Introducing Dane Oliver McClements!

Wednesday, November 14, 2012 at 9:49 pm Dane Oliver McClements joined our family! He weighed in at 8 pounds 12 ounces and 21.5 inches long. He looks a lot like Gavin but is already showing how different he is!

 

We are all doing well. I am enjoying the rest and snuggle time with Dane during my short hospital stay (we go home tomorrow (Friday) morning) but I am looking forward to getting home and having time with Gavin. This is the longest I have ever been away from him so that makes it a bit harder. He is very well taken care of between Scott being home and my Mom taking care of him when Scott needs to be at the hospital with me. That makes it a bit easier to be away, even though it is still hard.

Gavin's first meeting with Dane went far better than I ever could have hoped. I didn't really know what to expect but I had done some reading on tips when introducing a new baby to try to make the transition a bit easier so I was hoping that trying a few things like not holding the baby when your older child(ren) come in (so they don't think they have been replaced), making sure to actively involve your older child(ren) with helping out where possible (get diapers and wipes, bring over toys/books, helping pick out clothes and blankets, etc.), and still giving as much one on one time as possible. A lot of those we won't test out until I go home but the first time Gavin saw Dane he had a huge smile on his face! It was the cutest and sweetest smile I have ever seen. I don't know if he fully understands what this all means yet but for now he has zero problems with Dane. He was giving Dane hugs and kisses and helping to hold him.
He was even pretty good in the room in general. He explored everything (including all the outlets and buttons available) but I was expecting it to be much worse. I was expecting his visit to only last a few minutes and him having to be carried to the car throwing a tantrum. I was very happy to be wrong about that!

Now I get to enjoy/endure one more night in the hospital. It is nice to relax but I do look forward to my bed and not being woken up every hour or so by various nurses and other hospital staff coming in for me or to take care of something in the room. Although, at least I have my own room, it would be much harder if I had to share a room and then we both had people coming and going. Yay for private rooms!

Soaking Up Fall!

Gavin and I have been spending time outside at home again. Although I hate the thought of finding a tick on him, with the weather being so nice and getting closer to my due date (which will mean significantly less time outside for him), we have been outside as much as possible. We still occasionally go to the park for the playground, we haven't been doing that as often because there were fewer and fewer other kids there with school being back in session. That meant Gavin quickly was bored and wandering off looking for trouble.

So, Gavin and I have been going for walks through the neighborhood and over to Valkill. I let him pick what direction we go and he almost always chooses to go the long way to Valkill and then wants to go through Valkill. We always stop at the bridge so he can throw rocks in the water (saying that is a favorite activity is an understatement, he asks to do it all the time). Gavin has also taken to wandering the woods behind our house. He frequently asks for the leaf blower to be pulled out and started. He used to run screaming (even after he kept insisting he wanted it started) but now he likes to help clear off the deck and driveway or blow leaves back into the woods.

We have been having a lot of fun and it has been great that the weather has been so nice. It has been awesome to watch the leaves change and fall. Gavin loves running through the yard when it is covered in leaves and it is fun to show him all the different shapes and colors they come in. I will be sad when it is too cold to be outside and after the baby is born because we will be stuck inside for most of the next few months until it starts to warm up in the spring. Until then, we continue to make the most of the beautiful weather!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Snow!

We got some snow today! Although it didn't really amount to much, it did accumulate a bit on the ground so Gavin and I went out to play in it after we got home from our weekly grocery store trip.
 

Gavin was so excited and loved being out in the snow. It had just started to snow while we were at the store so he loved walking to the car in it and couldn't wait to get home and get outside. Unfortunately, I haven't picked out snow pants or boots yet but his coat and hat from last year still fit perfectly and I had already picked out mittens for him. So I bundled him up and just put him in his sneakers since it wasn't that much snow. He seemed to be plenty warm while he drove his truck through the snow and then stomped and ran through the snow in the yard and on the deck. It was so much fun to watch.

It started getting too dark and we had to head in to make dinner but it was a lot of fun while we were out there, I was so glad to have a little snow before the baby is born so I could be outside with Gavin because after the baby is born it is unlikely that I will be able to be out with him. I can't wait to get more snow and watch Gavin enjoy it. He loved the little bit we just got so I imagine he will love when (if) we get enough to really play outside making snowmen and sledding!