Touching Base!

I figured it was time to check in and give a quick update while I have a few seconds...(literally)! If only I could type faster ;)

As to be expected, it's rare that I even have time to blog since the small windows during Avery's naps, I usually rush to do laundry, make bottles, take walks, call people back and if possible...SLEEP! But I am being completely honest when I say that I am still loving every minute of it! I don't expect there to be a time when I don't.

We continue to settle into more of a routine. Aves is eating and sleeping well :) Oddly enough, the rain really threw her off this weekend and it was the first couple of days she was consistently fussy. Happily, the sun is out and so is her smile again! I guess it's a good thing we live in AZ if it really was the rain that didn't settle well with her.

Not to be too repetitive but I continue to love watching Chris be a dad! I watch him take care of her and find myself asking many times..."where did he learn how to do that?!". It really comes so naturally to him. Charming.

And just like her mom, Avery has found herself in love with the "cloud". The past few days, I have seen little sleep so I can't help but love our morning routine of Avery's nap in the cloud. I can hardly blame her...it really is that incredible.

In other news, Daisy ate an entire bar of soap this week but survived. Her breath has never smelt so good. Or her farts ;)

Aves got to meet her cousin, Lexi this weekend and although Lexi is just 2 weeks older, it's amazing how little Avery still seems. I guess that's why Chris and I call her our "ittles"...



And I cannot end this blog without congratulating Justin and Lindsey on their precious baby boy, Ezekiel, born February 19th! I am so very happy for you guys and cannot wait to meet him! Can you please move to Arizona?!!?!? I wish we could go through this experience together! Love you!

And another congratulations to Lori and Jim on their beautiful baby girl, Larson! I cannot wait to meet that sweet girl :) So happy for you Lori!

"Motherhood Things"

I realize it's been only 2 and a half weeks into my motherhood journey, but still...I am in awe of this magical experience.

I have a pretty strong hunch that most of my entries will be pretty cheesy in the coming days but cheesy/sentimental I am. And if the excitement of this experience doesn't bring it out in me, I couldn't imagine what else would.

I find myself thinking the same things many moms must feel...how did my life ever exist without her? The same thing I say about Chris and embarrassingly enough, the same thing I say about my pups ;) But after all, this is my family. My piece of the world that I wonder how I deserved. A thankful prayer I will never tire of saying.

Here are just a few "motherhood things" I have learned over the past few weeks...

1. Showers really NEVER have felt so good as they do now! And yes...I may only average a good shower ever 1.5 days, but wow do they feel incredible.

2. I can now accomplish more things with just one hand than I ever thought possible. Not to mention, your chin works very well to hold a bottle upright while feeding! ;)

3. You really can fall in love with your husband all over again in an entirely different way. He's an amazing daddy so far and I love watching every minute of it.

4. Having a baby never makes you so popular. And by "you", I mean the baby of course!

5. Life experiences like this show you how incredible your family and friends really are. From gifts to dinners to babysitting and phone calls...it's been so touching to us.

6. Wally has a new best friend: Aves ;)

7. Quite possibly my favorite...I now have a family of my own and I couldn't imagine a more amazing one.

More random thoughts to come. But if you can't tell, I am loving every minute of this.

My Very 1st Valentine's Day!

Settling in...

It's hard to believe that it's already been over a week since we've been home from the hospital! The adjustment has gone quite smoothly and I have enjoyed every single minute of it. Yes, even the many minutes of sleep deprivation that are all too familiar now. I never thought I took "the cloud" for granted until now. I cherish every minute I get in it and trust me, I mean every "minute"!

From Avery's first doctor's appointment, her newborn photo shoot, her first bath, her different sleep stations and even losing her umbilical cord, it's been a pretty eventful week filled with many visitors!

I've never been so bad about returning texts or phone calls...so if you're waiting on a call back, pllleassse forgive me! I promise to touch base soon!

We haven't really fallen into a routine yet and I have a feeling it will be quite awhile until we do. However, there are a few things we do each day that I get so excited for and our neighborhood stroll tops the list! I LOVE my baby jogger and so does Aves! It's a riot each time we go out because we've had neighbors running out of their houses to get a sneak peak and cars driving by only to slam on their breaks once they realize it's us! They all say the same thing...."YOU HAD YOUR BABY!!!" I swear I live in Pleasantville sometimes. I LOVE my neighborhood.

Avery has been such a great baby and at this point, only cries when she's hungry. Let's pray it stays that way ;) She is SOO loud while sleeping though and makes the silliest cooing, grunting and talking sounds you could imagine. Chris is convinced it's not normal but I'm pretty sure many infants are just loud. She gives Daisy a run for her money.

Chris and I went on our first date night earlier this week...the first time I was away from Aves. It was actually a lot easier than I thought it was going to be. Chris and I had an excellent evening together and just like he pointed out...now that a certain element of our freedom has been taken away, we appreciate events like "date nights" at an entirely new level. He could not be more right on.

Just as I anticipated...this time is flying by. I think it's the first time in my life I have learned to truly live in the present. We are so blessed.

Welcome to the world Baby Aves!...

She's here!

Oh how I have longed to finally work on the entry announcing my precious baby girl! Avery James Morrison was born on January 30, 2011 at 10:23am...1 week early!

She weighed 7 lbs, 7 ounces and measured 19.5 inches long. Just as the ultrasound tech had warned us many times, she has SO much hair and boy is it dark! It will be so exciting to see what color her hair and eyes turn into but I can tell you that I am in no hurry whatsoever. I have been looking for a pause button ever since she arrived!

As you can imagine, there are so many details to our labor experience but I will do my best to sum up!

After my amazing day on Friday, I woke up feeling sick and emotional on Saturday. My morning walk only lasted about 1.5 miles before Jamie called and convinced me to come hang out at her house...(it didn't take much convincing). But my visit with James just consisted of me taking a nap until I left around 5 and crawled into my bed at home. I felt exhausted and as though I had a cold coming on. And then it began...just after 6pm, the infamous contractions started! I felt a sharp pain that wasn't much like those menstrual-like cramps I had thought were contractions. These good ol' contractions started about 30 minutes apart and it wasn't until 2:30am when they were 6 minutes apart, that I finally decided to call the hospital and ask for their guidance. Keep in mind, I am still in denial that I am in labor. The contractions hurt, were getting strong, and closer together but I still thought they would just go away. I know, crazy girl. But a week early seemed too good to be true!

Th nurse told me to get up and walk around to get my body into labor and to come in when they were 3-4 mins apart. Well, after 2 laps around my living room, they were 2 minutes apart and brought me to my knees. It didn't take long for Chris to say "I will load up the car"!

They aren't kidding when they say "you'll know it's the real thing!" The contractions kicked my butt but it was incredible to experience "going into labor". I received my epidural soon after we arrived at the hospital and boy was I happy! My family had arrived just then to see me in very cheery spirits! I highly recommend this wonderful drug ;) Unfortunately though, mine wore off after 2 hours because my 8am, the doctor came into break my water and although the nurse said I would feel pressure so I could still know when to push, I had to call her back in because the pain was as bad as when I got there. She decided to check me just in case and said to Chris and I..."I now know why you are in so much pain...you are at 9 & 3/4 dilated...we are going to have this baby right now!" What!?!?! Not what we expected her to say! So 4 hours after arriving at the hospital and 30 minutes worth of pushing, Avery was here!

It was the most magical experience of my life. I still keep replaying it over in my mind because it's my best memory to date and I think it always will be! I will say, I think I was really blessed with my delivery experience. I have heard many different stories and mine seemed to go so smoothly. Chris did an incredible job and I could not have done it without him! He coached me along every step of the way and even cut the cord. Avery couldn't take her eyes off of him after she was born but I don't blame her in the least! ;)

It's hard to believe it's now been over a week since she was born but it has been an incredible week! Of course we are on little sleep and trying to adjust, but every minute she keeps me awake, are minutes I get to spend with her! Yes, I am simply in love!

...stay tuned for our "1st Week at Home with Avery" Entry!...