Free
As of April 1, Gavin was free from house arrest. As I mentioned before, we plan to use the month of April to transition Gavin from a life of isolation to a life of social interaction. And in a fashion true to my life, we didn’t hold back one bit on this first weekend out of the gate.
Saturday morning, we met my mom (parents in town, because my dad was attending a conference), my nieces and one of the mommas at the aquarium. A Saturday + last weekend of spring break + free entry for Bank of America card holders = INSANITY at the museum! But, we got there early, entered through the stroller access door (different from main entrance with lines a fraction in length) and kept perspective about it all. Gavin was awake for the first bit, showing real interest in watching the fish, the colored lights and all the people. And then, he fell asleep and didn’t wake up until we left.
We spent the afternoon going to see my dad at his hotel and going out to lunch with him, going grocery shopping at two different stores and picking up my mom from the mommas’ house. We left our house at 9 in the morning and didn’t return until 5 in the afternoon. And you know what? Gavin was … a rock star. When he was up, he was interactive and generally very happy (even though he spent a majority of time in his car seat, which he doesn’t exactly like) … and when he was wiped out, he went to sleep. Noise and light and all things intrusive to his homebound life mattered not.
Sunday was no less insane. We woke up early, packed up the truck with baby, dog, my parents, brunch contributions and headed over to the two mommas’ house. We were met there by my aunt/uncle, Sweets’ parents and my bestie and her boyfriend. There, Gavin got to spend more time with his cousins (the younger of the two cousins was smitten with him). And he withstood being handed off from one person to the next.
It wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows. Gavin did get a wee bit cranky at one point, so I brought him to a back room, settled him down and put him down for a short nap in his cousin’s bed. He also got pissed when we put him in the exersaucer (he doesn’t (and won’t) have one at home, since Sweets doesn’t like the connection between the exersaucer and toe walkers, but I wanted to see if he’d like it or not). Overall, though, he was a champ – sleeping through noise, putting up with people man-handling him and smiling throughout.
That’s not to say we didn’t come home and take a family nap. You think I’m kidding? I’m not. We put Gavin in his (real) crib and we crawled into the guest bed (also in his nursery). The dog curled up at my feet. And we all passed out for a good hour (could’ve gone longer if it weren’t for an alarm).
Other highlights from the weekend:
- Wanting to scream with joy when a scratch on Gavin’s nose finally cleared up, only to wind up wanting to scream in misery when, 10 minutes later, he re-scratched the exact same place. Baby nails are killer!
- Finding quiet pride when Gavin’s thighs were almost too big to fit into his cousin’s Bumpo seat
- Realizing Gavin weighs more than his cousin, who is two months his senior
- Watching Gavin study with intent the cashiers and baggers at both grocery stores and then breaking into huge smiles – what a charmer!
- Inheriting a Mei Tai baby carrier from the baby’s mommas and looking forward to purchasing an Ergo carrier
- Trying to feed Gavin solids for the first time (truth: it was last week, not over the weekend) … he didn’t hate it, but I wouldn’t claim it a success, either
Admittedly, Sweets and I had a learning curve this weekend (figuring out what it takes to get out the door for a daylong trip) and were absolutely exhausted by *thinking* about everything, let alone *doing* everything. But, given how easy Gavin was, we will definitely be doing this again! Hello new life!
Gavin sleeping at the aquarium
Gavin charms his cousin
Gavin eventually warms up to the exersaucer
Grandpa entertains Gavin
April 4th, 2011 at 8:26 am
Hooray for being sprung from house arrest! It looks like you had a fantastic weekend with all your very special people. I especially love the pic of Grandpa and Gavin.
April 4th, 2011 at 9:07 am
what a fun-packed first weekend free from house arrest! he is SO GOSH DARN CUTE.
April 4th, 2011 at 9:08 am
I was at the aquarium on Sunday and you’re right--total madhouse! I’m impressed the little guy got any sleep at all!
April 4th, 2011 at 11:36 am
It IS exhausting thinking about what to bring. I remember that stage and although it was tons of fun having the little ones, I am happy I am now at a stage where they can get their own things before we go somewhere and if they don’t have what they wanted to bring I don’t really need to worry about it anyway.
Have fun with your new freedom! I bet it feels great!
April 4th, 2011 at 11:39 am
what a little rugrat, love him.
glad his first adventure was a successful one!
April 4th, 2011 at 12:54 pm
You guys are party animals! Glad Gavin is finally free.
April 4th, 2011 at 1:11 pm
Woohoo FREEDOM!
Looks like you bolted out of the gate with enthusiasm. Which means also…woohoo for naps!
April 4th, 2011 at 1:20 pm
He’s so cute and I can tell he loved being outside!
April 4th, 2011 at 4:31 pm
Ah, I just love your updates. So glad Gavin is finally freeeeee! :)
April 4th, 2011 at 7:21 pm
Gavin had a grand weekend out. It is great to read how well he did and how he charmed the pants off everyone but, that is no surprise.
April 4th, 2011 at 7:41 pm
Sounds like a great weekend! So glad Gavin gets to go out just in time for spring!
April 4th, 2011 at 8:51 pm
What a wonderful weekend! Getting out of the house for us generally just involves going to visit my dad or a trip to Target. These girls are obsessed with their naps and their precious nap schedule that they put themselves on. It makes going anywhere tricky sometimes because they will NOT nap anywhere that isn’t their own cribs. Sometimes they’ll sleep in the car, but we’ve learned quickly that car nappage is not the same as crib nappage.
April 4th, 2011 at 9:29 pm
Hooray for freedom! I love that you hit the ground running and didn’t stop. It makes me really happy to know that he did so well meeting everyone, spending time around others, and still getting in his sleep.
April 5th, 2011 at 1:31 pm
Freedom! For a kid that has been stuck inside your condo for his short life it sounds like he did great out in the real world! Woo hoo!
April 5th, 2011 at 3:33 pm
Awe I’m so glad the little man is now a man about town. You guys are such movers and shakers -- I’m sure it’s been hard to be inside for so long.
Please be sure to post some pictures of him with baby food all over his face. Those are my faves. :)
April 5th, 2011 at 5:03 pm
So with each post that you share about Gavin? More excited to see him in June. I hope we can get some cute Nora/Nilsa/Gavin pictures :)
Glad the first weekend out was a success, even if a wee bit (or a lotta bit) exhausting. Way to be rockstars all around!
April 5th, 2011 at 6:43 pm
Hooray for freedom! That’s awesome that his legs were too chubby for the bumbo! I love it when babies legs are super chubby and have lots of rolls. Too cute.
April 6th, 2011 at 6:12 pm
Yay for Gavin! And double yay for you. :-)
April 9th, 2011 at 8:50 pm
Soon his social life will be as full as his momma’s!
April 10th, 2011 at 9:56 am
Woohoo!
:)
So glad it went well. I love, love, LOVE going out with Gabe. If only so it makes me feel like our life isn’t *that* different than it was before him, you know?
We were just talking about some trips we want to take this summer -- and decided that even if he gets on some awesome sleep schedule, we’re not putting the trips on hold for that! Gotta do what you gotta do, right?
April 14th, 2011 at 12:50 pm
The freedom extended to the little one looks like it’s been a success. Exploring the world.