Week One....

Our first week home has been pretty eventful! Once we got rid of the Grandparents it was time to just get acclimated to our new addition! Ava has been a really good baby and I think I spoke a little to soon when I said I didn't think she would have reflux like Aiden. She has started spitting up more and more the past few days.

She also decided to give me a major scare on Tuesday evening. I had just fed her and was holding her when I looked down and noticed her arm was completly BLUE, I freaked out, called Chris downstairs and called 911 immediately! Poor Aiden was all upset seeing me in a complete meltdown. He is crying, I call my BF Amy to come get him so she rushes over, the paramedics get here and the dog is going crazy, it was nuts. My neighbor Megan rushes down when she sees the ambulance! (Thanks again for checking on us Megan!) It was choas, BUT, the good news is she is fine! They checked her oxygen levels and blood pressure and everything was perfect. They didn't feel the need to transport her to the hospital. They think it was just the position I was holding her in that cut off circulation to her arm. We decided to take her to Children's close to home just to have her checked out by a Physician. We took her there and everything checked out fine. She is already giving me heart attacks! Thanks Amy for taking care of Aiden on your Birthday, while we took Ava. Happy Birthday once again!!! I owe you dinner!

Aiden has been a fantastic big brother. He always wants to hug her and give her kisses. I never imagined he would adjust as well as he has so far. I know there might still be some resentment once the newness wears off but so far he has been wonderful!

Chris has also been a huge help. We take turns feeding her at night so each of us gets atleast a few hours of continuous sleep. Well we try, I think we both get up when it's the others turn just to check to see how much she ate and if she went potty. She really only gets up to eat and get changed then she is back to sleep. We took her out a few days this week to run errands, we are still in the process of finishing our basement so we have been looking at carpet and furniture. We are gettign her used to shopping!

We gave Ava her first tub bath last night, her belly button fell off on Monday night. I will have to post pictures once I get them downloaded. We are also planting a tree this weekend for Ava, so I will be sure to post pictures of that as well!

A Baby Story.....Welcome Ava!

Our Princess has arrived.....

She was born (one week ago today) April 13th, at 3:32 PM.

She weighed 6 lbs 12 oz and measures 20 1/2 inches long.

I made it to my scheduled induction date, which was ironically, Chris's Grandfather's birthday. He was married to his Grandma Argie and we are using her name Argia, as Ava's middle name so it was an extra special day for us!

Our day began by arriving at the hospital at 6AM. They got me in my room right away, had me undress and got the IV started. My doctore came in right around 8AM and checked my cervix, I was still 2CM at that point. I was told I could get my epidural after any cervical change which I was happy about. My contractions started slowly after that but were not to uncomfortable. I was checked again around lunchtime and was at 4CM so they sent for the epidural. I just then started to feel a little more pain, so it was perfect timing!

Once I had the epidural administered, I was very content. My parents and Chris's Dad and fiancee Thelma were there and they all came in and we just sat around and talked. The nurse came in to check me every so often and kicked everyone out, except Chris. When I got to around 6-7 CM and they wanted me to get a little rest. Everyone went downstairs for lunch and I tried to take a little nap, but never did fall asleep. My doctor came in once again to see me, then everyone came back from lunch and about an hour or so later. I started to feel some contractions on my right side so I asked the nurse if they could do anything for me. They called the anestesia and they came to give me a little top off of medication. That really didn't help so I think little Ava might have been on a nerve or something. Right around that time my BF Amy brought Aiden to the hospital. (he had been at school most of the day) He came in to see me and seemed very excited! I didn't want to scare him but he did fine with seeing me.

The next time they checked me I was 9CM, they started setting up everything and sent everyone out except Chris and my Mom and it was time to push! The delivery itself, was a bit more painful than I remember with Aiden. I pushed for 25 minutes which does not seem like a long time but did feel like forever at the time. I just remember talking the entire time while delivering Aiden (he weighed 8 lbs at birth) and this time around I wasn't talking, everyone else was and at one point I wanted to scream for everyone to shut up. (but, I didn't)I just tried to totally focus on seeing that little face.

Once she finally came out, they laid her on my chest and she decided to pee all over me!!!!! LOL! Sure hope that is not a sign of things to come. I didn't care one bit, that was the moment I had waited for and I just can't even put the emotions into words. It's just instant unconditional LOVE! They took her over to get her weighed and cleaned up and took care of me.

Once everything was put back into place, Chris went to get Aiden and we had a few minutes alone, we wanted to have family time before having anyone else in the room. Aiden was adorable and wanted to take Ava home right away! I was just so happy that he reacted the way he did, I expected a little jealousy but he was perfect! After that everyone else came to meet her. It was a wonderful day!

We spent Monday and Tuesday night at the hospital. Chris stayed with me and Aiden was home with my parents. We finally brought our little bundle of joy home on Wednesday.

Since then, things are going great! The first night was a little rough, we were tired and Ava likes to be cuddled so she didn't care much for sleeping in her bassinet. We found the next day that she is comfortable in one of her bouncer chairs so she has been sleeping in there and we are all getting rest! We took her to her first peditrician appt on Friday and she is doing great! I asked if it was okay to have her sleeping in the bouncer and the Doctor said that is fine for now if that is where she is comfortable. She is eating every 3-4 hours and burping great. We were a little afraid she might have reflux like her brother but so far we don't think that will be an issue. We did change her formula to soy at the hospital which was also the case with Aiden. She is tolerating it well. She likes to sleep and rarely cries. The only time she gets upset is when she is getting her diaper changed or she is hungry.

I am feeling GREAT! My parents stayed through Saturday and were such a huge help. Chris's Mom came up on Saturday and stayed the night. Last night was our first night without company. It was nice, we are just getting to know her and adjusting to life with two little ones! So far, so good!

Easter

The Easter bunny came to our house and left Aiden's basket hidden in his bathtub this year! He had fun finding all the eggs and the basket was his last find! He got lots of candy, books, toys and a slip and slide for outside when the weather warms up!

It's a family tradition to make a bunny cake every Easter, this year Aiden did a great job decorating the cake!

Aiden and the Easter bunny at the neighbohood Easter Egg Hunt.

Still Pregnant....

Well, we made it through the week! I am so glad I decided to take a few days to relax prior to delivery! I did a lot of laying around this week. Chris worked from home all week and Aiden went to daycare. There were a few times I attempted to do housework but Chris put a stop to that, he actually came in one day and took the cleaning products out of my hands! He just wanted me to get my rest but I also told him nesting is part of this entire process and he needs to respect that....he didn't seem to care! I woke up with a sore throat today, not fun! I pray I am not getting sick.

My original prediction was the baby would arrive today, doesn't look like that is going to happen! I do think it's very possible for her to arrive prior to Monday but, I am really hoping she holds off until our scheduled induction. It would be great to have my own OB deliver her. I also am afraid I will get the "Easter" staff, the ones that are all pissed about having to work over the holiday weekend. Not to mention, I will miss out on Easter morning with Aiden and this is the shit I live for as a parent! I love playing Santa and Easter bunny. He is old enough now that I even considered doing "Easter morning" a day later if needed but he knows better now so that won't work. Those are just a few things I am going to have to get over if little Ava decides she wants to be here for Easter! Overall I am feeling good, I have a ton of pressure and starting to have some (TMI ALERT) pinkish spotting down there, but other than that no consistant contractions.

The plan for now is my parents are coming Sunday morning. We will have Easter dinner here at the house. Chris and I will leave for the hospital on Monday morning bright and early then my parents will take Aiden to school or Amy will come get him. He has been asking for his Aunt Amy everyday since I told him she would be watching him when the baby comes! Then, Chris's Dad and Thelma are coming in the morning as well. Once we get close I would like to have Aiden brought the hospital. Both Chris and I really would like for him to get to come meet his sister first if at all possible. I would have him go with Grandma in the morning but if I am in labor a long time that would be pretty boring for him. Granted, I could go into labor in the middle of the night tonight and all these plans would be void so not even sure why I am spelling them out! LOL!

I am headed downstairs now for family movie night. We are watching Bedtime Stories, it looks really cute! I guess my next post will include pictures of our newest family member! It still seems sureal to me, I don't think it's going to sink in until I hold her in my arms! We are just all so anxious to meet her!

Until then,

XOXO

Any day now.....

We had our 38 week appt this morning and I am 2 cm dilated and 50% effaced. We scheduled an induction for a week from today, April 13th at 6:00 AM but, my doctor seems to think I will go before next week so I guess we could officially welcome out little girl any day now!

I am very excited but also a little nervous. I guess I wouldn't be human if I were not a little anxious. This time around is just different since we have another little person that depends on us and we don't have any family close to us. We are thankful for Amy and Felix who will help us out at a moments notice until one of Aiden's Grandma's can get here to take over the duties. I have all his clothes ready for the entire week and the Easter baskets are all ready to go as well! Tonight I plan on filling all the plastic eggs just in case we are not home for Easter so there will still be an Easter egg hunt set up for him at the house. It would be nice for Ava to hold off but it would also be such a blessing to have her home in time for Easter.

Today is my official last day in the office. My biggest fear is having my water break at work so I asked if I could log in from home tomorrow and Wednesday. Then I will take two personal days to finish out the week. I am so blessed to have an understanding boss! I have everything wrapped up here so now is a good time to call it quits. I will be taking 12 weeks off, luckily six of those are paid. I can't believe the number of women I have spoken with recently that don't get any paid time off, that is just insane to me! I can't wait for the weather to warm up so I enjoy some time outside with Ava. Aiden will continue going to daycare to keep his routine going. I do plan on giving him a few mommy and me afternoons when Chris is able to keep the baby and taking him to the park or the pool. I still cannot believe he will be starting Kindergarten in the fall! Also, hard to believe 5 years from now I will look back and say the same thing about Ava.

I will be sure to post an update later this week or maybe I will have some pictures of our little girl by then! I have a few predictions for tomorrow, a few for Thursday since it's a full moon and a few for Easter so, it will be interesting to see what happens in the coming days!

Our Little Girls Nursery

Here are a few pictures of Ava's nursery.

We are anxiously awaiting her arrival!

The saying above her changing table reads:

"Once in a while, right in the middle of an ordinary life, love gives us a Fairytale"

So appropriate, as we feel like she is a dream come true for our family!

Who cries at Kindergarten testing???

Who cries at Kindergarten testing???

You would think my 5 year old son....

No, the answer to that would be his Mommy! LOL!

Chris and I took Aiden to his pre screen testing for kindergarten today. He will start in the fall and our school district does a pre screening on each child to determine where they are at developmentally. Ours was at 8:30 this morning, Aiden did fantastic. It was a little sad as I watched him get into his little single file line to head back to the "testing" room. He had two other kids from his daycare that were also there so I think it helped him having a few familar faces there.

The principal then had the parents go into another room where they went over what to expect when our children start school in August. It was very nice and completely organized. It also made me feel completely confident that Aiden is ready for school. I think we are excited as parents and he is also very excited which is most important! It's still hard watching your little baby grow up so fast!

After they went over all the information the principal put in a video about time and how precious time is in the eyes of a child. It showed a old man, widowed, going through an old box in his attic. They were playing the sappy music, and telling the story about how he never understood why his wife kept all these little things of his sons from when he was younger. He was looking at photo albums and stumbled across a journal that his son wrote when he was just 6 years old.

He took it down stairs and the old man had also kept his own journal for work at that time. He got out one of them and on each page after his work notes he would write a personal note. He found one day that read " Wasted the entire day fishing with Jimmy, didn't catch a thing." Then, he opened his son's journal to the same date and his entry read, " Spent the entire day fishing with Dad, it was the best day fo my life."

What a lesson........I just teared up it was so sweet and such a reminder of just how precious time is and especially through the eyes of a little child!

I felt a little embarrassed but, I think I saw another Mommy that teared up as well so at least I wasn't the only one! Then, I thought about it and I guess I shouldn't be embarrassed at all. The ones that need to be embarassed are the ones that didn't feel any emotion at all watching that video.