Poor Pop Pop

Two weeks ago my Dad (Pop Pop) fell off 12 ft roof while working. It happened in Orlando so the ambulance took him to Orlando Regional Medical Center, which has the main trauma unit and neurosurgeons that he needed to see. After many days we found out that he has a fractured vertebrae in his lower back. He has a brace that holds his back and an extension down his right thigh as well. He was at the hospital from Tuesday afternoon till Saturday morning and Mommy and Gabe went and visited everyday.

Gabe was such a good boy, he would lay with his Pop Pop and talk to him. It was good for him to be able to see all the grand kids when he was feeling pretty bad. He is going to have to wear the brace for 12 weeks the doctor said. Gabe and I have been staying with him during the week so that Gigi could go back to work and not have to worry so much. He has a walker to help him get around and this weekend even ventured out to the mall twice with the grand kids.
Emma thought it was pretty cool that Pop Pop was getting wheeled around just like her. Get well soon Pop Pop, we love you!!

Family Photo Day!

On August 18th we all got together for family pictures. Gigi and Pop pop wanted to get pictures of there kids with spouses and the first set of grand kids, since the second set is already started!!

All of us kids took the opportunity to get great pictures of us and are families as well. Michael and I got some great pictures of us!! Gabe was such a good boy with it being as hot as it was outside and considering we woke him up from his nap to go. Doesn't he look adorable sitting in that tree?

Gabe and his cousins

Gabe is a lucky little dude, he already has 2 cousins to play with and a third on the way.

These are Gabe's cousins, Emma is 17 months, then Charles who is 10 months and little Ethan (Emma's bro) is due at the end of Oct. Emma has been calling Gabe, "Baby" since he was born she knows his name and uses it occasionally, but mostly just likes saying "Baby". Charles just likes poking Gabe in the eyes and it really doesn't bother him too much. Gabe can be crying and if either of these two come around and start talking to him he will get a huge smile on his face. He just really loves his cousins!!

Me and My Bumbo

Gabe loves to sit in his Bumbo!! GiGi and PopPop got it for him and he sits in it all the time now. I think he feels like a big boy when he's in it. Michael likes to put him in it so he can sit and talk to him.

Thanks GiGi and PopPop!!

Growing Up Too Fast

I knew my little man was getting bigger I just never would have imagined this big this soon. Since he was sick and we had to take him to the doctor we got to find out how much he weighs and you will never believe it... 11 lbs. 8ozs.!!! I know he has more than doubled his birth weight. One thing is for sure, Gabe is a good eater!

Boogies, boogies and more boogies

Yes, it is true my little man already has his first cold. I really noticed it Monday afternoon when I picked him up after work. He seemed to be sneezing and was just really grouchy, which is very unlike him. Then by Monday night everytime he sneezed he was blowing boogers everywhere. I called the clinic and spoke to the doctor on call, he said to just give him some Infant Tylenol and prop his mattress up, if he began to cough then call them back. Well Tuesday night he had started coughing so Wednesday morning we called our doctor and she wanted to see him.

He had no fever so she said it was just a cold and it would probably pass by the weekend. Mommy got him some nose spray and Infant Tylenol plus Cold. I can already tell a difference this morning. It is just so sad to watch him cough, he just looks so upset and confused. I hope my little bear feels better soon.

Smiley Boy!

Is this not the cutest baby you have ever seen?

He is to Me!!!

In the past week Gabe has started smiling so much and it is adorable. He loves for me to prop my legs up on the ottoman and he sits on my lap looking at me. While I talk to him he moves his mouth like he is trying to talk back to me and when he does get a noise out it startles him. He loves when I do Peek-A-Boo with him, that is when he smiles at me the biggest.

Mommy's Check-Up

I went last week for my post baby check-up and Dr.Mammel said everything was great. While I was there I asked him about Gabe's low birth weight and what may have been caused that. It is said that birth weight usually is close to what the parents size was at birth, when you are full-term.
He believed that I had developed toxemia and that was the reason he was going to induce my labor. That was the reason for the extreme swelling in my hands and feet and all over for that matter and the reason for the huge rise in my blood pressure. He said that chances are I won't develop that again, it is common in most first pregancies. Also that next I probably won't be so lucky to give birth to such a tiny baby.

1 Month

I really can't believe how time flies it seems like yesterday we were driving home from the hospital... Gabe started out a tiny little thing, not at all like any of us were expecting but is growing so quickly! At about 3 weeks he started sleeping in his crib in his own room and even gets himself to sleep, sometimes he doesn't even cry at all. I only started so soon because I got really frustrated one night trying to get him back to sleep after he nursed and went and put him down in his crib. Within 7 minutes he was sound asleep and slept until after 8 the next morning. I guess between the dogs and Michael and I moving around all night he just couldn't sleep well. He has slept through the night once but is waking up just once a night to nurse and then back to bed. At 3 1/2 weeks he grew out of his preemie diapers and clothes and into his big boy newborn sizes! The pooping and peeing out of his diaper has stopped so we don't have to change his clothes every half hour. I think the Pampers diapers had a lot to do with that, they just fit better than the Huggies. He is such a handsome boy sometimes I can hardly believe he's mine!

Hard Life!

I had to post this picture because it is the cutest picture ever. He loves taking naps in his Boppy Newborn Lounger that Gigi and PopPop got him. I love my Lil' Man so much it is just unreal!!

A Day of Firsts

Well on Sunday, July 8th Gabriel had a very busy day.
Since his umbilical cord had fallen off he was ready for the pool! His bathing suit was huge on him even though it was a newborn.

He actually really liked the pool and being out in the sun. Sorry I somehow took no pictures of him actually in the pool, but I will next time he is in. I guess our family has another little water baby on our hands.

As well as his big day of swimming Daddy and I also took him to his first baseball game.
We went to the Lakeland Flying Tigers game at 6pm that evening.

Ok so Gabe slept through the entire game but we are pretty sure he still had a great time.

I am sure that we will enjoy many more games together.

Also Gabe and Mommy took a shower together when we got home and Gabe LOVED it!!!

Check-Up

Well this past Friday was his 2 week check-up and it went great. He head grown to 20 3/4 inches long and now weighs 6 lbs. 14 oz. I can not believe how much my little man is growing and how fast. The doctor was very proud of how well he is eating and so is Mommy and Daddy. His umbilical cord had fallen off the day before so we gave him his first real tubby bath with the help of Gigi of course. He loved just laying there in the warm water!

Happy 4th!!

We had such a fun 4th of July! Aaron, Angela, Charles, Alex, Mandy, Emma, Gigi and PopPop all came over to our house for the day. It is really important to all of us that the kids all grow up together and are close to one another. Gigi fixed a delicious lunch of ribs and baked potatoes and Angela brought a tasty dessert. We planned on going swimming but the weather really didn't allow it. While Gigi watched Charles and Mandy and Emma went home to take a nap the rest of us went and saw Transformers, which was a great movie.

Daddy insisted on the sunglasses even though they were huge on our Lil' Firecrackers face!!

Church Boy

At only 10 days old Gabriel had his first Sunday at church and he was a perfect angel. He was awake for all the praise and worship then slept through the message.

Michael and I have been attending Lake Morton Community Church for the last 3 months. We are really enjoying it, all the people are great.

Sunning

Well of course Gabe couldn't get in the pool yet because of his umbilical cord but him and I enjoyed sitting out under the umbrella by the pool.


I can't wait for him to be able to go swimming with everyone!!

Gabe and Daddy!

Here a just a few adorable pictures of Michael and Gabriel together.

I couldn't be more proud of Michael and the way he has stepped up to the

challenge of being an amazing Daddy.

Gabe is such a lucky boy!

Already 1 week old!

First off on the last post I put that he was 21 inches long when he was born, but he was only 20 inches.

Well it is crazy to think that he is already a week old, time really does fly by. For as small as he is he is very strong. Grammie and I did this little photo shoot so you could all see how much he has grown in a week.

He is such a good baby, Michael and I are so blessed. He only wakes up once a night and barely cries at all.

He's Here!!

I went to the doctor on June 20th at 3pm. When I arrived my blood pressure was really high as it had been the last 3 times I had gone. Also my protein levels were really high and Dr. Mammel said he was concerned about my health. He said that Gabe would be fine considering I was more than 39 weeks, so nearly full term. He told me to be at the hospital at 9 am the next morning. So we decided to go to dinner with Alex, Mandy, Emma, and PopPop. At 5:45 I started having contractions, we went on to dinner and they continued about 10 minutes apart. They all needed to go to Target so I said we would go and I could walk around to see if they continued. Well they did and were coming about every 8 minutes. Mandy said I needed to hurry up and call Dr. Mammel at the hospital, he was the one on call that night and the next day. Michael and I went on home because I wanted to straighten up and take a shower, the contractions were then coming about every 6 minutes. At 8:40pm I called the hospital and Dr. Mammel told me to come on in, we got in the labor and delivery room at 9:00. They got me all hooked up and Dr. Mammel came in about 9:30 and broke my water after that things really progressed quickly, by 1:30 am I was pushing. Gabe was born at 2:54am on June 21st. He weighed 5 lbs 11 ozs and was 21 inches long.

Gabe's Room

For all of the people that live out of town or just haven't made it over to see Gabe's room I thought I would post some pictures. I put a lot of time and thought into putting it all together and had lots of help as well.

The bookshelf and table by the glider were made by Papa, Michael also helped. I think it is really special for Gabe to have those things that were made just for him by the people who love him most. Grammie and Papa also bought the glider for us, which is the most comfortable seat in the house. Then my parents bought the crib and changing table.

Surprise!!

The first week of May my work threw me a surprise baby shower! I couldn't believe it, it was so nice of them to do. All the ladies in the office cooked food and had presents, then money was collected throughout the whole dealership to buy me stuff as well. With the money collected they got me the Pack-N-Play we wanted and a playcenter as well. Then all the ladies in the office had clothes, diapers, and tons more stuff for Gabe as well. It was so much fun and really meant a lot to me.