gabe is three months old!

Yay!!! Today Gabe is officially three months old which means he has successfully completed his last trimester (if you read The Happiest Baby on the Block you know what I am talking about). These last three months have been so great and rewarding. We have enjoyed every moment of watching the little man grow. He has gotten so much bigger, must be around 13 pounds and 25+ inches long. Next Friday we have a pediatrician appointment and we will be able to get the actual calculations. He has also become more alert, coos like crazy and he gives us smiles that light up the house! He is so darn cute!

We have been so lucky with him as his temperament is pretty relaxed and calm. The one issue we did have with him these past three months is that he is gassy (as all babies!) but it was pretty bad that it would make him cry at times out of discomfort. It was very worrisome and we tried various different things to help him through his gas episodes. We tested different formulas and we found the one that worked best with him. Herbert also taught me some baby yoga we can do with him to help him release some gas and it does help a lot! Over time it got better; I think it was a mix of these things as well as his stomach maturing. We are pretty happy he is no longer in discomfort.

One of our favorite things to do with the little one is give him baths. Every day he gets a bath before bedtime. It is so much fun because both Tony and I participate in the the affair; we sing songs and play with him. Gabe is so alert during this time...he really LOVES baths!

Overall, these past there months have not been hard at all. On the contrary, they have been very easy and tons of fun! I have to say this is thanks to Tony. He contributes as much as I do and it is great to know we are both in it together. I could not have asked for a better son and I could not have asked for a better husband. We are all a great Avila team!

happy anniversary to us!

Today is our 2nd year anniversary! I am so thankful to be married to this man! He is sooo amazing and every year I fall more and more in love with him. He is my best friend and my everything. I can't describe how happy I am to be with Tony, all I know is that my life is complete with him by my side.

Every year for our anniversary we take an anniversary picture. This year's pictures was obviously very different from last year's as this one included the new addition to our family, little Gabe! Yup, we started as one, we got married and became two and now we are three. Both Tony and I feel very blessed for our new little addition, he has brought us so much happiness (funny since I thought I had reached my max ;).

i love my family!

(Pictures do not include everyone )

I am sooooo thankful for my family. Yeah, we can be loud and we can say inappropriate things at times, but we are definitely one of the closest families I have ever met! My family is really united and we are always there for each other in our weakest and strongest times. The love that we have have for each other is so strong and we are very willing to share it with others.

After giving birth to Gabe the family was there for us. Everyone came over and cooked us some delicious meals and helped as much as possible. I always think I can do everything by myself but not this time and the family really stepped up! Even Vicky cooked for us many times and she hates cooking! Her food was to die for and although she doesn't like to cook she is pretty good at it.

I would not trade my family in for any other family in the world, I think they are the best! Thank you once again for all your help and support, I love you guys so much!

unconditional love...

The feeling of becoming a mother is something I can try to describe, but it wont be understood until it is actually experienced. it is UNBELIEVABLE! I have never felt a love so strong like this before. Obviously it is not the same love you feel for your partner, your mother, your siblings, etc... It is a love that is sooo pure and unconditional.

The first time I saw Gabe I could not believe my baby had arrived and I couldn't believe he was my little son. It was such an incredible feeling and I know Tony felt it too. We were so amazed how quickly the emotion takes over your body and warms up your blood with so much love. This by far has been the most AMAZING experience in my life. I truly cannot describe how life changing this has been and how much perspective it has brought into my life. After Gabe was born I looked at my mom and told her, "Mom, I know why you love me, it is because I am your daughter". She looked at me and smiled. Now I understand how intense the love of a mother is and how strong the bond between mother and child is. It is unbelievable how your kids bring so much sunshine to your life.

It is funny, my first night at home when I had some alone time with Gabe while I let Tony sleep, I was so happy and amazed that he was my little boy and I began crying while I held him in my arms. I cried out of happiness and love as that was the only way I could express that emotion at the time. I now cannot imagine my life without my little man...he completes our family. He is such a blessing...

gabriel's birth

It had been weeks now that I wanted Baby Gabe out of my belly! I had gotten so big and I was so tired. My pelvic bone hurt when I slept sideways so there was no way I could sleep that way. Unfortunately there was no way I could sleep on my stomach either! I had to pile up pillows behind me so I could sleep sitting up. This took a toll on my back! Everyday I would wake up with a sore back which made it no fun to sleep. Plus, I was waking up almost every hour to go to the restroom. As much as I enjoyed having the little man in my belly it was time to evict him! I tried everything! I went on long walks, I ate the prego pizza at Skippilinis that is supposed to put you in labor, my doctor even scrapped my insides. Ok...maybe I did not try everything but I do know I wanted little Gabe out. I could tell he was a big baby and at 4'11' I was running out of space for him. I remember that I wanted a sign...any sign that labor was imminent.

I remember waking up on Wednesday, March 23rd thinking to myself, "well...I am due on April 5th and so I still have some days to go. I can't sit here and wait for it to happen because it feels like FOREVER! I need to drop it and just let it be, he will come when he wants to come." That day I felt more relaxed and less anxious. Tony had taken the day off and we had gone to SF to babysit Michayla. We had a great time together! Lindsey decided to cook dinner for us when she got home from work. At around 7:30pm, as we were finishing our meal, I felt a sudden back pain (just for a second or two)...something very different than what I had experienced in the past. I remember feeling a bit happy, "yay! this was my first labor sign" I thought. I was waiting patiently for Lindsey to finish her sentence so I could share that I had finally felt my first sign. Honestly, I wasn't sure if this was even a true sign, but because it felt so different I thought "why not!"

Before Lindsey finished her sentence and before I was able to tell them the good news I jumped out of my seat as I felt I started peeing on myself. "Oh my god!" I screamed, "my water broke!...wait, maybe I am peeing...ok, no I think my water did break" We all began to panic, but Lindsey quickly took control and began to plan for what was going to happen next. She got me to the shower and brought me some change of clothes. Tony began making phone calls and then we were off to the hospital.

I was so nervous to get in the car as I was not sure what would happen next but I was so happy to think that Gabe was coming, my little man was on his way and we would all get to meet him! "Ok.." I thought to myself, "don't panic...stay in control and don't loose it!" I had to tell that to myself because I am such a wimp and I can easily start to faint out of fear. When I got to triage I was feeling good, still leaking but with no pain. Next to me was another lady moaning from her contractions. This was not helping as I knew I was about to follow her down the same pain path. Because I had cholestasis during my pregnancy, I did not have to wait until I was 4 cm dilated to get admitted. The doctor wanted me under direct supervision to make sure the baby and I were doing well.

Within an hour or so my whole family and a few friends were at the hospital...hanging out until they were told to go home as it seemed that my labor was going to take a long time. I labored throughout the night...dealing with my contractions as they came and went. "Not bad" I thought, I can do this! Fortunately my ObGyn was on call when I arrived to the hospital. After laboring for a good long time she decided to give me a break and I was given some drugs to help me sleep for an hour. After that my labor slowed down and they decided to give me Petocin to speed it up. When I heard Petocin I quickly said, "epidural pleeeeease!" There was no way I was going to experience petocin-full-contractions!

Almoust 24 hours later from my water breaking I began to feel the epidural fade away and I could feel the pressure and crazy desire to want to push. "Oh no...here it comes!" I thought and began to panic. I called Tony and asked him to please try to calm me down. Eventually I couldn't take it anymore and asked the nurse to check me to see if it was time. She thought that it wasn't but after checking me she was surprised to see that I was 10cm dilated and fully ready to push.

Everyone got into position and got me ready to begin pushing. The nurse called the doctor for help but did not worry because it usually takes first time mothers 2 hours on average to deliver. Tony took one leg, my mom took the other while Terrie and Vicky watched and waited for little Gabe. I pushed with all my might. The first thing that came out was Gabe's hair, a small little curl! The nurse began to panic...this wasn't going to take two hours... the baby was coming out fast! And like the stereotypical story of ObGyns, the doctor showed up,all chippery, just to catch the baby.

I know this is already a long post but...My mom once told me "if i am not in the delivery room I will never speak to you again!" She denies she ever said that to me! Anyways, I knew I wanted my mom there for support. I know when I am going through some rough times my mom has a way of being there to calm me down and she becomes very soothing. Although I was so entranced in what I was doing during the delivery, I was somehow aware of my mother's reaction more than anyone else. She has always talked about labor like it is a piece of cake and always dismissed the complaint of pain. However, watching me go through it was NOT easy for her. She had to step away at one point and Vicky had to hold my leg because my mother had become overwhelmed. She pretended to go wash her hands but I knew that she went to wipe away her tears. She finally composed herself and came back to continue holding my leg. After it was all over and everyone became so excited with the baby, my mother never left my side. She just stayed there and held my hand as I recovered from the shock (it was a hard recovery for me since I was having compulsive shakes). The experience though, was very emotional for all. As soon as he came out everyone (my mom, Vicky, Terrie, Tony and I) was crying.

I couldn't believe my little baby had just arrived...Gabriel Alarcon Avila was born on March 24th at 7:49pm. He weighed 7 pounds and was 21 inches long. Welcome to our family Baby Gabe!

Waiting for Baby Gabe...

Mom calls Eddy when the baby arrives and puts the phone down...all he could hear was Gabe crying in the background...he puts the phone on speaker and everyone hears Baby Gabe, they were all excited to know he had finally arrived!

Proud Tio and grandpa!

Grandpa came prepared with a celebratory drink!

Proud Father...

Proud Mother...

Michayla meets her little cousin!