Gavin Turns One-Month Old

Gavin at one month


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I think Gavin got the Coloso family hairline. I looks like its receding, just like my Dad's. Hopefully, this would change eventually - for his sake.

Gavin is officially a month old and I just realized how quickly time flies. It's seems not long ago I was still going to the hospital for my pre-natal appointments and wondering what my baby would look like and now here's finally here. Despite the sleepless nights, having Gavin has been one of the wonderful events that has happened in my life. Seriously, I haven't been this happy since the day I had Jenna.

The last four weeks with Gavin seemed like finding my way through motherhood all over again. People always think that eventhough I'm already a mom, that I'm a pro with handling a baby. But having Gavin made me realize that there is always something new to learn everyday when it comes to being a mom.

Gavin has filled that empty space I've been feeling since I've been apart from Jenna and Glenn. My little boy's the only reason why I feel better waking up in the morning and why I don't feel bad anymore about the things that usually make me cry. Normally, it's the parents that comforts the child, but in our case, it is Gavin who has given me comfort since the day I had him.

I look forward to seeing him grow up to be like his daddy and have a good time with his Ate Jenna. I look forward to years of watching him become the person he would want to be someday. And I know that for whatever changes that would happen in his life, he would forever be my little boy.

Gavin's Photo / Video Update

Gavin's Taray-mode


Yeah, Chicks Dig my little boy


Sprawled in the living room couch during a hot afternoon




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A Few Things I've Noticed About Gavin

Is it just Gavin or do all babies poop on a freshly changed diaper? I mean, a few seconds after a diaper change, that's when he'd start giving me those pouty lips - which indicates that he's about to poop. And what's worse, this routine always happen at around 4am - when I'm all groggy from lack of sleep and too lazy to stand up and change him. I've noticed that eventhough I never tried putting him on a schedule, he poops just about the same time everyday - which is twice a day at 4am and 1pm (and if he poops for a third time, then it would normally happen anytime during the day). He gets restless and fussy everytime he's about to poop, but once he's done with it, he goes to sleep right away - which makes diaper-changing more difficult for me since he hates it when someone disrupts his sleep.

And he eats a lot. Just imagine that I have to wash 12 bottles everyday, and to think he breastfeeds as well. He would literally inhale 4 ounce of milk in one sitting even when he feed every two (or three) hours. The other night, I was trying to give him my breast for milk but he just cried hysterically so being the frustrated mom, I was forced to give him the bottle and he drank everything in just a few minutes - talk about being hungry. That's one of the reason's why I'd rather pump milk than nurse him since he'd rather drink in the bottle. Well, as long as he's drinking breastmilk, it doesn't really matter to me if he takes it through the bottle - at least no more sore nipples for me.

Not like other babies, he doesn't cry when he's wet or when he's done pooping (actually the only time he cries is when he's taking a bath or when he's hungry - during which he cries like he's being tortured). So I make it a point to check on his diaper every two hours at least since I'm trying to prevent him from having a diaper rash. There are times when I forget to change his diaper and he'd be all wet but he'll just sleep through it so I'd end up waking him up just to change him - which annoys him a lot.

Noise doesn't bother him when he's asleep, be it the sound of the subway train, the police sirens, the television or Sophie screaming. My sister and I can talk and laugh infront of him without waking him up. I do know that he can hear since before we left the hospital, I was informed that he passed the hearing test. And I've noticed that the simplest yet sudden clamor - like the remote dropping on the floor or doors closing rattles him up - biglang nagugulat. My voice is the only sound that calms him down - neither baby music nor lullabies can have that same effect. He would actually stop crying once he hears me call his name (or whatever term of endearment I would think of).

Despite being such a good baby, he tends to be wide awake in the wee hours of the night and very much asleep during the day. His pedia said that it's normal for newborns to not follow the normal sleeping routine and would eventually change by his 3rd months (or so). But I've been praying for sometime now for him to start sleeping like any normal human being. I'm starting to get dark circles around my eyes. My little vampire's slowly sucking the life out of me due to sleep deprivation. There are days when I'd wake him up in the afternoon just so he'd be asleep at night but it's quite fruitless to do so when I feel guilty bothering him while he's asleep. Now, I would prep myself for bed as early as 9pm so that I'd have enough shut eye by the time he wakes up (and starts bothering me) at around 2am - and he would stay awake until 7am. And it's really hard to sleep in the morning - now I know how call center agents feel like after their shift is over - given that I still have other things to do besides taking care of him (such as household chores and eating/taking a shower/anything that has to do with taking care of myself). Everyday, I keep dreading those 5 hours of sheer torment wherein all I could think of is closing my eyes but couldn't since Gavin either wants to be held or wants to feed or just wants my attention for whatever reason. I do love Gavin with all my heart but I do have my limitations and I can't wait for him to turn 3 months so that our nightly rituals would be over - or be less frequent.

Gavin's less than a month old (20 days to be exact) and yet he's such a predictable baby, which makes taking care of him easy - even when he seems to be turning my whole schedule upside-down. Gavin has his own daily routine from the time he wakes in the morning down to when he needs changing or needs to be fed. It's like everything is synchronized, to every hour of every day. So I kinda know what he needs and when he needs it.

Maybe he's starting to become anal-retentive - like me. Well, it's a possibility since its in the genes. He's my little boy anyway, so kanino pa kaya magmamana?

10 Baby Things I Couldn't Live Without

Among all the baby stuff I have for Gavin, here's a few that I really appreciate having and would really recommend to moms and moms-to-be. And what's best is that most of these stuff are gifts from friends and family.

1. Diaper Genie - With 2 kids (Gavin and Sophie) stacking up a lot of dirty diapers, this wonderful gift given by my friend Owie during my baby shower really helps lessen the stinky smell of pee and poop in the room. And it's really easy for me to dispose all the used diapers, especially when we need to have our garbage segragated (for recycling).

2. Electric Breast Pump - When I had Jenna, I really REALLY had a hard time breastfeeding. And I had a manual pump, which really made nursing a nightmare for me. Not only was the process painful, it was tiring as well. So I ended up breastfeeding for only a month. With Gavin, I wanted to make things different so I was determined to breastfeed. But I've been having some latching problems since I think he's kinda getting use to using the bottle - he's actually breastfeeding and bottle-feeding at the same time. So I opted to pumping milk instead. The electric pump makes it really easy for me to give Gavin as much as breast milk as I can, without that much hassle.

3. Boppy Pillow - This item has been one of my favorites, so far, since it makes nursing really comfortable, both for me and Gavin. I really can't get him to feed while lying down so I end up carrying him during feeding time. With the Boppy, I don't have to exert that much effort holding him - especially in the middle of the night - and at the same time, placing Gavin in a cozy position.

4. Fisher Price Infant-to-Toddler Rocker - I'm always in the living room during the day but with Gavin to look after, this rocker gives me the comfort of keeping a watchful eye on the baby without having to haul his bassinet in and out of the room. And its portable so I could just fold it anytime we don't use it for easy storage.

5. Snugli - I don't own a car so commuting anywhere with a baby really seems next to impossible. But having this Snugli (from Sophie's hand-me-downs) really is very efficient. Gavin just sleeps in it while I go shopping or when we're on our way to see the doctor. And there's no need for me to be hauling a stroller, especially when taking the bus or a cab.

6. Aveeno Lotion for Baby (Fragrance Free) - Gavin's starting to shed like a snake (from his chest down to his legs) and the doctor said that I could only use either Vaseline, baby oil or unscented lotion. Well, I'm not into baby oil so I've been using Aveeno for Gavin. And it works really good because his skin's starting to look better - no more skin flakes on my bed.

7. Close Sleeper - My friend, Jen gave this to me for my baby shower and I've been using it eversince I brought Gavin home. It helps prevent him from turning over on his belly while he's asleep since he's quite a squirmy baby - less risks for SIDS - eventhough he can alreade raise his head.

8. Body Suits - With one-zip, dressing up Gavin is hassle-free since he gets fussy whenever he's being changed. I don't have to think about pajamas bottoms and long-sleeves tops since body suits cover everything that need to be kept warm.

9. Johnson's Disposable Washcloths - It's been difficult for me to give Gavin a bath - I don't think he likes the water that much - not like Jenna, who would wade in the water for as long as possible until bathtime's over. He cries once his body touches the water, despite the perfect water temperature. So bathtime's always a rush so these washcloths help lessen the time we spend in the tub because its soap-ready once dipped in water and I could also use it to clean him up afterwards - and I don't have to worry about hanging up used washcloths to be dried.

10. Wearable Blanket - The weather's starting to change and for the past few days, the temperature's been in its 50's at night. But thanks to this blanket, it keeps Gavin warm when he's asleep. And it has a lot of leg room so it doesn't restrain him from moving even when he's zipped up inside the blanket. I don't need to worry about tangled blankets, now that he keeps kicking everything wrapped around him at night. And he's so cute in it - he looks like a big marshmallow.

MOMMY'S LITTLE MARSHMALLOW BOY

Behold the Mother with Her Newborn Child

By Nicholas Gordon

Behold the mother with her newborn child!
An icon of a hope that never dies.
Death may label all we cherish lies,
Yet this love lies too deep to be defiled.
We clear an inner field where fate has smiled,
Letting play the pleasures of surmise,
Holding back all contrary replies,
As though our thoughts might turn the winters mild.
Despite the well-known travesties of time,
Each time a child is born we dream anew,
For only thus our losses are regained.
Though we must share the destiny of slime,
No passion in our palette is more true
Than that which cradles innocence unstained.