1 month...

Today gavin is one month old. We decided we would take a picture with the same stuff cow each month to track his growth! Thanks Aunt Jen and Uncle Justin for the stuffed animal.

We went and had dinner with the Cliftons and they took us out for some family pictures in the snow! Gavin was cold and did not enjoy getting the crisp air on his little face.

Jaime

New Gifts...

Gavin received this gift from our landlords today. This cute little german boy is a music box. I love that he will have this for years to come and always be able to think of where he first lived.

This gift came just in time too. Gavin underwent a procedure this morning that (luckily) all boys get to forget. He is safely in his daddy's arm taking a little nap and recovering. Poor baby (and mommy and daddy).

Jaime

Gavin goes to the doctor...

Gavin was weighed...

And Gavin was measured...

And he is on track. The doctor said he was growing well and eat appropriately. We were very pleased to hear that. She answered a lot of questions and set these new parent hearts at ease. And she even mentioned how tiny and cute he was. We seem to get that a lot.

Jaime 

Gavin gets out...

We all ventured out to our first day of church as new family (sorry, no pictures, bad mommy!). Gavin slept all through service and was a very good boy. Everyone was very happy to see us or maybe they were happy to see Gavin. I know it is weird, but I think I will miss going to our tiny church when we leave.

Jaime

PS. We haven't been at service in a few weeks and Javin led singing. Apparently they were just waiting for us to return!

Snow day...

Gavin had his first snow day today. It has been snowing for two days and we got a couple inches. His snow suit is a little big but it still did that job. It worked so well he didn't even know he was cold. Actually he slept through the experience!!!! Figures. 

Jaime

On our own...

Missing our moms...

With the family all gone and us on our own, the laundry seems to have gotten away from us! I am on it though. It is nice to be able to do the chores again. Weird I know.

Jaime

Gavin gets a Passport...

We spent the afternoon on post running errands. One office we stopped in was the DEERS/PASSPORT office. Gavin had his first Army photo shoot and was ordered a tourist passport.

He was even able to manage a smile! All the office staff had to comment on how cute and little he was. Most said they'd never given a pasport to one that small. Can you believe it, 3 weeks old and ready for world travel?

Jaime

Gigi takes off...

Gigi left the fort early this morning (about 6:45 am). Gavin woke up for a change and a meal just in time to say goodbye. She is headed to Frankfurt for a flight this afternoon to Houston.

After a new diaper and little food Gavin is sound asleep in the swing. Both mommy and daddy are wide awake now! Guess we are officially on our own.

Jaime

Reporter Heading Home

Gigi is leaving the scene.  Gavin has everything under control and all his wishes granted.  He wakes about every 4 hours, eats, burps, and poops and then after a change of clothing is ready for another four hours of sound sleep.  Jaime and Javin are almost on his same schedule.

 Gavin loves his new swing as it gently rocks him back and forth and can play a variety of music or sounds.  Because Gavin is a featherweight, Javin had to make some adjustments.  The "hanging cans" below the seat add weight and slow it down a bit making for a gentler rocking motion.  It was slinging him from side to side quite forcefully.  He almost needed Dramamine.  Plus, if he every needs a stiff drink, Canada Dry and Root Beer are close at hand.

Here he is enjoying his swing.

One of the new machines on the market was installed in his bassinet today.  Gavin now has a SIDS monitor in place.  Not because he required special monitoring but friends offered it and it certainly is reassuring for the parents.  Should his breathing cease for more than 20 seconds an alarm will sound. 
What will they think of next?  Perhaps a machine that will wake a sleeping father when the baby cries or has a dirty diaper.*

*so far, Javin has not had a problem getting up or assisting with diapres.  Wonder how long that will last?


Well, it has been fun blogging.  Jaime has promised to continue but then again, she does have a new baby.  Keep the pressure on them to keep us informed.  I tried to show her that it doesn't have to be big events.  I'm heading to Frankfurt tomorrow and then back to Texas or somewhere nearby. 

The advice I'm leaving them is "Git that boy back to Texas as soon as you can so he can learn to talk right."  Idn't that right yall?

Bye now.  Ruthie Graham, Gigi

Sunday Fun

Watching Gavin is what the Walkers do for Sunday entertainment.  He usually has hiccups three or four times a day.  So cute we had to share!

 Packed up and ready to hit the road and see Germany...maybe later, it's 34 degrees out today.

Justin and June took the scenic route back to Texas.  They flew first to London, then to Newark, NJ where they missed their connection to Austin.  Thanks to June's quick thinking, they were able to grab a flight to San Antonio instead.  Scott met them there and delivered Justin to Austin at midnight.  United Airlines apologized and gave them a free toothbrush.  They were thrilled to find it came with toothpaste too! 

Gavin on the Big Screen!

Video NOT by Uncle Justin.  He was busy.  MiMi and Gigi set the stage and write the script.  Gavin is the star.  Now let's see if it will go where it is supposed to go.  (It was videoed by iPhone, hense the sideways picture.  We will not be threatening Justin's profession for a while.)

Tired of Baby Photos? NOT

Gigi is back in town.  Out comes the camera.  She is getting the hang of how to blog and knows how folks back home are eager to see what's happening.

Gavin has gained a few ounces and seems to keep his eyes open a bit more.  Maybe he was just excited to see us.   We dressed him up and propped him up and took about 50 pictures.  He never seems to mind but did get a little bored.

 He looks bigger in the pictures than he actually is.  Javin says he now weighs 6 lbs. 4 oz. (that is on the big boy scale with dad doing the math)

If you can read his thought bubble it says "My Aunt (Jenna) is Super Rad".  She is ready to hold her little nephew!  Maybe it won't be too long.

MiMi and Uncle Justin Plan Departure

 MiMi has been holding as much as she can and still can't get enough.  She is trying to cram in the last few hours of together time before she must say goodbye.  He will remember.

The bags are packed and she's ready to go.  It is a very early trip to Munich for departure.  She and Justin will leave Germany at 9:15 and stop for lunch in London before proceeding to Dullas in Washington DC.  From the nation's capital to the Texas' capital, they will land about 7 pm.  (2 am Germany time).

Justin says it best.  "It's like holding a slinky!"  "He just keeps oozing out."  But he hangs on and enjoys a few more minutes bonding with Gavin.

Justin wasn't allowed in the NICU but has been able to check in and hold any time he wants here at the house.

Jaime shows off his new outfit complete with his converse socks.

Blogger Gigi Leaves Post Unattended

The Grahams left Vilseck for a two day trip to Munich.  Sorry, but it appears we left without proper notification to our US followers.  I had requested the home forces to continue the blog and the answer was "sure" but you see, no blog.  What's a mother to do?  What did they have to do here that was so important?

Dick left Germany this morning and headed to the USA. Justin and Ruthie returned on Friday afternoon to Vilseck.   Soon it began to snow, so we headed out for pictures.  As suddenly as it began, it quit without any left on the ground.  It is very cold, down to 34 degrees mid afternoon.

 Jaime joined us and reminded me that just 14 days ago she was standing here playing in the snow.  Not enough for a snowball today and no tummy to place it.

Gavin did not go out but remained snug in his little bed.  Here he relaxes in his favorite resting position.

Gavin Gains Control in 24 Hours!

 More cute pictures of Gavin's arrival home.  He is soon snug in his bed with parents who can't take their eyes off of him for a minute.

He is all dressed up in his Sunday best and looking so adorable.

BREAKING NEWS: Unsuspecting Baby Released to Novice Parents

Steps to bringing baby home:

1.   Install carseat in vehicle  (30 minutes)
2.   Drive to Klinikum St. Marien  (20 minutes)
3.   Dress infant in coming home attire (25 minutes)
4.   Situate neonate in appropriate, certified carseat and secure straps (10 minutes)
5.   Take video, still shots as required  (add 5 minutes to each step)
6.   Secure carseat into base in vehicle (5 minutes) Recheck.  Recheck.
7.   Pray  (2 minutes)
8.   Depart hospital and drive home (40 minutes.  Drive home is much slower due to priceless cargo now onboard)
9.  Arrive to awaiting grandparents (What took you so long?)
10.   Willkomen Gavin

 Family Photos at home.  They arrives home at about 2:00 pm.

 Finally.  At home in his bassinet.

 Ernst & Helga Pilhoffer, landlords and caring friends, drop in as first visitors to check out the new arrival.

Uncle Justin meets Gavin

 No one can escape the camera these days.  They are everywhere.  We were able to locate photos of Uncle Justin as he first held little Gavin.

Justin counts and it is offical:  8 fingers, 2 thumbs, 2 little ears.  He is still unsure about the toes because they were under layers of clothing and impossible to reach without great difficulty.  Mom Jaime assures him that there are 10 toes and they too are cute.

Monday, Monday

 Gavin continues his stay in NICU however he needs very little observation.  They continue to monitor his heart rate, respiration rate and O2saturation.  Of course he is right on target.  The other kids laugh at him and ask, "Why are you still here?" 

 Only the parents and one grandparent are allowed to visit so we must take turns.  Javin had errands to run today so Jaime and I gave him his bath.  There is so much time between feedings, we decide to just play and create our own little photo studio.  Gavin doesn't seem to mind the attention and never gets cranky at all.  However, he does lose interest at times and dozes off.

 He takes in about 80 ml of mommy milk per feeding every four hours.  They know; they weigh him.

Feeding is not a problem for this boy.  He never wastes the good stuff by spitting up.

 It is so difficult to choose the perfect photo so I narrowed it down to 8 out of 57.  That is still not enough for Aunt Jenna.  She wants all 57!   Isn't digital the best.  Remember the olden days when we had to develop film?  What a world he has entered. 


Uncle Justin finally got to hold baby Gavin today but no cameras were around (such is the life of the photographer).  Mean Nurse Nancy had told them no other relatives allowed.  Where there is a will, there is a way...and it was found.