12 Weeks

Avery-girl,

You had a LOT of firsts this past week!  We took you to San Diego for our 3rd anniversary vacation!  There were so many things that were new for you.  Your first...long car trip, elevator ride, hotel stay, shower, sink bath, first time in California, beach visit, zoo visit, etc. etc.  You did SO well!  You even started sleeping 8 straight hours this past weekend, even at the hotel!  Thankfully, you go to bed easy and sleep about 8 hours, wake to eat, and sleep 2-3 more hours!  You go girl!  You were an angel in the car on the way there but on the way back, you had had enough of the car seat and just wanted out.  You were a little fussy and didn't nap well on the way back...but that's ok, we made it!  (More posts and pictures from vacation, coming soon).  You are getting a big personality and you're just so sweet.  You are the most smiley in the morning and we talk to you and ask you how your night was and you just talk and talk and tell us all about it.  We can tell you definitely know who your Momma and Daddy are now!  You still give Daddy the biggest smiles when he comes home from work.  It is so hard to believe you are already 12 weeks old!!!!  We looked back through some of your pictures last night and you were so tiny!  You have grown so much...it seems like triple the size, but really you are probably about double your birth size.  I miss your teeny tiny newborn size but this stage is so much fun also! I always hear that from other moms...they miss their babies being little, but the stage they are currently in is always the best. ha ha!  I'd have to agree.  You are such a sweet and calm baby and we love you to pieces!  You really are the biggest blessing to us!

Love,

Momma & Daddy

Some things I've loving...

I haven't linked up with Jamie for What I'm Loving Wednesday in a while, so I thought I would today...a day late. haha!

Loving my new boats from my hubby...

I'm sure nursing mommas understand....I'm loving some snacks...

This new Dannon Pure yogurt is really good.  It's supposed to be only 4 natural ingredients.  I actually think it takes like sweet Greek yogurt, which I like.

Loving sugar snap peas.  I randomly just go to the fridge for a handful.  That and baby spinach.  Just cold, raw, and plain.  So good!  They have been on sale at Super Target here lately.

Carter's baby girl rompers and bubbles.  The 3 month size fits her perfectly, they are thin, light, and cool.  They look like more of an outfit than just a onesie and are super cute!  I also like the ones with attached skirts, but still snap at the bottom.  That way, it looks like a dress but doesn't get all bunched up behind her back in the car seat.

11 Weeks

Avery,

Hey baby girl...you are eleven weeks old today!  You are still as cute as ever and you're getting big!  You had a couple of crying fits a couple of nights this past week :(.  We think it was either from your shots or perhaps you got too cold before we could get you dressed after your bath.  Luckily, the past two nights after bath have been much better!  You go to bed around 9:30/10pm and sleep 6 or 7 hours, then eat and go right back to sleep for 2 or 3 hours, then eat again and sleep for another 2 or 3 hours.  That leaves one happy Momma and one happy Daddy!  Although, getting anywhere early in the morning is tough because you really don't like to wake up for the day until like 10 am!  You are starting to show your sweet personality!  We ask you all kinds of questions, as if you were going to talk back to us and answer us, and you just give us the biggest smiles!  One thing you do that is so funny is when you stick your tongue out a little and flick your bottom lip.  That cracks us up!  And when we laugh, you just do it more. ha ha!  You also like to make lots of bubbles with your spit.  You don't drool, but you do make lots of bubbles!  We have learned that you like to be sitting up straight.  You obviously can't hold yourself up yet, but you crunch your abs and lean your head forward like you want to sit up like a big girl.  You had your first visit to the dentist today!  Well actually, it was just for Momma and Daddy's teeth cleaning, but you tagged along and behaved so well!  The hygienists remembered I was pregnant last time and they were looking forward to meeting you.  They said you were super cute!  It's been another great week and we just think you are a pure delight!  Thanks for always keeping us smiling!!  Love you honey girl!

Love,

Momma & Daddy

And because I could.not resist posting this picture....  

haha...I promise she wasn't terrified!  I happened to catch her in mid yawn!  She's a funny girl!

Some things I've learned...

...since becoming a Mommy:

-babies make a lot of boogers

-you have to clean spit up out of their "neck crevasses" every day

-a lot of people notice you in public

-those people ask how old she is and sometimes touch her...yikes

-a drop of baby wash goes a long way

-their fingernails grow fast! must be the milk

-baby feet and hands will always be the cutest things ever

-you get used to broken sleep pretty quick

-changing 10-12 diapers per day is not that bad...maybe that's just me and a motherly thing

-we LOVE using cloth diapers!

-I don't hate washing diapers.  Don't love it, but don't hate it.  I do it for my girl!

-they stay awake longer and longer as they get older...translates to fewer blog posts haha

-I get good use of our Nikon D3000

-baby's favorite thing to look at is not a colorful mobile or toy...it's your face

-lay her down drowsy so she learns to fall asleep on her own

-on the other hand, there is nothing wrong with holding a sleeping baby!!  You can't spoil her.

-they love baths...well Avery does.  It must mimic the womb.

-they learn and GROW fast!  Literally overnight.  She will wake up with snug jammies that fit the night before :)

-people call dibs a week in advance to hold her at church or at small group lol

-you get sent similac, infamil, and diaper coupons like no other!  Glad we can give these to people in need.

-hospital bills are re.dic.u.lous!!!!!!  Who knew a ped would charge $900 to say, "yep, she looks good, you can go home now."?????  And that is only a teeny tiny fraction of the cost.  End rant.

-at this age, if you're out of sight, you're gone forever.  Just went to get the laundry! lol

-how can an 11lb baby need so much stuff? ;)

-Kangaroo care and nursing are my most favorite things

-all of the big baby smiles will melt your heart!

-Aiden and Anais muslin wraps are THE best blankets...especially for Phoenix weather, when the other blankets are too warm

-she will want to eat the minute you sit down for a hot dinner.  I'd gladly eat a cold meal later to feed my sweet baby when she's hungry!!

-you don't need an expensive bassinet that your baby will grow out of in a few weeks.  The pack n play works just fine, especially with the bassinet attachment, and you can use it for a much longer period of time.

-their vaccinations probably hurt you more than it hurts them...

-I find myself randomly rocking side to side as if I were holding her, but when I'm not holding her. ha!

-I probably spend a couple of hours just staring at her every day.

-some days she will sleep through anything and other days she will wake up at the slightest sound

-everything now depends on, "when did she eat last?"

-I'm thankful for hand-me-down clothes, even if they are boy cloths from cousin Micah.  About 90% of her sleepers and 0-3 month onesies were Micah's.  And before that, they were my cousin's, who has three boys.

Well, that's all I came up with off the top of my head.  I'm sure if I kept a running list, it would never end.  I am always learning something new every day.  Wouldn't change it for the world!  And because no post is complete without a picture...here you go:

taken 5/20/12 at 10.5 weeks old

Happy Tuesday!! =)

My first Mother's Day - 2012

I am behind on blogging - oops!  So, last weekend was Mother's Day and it was so cool to wake up and see my baby girl sleeping in her pack n play next to our bed!  I love little Ave so much and I'm so happy she made me a mother!!

We mostly celebrated on Saturday...we went up to Scottsdale for the afternoon.  I went to drop my rings off at Shane Co.  I LOVE to have them re-rhodium plated!  They come back looking brand new and super shiny!  So, no rings in these pics :(

Anyway, after Shane Co., we went to a S.tarbucks and took advantage of their half-priced frappes!  We shared a white chocolate mocha frappe and it was sooo yummy!  Avery couldn't wait to eat, so I had another experience of public nursing.  Yikes!  I think I'm finally getting more comfortable with it.  I don't feel like everyone stares at me, although they probably do. haha  And this group of old ladies who were out shopping just ooed and awwed over our little girl. :)  She is looking at them in this picture.

Daddy does the burping!

Then we just walked around the shopping area in Scottsdale...there are TONS of shops!  We stayed in H&M for a while and my hubby got me so much needed new tops!!!

It was SO.HOT outside and all of the places had their "misters" on.

We went to eat at Macaroni Grill...one of our favorites.  Well, it used to be.  They have changed a lot and have become skimpy in a lot of ways.  Anyway, it was still super yummy!  I got the lobster ravioli. Woops, forgot to take a pic...I meant to, but I was so starving, I just ate it.  ha ha!

Next up was Sprinkles!!!  The best cupcake place around.  Seriously, so good!

I took this picture of my girl, then she slept the whole way home!

But, she was still up for the photos after we got home...

I love my honey girl!

She's saying..."cupcakes...get in my bellay.."

It was a super fun day, just me and my little family!  And on Sunday, we just went to church and Avery slept through the service...good girl!  Then we went to lunch with a group of friends.  Here's a few photos from my first Mother's Day!

Nathan took this picture of our red bird of paradise in the front yard...I love those blooms.

I think she loves her Momma!

And...the most special and sweetest gift ever...Nathan and Avery got me a pair of earrings that are aquamarine and diamond.  Avery's birthstone is aquamarine.  I love them sooo much and I thought it was such a thoughtful gift for a first Mother's Day! :)

I also wanted to say happy Mother's Day to my mom and also to my mother in law and my Mamaw!  We love y'all so much!

10 Weeks

Avery,

Here you are, ten whole weeks old!  It seems like you have changed a lot just since last week.  You are holding your head up like a champ.  When we hold you, you will push off of our chest and just look around.  I think you will be ready to sit in the Bumbo soon.  Luckily, we are borrowing one from a friend, so if you don't like it, it's not a waste.  We have also tried the Snugli carrier and you seem to like it as long as you aren't hungry.  A lot of things depend on whether or not you're hungry these days. haha!  We are also going to borrow an Ergo carrier from Caleb's mommy to see if we like it!  They are so pricey, so it will be nice to test it out first!  Hopefully it will make things easy when we go to San Diego and the zoo in a couple of weeks.  You had your two month check-up (a few days late) this past Tuesday.  You now weigh 11lb 5oz (44th percentile) and the nurse measured your length at 22.5 inches but your legs weren't straight!  Plus, you were diagonal on the table, so it threw her off.  The doctor said it wasn't accurate.  So, at home you measured 23 inches (about 50th percentile).  Your head circumference was 15.25 inches (60th percentile).  The doc said you are growing like a weed, which we all knew that, and that you are a healthy little thing!  She said just keep on with the exclusive b.feeding and you should be just fine!  We are so thankful for a healthy baby and I'm so happy that you are getting all the nutrition you need.  You also showed off on your tummy and did some push ups and looked around the room, turning your head.  She said you will be pushing further up in no time and will be rolling by the next visit at 4 months old.  I asked her about your (almost) always clinched fists.  She said that it's normal and they will slowly open more and more.  By four months you should be reaching for things, six months pincher grasp, and 9 months waving and clapping.  You just like to keep tight fists unless you're sleeping.  Then, you have your arms straight above your head and your hands wide open.  Silly girl!  Then came the dreaded vaccines!!  Ugh!  It was so hard on mommy!  I researched the vaccines a little and found that our peds office follows the "regular" vaccine schedule and we ultimately just decided to go with that.  We want you to have the vaccines but at first I didn't like that so many were given at once.  They have been following this schedule for many years, so we assume it will be a safe thing to do.  Anyway, you had to get four shots and one oral vaccine.  One of them was the Tdap. We had to get this last year before our Kenya trip and it made us sore for a week, so I can't imagine how it makes your little leg feel!  Hopefully the baby dose is easier on you.  The nurse was pretty good...she kind of didn't give you enough time to swallow the oral vaccine before squirting in more.  ugh!  But she did the shots so fast, it was over in no time.  You cried.  Very very hard!  Like, the kind of cry where you don't breathe for a few seconds! :(  But I scooped you right up and held you close!  It took about 10 minutes to calm you down.  You didn't want to nurse right away because you were crying so hard, you would choke when you tried to swallow.  So I just held you and shushed you.  You fell asleep within 20 minutes and slept for 3 hours. That gave me time to drive to Scottsdale to pick up my rings and drive back!  BUT, when you woke up, you were miserable. :(  Your fever was around 100 and our Target brand baby Tylenol didn't come with a baby syringe or dropper!  So I used a little medicine cup with a bottle n.ipple attached and had to squeeze it in your mouth.  You were miserable for like two hours, crying hard, then whimpering, and moaning, poor thing!  Then you slept for another 3.5 hours and woke up feeling much better.  You slept fine that night, 7 hours, ate, then 3 hours.  The second day was a little rough, too.  You still had a fever around 100, but with another dose of Tylenol and lots of good naps, you felt much better.  Today, I think you are back to normal.  Yay!  Sorry, I didn't mean for this week's update to be a complete play by play of your doctor's visit!  haha!  Well, little Ave, we love you so much and are so proud that you are growing and doing well.  I can't say enough how thankful we are for a healthy baby.  I know there are so so so many babies out there with many medical or health issues and I can't imagine how hard that must be.  We just adore you and we think you are sweeter than sugar!  Your little personality is so sweet and you're such a great baby...you really are! Your coos and smiles melt our hearts.  You look like you're on the verge of bursting out laughing.  We can't wait for those cute baby giggles!  Love you, honey girl!

Love,

Momma & Daddy  

Show Us Your Life - New Moms

If  you are new and visiting from Kelly's Korner Blog, welcome!

I am a new first time Mommy to our sweet girl Avery.  She is 9 weeks old and growing fast!

Avery was born on March 7th and was 7lb 11oz and 20in.  Her birth didn't go as planned (but I've learned that things with a newborn rarely go as planned), however, everything turned out just fine!  You can read our very detailed birth story here.

She is doing very well and is gaining and growing perfectly.  She is starting to sleep more at night but she has, so far, been a really good sleeper.  Knock on wood!!!!

As for me, I am 25 and have been married to my lovely husband for almost 3 years.  Our anniversary is coming up in less than three weeks.  We have lived in sunny Phoenix for almost two years and we love it here, but we miss our family and friends who all live in Kentucky.

I am loving every minute of new mommyhood and I'm so thankful that I am able to stay home with our new baby girl!  It is a huge blessing to be able to do so.  This is what I have always wanted.  So I just take each day, one at a time, and try to do my very best to take care of our girl.

Surprisingly, this new parenting thing hasn't been stressful for me.  Sure, I functioned on little sleep in the early weeks, but I was prepared for that.  I think my huge amount of patience has really helped me adjust to being a mom.  Learning how to b.reatsfeed was somewhat difficult and painful but I tried not to let it get to me.  I knew I didn't want to throw in the towel.  I'm thankful it has worked for us and is now one of my favorite things.  And at times when Avery would cry at night until she was red, we just tried to stay calm and try different ways to soothe her.  Little by little, we figured things out.  Now we know her cries, when she's hungry, tired, etc.

If you are a new mom in the Phoenix area, please leave a comment and let me know!  It will be nice to get to know other new moms around here.  Thanks for stopping by!

And you may have noticed, I like to take a few pictures of our sweet girl.  Ha!

I am linking up with Kelly at Kelly's Korner Blog for "Show Us Your Life - New Moms".

Have a great weekend and Happy Mother's Day to all of the Mommas out there!! :)