It's no secret that I'm not the biggest fan of Halloween. I don't like costumes and I especially do not like masks. I can think of 100 other things I'd rather be doing than walking around outside when its cold and dark out. And while I could easily eat chocolate everyday, its not a diet I want for Gabe.
But in marriage their are some concessions to be made. Matt deals with my OCD, perfectionism and emotions... and we celebrate Halloween. Now Gabriel (and any future children) will not dress up in anything scary or will they run amok with too much sugar in their systems but they will be allowed to celebrate in the joyous adventure of childhood and for most (not me) that includes dressing up in costumes and parading around the neighborhood saying "trick-or-treat."
My opinion on masks will probably never change (I just hate not being able to see someones face) but some costumes are just too cute for words... or maybe it is the baby in the costume.
Cutest little pumpkin in the patch!
Exploring the pumpkin
Where's Gabe?
My pumpkin and my prince
Now after seeing those pictures, you can't even argue that he's not the cutest pumpkin you've ever seen... and no, I'm not even the least bit biased.
Today Gabriel and I ventured downtown to see the opthamologist. First just let me say how much I love the Cole Eye Institute. They have a seperate waiting room for children so we don't have to sit around in the general public with lots of potentially sick patients. Second we NEVER have to wait! They get us right in the room and the doctor is with us really soon. Third, everyone is SO nice; the secretaries checking us in and out, the nurses, the residents and especially Dr. K! I feel so blessed that Gabriel is able to go to such an outstanding place for his eye care. Lastly, they have my favorite drink at their cafe Nantucket Nectars Half-n-Half.
The doctor is pleased with the way his vision is developing and even though his eye lid is still half-closed Gabe is now able to adjust his head to see out of his right eye - no risk for loss of sight yet! We do have to increase our patch wearing time from one-half hour up to an hour each day! And that's totally not a problem, well not too much of a problem. It is a little problem because Gabriel has been working on his fine motor skills while I'm not looking and now has quick little fingers! Gabe is now able to take off his patch. I'm hoping that its inadvertent, but since he's done it twice... I'm beginning to think he's doing it on purpose. And while I'm glad Gabe's developing his fine motor skills, I had to explain to him the importance of wearing his patch but I'm not sure he was listening to me or plotting the next opprotunity to sneak off his patch!
And the patch is on....
Off with the patch!
Other than wearing his patch, further developing his fine motor skills Gabe is staying status quo and developing like the perfectly normal 9 week old that he is. I can't wait to see how big he is at his well visit next week!
To compliment Gabe's love of the outdoors and enjoy this unseasonably warm Ohio weather (70 degrees at the end of October - I hate global warming but will take the warm temps) Gabe took his 1st trip to the Zoo. Our friends Sarah, London and Waverly joined us and we hit the road early yesterday morning to explore the zoo!
Gabriel saw everything - the African Savannah (giraffes, zebras), Australia (koalas, kangaroos, walabys, walaroos) random birds, ocean creatures, Jungle animals (monkey's, cheetah's) and red pandas, gorilla's and lots more ( I just can't remember). We didn't make it to the Rainforrest or The Northern Trek but saw so much anyways!
Gabriel also saw DINOSAURS and Boo at the Zoo decorations! We had so much fun and can't wait to go back. Along with all of the animal watching it was great to visit with our friends. I had a blast hanging out with Sarah and Gabe enjoyed looking at Waverly and London. What fun times!
On a side note, I LOVE the zoo, it's one of my favorite places to go... so whether he wants to or not, Gabe is going to love the zoo too.
Me, Sarah and our babes
Me and Gabe
Hope everyone is enjoying this wonderfully warm, or cold depending on where you live, weather!
2 months or 61 days or 1,464 hours = the amount of time Gabriel's been alive
And while the first 3 days of Gabe's life were the most stressful, awe-inspiring, LONG, heartwrenching and emotional days of my life.... the last 58 have just flown by. Each day Gabriel's smiles, coos and facial expressions enchant me and I fall deeper in love with this little blue-eyed babe. I never knew I could love someone so deeply, completely and fiercely (besides Matt, of course:) but I do. After listening to babies cry for the past 4 years, I never would have believed the cry from a little one could tear my heart into pieces - but it does. I didn't believe that after 2 months of waking up every 1 1/2 - 3 hours, I'd still smile when Gabriel would begin squirming in his bassinet - but I do. Well, most of the time :)
God has blessed us immeasurably by the gift of Gabriel and every day and every night I can't imagine what I did to deserve it. And then I realize that there is nothing I could've done to recieve such a wonderful gift except through the grace of God. So every day and every night I will thank God for our wonderful son. And as I thank God I will aslo pray for Miss B and the rest of Gabriel's family that they were brave enough, strong enough and loving enough to do what they believe is best for Gabriel and bless our lives immeasurably.
At two months old Gabriel, this is your life:
You're extraordinarily laid back, unless you want a bottle, have a wet diaper or need some cuddles.
Reading books, practicing tummy time and dancing to praise music are your favorite day time activities.
You miss Daddy during the day and smile whenever he talks to you on the phone. You also love exercising with Daddy at night.
You love to be held and cuddled and love to be worn! You're Chicco carrier and Moby wrap have gotten a lot of use the past few weeks - wearing you seems to be the only way I get any house work done!
Right now, you're quite the Momma's boy. I relish in our quiet moments together, in our hours spent cuddling and the way you hold onto my fingers. I know you won't be a Momma's boy forever so I'll enjoy it while I can.
5 oz bottles are now filling your belly every 3 - 4 hours
Night time is still your time to party although we have been able to sleep for at least one 3-hour stretch each night! And while I love our nights together, I can't wait for you to sleep for 4, maybe 5 hours at a time :)
You're growing like a weed and filling out your 0-3 month closing quite nicely. Because of your cloth diapers most of your 0 - 3 month onesies aren't quite long enough anymore so we had to go up to the next size
Gabriel - you are the most wonderful baby in the world and we love you so much. Each day you grow, change and amaze me and your daddy. Thank you so much for all of the joy you bring into our lives!
We love you Gabe, happy 2 months! From the fullness of his GRACE we have all received one BLESSING after another. --John 1:16
Thanking God for all of his blessings, Meredith
***Thursday Gabriel has his next eye appointment - please pray that it goes well. Matt and I don't see much (or any) change since starting the patch but we're hoping that the doctor does.
Do you have compassion? Are you compassionate towards others: your family, friends, strangers on the street? Our church is doing a series entitled Adventure of Compassion and while I've always considered myself to be compassionate I now find myself lacking. Pastor Jim explained how compassion is composed of 3 parts: seeing, feeling and acting.... I never included the acting part. I have no problem seeing compassion and often feel overwhelmed by how much I feel when I see someone hurting, needing or longing for something more. But I fall short in acting - in part I think its because I'm so overwhelmed by the vast amount of need and then because I don't know where to begin to help.
But I want to make a difference, I need to make a difference....and through our Adventure of Compassion I'm beginning to see the many ways that I'm able too. God is opening doors and windows that I never thought were attainable. Missions trips, volunteer opprotunities at Cornerstone Among Women and cultivating relationshiops through Life Groups are just a few of the paths in front of me! And while I love life groups and am looking for a way to help women in need I'm most excited about the possibility of going to El Salvador to serve on a missions trip.
And one of the reasons I'm looking forward to El Salvador (if I get picked to go) is to interact with the children. My heart aches for children in need and especially for the orphaned child. Current statistics estimate 200 million orphans worldwide... 70 - 80 million of those orphans being in Africa. So my heart is calling me to Africa and while Matt and I can't adopt them all, if we can change the life for one orphan, follow through with each step of compassion, then I think we made our difference.
While our next adoption adventure is somewhere in the future, I feel that God is using the Adventure of Compassion to ready our hearts for things to come..... what about you? Are you feeling compassion; compassion for your family, friends, strangers, God? Because God is our true representation of compassion. And I'm using this adventure of compassion to draw me closer to God, closer to others and closer to myself.
And one of God's biggest gifts of compassion that He gave to me and Matt....
Gabriel's not going to be a pirate for Halloween but he probably should be........
Captain Gabriel
Have you ever seen a little pirate as cute as this? Sure, Johnny Depp and Orlando Bloom made me swoon in Pirates of the Caribbean, but they do not hold a candle to the cuteness that is Gabe.
But, anyways, Gabriel is doing great with his patches! 3 days in the bag and they don't even phase him. He still smiles, coos, growls, plays and cuddles like he does all day long. I'm fairly certain (and by fairly certain I mean 100% positive) I wouldn't be as calm as Gabriel. He's a trooper and so very strong.... and while it breaks my heart to have to put eye patches on him, I know it's the best thing that we, as his parents can do to help his right eye grow stronger. And, he won't remember a thing :)
One more shot of a super cute pirate.....
Love & Blessings, Meredith
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight --Proverbs 3:5-6
Was I truly that naievee to think that I wouldn't be extremely busy staying at home with Gabriel? I thought, once Gabriel and I fell into a routine I'd have plenty of time to blog, bake and maybe even scrapbook... I was definately wrong on that account. I'm lucky to shower every day let alone do anything else. Between washing bottles, baby clothes and baby diapers we're busy cuddling, reading, stretching, reaching for toys and exploring the world around us. And lets be honest, blogging, laundry, cleaning, food... all takes the back burner when I can spend my time doing nothing but loving on this little guy:
Isn't he just the cutest?
Tummy time!
Trying to figure out who that handsome boy is in the mirror!
Loving my swing while Mommy folds my clothes
Nothing could be cuter than Gabe in his robe.
Sleepin' Gabriel.
I think this last picture sums up the biggest reason why I'm not getting much done. Gabriel loves his sleep... he just doesn't love to sleep at night :) Gabriel loves to sleep in the car, on a walk, on the couch, in someones arms and even in his cradle - during the day. But at night.... Gabe just wants to be with his Momma and Daddy and while that means we sleep a lot less, we wouldn't have it any other way. Besides, when we hold him we get to look into this beautiful face and thank God for giving us Gabriel, his smiles, his coos and even his love for the night life.
I did have a whole blog almost finished about the new and exciting things going on in our life and somehow, and I don't know how, it disappeared into the wide world web.... so I'll either find it and post it or try to rewrite it over the weekend....
