All About Avery

This little girl seems too good to be true. I almost don't even want to say it out loud or put it in writing in case I jinx it, but Avery has been the best baby imaginable.

Sleeps: all the time and so soundly. She doesn't wake to Rufus barking, Rudy banging, whining, crying...sometimes at night she gets fidgety and has a hard time getting to sleep, so we let her sleep with us.  Since its only a couple hours at a time, and while she's still so small and still, we enjoy having her sleep on our chests or next to us in bed.  I forgot how much I loved having an newborn.  I told her last night if she could just stay like this forever, I'd be ok with it.

Eats: nursing is going so well this time around. I generally have to wake her up to eat every 3 hours. And when she eats, she chows. Each feeding lasts about 30 minutes (and compared to Rudy's 1 hour feedings, it seems like a breeze). I was concerned she wasn't getting enough and that I should be trying to wake her more to make her eat longer than 30 minutes, but at her first doctors appointment on Wednesday, she was already back up to her birth weight. Good news all around. She was definitely getting enough and I no longer had to wake her in the night to eat. Unreal. So since then I have only had to wake up with her once a night. She does eat more frequently during the day to make up for it, but I'm more than ok with that!

Cry: very seldomly. We have heard her cry maybe a hand-full of times and even then, she lets out one or two little cries and then stops. She mostly cries during baths but I'm getting better at keeping her warm during them. Even when she "cries" to eat, she does other things first to let me know she's hungry, lets out a tiny cry, then gives me a minute to get setup. Rudy on the other hand flipped out whenever he was hungry (which was pretty much all the time) and wouldn't stop crying until the food was in his face.

I never thought of Rudy as a "bad" or "difficult" baby, I just thought that was normal for babies. But WOW, she is making this too easy! Granted, it's been very time consuming caring for her as it is with any infant and spending any time I have extra with Rudy or helping out with him, but it hasn't been stressful or overwhelming yet.  I have to add in here that John has been Super Dad.  He has been such a huge help in taking care of Rudy and doing stuff around the house.  I am dreading him going back to work and being along with both the kids...but we'll cross that bridge when we get to it...  

What else?

She poops allllll the time. I probably change 12-15 diapers a day (and you wonder why I haven't blogged as much lately??)

She hates to be cold, or less than warm, and is always snuggled up in blankets or swaddlers, even wears socks over her sleepers.

She has the prettiest, big eyes...whenever she lets us see them.

She makes the cutest, softest little mumbles in her sleep. John says between my snoring and her mumbles, he's never going to get good sleep. Not mention, she is a loud gulper. There's no denying she is getting a belly full of milk!

Her hair is crazy.  When it is wet, she has all kinds of wave and curl, but once it gets dry, it's all over the place.  I've tried "styling" it differently every bath, and it still ends up all over!

Stats at one week: weight 8 lbs, 3 oz (69%); height 21 inches (99%)

Umbilical chord is still intact.

I'm sure there is more I could add, but my eyes are having a very difficult time staying open...

And a few more snapshots of the little angel... because why not?

Avery and her Godfather, Kevin, and Godsister, Isabela

Avery and her Godmother, Jennifer, and Godsister, Isabela

 Rudy just had to jump in the shot :)

A Christmas Message

Rudy and Avery sure are special... Pa-Pa received this message straight from Santa Claus to share with the kids...

Rudy LOVED it!  He laughed, smiled, pointed, said "Wow" 500 times, and made us play it over and over.

Avery lucked out this year.  She only has to be good for 11 days!

Boy Meets Girl

We were so anxious for Rudy to meet his little sister, but we thought it was best to wait until later in the afternoon -- time for me to get all the IV's unhooked, showered, changed into regular clothes, etc.  We didn't want Rudy to be scared of anything coming in to meet his new sister.

Rudy visited us and stayed around for hours at a time Friday afternoon, Saturday morning and Saturday evening.  There was a "Twilight Parade" downtown on Saturday night and it would have been a work-day for John so his crew happened to be in the parade.  John took Rudy down and they got the VIP treatment... lots and lots of candy and a ride in the firetruck!  We missed him so much while we were there, but he was in good hands with his grandparents.

Checking Avery out for the first time

Snuggle time with Mommy!

Hanging with Dad

Air Buddies, anyone?

"Avery, I've got some things to tell ya..."

So totally, completely, unconditionally in love with these precious ones

We left the hospital about 9am on Sunday morning.  We couldn't wait to get home and have our family back together.  

Snug as a bug

All set!

I've been so worried about how Rudy was going to handle her being around, what he would think, how he would be towards her, etc.

But I was worried for nothing.  He was been the sweetest Big Brother.  He pointed at her, checked her out, and whenever it was time to leave her, he gave her a kiss.  Melted my heart every time.  I'm in tears just thinking about it.  He continues to want to give her kisses, wave at her, give her her pacey, and always know right where she is.

I've also had a lot of anxiety about the idea of having another infant around and how that will change things and how I will be able to handle it.  Surprisingly and thankfully, I have been more at ease and calm than I have been in a long time.  I don't know what it is, but Avery has made me feel so complete.  Compared to the emotional roller coaster I was on when I had Rudy, I can't believe how peaceful this has been.  Having John at home and having such a good baby has a lot to do with that, that's for sure!  But I'm just so happy and thankful things are going as they are.  

We Did It!...Again!

Our eventful day started with a casual drive to Memorial Hospital at 4:30 am Friday, December 14, 2012.  LeeAnn came to the house to stay with Rudy until any real excitement started.  We checked in, I had IV's and paperwork done by 5:30, pitocin started by 6, an epidural by 7, and I was already dilated 3-4 centimeters.  Life was good.  The pitocin hadn't kicked in enough to bring on any painful contractions before the epidural started and the anesthesiologist said the epidural went in "very smoothly" and "with no problems."  Doctor Chapman came to the hospital to break my water about 8:30 and mom was there shortly after.  The nurse checked me about 9:00 and I was only 4-5 centimeters dilated.  About 9:30 my worst fear happened...I started to feel the contractions.  I thought (and cried), "This can't possibly be happening again."  The anesthesiologist came back and gave me a different medicine through the epidural, but it brought no relief.  Between waiting for them to come and waiting to see if it took, the time was now near 11:00.  The nurse said she called anesthesiology back and they were likely going to have to re-do the epidural.  While waiting for them to get there, she decided to check me again, just to see if I was progressing.  She said, "Oh wow, how about we have a baby instead...which means no more drugs, but it's going to be OK."  I couldn't believe it was happening so fast.  All of a sudden nurses were coming in, wheeling in all sorts of things, calling the doctor, setting up the bed, etc.  I was so scared and nervous, but mostly excited to finally meet our Baby Girl.  This was it.  "Please let this go smoothly," I kept thinking.  And that it did!  And luckily, even with at how fast things happened, all of our parents made it there in time.    

Our sweet, beautiful baby girl was born at 11:38 am, weighing 8 pounds, 4.5 ounces and 20.75 inches long...but she was still nameless.  John and I had our favorites, but we hadn't decided quite yet.  Of course, we both had our thoughts when we saw her, but we didn't have a chance to discuss it until later that afternoon.  We both agreed.  Avery was perfect for her.  

Avery Dolores Cicci.  

The perfect addition to our family.  

Instantly, she has her Dad wrapped around her finger

Some more pictures from the day... 

Feeling good!

Mom by my side as I was sweating out the tough ones

Avery's warming bed, all prepped and ready

Gran and Avery

Pa-Pa and Avery

Grandma and Avery

Grandpa and Avery

Uncle Tony and Avery

Patrick and Avery

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Our bags are packed, we are ready to go...

now if Baby Girl would just hurry up and get here already!  

Car seat adjusted to newborn size and pink cover in place, assembled and ready in the car

I've been to the doctor what seems like several times since I last blogged.  But as of this morning, I am 3 cm dilated, "pretty much" thinned out, and my cervix is in front (which is a good thing)...soooo the induction is officially set for Friday, December 14!  He said I am very ready (mentally, I could have told him that!).  We are to check-in at the hospital at 5 am and the doctor said he would put me at the "between 10 am and 2 pm" range for when she would be in our arms, but that he guessed it would be before noon.  However, he also said he would not be surprised at all if he saw me before Friday.  So really, any time now!  I've been feeling pretty miserable...lots of discomfort, contractions that range in intensity but hurt and leave me sore, frustration that they subside and never turn into real labor, frustration at being so huge and unable to do everything I would like to do, etc.  Needless to say, Friday can't come soon enough!  At an appointment last week, the doctor had me do a non-stress test to check Baby Girl's movement and monitor the contractions I was having.  An added bonus was the sonogram he ordered to check on her further... she passed all tests with flying colors and I was happy to get a little glimpse of her.

Profile shot

Front of her face -- and according to the sonographer, those white lines on the top of her head is hair!  She also commented on her cheeks being especially chubby and we were able to see a "roll" on her body -- which could easily just be from how squished in she is, but it was cute nonetheless. 

Another front of her face -- check out those pretty lips and button nose! :)

We have been LOVING having John home with us and back to our "normal" schedule.  Rudy is obsessed with his dad.  I mean, obsessed.  He follows him everywhere, laughs at all his antics, and gets lots of snuggles.  It might normally bum me out, but it couldn't be better timing.  With Baby Girl on her way and the attention I'm going to have to give her while nursing, I'm glad Rudy will be more than happy to have all his dad's attention.  

We are soaking up our time as a family of 3...doing things that might not be so easy in a few short days.  Last week I took Rudy to visit John at work and, as usual, he had a blast climbing on the engine.  We had a few days of abnormally warm weather so it was nice to hang out outside.

Our Christmas decor is up and Rudy couldn't be happier about it.  He loves all the lights!  In fact, any light makes him fascinated now (He says, "Woooow") -- even walking down our hallway he stops and points at the can lights.  Gran took him on a little walk the other night when it was just turning dark and he was enthralled with everyone's outdoor lights.  Whenever someone comes over, Rudy has to show them our trees (at least once, usually more).  He also loves Rudolph (I might start singing the song in my sleep as much as he makes me sing it) and the character Santa (as in he likes him in books, stuffed animals, decoration, but not the real guy... see picture below).  When asked what Santa says, he responds "Ho, Ho, Ho."  

Our elf came this year... he's been keeping a close eye on Rudy! 

Kisses for Rudolph

Baby Girl and Rudy's trees

Our stockings hung and ready for Santa

Our silver and gold tree.. conveniently positioned on top of a table in the corner of the room.  Couldn't be a better spot -- out of the way and Rudy and Rufus-proof.

Rufus in his new spot under the Christmas tree table... safe from Rudy

Last weekend we took Rudy to the mall to visit Santa and do some other fun things and we all had a great time.  Rudy loved all the lights, the decorations, and all the activities we did (well, mostly all).  The new train at the mall isn't on a track, it just drives around the entire lower level.  Every time is passed us, Rudy ran towards it waving.  We spent some time at Build-A-Bear making Clarice for Baby Girl and Rudy picked out Max the puppy from The Grinch.

"Wooooow"ed by lights

We rode the carousel, too.  Rudy's impression of "what a horse says" is pretty entertaining and he loved pointing and waving at Dad every time we went by.

Santa...eh, not so much.  But what a picture!  :)

We have been having some really great days these days!

Same couch, same handsome boys...lots has changed, but not the important stuff :)

Well, the next time you hear from me we should be a family of four.  Please keep us in your prayers for a happy and healthy baby!  We can't wait to welcome our little lady bug into our family... it's been a great 16 months with Rudy and I have a feeling that it's only going to get better