7 Months!

I know I say this every month, but I can't believe how much Gabe changes with each new day! He is evolving right before our eyes into a little boy and quickly leaving his babyhood behind (tear)! I know I'm jumping ahead slightly, but in what seems like the blink of an eye he will be turning one! I remember the days of holding him easily in one arm and multi tasking with the other ... oh how the times have changed! I'm going to have arms of steel before too long ... Gabe weighs a whopping 18 lbs 10 oz!!
He is doing so many new things it is getting more difficult to keep track, but I'm trying my best to write down everything in his little journal that we created.

Here are just a few highlights:
::he is doing GREAT with his food! We are in stage 2 and have hopes to skip right over the stage 3 to table food (per pediatrician recommendations) I don't think we have come across anything he doesn't like. He does tend to favor the veggies, though!
::he is sitting up much better on his own, but will still occasionally fall over ... oops! when he is on his belly, he kind of rocks which inches him forward or backward, depending on what his legs are doing ... too cute! every once in a while he will get his legs under him, but plants his face on the floor. He will get it soon enough, we aren't in any hurry to start chasing after him!
::he reaches out his arms to be picked up or transferred from one person to the next, which I just LOVE!
::constantly smiling, laughing, babbling
::still adores his books and intently listens to his stories now. every once in a while, when he is in my lap and I'm reading to him, he will turn to look at me and just smiles so big! he likes to pound on the books a lot too, and loves to turn the pages.
::he watches Hunter, smiles at him, grabs his fur, looks for him when he hears him make noises. I can just tell they will be best buddies some day!
::he FINALLY figured out how to jump in his Johnny Jumper, pretty hilarious to watch!

I can't say this enough ... we have been blessed with the sweetest baby. He is just a pure joy and our hearts swell with love for him!




I adore his eyelashes




Mom, what is this green stuff?


His first time in a swing ... he really enjoyed it!



After posting these pics, I realized I never posted the pics that my friend Brooke took of Gabe at 6 months ... those are to come!

You are Invited!

I was invited to be a part of this super fun art show that my friend Bri and her sis are hosting! Check out the open invite here!! Everyone is welcome to attend!

I will be making my burp cloths and hopefully a few other fun things! This past week has really set me back, though, due to me and Gabe being sick ... I need to get to sewing so I have some products to sell!!



Here are my latest boy burp cloths ...

Happy Mother's Day!

I must say, my first Mother's Day was absolutely perfect! We started the beautiful morning out with our normal Sunday routine ... church and Panera Bread! Then, Gabe and I enjoyed a little nap before we went to my mom and dad's. None of us felt like fighting the crowd at a restaurant nor did we feel like cooking, so we ordered Olive Garden lasagna, salad, and breadsticks for 8! It was delicious! I made my friend Bri's Sour Cream Banana Bars for dessert, so yummy!! We enjoyed playing corn hole and hanging around outside for the rest of the afternoon. Thanks to Adam, Gabe, Mom, Dad, Tom, Karen, Karey, Caleb, & Cooper for such a great day! Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers I know!




My Mother's Day gift from Gabe & Adam ... I just adore it and never want to take it off! Handmade from here!


Adam's mom and dad gave me a Peony bush for Mother's Day ... one of my new favorite flowers! It will be beautiful when it blooms!


Happy Mother's Day, Mom! I love you so much!!




Baby Blues


Coopsie!




Xylophone from the 60s ... Coops had fun playing it!


My sweet (and cute, I might add!) boys




I thought my mom and dad's hummingbird feeder was pretty :)


Sour Cream Banana Bars in the making!!


I tried to make the icing purple, but it didn't turn out like I had hoped ... so I drizzled the white on top to make it look better. Again, didn't turn out like I had hoped! Oh well, they were still tasty!

A Look at How Far We Have Come ...

I was watching some of the videos we took of Gabe in the NICU ... The tears started falling and all the emotions came flooding back. Leaving him behind the first night, how we both broke down crying on the way home. And the pain of leaving him every consecutive night for 4 weeks. The excitement of getting to see him in the morning and feeling like we couldn't get to the hospital fast enough. Feeling so proud of him for all the accomplishments he made each day. Watching the videos of him at home, in the evenings on the big screen, crying, aching to just hold him in my arms. Thanking God, every day and night, for his strength and health ... Knowing how blessed we were that he wasn't sick like some of the other babies were ... Praying for those babies and families that were struggling.

I don't know how some of the families make it through. NICU journeys don't always end happily like ours. My heart aches for them. I continue to praise God for our sweet little miracle ... Oh, how He has blessed our lives!!



Day 3 of Life


Day 7 of Life


Day 16 of Life


Day 20 of Life


Day 26 of Life


6 Months! ... last video, I promise!

Gabe is doing really well with his baby food. I was hoping to make his food, but I really don't have the time or energy ... so we chose to do organic baby food. Close enough, right?


Gabe is still wearing 3-6 month Jammies & Onesies, just barely!


Hangin' with Nanny D & Grumpy!