Two Weeks!

My dearest Avery,

I don't think I've ever learned so much in such a short timeframe! From recovering from a C-section to learning the ins and outs of caring for a newborn, it's definitely been a whirlwind. Here are some highlights:

Your official 2 week photo!

-You have the most expressive face. I'm afraid you're like your mom in that you show all of your emotion on your face - dad will have to work with you on your poker face someday (mom's still working on hers).

Can't help but love the faces you make!

-You look just like your dad when he was a newborn - check out the similarities!

-Breastfeeding is not for the faint of heart. We had to seek help from a consultant but I think we've got it down now.....just need to work on a better schedule :) Because we had a difficult time, we started out a little shaky with your weight gain. You lost a pound after birth, which was a little too much. BUT, we got going on the right foot and by your two week check-up you weighed 8 pounds 4 ounces (well above our goal)! You like to be fed!

-I don't know why but I wind up burping when I'm trying to burp you. You've turned out to be pretty difficult to burp but you seem to spit up just fine (much to dad's dismay).

-You already turn your head really good - that comes in handy with all of your spit-up :) You've also started rolling to your side when you sleep - I think you like it better than sleeping on your back.

-You're quite the kicker! You like to kick off your swaddle and you kick and flail your arms sometimes when you're about to cry. I knew you'd be a kicker when you were kicking my ribs all the time but it's funny to see it now!

Look closely - don't know how you were able to do this with your foot!

-"Stinky Stein" is definitely a fitting term for you - let's just say dad and I are considering investing in diaper companies!

-Contrary to what dad and I originally guessed, Kansas is very interested in your well being. She's very responsive to your cries and movements, while Baxter is very unconcerned right now (we're thinking that may change as you become more interactive, though).

-During our alone time, I like to turn on youtube videos and sing and dance with you to Disney and Country songs. I usually like to start out the party session with the first song that came to mind when I first saw you: "You Are So Beautiful" - I can't say that enough to you!

Your Grandma Dotty and Grandpa Mark came to visit for a week - I think you really enjoyed being held by your grandpa. I was grateful to have some help while Brian was at work - so sad to see them go. We're about to have Grandma Gail and Grandpa John in now - I know they're very excited to see and hold you!

All my love,
Mom

Your Birth Story

My dearest Avery,

You were born a day after your official due date, although dad and I had predicted you'd have a May 5 birthday since we found out we were pregnant. I woke up on May 5 at 1:26 am with some small contractions, lasting about 30-55 seconds each and 8 minutes apart. After about an hour, I woke dad up and told him we were going to have a Cinco de Mayo baby.  By 5 am, the contractions were 3-5 minutes apart so we fed the dogs and finished packing up and headed to the hospital.

When we arrived at the hospital I measured 5 cm so I was admitted. By 8 am, the contractions were very strong so at 9 am (and 7 cm dilated), I got an epidural. By 11 am, I measured 8 cm - things were progressing very well and it looked like we were going to have a lunchtime or afternoon birth. However, you had different plans. You were still facing to my right so you weren't ready to come out. Since I stayed at 8 cm for the next 7 hours, the doctor and nursing staff had me tossing and turning myself to get you into position to give birth. At 1:30 pm I started receiving pitocin to help move things along and at 3:30 pm the doctor broke my water. At 6 pm I measured 9 cm and around 10 pm you finally moved into position to start dropping so I could push. Unfortunately, by the time you had moved into place my uterus was very weakened from contracting for so long. There was also a slight dip in your heart rate at the end of each contraction so it looked like you were beginning to struggle too. As much as I didn't want it to happen at the time, at 10:30 pm we decided to move forward with a C-section.

At the time, I hated the fact that we were going into surgery - it was my one goal: have a vaginal birth. But the doctor said we didn't really have any alternatives at that point without further risk to you. We had a wonderful anesthesiologist who helped keep the mood light throughout the surgery. Everyone was so excited because we didn't know if you'd be a girl or a boy - that helped keep my spirits up, as I was finally going to know soon! The temperature of the OR and the medicine combined to make me so cold that I couldn't stop shivering - I shivered throughout the entire surgery, so much so that the doctors couldn't get a good blood pressure reading off of me. The surgery didn't last long - you were born at 11:10 pm. The doctors let dad announce that we had a baby girl on our hands - what an amazing moment that was for us! While the doctors were cleaning you up, dad was telling me how you had a lot of hair on your head. I got to see you within 2 minutes and you were so pale - but you were the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. I couldn't believe that your dad and I had made such a beautiful baby! And I couldn't believe how fortunate we were to have you all for our own.

After all was said and done, it was the right decision to have a C-section. Your head was swollen from the lengthy labor and the side of your head was the shape of a cone (which disappeared within hours) so you were trying to come out by the side of your head and my body just couldn't handle it. You also had a raw spot on your head from the contractions. Fortunately we avoided any more trauma to you by going with the operation.

Here are some favorite pictures from the hospital:

Getting you cleaned off

The first time I got to see you!

First family photo!

 

 

In the first of many girly hats we got for you!

One of the many faces of Avery

Ready to go home!

It's now been a week since you were born and we've grown so much in that short amount of time. I'm sure there's so much more for us to learn but for now we're just enjoying having you around and learning more and more about you (you should see some of the faces you make - you have such a personality)!

I'm so happy you're finally here and that you're a healthy girl with a strong heartbeat. You're perfect in so many ways - dad and I are just going to try not to mess it all up!

Love you with all my heart,
Mom