Wrapping it up

Well it is the end of the year, and it has been such a hard one.I went from starting off with a party and I am going to close with a quite evening at home as a mommy. I have finally grown up and it's not that bad. I think we deserve a pass for next year, only good things can happen.

Gabriel has really come a long way, he was born early and now look at him. I think back to the first days he was here, he had see through skin, no nipples (I can't get over that), he could be held with one hand, and not able to breathe on his own. Today he is playing with toys, laughing, trying to sit up, and wiggling like a worm.

On Wednesday I had such a hard time feeding Gabriel, he kept knocking the bottle out of his mouth and pushing it. After four feedings like this and him only eating 2oz each feeding, I couldn't keep fighting to get him to eat, I decided just to let him play with the bottle and do what he wanted. Gabriel surprised me and I had to laugh a little, he wanted to feed himself. i remembered when Sarah had this problem with Sebastian, and of course this is what it was. he tried to hold his bottle and put it in his mouth all by himself. Poor little guy just doesn't have the strength or control to do, but he sure tried.

Yesterday we were in the car on our way home and I heard a crunching. When I was at a stop light I checked him and he was playing with his peacock toy that hangs from his car seat. I put him on his tummy time mat and he started tapping the toys and watching when they would move to his touch. I was amazing to see. I was so happy when we were learning to use the steering wheel toy. I would use his hand to honk the horn and move the steering wheel, he would watch and wouldn't you know he copied me. He then started to move the shifter, and honk the horn, and move the wheel. I was beyond excited to see him learning cause and effect. He does still need to develop his motor skills and control over his body, but as a mom this is big.

My big little boy has also started to hold his torso and head up when you are holding him. When he is on his tummy, he just hold his head up, but he sure is changing fast. beware when you are holding him, because he has started flying forward with his body. In time he will be able to control himself better, but until protect yourself. The last few days have been big days for Gabriel. I am excited to see his development in this next year.

Baby's first Christmas

It's been a while since I have put an update, but a certain someone doesn't let me use the computer. We went to the pediatrician on the 20th and he weighed 9lbs 10oz and is 21 1/4 inches long. He has come so far. It was nice because his Grandma Angel went with us to the doctor and she helped me with him a lot. He also saw the eye doctor and he said that there is still blood in his eyes, but it is healing good. We don't have to go back for another month. I am sure Gabriel will appreciate the break in the horrific exams.

We finally made it to Spring to see Sarah, Derek, and the boys for Christmas. It was such a great visit. Noah, a.k.a. "The Hamburgler", kept trying to steal Gabriel's pacifiers and bottle. He eventually got one of his bottles in his mouth, but I stopped him before he could drink. Luckily Gabriel was done eating and there wasn't much left in the bottle. The boys were so good with him, they would hold his bottle to help feed him. Sebastian would get after me when he was crying, and Noah gave him a constant flow of kisses. They are gonna be so protective of each other. Gabriel did make out like a bandit in Christmas gifts, he got some really great toys. I have to make a very special mention to Aunt Veronica who got him the Sophie the Giraffe teething toy. I am so in love with it.

Gabriel is no longer wearing newborn clothes and is wearing 0-3 months now. He looked like he was not able to stretch out his legs, and one of the onsies I put on him was too short to snap, so we made the move. he has also started to talk and laugh a lot. He loves to jump on you lap, and is starting to sit in his bebe pod. He is getting better head control and is all over the place. Manuel and I are working on the constant holding, we just love to hold him. it is time for me to start getting this house in order and I cannot do that with him in my arms. I have been so lucky to have my cousin Mellie, she has been watching Gabriel a lot so I can get stuff done and run errands. I am so lucky to have the family I do.

Well things have been pretty good for us. Gabriel is doing a lot better since the surgery, he had a hard time recovering from it. I think he is going to be like his mama and not do change easily or surgery. He already had his first face rash, we just do not know what caused it. I am so grateful to have Colleen, she is always there when I have questions. Sarah says she should start charging me.

As of Monday he weighed in at 8lbs 15oz. It is so hard to tell how long he is because everyone tells me a different length, I am averaging them and saying 19 inches. My little boy has gotten so big and has changed so much. He doesn't stick out his tongue very often, he is holding his head up more, and he is starting to laugh. The worst of it all is that he is watching football. I am telling him that it is bad for him and watching the food network, E!, and HGTV, so he will like that instead. Although considering who his father is, I think I will loose that battle.

We have been working with occupational therapy and Teresa says he is progressing pretty good. His eyes are healing nicely and the disease is regressing, and the pulmonologist is happy with his lungs. All in all he is doing great, just small for his age, but I am his mother.