Happy Belated Halloween!

Baby Yoda I am. Yes, I had a very enjoyable 1st Halloween, big ears and all. This was only a couple days after my surgery and I was back on the go, good as new.

I was tired and hungry after all the festivities. I can't wait until next year when I can be dressed up and run around!

No More Horn

TodayI had my first (and hopefully last!) surgery. Since I was a couple months old my Mom and Dad had noticed a small lump on my head. They thought it was just part of normal head parts and pieces that come with a newbie. My Uncle Steve told them I was growing a horn. I guess they didn't want me to have a horn so we met with a surgeon about a month ago and he said that it was a benign cyst and the only treatment was to remove it. So I had the procedure today and everything went well. The hardest part for me was not being able to eat after 1:30 this morning. We arrived at the hospital at 6 AM and they were right on time taking me in at 7:30. I took a couple breaths with a funky mask over my nose and I was off to la la land. I can't remember the last time I slept that good! I awoke to a bunch of nice nurses fussing over me. (I know I'm cute, but I was like, come on ladies there is plenty of me to go around.) Then my Mom and Dad came in and I fell back asleep in my Mom's arms. After my long nap and a bit of food, I was disconnected from all the wires and tubes and they let me go home. Ahhhhh it feels so good to be home.

Diaper Change With A View

My parents finally took me on vacation a few weeks ago. It was about time!! I was getting some major cabin fever. They packed me up in the car like a sardine with all of my favorite toys. On the way, we stopped at my Mimi and Grandpa's house in Maine. Mommy and I stayed there for a week helping out after Grandpa had some minor surgery. I worked hard making them smile and laugh. While there, Grandpa showed me how to work this cool thing called a "remote control." It was great to make the cartoons louder. The louder the better!! Mimi and I hung out on the porch and sang songs with the mosquitoes.

After our week in Maine Daddy came back and they packed me back into the car and drove to New Hampshire. My Great Aunt Kathy & Uncle Charlie have a beautiful home on Lake Winnipesaukee. They have a great living room where I perfected rolling over onto my tummy. It was soooooo relaxing that I loved taking naps by myself too. My rents' took me hiking at the Castle in the Clouds. We hiked to a beautiful overlook where I promptly required a diaper change. I took in the view while Mom and Dad tended to my "needs."


On the way down from the overlook I was hungry, but there were too many mosquitoes around so I had to eat on the run.
We also went on a hike through the Lost RiverGorge.

It was a cold day in the White Mountains, but my Dad kept me warm. I had a great time and can't wait for our next vacation! I'll have to tune into the Travel Channel and do some research for Mom & Dad. I just have to figure out the right numbers to punch into that remote thing.

My Baptism

I finally gave up my heathen ways and was Baptized on August 10th, at St. Catherine of Siena in West Simsbury. I didn't go quietly though; I cried for the entire Sacrement, except for the very end when everyone clapped for me. I wore a white dress shirt and vest, with a bow tie that Mom and Dad fidgeted with, but ultimately gave up on when it came time.

I was excited because that jokster Jesuit Paul Holland, S.J., came down from Beantown to bless me. He told lots of funny jokes at the party afterward. Mommy and Daddy got me a beautiful cake from Mozzicatos, and everyone said it was delicious, but I wouldn't know-- I'm still not allowed to eat cake.



Here are the pictures of the big day

Out and About

Hello again! I have been out and about for the past few weeks doing a meet and greet with family and friends. I made another trip to Maine for the 4th of July (exercising my lungs the entire way!)I enjoyed my 1st parade and fireworks in Thomaston. While I was there I also met my Great Aunt Sue and Uncle Dick. That was quite a treat! We went to Pemaquid Point too. It was a very foggy day and a bit cold, but we had a nice picnic with Mimi, Grandpa and Uncle Steve. Before we left for Main I saw my Aunt Sarah graduate from high school. I've been a busy guy eating, sleeping and growing.....like a weed.

Newest Member of Red Sox Nation & More Baby Pictures!

Aren't mommy and Daddy sick of taking my picture yet? I guess not, which is why we have another installment of pictures (View; Download). Enjoy!

By the way, my dad says I'm now an official member of Red Sox Nation now that Mimi and Grandpa Glenn got me my first Red Sox outfit. Daddy spends many nights rocking me to sleep watching the Sox, so I guess I feel obligated to be a Sox fan (not that I would have a choice in this house). I can't wait until I'm old enough to go to a game with my daddy.

6570 days until my first day at Harvard

So the countdown begins...

My daddy told me a scary story today. By the time I'm ready for college, 4 years at a private university will cost ~$313,800. State school's won't exactly be cheap either, at $81,900 for in-state, public schools. When daddy did all the calculations, to be able to afford that four year private school, would take $602/month if we started today. Yikes!!! Daddy said we better start saving right now.

So daddy, being daddy, took lots of "Timmy time" (which mommy always loves) and did as much research as he could on saving for college. He highly recommends www.savingforcollege.com

He did all the research on 529 plans and decided to open the CHET plan in Connecticut to take advantage of the generous state tax deduction (Contributions to the Connecticut 529 plan of up to $5,000 per year for an individual taxpayer, and $10,000 per year for a married couple filing jointly, are deductible in computing Connecticut taxable income, with a five-year carry forward of excess contributions.). They decided to make automatic month contributions and distribute the funds over the index fund option and the aggressive allocation option

My great aunt Martha started the college fund with a generous check and mommy and daddy decided to double it. They pledge to make similar matching contributions for other friends and family that wish to donate to my college fund. They are also really fond of the 529 plan that they are considering opening up accounts for my cousins Joe, Lauren, Alex, Matt, & Mark.

Well, I gotta get back to getting my ZZZ's so I can be well respected for my first day of class in 6570 days.

Mommy & daddy wish the best of luck to other moms and daddy's that have similar scary stories on saving for college. Please feel free to share your scary stories as post comments.

Four Pamper Pooper Party

I played the best practical joke on daddy yesterday.

Daddy was changing my diaper and I pee'd on it (Diaper #1). That's no big deal daddy thought --it's happened before and it'll happen again. As daddy was putting diaper #2 on me and powdering me, I did a #2 right on his hand...DIRECT HIT (eww gross!!! says mommy). As daddy went to clean up, I reloaded, and when he put diaper #3 on me, I had another BM waiting for him (eww gross x2). Daddy was pretty amused at the expert timing, and he was quick to put on diaper #4, before I had time to plan my next move. Daddy said at this rate we'll have to divert money from the college fund to pay for diapers (...I hope he was kidding)

That was so funny...now I have to planning something even better to get mommy.

Happy Belated Mother's Day

I was very excited to celebrate my mom's first mother's day. She wasn't expecting anything since I've only been home 2 weeks. Mom and Dad have been so busy trying to figure me out since we arrived home from the hospital. I surprised Mom with a necklace from one of her favorite jewelry stores (check it out.) Mimi and Grandpa also gave mom a new watch for mother's day. She is always bugging dad for the date and the time, so it was perfect.

My Mimi and Grandpa had to leave on Monday and go back to Maine and I miss them oodles. They were very good about rocking me to sleep and holding me so mommy could get stuff done around the house. Now it is just mommy and I for the rest of the week. She has been trying to catch up on her sleep while I take my naps. I think I'm pretty good at waking up just when mommy gets into a deep sleep. It's fun to watch her change my diaper when she's groggy!

I want to make sure and wish all you mothers a happy belated mother's day!!!

Granby Bear and More Pictures

I went for a long walk with Grampa Glenn and mommy today. I'm glad we didn't see the Granby Bear on the path cause he's got big claws. We saw him near my house on Sunday and he was huge...1 bear = 43 Gavins. We saw him chasing his cub...I guess my Daddy's not the only one with a lil' guy that likes to get into trouble.

Also everyone's been asking to see more picture, so I've obliged. Click here to see them.

Bye Bye Stumpy!!

Very exciting things happened yesterday. Mommy, Mimi & Grandpa took me to the doctor for another weigh in. I'm just about back to my birth weight and everyone was very happy about that. They tell me I'm a good eater.

After we came back home, my umbilical cord stump fell off!!! I am so happy to see that ugly thing gone. Right now I look like I'm half innie, half outie, but I'm sure it will balance out as I get bigger.

My First Pics

Mommy and Daddy have my first pictures ready to view! Please check them out!

I'm Here a Little Early!!

I'm so excited for my first post!!!

I was born on Sunday April 27th, at 9:49 am, two weeks ahead of schedule (Due Date was May 13th) For the record, my weigh-in was 7 lbs even and 19.5 inches long...well, they did round up, I'm officially 6 lb 15.8 oz.

The actual birthing part was not the most fun for me or mommy.

Mommy woke up Sat. morning with mild contractions about 20-30 min. apart. She wasn't sure if they were "real" or not, but she figured it out when they continued through dinner time. Mommy and daddy spent the day at home getting last minute things put together and cleaned up. They also put their 3 name options for me into daddy's Red Sox hat and pulled one out. They pulled "Gavin," but they reserved the right to change their mind once they saw me.

They ended up going the hospital at midnight and when they first checked-in, mommy was 4.5 cm dilated. At one point, my heartbeat was low and the nurse had trouble finding it, so they tipped mommy almost upside down and they put an oxygen mask on her. It was a little scary because no one said anything, they just had the attending doctor rush in and started doing stuff. They ended up clipping a heart monitor on my head. They got my heartbeat back and everything was back to normal and people stopped rushing and scaring mommy and daddy.

By about 3:00 am mommy was at 8 cm and she couldn't take the pain, so they gave her an epidural. She couldn't walk around at that point because of all the machines she was hooked up to. At about 5:30 am, mommy was fully dilated and effaced and they had her start pushing. I became a bit stuck near mommy's tailbone, and after a couple series of contractions the doctor told mommy she would have one more round of pushing before they would have to get me out via c-section. When mommy heard that she pushed with all she had, and out I came! Mommy and daddy were both in tears when they first saw me. It truly was a miraculous event to go through, for everyone. Overall mommy said it was definitely a positive experience, although she's still not sure how people "forget" the pain. We are all grateful to the wonderful staff at St. Francis hospital who took such good care of mommy and me.

It did take mommy and daddy another 1 1/2 days to confirm my name. They consulted with their delivery nurse, Barbara, and a couple of their other attending nurses. Gavin seemed to be a unanimous decision. So here I am!!!