2 Months (9 Weeks) - Happy Father's Day!

I am starting our blog again to share all of our moments with you!

I can't believe Gavin is already 2 months...time has gone by so quickly! Last week he went to the Doctor and had his 2 month check up. He weighed 10 pounds 8oz and was 24 inches long. He cried when he got his initial shot and his face turned bright red! But luckily he was ok when we got home and was a happy baby!

About Gavin

Sleep

We are very lucky...Gavin has slept thru the night since he was 5 weeks old. He usually goes to bed between 10pm-11:00pm and wakes up at 6am. During the day he takes sporadic naps so I am trying to set up some nap time patterns.

Favorite Things

Before bed, his Daddy gives him his daily bath. Gavin loves bath time, which gets him nice and relaxed for bed time!! He loves music, dancing with people, listening to his Dad play the guitar and being bounced on our excersie ball.

Feeding

We are still breastfeeding, but have started to introduce formula. Unfortunately, Gavin hates formula...he refuses to drink it. He gags and spits it all up. What we have done to overcome this problem is mix the breast milk with formula. By mixing the two we have been able to get him to drink it! It takes him a while to finish the bottle, but at least he is drinking it! He usually gets a bottle 3-4 times a week...whenever I go to the gym or if we have company over.

Accomplishments

He has started to coo and has conversations with us! Gavin now smiles on purpose at people, which is so cute!!! He is a social butterfly and is always wide awake when we have friends over. Gavin is also a big flirt and loves the ladies! During tummy time, he was able to flip himself from his tummy to his back!

Challenges

Right now are biggest challenge is getting him to stay in his swing, vibrator bouncer car seat or anything else that isn't someone's arms. Gavin only wants to be held! We are trying to let him cry it out, but it is so hard because he cries so much when we try to put him down...

We are having a blast with our little guy! We are headed on a vacation to Cabo San Lucos so wish us look on our first trip with Gavin!

38 Weeks - Lets Have a Baby!

We are anxiously awaiting for Gavin's arrival! Last Wednesday, we thought that my water broke so we prepared ourselves and thought we were going to have a baby! Turns out the RN thinks it was my mucus plug because I was also bleeding. She did share with us that I am one centimeter dialated and 50% effaced. Which means my body is in early labor.

It has been so hard to just sit here and wait...I really don't know how much longer I can wait! It is also frustrating because every little change with my body I wonder if it something I should be alarmed about or just let it go. I have been getting some headaches over the last several days, back pain and Braxton hicks contractions have increased. I saw my OBGYN on Thursday and he confirmed with what the hospital said, but thought I was closer to 75% effaced. He wants to see me on Monday and have an ultrasound done to make sure everything is ok. Gavin's signs are great and he seems to be thriving inside my tummy.

The process of labor and birth is divided into three stages:

The first stage begins with the onset of contractions that cause progressive changes in your cervix and ends when your cervix is fully dilated. This stage is divided into two phases: early (or latent) and active labor. During early labor, your cervix gradually effaces (thins out) and dilates (opens).

Though you may not be able to discern changes in your cervix, your doctor will begin monitoring it in the last few weeks of pregnancy. Some women will remain undilated up until the onset of true labor, while some will begin dilating several weeks before labor even begins. Although dilation is one of the most important labor symptoms, it will not give you any guarantee that labor will begin soon. Typically, the cervix will begin effacing (thinning), softening and dilating (opening) several days to weeks before labor.

As the cervix continues to soften and dilate, many women will experience the loss of their mucous plug in what is often referred to as the "bloody show." The mucous plug, which sealed the cervix throughout the pregnancy, may be passed as a clump, or over several days, indicated by an increase in mucous discharge. As the cervix dilates, blood vessels break and may tinge the mucous plug brown, pink or red. Passing the mucous plug is typically a sign that labor is imminent in the next few hours or days.

During active labor, your cervix begins to dilate more rapidly and contractions are longer, stronger, and closer together. People often refer to the last part of active labor as "transition."

The second stage of labor begins once you're fully dilated and ends with the birth of your baby. This is sometimes referred to as the "pushing" stage.

The third and final stage begins right after the birth of your baby and ends with the separation and subsequent delivery of the placenta.

35 Weeks and 5 Days - Oh Baby!

We are getting so excited for baby Gavin to get here! We have finished putting the final touches in the nursery. I have been doing laundry, organizing his room and washing bottles and sanitizing pacifiers. Ah, the life of a Mommy! My bags are packed and Gavin's diaper bag is prepared too. We have had some close calls this past week, but we are hanging in there. Gavin is in position and the Doctor seems to surprised how low he already is. I think he is anxious to come out! Lets hope he stays in there for at least another week or two. At this point, I think he is going to be early, but you never know! The good news is the Doctor thinks my labor won't be as long since he is already so low.

The contractions have started and are really becoming a pain, but its all par for the course! I don't even want to think about what the real thing will feel like! I continue to get bigger...just when you think your body can't possibly grow anymore, you gain another pound! My back has also been killing me and I am not getting much sleep. Luckily, I go out on maternity leave on April 9th.

Matt and I have been going to our childbirth classes every Tuesday. We only have two more weeks left. It has been tough going to the classes since Matt goes to school twice a week and have meetings almost every night, but it is worth it. I think I also want to take their infant CPR class.

Tomorrow, I meet with our potential pediatrician. Hopefully, I like him. That's all for now!

32 Weeks - It's pouring baby showers!

We are now reaching the home stretch! This Thursday I will be 33 weeks. The last several weeks have been filled with so much excitement. We had three baby showers thrown for us and each one has been so amazing! We kicked off the baby showers with the one up north in Walnut Creek. We had close to 50 people attend. The theme was 'Babywood...A Star is Born'. We had delicious food, great games and I had a chance to see a lot of friends and family. We also got so many gifts!!! Our car was packed to capacity! The second shower was thrown by my co-workers and the theme was 'Rock a bye baby' a rock star theme. The decorations were so festive and the games were so funny! My last shower was a surprise. The theme went with Gavin's nursery theme of safari. The decorations & invites were so creative and detailed, the favors were adorable and I had cupcakes that looked like babies! Matt and I are so blessed to be loved by so many wonderful people. We are so lucky to be able to share our excitement and bundle of joy with such great friends and family. Thank you to all who were part of the baby shower planning...there was so much thought, time, planning, creativity and love that went into all the showers...you have made us feel so special!!! Gavin is coming into a world filled with people who love him.

My Mom stayed with us this past week. She has been so helpful around the house and took such great care of me! I don't know what we are going to do without her!!! I didn't want her to leave, but I know I have to share her with my Dad...thanks Dad for letting us borrow Mom.

Last week we also started our child birth classes. They taught some basic pregnancy anatomy, labor techniques, we watched a birthing video and met the other couples in our class.

Gavin's baby room is coming along. We have almost everything we need for the little guy! I have started to wash his clothes and organize his crib, changing table diaper bag and closet. The nesting has begun!

We have our next doctors appointment on Wednesday.

Weight Gain: 21 pounds

Cravings: cereal, mangos, pizza and broccoli

26 1/2 Weeks

Wowzers!! I can't believe we are approaching 27 weeks. Our little boy will be here before we know it! We have decided to name him Gavin Robert Pulisic. He continues to be active and move all over the place. Now, we can see my tummy move all on it's own! I have been feeling pretty good. I walk almost everyday. However, my sleeping is starting to become a problem. I toss and turn and wake up early almost everyday. I guess that is my body preparing for no sleep when Gavin comes!

I am getting very excited for my baby showers!! I have three planned!! One up north and two down south. Can't wait for all the fun!!!

What is happening with your baby?

Your baby is now 13 ¾ inches long and weighs 2¼ pounds. Around week 11 your baby’s eye lids became fused, but around the 27th to 28th week babies can open and close their eyes. Your baby has also developed a regular wake and sleep cycle. Unfortunately, it may not be the same as yours. You may also begin to feel rhythmic movements in your uterus and wonder what is going on. It is likely that your baby is experiencing a case of the hiccups. This is completely normal and may occur quite frequently during this last part of your pregnancy as your baby’s lungs continue to mature.

Cravings: Cream of wheat, cereal and milk continues to be a favorite!

Weight Gain: 17 pounds