Too Long

It has been too long since I have posted on here. I am taking a Lit class and I have papers due every week and trying to keep up with Gabriel makes it hard to keep up. A lot has happened since my last update.

He just had his 9 month check up and it wen very well. He is 24 1/4 in long, his head is 16.5 in, and he weighs 12lbs 15 oz. He is getting big. He is sitting up better, he cannot hold himself up as long as I would like, but we are getting there. He is able to use one hand to keep himself up so he can play with a toy.

He just started on carrots yesterday and was not a fan yesterday, but he did better today. I could not bring myself to feed him the Gerber pre-made stuff. I know I am paranoid about things, but the thought of the rodent parts...ugh. I also figured since I stay at home there is no excuse to make it for him, I have the time. Not every one does. My grandma Valencia did, my mother did it, and my sister did it. It was actually very quick and easy. Cut it up, steam it, and then puree. I was able to make him food for a several days at once.

We are getting close to April and I am excited about because he will be able to go places. I will probably be  a little cautious, but it is for his good.

He just started sleeping through the night. Daddy couldn't be happier since he gets up with him at night. I got very lucky when I married Manuel. He is a great husband and father. Gabriel loves him very much and is very attached to him. He will start pulling at your chin and that is him telling you he wants daddy. He is looking for the stubble.

He is standing up a lot. We are working on crawling, but who knows. His pedi said he wouldn't be surprised if he didn't crawl and went straight to walking. He did have his neurodevelopmental appointment with Dr. Fiero  at the beginning of the month and he said he looked really good. His gross motor skills are at the 6-7 month range, his fine motor skills are at the 5 month range, and his language skills are at the 5-6 month range. When he had the appoint he was a gestational age of 8 months 20 days, and an adjusted age of 4 months and 3/4 months. you have to subtract his birth date from his due date to get his developmental age.  He is just a little guy.

The only issues he had were his left arm is fatter than his right, and he has to have a swallow study done. I was worried about his arm because it it twice as big as the other, he had an ultrasound done everything looks good. I guess it's just fatter. He will have his swallow study on April 22nd. They just want to double check he is eating good. He had one done in the hospital and now they are following up. He needs to work on tummy time and crawling. He is so temperamental, he will do what he wants when he wants. He has had temper tantrums down for months now. He gets that from me. He has to be held a certain way, sleep a certain way, eat a certain, and so on. When he turns on his side he is telling you that he is ready to sleep, he sleeps on his right side. We had to get a breathable bumper because he will end up right next to it. All in all he is great and we could not be happier with him.

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.

Almost There

We had a Pedi appointment a couple weeks ago, and he weighs 11lbs 6 oz. and 22 inches. He is almost ready to start cereal. Dr. Lantry, would like him gain 1 or 2 more pounds before we start. He 4 moths adjusted now and 7 months chronologically. I may have jumped the gun and bought the cereal, mommy is ready for that next step. The sooner we start the sooner I get to not pumping. My big boy has started to breastfeed. It is hard right now because I am sick and cannot feed him, so he is getting confused.

Buela came to stay for three days while Daddy was out of town for the week in Memphis. Gabriel had so much fun. She is so good with him and keeps him entertained. Manuel went through our phone messages when he got home and every time Buela talked Gabriel reached his hand out and talked. I love that he loves her so much.

He is getting so big, and more playful. It is getting harder for to have time for myself. I don't know it it was a good idea to go back to school or not. I am happy i did, it is a nice distraction, except that I am taking a Lifespan development class where i have to raise a baby from birth to 18 years old.Well at least this baby will not spit up all over me.

Buela was giving Gabriel massages and he was eating it up. He did not complain once.

M

 When Buela went to get Gabriel after his nap, she found him like this. he somehow got his leg out of his outfit.

 Gabriel has gone from being walked around the house, to being strolled around the house by grandpa. Their relationship is so cute.

Finally!

Gabriel has gotten spoiled by Grandpa. Every time when Grandpa comes over he walks him around the house. The only problem is that he  expects to do that everyday, several times a day. He loves everyone right now, I know it's a matter of time before he starts to get choosy. The last few weekends Manuel has been taking care of him, and I have to say it is nice when he only calms down when Mommy holds him. I love that he loves me so much, he is also in love with Daddy. He will laugh and smile the minute Manuel walks in the room, and is always keeping an eye on the stairs waiting for Daddy to come down in the mornings. 

He has started sleeping in his crib in his room like a big boy. Luckily he loves his mobile and the turtle light that Shelly got him, the light puts moons and stars all over the room. We have a bedtime of 9pm, I would like it to be earlier, but hey baby steps. When I take him into his room he looks at his turtle like something is missing. Some nights are harder than others, but I am so proud of him. We put on his turtle light, the sound spa w/the projector and lullabies, and let his mobile turn and he will be out for 5 - 7 hours. It is nice to have some sort of routine now.

We went for another follow up with the eye doctor and his eyes have cleared up. He is very happy with his progress, but is sending him to a Pediatric Ophthalmologist to check his muscles (to make sure he will not be cross eyed) and to check his vision. Apparently they can tell if he will need glasses already. I think it would look so cute for him to have little glasses. I had glasses when I was real young, I think about 5 years old, but I was not very responsible with them. I had gone through three pairs when my Dad finally said I would have to work it out on my own (I can see how he would not want to spend money on another pair, if I couldn't take care of them) and I did. I will have to remember that with Gabriel if he does get them. I have learned to have a lot of patience.

We have a Pediatrician appointment on Thursday and I cannot wait to see how much he has grown. He has grown out of so many clothes already. He will get his last roung of the Flu vaccine, and the doctor said we are allowed to take him to a restaurant. I cannot wait, we have plans to meet up with another family from the NICU. I am so tired of being stuck in the house and I know Gabriel is too, he has started to stare out the window wondering what everything is. Soon he will be a free man.

New year, new things

New years was great. We stayed home and watched the fireworks that were being popped around us. The only good thing about living right by 1604 is that you can see the fireworks from all the people outside of the city limits. We took Gabriel outside so he could see them, he just smiled and had his eyes open real wide. If he could talk he would have said oooh and awwww.

He is so funny when he sleeps, he laughs so much. We keep trying to catch it on video, but we haven't been able to. He went to see his lung doctor today and weighed in at 10lbs 9 oz. I was so happy, but it was just the beginning for today. I was playing with him while on the phone with ATT support when all of a sudden I see him pull himself up and sit. I was able to get some pics and a small video. The video is dark because the light was off. he didn't sit up long and was really wobbly, but we are going to work on it. We went upstairs to his room and tried to use the Tiger jumper the Sarah gave him, and he had a ball. He tried it last night and did not like it, I figured I would try again and see what happens. He had such a good time once he realized that he could jump and turn around in a circle on his own. He jumped like he was a river dancer while in it and for about 5 minutes afterward. he is technically not supposed to use the jumper for another two weeks, but I knew he would like and I figure what the heck. After all the fun he fell asleep with no problem.