2 month check up

Avery had her two month check up today and got her first set of immunizations. I was so worried about this appointment and  her getting her shots and in the end, I should have known that Avery would be a trooper.  The appointment started off by her getting weighed and measured by the nurse.  While we were doing it, the nurse had to double check that this was in fact her two month check up because clearly her size does not account for her age.  Once we did that, the Dr. Glasser came in and talked with us for awhile while she was checking Avery out.  Overall she is one healthy and happy girl.  The Dr. was impressed at her sleep and growth and said that Ben and I are doing great for being first time parents.

So here is where she is at
Weight: 13.4 ounces         90-97% percentile
Length: 23 3/4 inches        90-97% percentile
Head: 39 cm                     50-75% percentile
As you can see, she is one big baby!  The Dr. said that her height is proportionate to her weight and vise versa so she is doing just fine.  She expects Avery to be a tall girl just like her mommy!

Her poor legs with the band aids where she got her shots

Avery also had her first day of at Grammy's house yesterday since it was my first day back to work.  She did great and took the bottle with no problem.  What a huge relief for me!  Things are going well for us here!  I could not be any happier with my little Angel!

9 weeks

Well my maternity leave is officially up and I am back to work tomorrow (Monday).  Many people have asked me how I feel about going back to work and here are my thoughts.  First off, I feel lucky to have a job that I enjoy and truly feel like what we do helps so many people.  Secondly, the fact that I get to work from home makes me love my job that much more.  Times are tough right now for many people so to have a job that I like and that I can do from home is a true blessing.  With that said, it will still be SO hard to be away from Avery.  She will be at my mother in laws a few days a week and then home here with Ben as he doesn't have to leave for work until 2 or 3 on some days.  Most people have to take their child to day care so I am so thankful that I do not have to. So all in all, I have it pretty good but I am going to miss spending every second with Avery!

Avery decided to give us a taste of what it is like to have a baby that cries.  On Sunday morning, she woke up happy as always and then a few hours later, she had a major crying attack.  We still can't figure out what triggered it but for at least 30 minutes, she screamed, and I mean screamed at the top of her lungs.  She had tears running down her eyes and she was so unhappy.  We were trying everything to calm her down and nothing seemed to be working.  We had her clothes stripped and finally ended up giving her a bath and she ended up falling asleep in my arms wrapped in a blanked with nothing on but a diaper.  When she woke up, she was her normal happy self.  I think she just wanted us to appreciate how good she normally is and trust me, I do appreciate it!

Avery is quite the busy baby.  She is such a good sleeper but when she is awake, she is full throttle.  I am a little scared of what she will be like once she can crawl and walk!  She is getting close to learning that she can control her arms and will soon be able to grab all those things that she stares at all the time.  She is still fascinated by ceiling fans which I think is so funny!  She also love the Baby Einstein DVD's.  But then again I catch her watching shows that I have on as well!   Sometimes I will have her playing on her mat on the floor and I will see her turn her head and just start watching TV.  Little turkey! 

She also has started wearing a lot of her 3-6 month clothes.  I am finding that the 0-3 month clothes that have feet are too small for her.  Ben suggested just to cut the feet off but I just say its time to buy new clothes for her!  I never need a excuse to go shopping for her!  We had a great week and this little one is just growing like crazy.  She can almost hold her head up and is quite the strong girl! She is now going to sleep at 930 and sleeps until about 6:30 or 7.  It is great!  Thank you God!
Here are some pictures from this week.

Looking like a big girl on our bed

The overalls that Aunt Beckie bought her

Loving her play mat

2 months old

To my little Aves,

What a blessing you are.  Since the day that we brought you home, you have been nothing but pure joy in our lives.  I could not be any luckier to have such a beautiful, healthy, and happy baby.  Every morning that I go get you from your crib you look at me with those big blue(at least for now) eyes and my heart just melts.  Now that you have learned to smile it makes the dread of getting up that much easier once I see your little face.  I love our mornings together even though at times it is still dark outside.  Holding you in my arms as you nurse is a bonding moment that can never be replaced and I am so thankful for that time.   I know you won't be this little for long and I will treasure these moments with you forever.

I am amazed at how fast these two months have gone.  Getting to know you has been such a experience.  I love watching you fall asleep in my arms and your eyes roll back into your head and you sleep with one eye cracked as if you are keeping an eye on me to make sure that I am still there.  I love that when you suck on your silencer(pacifier), you take 3 sucks and stop and then 3 sucks and stop and so on.  I love when you give me finger hugs, boy do you have a grip.  I love that when you are a little fussy, most of the time you just want me to put you down so you can explore the room with your eyes and kick your legs and move your arms. If that doesn't work, we know that we can put you in your room on your changing table and you just explore every inch of your room and smile and kick your legs and wave your arms.  I love your fascination with ceiling fans and light fixtures.  I LOVE that you love to sleep, God does answer prayers! I love when you fall asleep on me.  I never want to put you down.  I love watching your little hands explore this world.  You always have your hands in little tight fists and I am sure that once you realize that you can grasp and hold on to things, those fists will be replaced with whatever you can find.  You truly are the most wonderful daughter that we could ever ask for. 

Each day you seem to change just a little.  Today I am spending a little time going through your closet getting rid of clothes that are too small for you!  You are only two months old and almost growing out of 0-3 month clothes.  We weighed you last week at Nana and Papa's and you were 13 pounds!  I could not believe it.  You are growing before my eyes.

I love you Avery.  Thank you for teaching me to enjoy the little things in life.

Mom

8 Weeks Old

I know this sounds like a broken record but I can not believe it has been 8 weeks since Avery was born. She truly makes me so happy!

I return to work next Monday and while I am ready in once sense to get back into the swing of things, I am going to miss my little one like crazy!  I am used to being able to spend every waking second with her and come this time next week, that will not be possible.  She is going to be spending 2-3 days per week with Grammy and then the other days she will be here with Ben until he has to leave for the field and those days I will be starting my work day quite early in order to get everything done.  I really could not imagine having to go into a office every day and not see her so I do feel truly blessed to have the job that I do.

We have had a pretty busy week.  My mom was out all last week and it is such a help having her around.  I get so much done!  We finally ordered our baby announcements and my goal is to get them all sent out before I start work next week!  On Friday, my mom and I drove to San Diego for Avery's first road trip!  Overall she did pretty well but she got a bit stir crazy at the end.  Who can blame her though as I would not want to have to sit in a seat like that for five hours!

Avery had quite a busy social weekend.  Below are a few pictures of the friends that she was finally able to meet. These are all friends of mine who were pregnant with me.  As you can see from the pictures, she is the youngest but by far not the smallest! 

She was also able to finally meet her Uncle Grant and Aunt Christi!  She is still sleeping great and I am so happy that my little baby is a sleeper!  I do not know what I would do if that was not the case.  God truly did answer my prayers for a happy and healthy baby and a baby that loves to sleep!

7 weeks old!

My little peanut is officially 7 weeks old today.  I can almost get out of saying "weeks" and will soon be saying she is "X months old" now. 

It is crazy to think that 7 weeks ago today we were in the hospital watching the Superbowl and I was going through labor.  Time really does fly when you are having fun.  I have enjoyed the last 7 weeks and can not believe how big she is getting.  She has her 2 month check up coming soon so we will find out how much she has grown but I think she is about 12 pounds right now.  When I hold her, she used to fit so nicely in my arms and on my legs and now the little wiggle worm barely fits on my legs anymore.  Some of her clothes are getting a little snug and pretty soon I will have to break out the 3-6 month clothes!

Aves is sleeping SOOO well that I truly feel blessed.  Many people tell me how lucky I am but I truly believe it was the amount of prayers I made since the sleep deprivation was one of my biggest fears!  She is now asleep by 10pm and wakes up around 5 or 6 and eats and goes back to bed shortly after.  I do love getting that long stretch of sleep that's for sure!

This past Wednesday, my Mom and Dad drove out and then my Dad left on Saturday and my Mom is staying through the week and then driving with me to SD this weekend.  It will be Avery's first long road trip and her first time staying in a new place.  I am saying lots of prayers that she does well!  While I am there, we are going to have the service for my Nana so I am very happy that I will be able to be there for that.

A few things happened this week.  Avery has officially outgrown her bath tub and is officially in the big bathtub.  She seems to like that much better and Ben and I are sure that before long, she will discover "splashing" and bath time will become "wet" time for us!  My Dad also made a trip to Bass Pro Shops which he is a major fan of.  His sole purpose was to get some gear for Avery.  He got her one that she can wear now and one that will fit her this summer. 

Avery has also been very good on all of her outings.  Most of the time she sleeps but other times she just likes to be awake and look around.  My Dad has told me that the time will come when we are in a restaurant and one of us will have to get up to leave due to a screaming child.  I don't think Avery will ever make us do that...will you Aves?

Layla Grace

I am not sure if any of you have heard about this little girl but she has completely touched my heart.  I am sure that the story would have affected me prior to being a mommy but is has a brand new meaning as I look at Avery and pray to God every day that she stays healthy.  Layla Grace passed a on Monday after battling stage 4 cancer.  She was 2 years old and her parents shared their journey via blog and twitter.  I originally read about this on Facebook and began to follow her story.  Each time that I read a blog entry I would end up crying my eyes out and want to just hold my baby and never put her down.  Here is a part that her mom wrote that shows the depth that this family faced.  It truly makes me thank God every day for a healthy baby and makes me treasure every day with her.  Thank you God for a healthy baby.

The link to her blog is below is well. 

Towards the end of a pregnancy, a mother will wake up to go to the bathroom every few hours. I think this is the body’s way of preparing you for a newborn and the sleepless nights that come along with it. Layla now spends most of her days sleeping. 30-45 minutes after she wakes up, she is ready to lay down and sleep again. Is this God’s way of preparing me for all the quiet time that is coming soon? The house is quiet. I am able to go through the motions of laundry, dishes, cooking and picking up without interruptions. But I WANT interruptions. I WANT Layla to be under my feet asking for cookies. I WANT to hear her playing with her toys. I WANT to take 45 minutes to unload the dishwasher because she keeps trying to help. For every time I uttered the words “I just can’t get anything done with these kids under my feet all day” I am eternally regretful. The days that I looked forward to naptime so I could get a grocery list made, or finally fold all the piles of laundry…I regret those days too. If I could do it all again, I’d enjoy EVERY SINGLE WAKING MOMENT I had with her. I would never wish for her to sit still or take a nap or go to bed early. I would never look forward to the days when she could sit through an entire episode of Dora silently. I would treasure every second with her.

http://laylagrace.org/ 

6 week update

Well we have had quite a busy week!  Let's see if we can re-cap what has been going on.

Avery is getting bigger by the minute.  She has sure been sleeping a lot which they say means that she is growing.  As we speak she is still sleeping from last night and its 9:45am.  She slept from 10pm to 6am and then I fed  her and put her back to bed and she is still sleeping.  It sure is great to be able to get up before her and get ready for the day with 2 hands!  I do love getting her out of her crib when she is so smiley and happy.  It makes me fall more in love with her if that is even possible.

Ben is no longer working for Ken. He is now involved in a program with the local school district that will have him in his own classroom by the beginning of the 2010-2011 school year. With the shortage of Math, Science and Special Education Teachers across the country he is taking advantage of his Science degree and preparing to teach Biological Sciences at the High School level. Once he is done with this accelerated program he has three years to complete additional requirements for his teaching license. He should end up with another Masters in Curriculum and Instruction. He has started to get more classes to teach online which will help out financially. 

In addition, he is back on the baseball field coaching. He is a JV coach at a local private school and also coaches a 12 and under travel ball team with a buddy of his. Between these two teams, private lessons and school his is staying pretty busy. Although he is at the filed sometimes 12 hours at a time, it is nice to seem him enjoying and pursuing his passion and he is able to be home in the mornings for now and help out with the baby.

Aspen came out to visit us this weekend and we had a really nice time.  We went shopping and I went to my first happy hour(woo-hoo).  My mother in law Jan came over to watch the baby which is so nice as I don't worry about Avery at all when she is here.  We also made cute headbands for Avery for when she gets a little older.  They are a little big right now but they will fit her in a few months I am sure.

I decided to purchase the Moby wrap and she really does love it.  It is similiar to the Bjorn but you can have them in it so many ways.  The first time I put it on I apparently did it wrong.  It is a bit confusing but I took her around the block and met a new neighbor who has a 12 week old.  We got to talking and she politely told me that I had it on wrong and proceeded to give me a whole tutorial outside the house.  She was very nice to help me out and it really made a difference.  Avery just loves to be in it! 

My parents are coming out this Wednesday to spend some time with the baby.  My dad will stay through the weekend and then my mom will stay and drive back to San Diego with me on the 19th.  I am excited to get to San Diego to see everyone but a little weary on how Avery will do in a long car ride and sleeping in a new place.  I am quite optimistic since sleeping does not seem to be her problem!  She is doing great in her own crib and is just a joy to have around.  I love that she smiles all the time now and enjoy watching her do new things all the time. She sure loves to coo and talk now as well.

Have a great week!