Gavin is ONE!

WOW, can you believe it?  Gman is ONE!  Where has the time gone?  It's gone from laying in a basket, to laying and playing on a playmat, to army crawling through the house, eating sand at the beach and now walking EVERYWHERE!  This little boy is unstoppable and is EXTREMELY fast!  Did I mention that he has an attitude?  Oh yes, mommy and daddy have it in for them! He is a chatty cathy and loves waving to people.   I have attached a couple pictures for you to view of Gavin's first haircut, his first birthday and one AMAZING picture our neighbor took.  Enjoy!

Gavin getting his first haircut in a plane!

This isn't too bad

I am actually having fun!

I am Mr. ONE-derful!

I love Curious George!

My mommy had a carrot cake cupcake for me.

My cousin Addyson love me.

I am trying to get into my cake, but mommy doesn't let me eat all that sugar.

Daddy!  Did you really need to smash my cupcake in my face?

I was BLESSED with many friends and family who sent presents.

I loved my cards!

My new car!

Oh yes, I can change gears all by myself!

Gavin is ONE!

I am really bad at this blogging thing!

So I thought I would be a FABULOUS blogging mommy.  I thought I would document all the stages of Gavin's growth on our blog.  Was I ever wrong!  Here I am almost two months later and I am doing another entry.  I guess you could say my Facebook page should be used as our update.  It's quick, easy and takes less than a minute to update, which is honestly all I have these days.

I am still not working in corporate America, but I am definitely working!  As most of you know, I have started a consulting business called Crimson M.O.M. (Marketing Operations Management).  I am working with small businesses on their strategy (planning process- making sure they have a business plan), operational infrastructure (making sure they are efficient in their processes and that they document their processes) and marketing (mostly public relations and social media efforts, but a little advertising as well).  Right now I have three clients and that's plenty for me.  Remember I am a full time caregiver to my BamBam son, Gavin.  I have finalized my logo and my website should be up in the next couple of weeks- www.crimsonmom.com  WHEW!  I am tired, aren't you?  I haven't even begun to talk about Gman yet!

I don't have much free time these days.  Gavin is on the MOVE.  He is pulling up on everything and scaling the walls.  He can even pull himself up and stand by himself.  He walks if he has something in front of him to push; as in one of his toys, the dog's trash can where we keep their food or a tub full of clothing that needs to be put in the attic.  If it moves, Gman is pushing and banging it into something!

Not only is he ready to walk any day now, but he is chatty cathey again.  I know I have mentioned that he was a babbling little boy at one point, but for the past couple of months, Gavin has been quiet.  OK, let me clarify, quiet for a son of Brian and Nikki Milgate. :)  Recently I have been letting him play by himself in the living room or his bedroom while I am in the kitchen with a close eye and he will be chatting away.  I am hoping he is chatting to an imaginary friend and not me in the other room.

His personality is really coming through these days.  Now that he is beginning to find his independence, mommy and daddy are finding that our sweet BamBam has a major attitude.  I have to often inform him that Mommy and Daddy are the boss and not Gavin.  Yeah, that goes over well!

Overall Brian and I are cherishing every minute we have with him because it seems to be flying; can you believe Gavin is 11 months old already?  Thank you to everyone who is patient with my infrequent updates, but hopefully you are keeping up with "Growing with Gman."

BamBam

I should have given Gavin the nickname BamBam instead of Gman.  He is moving, shaking and banging things now.  Not only has he mastered the army crawl (elbows and knees), but he has mastered the art of pulling himself up to a standing position wherever he feels the need to do so.  Sometimes it's in his crib (which he will stand there and cry because he doesn't know how to sit down, without falling), sometimes it's on his toy baskets, sometimes it's on Belle, sometimes on Mommy and other times on the leather cube ottomans in the living room. 
Gman is banging everything.  Most kids first word is No (other than dadda and momma), but Gavin's will be "Gentle."  I think I say "Gentle Gavin" 50 times a day.  I say it when he is playing with toys, playing with the dogs, and playing with other children.  He is ALL boy- rough and tough!  It's been a while since I have included pictures in the blog, so I have done so below.  Enjoy growing with Gman!

Gman turns 8 months

G and Mommy in the Outerbanks

Daddy and G heading to the beach

G LOVES playing in the sand

Happy baby enjoying the sun and sand

Mommy and Gavin on the sound side

Gavin turns 9 months and standing in his crib

BamBam enjoying his new swing in the backyard

Happy BamBam

Oh Blog, how I have missed you.

Yet again, it's been almost a month since I have written.  Things have been quite crazy in the Milgate household.  Brian is networking like a MAD MAN to find that perfect job (heck, it doesn't need to be perfect, just one with great benefits would be fabulous), keeping his GPA up high enough to stay in the Honor Society oh and that little thing of being a wonderful father to an almost nine month old!  Yes, Brian has a lot on his plate right now to say the least.  He is juggling it all with a smile and a joke in true Brian fashion. 
I on the other hand am working on the same thing I have been working on since Gavin arrived, getting him on a regular schedule.  Just when I think I have it down, something happens; we travel or he decides to go through a growth spurt.  How dare he think of growing or getting more teeth?!?  BTW- He officially has four teeth!  The two on the bottom are completely in and the two on the top have cut through.  We all know that I have a tendency to be a bit of a perfectionist and that is going all out the window.  I have days when I think I am the worst mom in the whole world and others when I think I have mastered it all.  I have been told by many experienced mothers that I should get used to that roller coaster, because I will have those feelings for the rest of my life.  So, in stating all of that, I am learning to become ok with the fact that we will probably never have the perfect schedule.  Overall, Gavin is a HAPPY baby who has parents that love him and love each other.  I think he's doing just fine. 
Have I mentioned that he's eating solids now?  He LOVES avocados and mangos, but will eat anything that he can gum to death.  Yes, I am still being very anal (I don't know any other word that could politely replace that so sorry Mom) about his food.  All his fruits, veggies and jar food are organic.  When I do give him chicken, I cut into the tiniest pieces possible and it is also is organic with no added salt.   I care about what I am putting into his perfect little body.  I know I am going to mess alot up in his life, but his nutrition and health is not a mistake I want to make.  Again, that stupid perfectionism is coming out.  I know, I will eventually get over it when he wants Chick Fil-A, but for now, I want him to learn how to eat things that are good for him. 
Gman started officially crawling on Feb. 20 (his uncle Tim's birthday).  He went from rolling to get where he wanted to go to army crawling. He has mastered the army crawl on his elbows.  He can get from his room to the bathroom (where he always thinks I am if I am not in the same room as him) in no time!  He is also pulling himself up (on his dad, in his crib, most recently on Belle).   He will stand there as long as we let him and he has started dancing up and down.  It's quite funny.  He wants to walk so bad, but I want him to enjoy crawling for a while.  Oh, his new thing is to eat Belle and Sylvester's tails.  Belle doesn't care, she thinks it's funny to wags her tail and whop Gavin in the face, but SlyGuy on the other hand runs for his life.  The sad thing is that he can't always get away from Gavin since Gavin now weighs more than him.  :)
Gman is also chatting away.  He has mastered the Dadda, da, dadda, da, dadda.  He only produces what sounds like "mommy" under extreme distress, otherwise, it's dadda, da, dadda, da.  He is also learning to sing along in music class.  I get a kick out of it because he's more on beat than I am! 
We went to see G's "grandma and grandpa from the beach" last week.  We had a great time and yes Gavin LOVED the Outerbanks.  The boy LOVES the water and sand.  He loved the sand so much that he tried to eat a handful. 
We can't wait for the weather to be consistently warm.  Gavin and I are ready to play outside!~  This weekend we are going to a consignment sale at the church to look for swings that we can put in the pecan tree in the back yard and possibly in the maple tree in the front yard.  As you have heard throughout this blog, Gavin is keeping me on my toes.  Professionally, I think you all know that I am no longer with Wachovia / Wells Fargo.  I have started consulting with small businesses.  My company name is Crimson M.O.M., LLC. For those that are unfamiliar with the acronym M.O.M., it is used in the industry for Marketing Operations Management.  I thought it would be appropriate given this new stage of my life and given the fact that I was in Marketing Operations for over nine years in the corporate world.   I am working with a fabulous designer on my logo, marketing materials and website.  The website should be up and running by mid April.  I have been working with a wonderful company called Just Focus Massage and Wellness for the past month and will be working with two smaller companies in the coming weeks.  I am enjoying it! 
It appears I had a lot to say since I have not written in over a month.  I will leave you with one last thought, it will be TWO YEARS that Brian and I said "I Do" on March 21.  It's amazing how much life can change in those very short two years.  I became Mrs. Brian Michael Milgate, Brian left Coors and went back to school full time, the economy tanked and Wachovia was purchased by Wells Fargo, we got prego with Gman, I left my corporate career,  Brian was inducted into the Honor Society in college, I am starting my own business and most importantly, Gavin joined our family on June 18, 2010.  That's a lot of change in a short amount of time! Brian and I are VERY happy to have an amazing little boy as part of our family.

Where is the time going?

Can you believe that it's FEBRUARY 15, 2011 already?!?!?  Where is the time going? I can't believe that in two days Gman will be EIGHT, yes that's 8, months old.  It seems just like yesterday Brian and I were traveling all over the country with a peanut in my belly.  He had a milestone yesterday.  He went ALL the way under water at his swimming lesson.  We take lessons on Monday afternoons at Little Otter Swim School and we love it.  It's only 30 minutes but it's great for him to get into the water.  He's learning how to blow bubbles, kick, go under water, if he falls in- how to turn around to the side of the wall he just fell off of and overall how to be comfortable in the water.  He is my little otter.  On Tuesdays we have music class at church and today he clapped to the rhythm of the music and decided he wanted to sing. He let everyone know how he really enjoyed the song. :)

Brian is doing well in school.  He has one, maybe two more semesters left in his AA and then he will continue on to his BA.  He is taking a full load of online and evening classes.  He is studying, interviewing and networking during the day.  If anyone hears of a lead in sales or a position you feel would be a good fit for Brian, please pass it along. We would GREATLY appreciate the assistance.  Keep us in your prayers, Brian is working hard at finding a full time position in the coming weeks.

I am working on starting my consulting business. I am still in the planning phase, however I signed my first client this past Saturday. YEAH!!!! It felt good to have a signed proposal, but I still have a way to go in finalizing the details on the business and marketing plans.  I am working with an Executive Career Coach who is helping me through the process (thanks Wells Fargo, this was part of my outplacement package).

Enough about the parentals, this blog is all about Gavin not Nikki and Brian... it is called Growing with Gman.  G had another milestone this past weekend.  I was putting his clothes away in his drawers so I had sat him in his crib.  Well I turned around and he was STANDING and holding onto his crib laughing at me!  Thank goodness Brian had moved G's mattress to the lowest level a week ago.  G can move around a room like a crazy baby.  He does this roll / scoot thing and can very effectively make his way all the way around a room.  He isn't 'crawling' but is trying his hardest with his bottom in the air.  Quite cute if you ask me, but I guess I am impartial.  We still haven't slept through the night yet, but I know that day will come. 

In summary, G has had quite a few milestones in the past couple of weeks.  He went all the way under water, sang and clapped on beat in music class, stood up in his crib on his own, rolling / scooting around a room AND most importantly has his two bottom teeth (and working REALLY hard on the top two).  Thanks for staying informed on the Milgates and GROWING WITH GMAN!

Will sleep ever come?

I am beginning to think that I will never have a full night sleep again.  Gavin is still nursing two times throughout the night (a growing boy has to eat), but has recently starting waking every hour after his 2 / 3 a.m. feeding.  This makes it difficult for mommy to be perky in the morning, much less last throughout the day without snapping at daddy! ;) 

We have started to get into a routine. (Ok I know that will change in a week or two, because that's what happens with babies.) Monday and Wednesday mornings Gavin and I hit the YMCA with our friends for a baby power hour class.  This class is held in a gym and allows the babies / toddlers to attend.  It's great!  Some days, Gman is in his stroller, other days he is on a mat playing and others he is in my arms serving as my 20lb weights!  We have developed a group of friends that join us.  Good times!  

Monday evenings we head to swimming lessons.  Gavin LOVES his swimming classes. The moment I placed him in the water, he started kicking and hasn't stopped yet.  We have not gone under water yet.  The instructor said going under water takes time.  We are learning how to kick, blow bubbles, fall off the wall (like Humpty Dumpty) and immediately turn around to grab the closet side, float on our back and overall being comfortable in the water.  

Tuesdays we go to music class at our church. I thought it was going to be banging on drums maybe pots and pans, but that would be it.  Well, I was wrong.  We learn rhythm, we dance to the beat and create our own music.  Of course Gavin loves to put all the music making items in his mouth right now.   We also do Gman's FAVORITE thing, which is to lay him on the floor and fly the parachute up and down over him.  He laughs and giggles when it comes down and then flies back up.  There is nothing better than to see the excitement in his eyes and hear him laugh.  

One might think that G would sleep GREAT after all this, but apparently not.  I know he will sleep through the night when he's ready, but until then mommy and daddy will continue to dream of the night that we get a full night sleep. :)

I have placed a couple pictures below.  These are from the snow we had in the beginning of Jan., Gavin turns seven months and swimming.  ENJOY!

G and Daddy in the snow

It's snowing at the Milgates

G moved to his big boy car seat!

G is getting ready for swimming

mommy making funny faces at G

G turns SEVEN months!

The day of ones- 1.11.11

ONE FULL NIGHT OF SLEEP-
Gavin has not been sleeping so well these days.  Some say, it's the 6month growth spurt, some say it's his teeth and some say that we should let him 'cry it out' and he will put himself to sleep.  I can't quite master the 'cry it out' motto.  I feel very blessed; We have a good baby, he really only cries when he needs something- food or a diaper change. How in the world could I let him cry if I know he only cries when he needs something?  Well, I need something... SLEEP!  I think I am going to be doing to crying here shortly.  His naps have gotten shorter and he is waking every 2-3 hours to eat at night.  I am really praying that he begins to sleep better.  He sleeps GREAT in the car, but I don't want him only sleeping in his car seat.  In fact, he has almost grown out of his car seat and will be moving into his toddler seat in the next couple of months.  So keep us in your prayers and please let the Milgates get through this lack of sleep time and get to a place of FULL nights of sleep soon. 

ONE TAG-
If there is a tag on it, Gavin will find it!  He could have the best toy around, one that makes noise that is colorful and G will go directly to the tag to suck on.  He was sitting in his crib blowing raspberries at me and he had two toys in there; where does he go, to the sheet saver tag!  Forget the toys, the sheet saver tag is better than any other Little Mozart toy.  I thought I had cut most of them off, but apparently not.  Gavin will find the tag if there is ONE near him. 

ONE FOOD-
Gman is trying food.  He has been introduced to cereal (ok, that was not worth it), pureed sweet potatoes, pureed squash, pureed carrots, pureed peas, pureed apples, pureed pears, and avocados. When mommy and daddy are eating, Gman opens his mouth like he is ready to eat.   Needless to say, he will take maybe three bites and then he's over it.  His bites are more like gags.  We continue to "try foods," but he doesn't seem ready yet. So for now, Gman is sticking with his ONE food that gives him everything he needs- his milk.

Milgate holiday adventure into the New Year

Again, it's been a while since I have written.  Gavin has kept me busy, but I think the holiday travel had me going in circles as well.  I have a ton of picture from our travels to New Orleans, Gavin turning 6 months, Christmas, and New Year, so rather than rambling on, I will share our story with photographs.  Enjoy and Happy New Year!

The Milgates

Gavin's first trip to the French Quarter

Gman loves his dolphin pillow from his Grandma and Grandpa

Gavin is opening his present from his Grandma and Grandpa

The Milgates and Gram at the Aquarium of Americas

Gman meets a penguin

Mommy and Gavin in a whale's mouth

Daddy and Gman with a goat at the Audubon Zoo

The Milgates and Gram in the World of Primates

Gavin riding a gazelle

Audubon Zoo

Gavin and his Uncle Chase

The Milgate New Year picture

Gman is excited about 2011

Gavin's first New Year!

Gman turns 6 months!

Gavin's first Christmas

The Milgates on Christmas Eve

Gman and his Aunt Tamra

Mommy and Gavin during his first snow

Daddy and Gavin getting lost in the snow

Mommy's angel is making a snow angel