Month Two

You're two months old, Gavin!  

And my how you've grown.  You're now 10 lbs. 10 oz. and 22" long. You are starting to be much more alert, looking around and making eye contact.  You've even started smiling at us, which is such a beautiful sight!  We've also heard an occasional coo from you, and I believe it's just the beginning to the many conversations we will have.  You are sleeping four-hour stretches at night, and have made it a habit to hop into bed with me in the morning just for some snuggle time.  You are intent on nestling your head into mine while you sleep, and I can't say I don't like the affection.

You are still very easy-going and laid back.  Sometimes all the commotion of the household will overwhelm you, but a tight hug and a pacifier will soothe you right away.  You've started befriending the little objects that hang above your head and noticing patterns and contrasts in the environment around you.  Your sister can't stop tending to you, whether it's to wipe your mouth after you spit up, or replace the pacifier that fell out.  She also likes to sniff your head and sneak in kisses on your toes.  Your favorite thing to do right now is to go outside and just enjoy the fresh air and sunshine.  You are our little observer and I can't wait to hear what you have to say about all the things around you.  

These Days

We had a play date with Ella's Gymboree friend, Madelyn, and her brother, Gabriel.  We went to the Descanso Gardens again for story time followed by some running around in the gardens and a nice lunch.  I feel like their mom and I barely got to talk and catch up, we were so busy with the four kids and making sure everyone's needs are met.  Despite the hot weather, we had a great time and Ella 

She loves finding "walking sticks" and almost threw a tantrum when I told her to put this pussy willow stick back before heading home.  Thankfully, saying bye-bye to things still works like a charm when I need her to leave things.

Ella was a champ during the long lunch (due to having to wait a while for the food and feeding Gavin).  A bottle of sparkling water helped maintain her patience.  She loves the fizzy water!

Over a year after fracturing her femur, we went for another follow-up with Ella's orthopedist.  Everything checked out and it looks like the fracture didn't affect her growth plate like we thought it may have.  She didn't enjoy having to walk up and down the hall for the doctor (she screamed bloody murder), but she did enjoy the day out she got with us after.  She loved having lunch with us, followed by Pinkberry.  I think that made the trauma of the doctor's visit go away.

Rocking shades with Daddy.

After our lunch, Adam took Ella home while I had a very much needed spa day with my girl friend, Denise.  The massage treatment was heavenly.  Then we picked up some cupcakes before heading home to our babies.  It was perfect.

From Confexion, the winner of Cupcake Wars.

Our house feels so full these days with the antics of a toddler and the noises of a newborn.  Despite being a neat freak, I have come to embrace the chaos of having young children and finding beauty in the mess they make.  Case in point: Ella's playroom is a perpetual catastrophe zone, even when I try to keep everything organized.  But sometimes you just pick your battles.  I do love that we painted a chalkboard wall for her to go crazy on.

She loves drawing lines and circles.  Auntie Ashley likes to create seasonal murals for her to add to.

We often get so distracted with Ella that we have to make a conscious effort to have that quiet alone time with Gavin.  Usually, after Ella goes to bed, I get my one-on-one time with my little boy.  We've fallen into a nice routine with him, and he's growing so quickly as he adjusts to life with us.

Starting to enjoy bath time.  We are ever-so-grateful for that foam bath thing we got.   Works like a charm with both our kids.

Month One

Congrats, Gavin!  You're one month old!

My baby boy, I can't believe it's already been a month (has it only been a month?)!  It feels like you've always been a part of our lives, yet time also goes by so quickly.  You are adjusting wonderfully to life outside the womb.  You seem to be such an easy-going baby, only crying when needing to be fed or changed.  Eating and sleeping come so naturally to you; you're such a pro!  You mostly spend your days napping and eating, but when you're wide awake and you're so alert.  You are beginning to look around and take in the sights and sounds around you.  The pugs barking will startle you, Ella's voice will soothe you.  You definitely enjoy snuggling, and sleep best when in our arms (though a rocker or bouncer will do for short periods of time).  You're already lifting your head and you've proven to be quite strong (moving and scooting in your sleep, and trying to launch yourself off of us when we hold you up).  You are very animated, making all sorts of faces.  You do an excellent impression of a fish, and even your worried, wrinkled face is endearing.  You sound like a squeaky hinge whenever we lay you down, and it's actually pretty cute.

We've definitely had to adjust to having a little boy, especially your dad (who you love to pee on!).
My favorite trait so far is when you lift your head towards mine when you're over my shoulder.  I love feeling your breath against my face, and getting a little cold nose snuggle from  you.  It's sweet and makes me feel like you know exactly who your mommy is.  I also cherish those little smiles that sneak across your face when you're asleep or when you're trying out those facial muscles.  I appreciate the occasional five hours of sleep you give me at night.  Your mellow demeanor is a bit of grace around this (sometimes) chaotic household.

At 8 lbs. 4 oz and 20.5" long, you are growing fast.  I can't wait to see what the next few months hold in store for you as I'm sure you will grow leaps and bounds.

make room for baby

I never did get a chance to post pictures of Gavin's nursery due to poor second child syndrome + arriving 2 weeks early.  We still have some little items to hang up, but for the most part, we (eventually) got everything set up.  There was definitely a marked difference this time around, since with Ella, I wanted everything in place before her arrival.  With Gavin, I wasn't in such a rush (probably because we knew he wouldn't be using the nursery for a couple months while he co-slept with us).  I did really enjoy decorating for a little boy and had a lot of fun getting boy clothes and finding more "boyish" decor.  We chose a more industrial theme, softening it with a muted color palette and adding a navy blue accent (which you can't really see from the pictures).  My favorite part of his nursery is definitely the striped ceiling (which we decided to make the main focus by keeping the walls neutral).  And I think the metal chandelier adds a nice masculine touch.  I'm still considering a chevron patterned rug to add a little more weight and interest to the center of the room.  But all in all, we're excited for Gavin to grow into his room!   

I'm still getting used to the panorama function on the iPhone camera, so the proportions are a bit distorted.

Bookshelf, lighting and accessories: Restoration Hardware Baby & Child
Crib & drapes: Pottery Barn Kids
Glider: Oilo
Ottoman and dresser: Room & Board

For now, he's pretty content bunking with us.  While he'll sleep a solid three hours in the co-sleeper, he'll clock 4-5 hours in our bed.  Too bad I don't get to fully enjoy those hours when he's sleeping next to me.  But he looks content, doesn't he?

and now, a sleeping montage

I'm truly thankful that newborn babies sleep so much.  I can stare at this face all day.

Someone is having a good dream.

Donald Trump, eat your heart out. 

Newborn Daze

The newborn period is always the most challenging.  And maybe it's because we had Ella and Gavin so close together, but I definitely feel more impatient for him to outgrow this phase.  The lack of sleep, the constant diaper changes, the spitting up and smelling like sour milk--it's getting old, fast.  I feel bad for complaining.  After all, Gavin is such a good baby.  He's easy-going and has a really mellow temperament.  He's fallen into a nice routine already, sleeping 4-5 hour stretches at night and eating very well.  And when we started him on a bottle this past weekend, he took to it like a pro (which is such a blessing).  I really can't complain, but I miss my full night's sleep.  I miss being able to wear clothes without fear of milk stains.  I miss not having to tote around so many diapers and changes of clothes and swaddles and blankets and breast pumps.  I miss having the bedroom to ourselves.  I miss being able to enjoy an evening with my husband without feeling guilty about not sleeping while the baby sleeps.  I miss being able to get out the door in a relatively efficient amount of time.

And then there's the added hormonal changes that happen after pregnancy, the postpartum baby blues that come with it, and the daunting task of trying to find "normalcy" once again.  While this transition to two children has been MUCH easier than the transition to one, I still get overwhelmed sometimes.  As time passes, I'm getting better and not having so many anxious moments of "how am I going to do this?"  I am slowly wrapping my brain around managing two young children on my own.  Adam has gone back to work, Grandma is no longer staying with us, and we're slowly finding our groove again.  I recently read a blog post that describes new motherhood so perfectly.  It helped to read it and know that the emotions I feel are so normal.  And even though this is my second time around, a part of me still has to mourn the lifestyle I had when it was just Ella.  Maybe it's because I barely got my body back before getting pregnant again (I was still nursing Ella when we found out), but shifting back into caring for a newborn baby has been challenging.  But at the same time, I know what awaits me as Gavin grows and I'm excited to take that journey again.  I just wish it involved more sleep right now.

There are things I appreciate about this phase, though.  These little gifts of grace of to new parents.  It helps tremendously that Gavin sleeps a lot, and demands very little really.  His needs are so basic, which allows me continue giving Ella the attention she needs.  I know it's just a matter of adjusting and getting into a routine again.  If anything, I'm learning (yet again) how little control I really have in it all and how I just need to pray more and have faith that I can be a good mother to these children, even when I feel completely overwhelmed or daunted.

Siblings

I've been meaning to post this, but never got around to it.  Here's a side-by-side picture of Ella and Gavin at approximately the same age (a few days old).

It amazes me how much they look alike.  I know, I know, they're siblings.  Of course they'll look alike.  I just can't get over it because we never got a really good ultrasound picture of Gavin, so we had no idea what he would look like.  Some people think he looks more like me, and Ella looked more like Adam.  But I think he just looks like a boy version of Ella.  I definitely look forward to seeing him grow and watching his features change.  It's so fun witnessing these little newborns blossom into little people.  Amazing.

Happy Birth Day, Little Man!

Gavin's arrival was definitely different than Ella's.  While we knew we would eventually be induced, it was still a surprise when our doctor told us to go to labor and delivery.  I've been going to my OB to be monitored twice a week, and I've been seeing a perinatologist to track Gavin's growth.  This was similar to my experience with Ella during the last few weeks of my pregnancy.  But while Ella made it exactly 40 weeks, we knew we wouldn't go past 39 with Gavin.  That being said, on Friday the 25th, I went to my OB appointment as scheduled for a routine NST appointment.  That day also happened to be my sister-in-law's graduation from her dental hygiene program, and I was sad to miss it while Adam and Ella went.  My appointment went find, the NST results were good, and my OB predicted that I'd either go into labor naturally, or we'd consider inducing the following week.  I called Adam to fill him in, and even mentioned how nice it was to have "a plan" for labor this time around.  Since my perinatal appointment was later that day, I decided to go get a mani-pedi, followed by an impromptu lunch with my girlfriend, Kathy.  

Running late to my perinatologist (lunch with girlfriends can cause that), I was simply expecting the doctor to say that Gavin's abdomen was still slow growing and that we may have to induce a bit earlier.  Instead, he said Gavin's abdomen was still slow growing and (after conferring with my OB) that I should head to L&D to be induced.  Right now.  I was caught totally off guard.  I thought I'd get to go home.  Shower.  Finish packing.  Say goodbye to Ella.  Get a good night's sleep.  At this point it was three o'clock in the afternoon.  Adam had just gotten home from the graduation.  Ella was napping.  I hadn't even finished hanging things in Gavin's room!  I started to panic a little.  I was not expecting to go get induced.  Right now.  

So I hightailed it home, making phone calls to Adam and our parents along the way.  A quick shower, some last minute emails, and a hurried goodbye to Ella later, we left for the hospital.  (Poor Ashley, never got her graduation dinner.  Gavin stole her thunder!)

One last picture before heading out.  I'm 38 weeks here.

 I have to say, showing up to the hospital NOT in labor was much less stressful, especially when it came to filling out forms.  All I could remember from my experience with Ella was signing my name in between contractions and just wanting to be left alone so I could labor away.  This time, we took our time, joked with nurses, and checked in calmly.  I did get a bit nervous and anxious waiting for the nurses because I had way too much time to anticipate the pain that lay ahead of me.  I labored for 24 hours with Ella, and while I knew that it's "easier" and "quicker" the second time around, I was not looking forward to the pain.  They started me on pitocin at 6:15 pm, my OB broke my bag of waters at 6:45, and after a much too painful epidural (the anesthesiologist kept hitting a nerve) a couple hours later, we got to rest for about an hour.  Then the nurse said she was concerned about his heartbeat slowing down too much during each contraction, which in turn made me nervous and worried (would I need an emergency C-section?)  Turns out, baby boy was making his way down and my contractions started to get stronger and stronger.  So much so that the epidural wasn't helping too much and I knew it was time to push.  A couple practice pushes, a hurried call to the OB and a rushed setup resulted in our little man being born at 11:31 pm.  I couldn't believe how quickly it went!    

Our experience overall was so much better--probably because we knew what to expect (for the most part).  Even our hospital stay wasn't as exhausting.  We were just grateful that despite the complications I had during the pregnancy, he was born healthy and safely.

The car ride home.

Because Ella had a little cold, she wasn't able to visit us at the hospital.  I missed her so much; it was the longest I'd been away from her.  But she did great with Grandma and was busy practicing being a big sister.

So maternal and nurturing, she loves caring for her baby doll.

The transition from one child to two has been SO much easier than going from none to one.  Plus, Gavin is really laid back and easy-going, which I appreciate.  He latched right away, is a good eater, and just a really mellow baby.  He's even (accidentally) slept five hours one night (though we'll see how long that lasts).  I just can't believe he's here.

Hanging with Dad.

Basically what he does all day long.

Hey, Baby

He showed up two weeks early, but we can't complain. Welcome, Gavin Luke Holliday, born on January 25, 2013 at 11:31 pm. He's 6 lbs. 3.5 oz. and 17 3/4" long. He's our little guy who brought with him a lot of love into this family. Ella has already embraced the roll of big sis. We are all so happy to start this new chapter of being a family of four!