.  Please remember I am NOT a baker, LOL!

Gavin enjoying a piece of daddy's birthday cake with a big person fork.

Who needs a fork, it taste way better with just your hands!

Here is a picture of Gigi hanging out in her high chair on Daddy's birthday!

We were fortunate enough to go out to dinner with some friends a few days after Dustin's birthday to celebrate.  Here is a picture of all eight of us.  Yummy food and good friends, who could ask for more?!?!?

 

Gwyneth~ Eight Months

Eight Months Old~ October 3, 2010!!!

Dear Gwyneth,

I just can't believe it...eight months old.  You are growing, growing, growing and learning new things every single day.  We met with your cardiologist for a regular check-up.  We are proud to report that your little heart is healing the way it should and you weighed in at 16 pounds 15 ounces and 27.5 inches long.  You were on the 24th percentile for weight and 53 percentile for height.  Since you spent the first six months not even on the growth charts, we think this is great improvement.

*  Your biggest news of the month is that you sat for a few moments on September 23rd.  It was kind of a one hit wonder, LOL.  We tried and tried to get it to happen again but I am sure, with time, you will become a sitting machine.

*  You still are the toothless wonder.  However, you have managed to begin gumming puffs this month.  You can rake them over with your little fingers and even get them in your mouth.  The dogs LOVE you because for every puff that gets in your mouth about 10 end up on the floor.

*  You usually head to bed between 7 and 8 and sleep until 6 or 7.  You just don't require as much sleep as your brother.  Now, you are sleeping and napping in your crib.  This is a BIG deal.  Now mommy doesn't have to worry about sending you off to college in your baby papasan.

*  You often take two naps a day, if we are home.  One in the morning around 10:00 or 10:30 and another around 1:30 or 2:00.  Sometimes you sleep a half hour, sometimes you sleep three.  I guess it just depends what your little body needs.

*  You eat level two baby food three times a day.  You like fruit with cereal or yogurt for breakfast, a veggie and fruit for lunch, and a dinner jar and fruit jar at dinner.  You usually take a bottle in the morning, another one at 10:00, another at 1:00, another at 4:00, and another at bedtime.  You are really just a snacker.  You still take anywhere from 4-6 ounces at a time which means you get about 25 ounces a day.

*  You roll everywhere.  You also like to arch your back up and backstroke your way around the room.  I really don't know how your little head handles it.  One would expect your head to have rug burn...but it doesn't.  However, you don't have a lot of hair, so maybe that is the reason.

*  You are starting to "talk" all the time.  You are HAPPY and smiley and love flashing that beautiful smile to all.

We love you bunches sister and are proud of all your accomplishments.  We just can't wait to enjoy the holidays as a family of 4 instead of a family of 3.  Sometimes it just doesn't seem possible that our world is so perfect.

Love,

Mom and Dad

Halloween 2010

I really don't think we could have crammed one more thing into our Halloween weekend.  Busy doesn't even begin to describe it.  On Friday, we went to the pumpkin patch.  On Saturday, we took Tinker Bell and Capatain Hook over to see mama and papa H's house and then went trick-or-treating with Gavin's buddy Harper in his neighborhood.  Then, Sunday we trick-or-treated in our neighborhood and had some of Gavin's friends over for a little Halloween fun.

Gavin wasn't bonkers about trick-or-treating on Saturday and seemed to be a little overwhelmed by the costumes and people.  By Sunday he seemed to be getting the hang of it.  He couldn't say trick-or-treat but could say Boo and thank you!

After trick-or-treating, we came home and the kids enjoyed some crafts.  It was just a really enjoyable day.  Here are a few photos from all the festivities.

  Gavin Halloween 2009

HaPpY BiRtHdAy!!!

Happy birthday, Dustin!  Here is a little post from us to you:)

Lucky to be your wife...

Lucky to have a daddy like you...

to teach me how to ride a bike one day...

to push me in the swing...

When we get bigger, we want to be just like you!

Love,

mommy, gavin, and gigi

Operation: Warm Christmas Giveaway Results...

Well, since this is my first giveaway, I had to figure out how I would determine the winner.  On other blogs I follow, I have noticed they use Random.org.  So, I sat down and went through the comments and wrote down everybody's name and assigned them a number in order of first person to comment to last.  If you were a person who shared my link on your blog or Facebook, then I gave you the appropriate amount of assigned numbers.  Between the various posts, you had a 1 in 21 chance of winning.  Pretty good odds:)  Then, I entered it on Random.org and let the computer do the magic.  I guess it is kinda like drawing a name out of a hat but in the cyber world, LOL!

So, drumroll please...the winner is...

Amy at Country Radio Mom.  Ironically, she had three entries.  One for commenting, one for linking on her blog, and one for linking on Facebook.  Thank you Amy for all of your support!  Amy is a friend of mine that I met through the Mother & More of Michiana group I joined last year.  She is a broadcasting mom who works for Cat Country 99.9.  I have enjoyed getting to know Amy and look forward to getting to know who better not only in the blog world but the real world:)

Gigi would like to thank everybody for playing and certainly hopes that if you have any gift buying to do for baby's this Holiday season that you will consider supporting Operation: Warm Christmas.

Love,

Gigi, Gavin, Dustin, and Jess

Below is a picture of the room that Gigi spent the first month of her life in...

Here is Gigi on her one week old birthday.  Snuggling with Daddy...