It's been a few weeks since my last post and a lot has happened. he weighs 12lbs 3 oz now. He has grown a lot. we have started to skype with Sarah, the boys, Buela, and Grandpa Reynolds. He loves talking to his cousins. When he is really upset and fussy I get them on the computer and Sarah will sing her Karen Carpenter song or Sebastian will sing Twinkle Little star and he immediately calms down. It is so amazing to be able to spend time with each other even if we can't be with each other. The boys are able to bond and Sarah gets to be a part of his development.

Mellie, my cousin, has been hanging out with us a lot. She decided to use Gabriel and I as models for a homework assignment. We fell asleep and she sketched us, it was the only way either one of us would stay still. I have been sick with a ear infection and strep throat. It has not been the best couple of weeks for me. Thankfully Gabriel has not caught anything. We were a little worried he did because he was coughing and congested, but he checked out fine today. 

We took Gabriel for his eye appointment with the Ophthalmologist and it turned out really good. Dr. Zwaan said he was a little farsighted (+2) which is "very normal". It was very exciting to hear that because it is the first anyone has used the words "very normal" with him. Aunt Patti was in town for a short visit and got to play with him and go to the appointment with us. He really loves her. I was holding him after she had been playing with him and he just kept his hand out trying to reach her.

Gabriel had a play date with Jaelynn, a little girl form theNICU, it was great to see her and her mom Marla. It is amazing to see these two babies together again. She and Gabriel were next door neighbors in the NICU for all but 3 weeks of his stay. They would de-sat at the same time, their heart rates would go up and down at the same time, and anytime something would happen to one, it would happen to the other. They were very good together. Gabriel even held her hand. It was so cute and exciting to respond so well to another baby.

We started Gabriel on cereal and he is doing great. The first time went smoothly. Tia Sarah and the boys were watching. It was great to have Sarah there because she has done this before and was giving me pointers. Sebastian decided he wanted a bowl of his own. He did not choke, a lot of it came out of his mouth, but he did eat some. The second time Gabriel decided that it would be a better idea if he fed himself. He ate everything we made him and then would not have anything to do with his bottle. We had to give him some more cereal. He is doing really good eating his food, not spitting much out, and not choking.

Gabriel decided that he liked tummy time better if he was in nothing but a diaper. I have never known a baby who loved getting undressed as much as he does. I do worry about that sometimes. So with that being said he started turning over and trying to do the military crawl.

Today Manuel took Gabriel outside with the dogs. Gabriel found Kaiya to be very amusing and was petting Hershey. Every time Kaiya walked by him he would laugh harder than we have ever heard before. Grandma and I were watching from the backdoor and eventually went out to watch him. It took me awhile to realize I should record it. I was able to get a tiny bit of his amusement. I was so excited to all three of babies together. We can't wait for him to be a little bit bigger and he can really play with them.

Crazy kid

We had to out the bumper back in Gabriel's crib. We would hear him crying and Manuel found him poking his foot in and out of the slats on his bed. We decided to put the bumper back in when managed to get stuck, and being the mommy I had to capture the moment.

Manuel went out of town for a week, for work, and Gabriel did better than Manuel did. My mom came to stay with us for three days. After she left Manuel was playing the messages and when Gabriel heard her voice he stuck out his hands and made a whimper. I love that he loves his Buela. Although since he has gotten back, he has gotten very clingy. He loves having his feet in his face or in his mouth, he hasn't quite developed the muscles to do it himself. He look like he is doing baby crunches when he tries to do it himself. He is a handful, but so much fun. We have started skyping with Sarah and the kids. It is so great to see the kids interacting with Gabriel. I really want the cousins to be close like we were growing up. 

Buela was showing Gabriel a picture of his cousin Gabriel when he grabbed it, tried to kiss him, and then would not let it go. It was so cute.

This is his new thing, he likes to rub his head. I am not sure if it a comforting thing because we do it, or it is something new to him. He sometimes rubs the other side, but he has very little hair and he might rub off what he has.

He has a mortal enemy in Cookie Monster and fights with him all the time. He is starting to eye the bunny next to Cookie, so soon he will be a victim to Gabriel's wrath.

Look at those sausages, he has for fingers. I thought I would never see chubby hands, since it has taken him so long to gain weight.