3 months for Avery and back to work for Mommy

I didn't do a good job of taking "notes" for the month of November and I'm going to blame that on having to start back to work. November 2nd was a horrible, ugly, sad day for Mommy. It took me several "tries" to get out the door. I couldn't stop going back into where you were sleeping and kissing you and rubbing your head. Daddy was up making you some num-nums and when he turned around to tell me bye; I just about lost it. He kept telling me it would be okay, but I didn't feel okay and I didn't believe him. I was a blubbering mess of running mascara by the time I made it to the end of our driveway. That day at work was a L..O..N..G 10 hours. I couldn't wait to get home and see your face and hold you again. I had almost 12 weeks off for my maternity leave and it went by sooo incredibly fast. Getting into a new routine was a little bit of an adjustment, but it helped that Daddy hadn't gone back to work yet. He had most everything "done" when I got home from work. Dinner was cooked. House was cleaned. Beds were made. All I had to do was love my babygirl and get ready for the next day. It helped. He helped. We are 2 very lucky gals to have him!! We love you Daddy!!




Thanksgiving came and went and I didn't take a picture one. I know, bad mommy. Your first Thanksgiving and mommy's camera was MIA.

11/18/09 Your 3 month birthday...like before, even cuter than the last!

The beginning of life for our Avery continued...

8/25/09 - Daddy had knee surgery to repair a torn meniscus so Uncle Becky came & stayed with us for a week to help mommy take care of both her babies and Preston. It was a trying week to say the least. Mommy has had 2 "breakdowns" since you were born and one was during that week. You were a week old and with your Daddy down & out, Mommy had a rough time.

8/27/09 - We got out of the house to go to Mommy's office and we stopped by Memaw & Papaw's house on the way home. Aunt Patti, Aunt Kristy, Uncle Billie and Aunt Deb all came up there to see you but had a hard time getting you out of Papaw's arms.

8/29/09 - Mommy took you to one of Preston's football games. They were playing their rival, the Hurricanes. It was a big game so beforehand we had to go buy you a big orange and blue bow to wear. You were the cutest thing! Your bow was almost as big as you! Unfortunately it didn't help P's team; they lost horribly.

9/1/09 - 2 week pedi appt. Jaundice was down! :) Weight was 8lbs 1.1oz (39%) and length was 20.2in (43%) Uncle Becky went with us because Daddy still wasn't getting around too well from his surgery.

9/18/09 Your 1 month birthday! So precious! (you look just like your Poppy in this picture!)

9/19/09 - We went to another one of P's games and later that evening we went to Texas Roadhouse in Sherman for a surprise Birthday dinner for Preston. He was turning 11. G-Momma & G-Daddy, Uncle Brian & Aunt Ethelyn, Andrea & her boyfriend, Memaw & Papaw, Aunt Kristy & Caleb and Uncle Becky all met us up there for the surprise.

9/21/09 - Mommy took you on your first outing to the mall and to Old Navy. Uncle Becky & Will Minor went with us. Daddy was so worried about me having you out, especially at the mall, because of all the swine flu mess that was going around.

9/22/09 - Poppy's 50th birthday. We took him to El Chico in McKinney for his birthday lunch. Uncle Becky was there too. Later, at 2pm, we had your 1 month pedi appt. You had to get your 2nd HepB shot (1st was at the hospital) and it absolutely broke mommy's heart!! You cried so hard!! :( You weighed 9lbs 2.4oz (40%) and were 21.4in long (49%).

10/18/09 - Your 2 month birthday! Even cuter than the month before!

10/31/09 - Halloween! You were supposed to be a loaf of Wonder bread but the costume was wayyyy too big! You ended up wearing an outfit that Aunt Ethelyn and cousin Andrea bought for you & were our "Little Punkin". We went to G-Momma & G-Daddy's church in Bonham where they were having a Fall Festival and to dinner with the whole family afterwards.

Here's a picture (I had to post) of your Gator outfit Mommy had made for you to wear to Bub's games. It was made by a girl that Mommy went to school with. You were the cutest cheerleader at the game.

Birth Story

8/13/09 - 1st induction attempt, I only ever dilated to a 1.

8/14/09 - We were sent home and told to come back on Monday. I was so sad because I was ready to meet you, but in the end I was glad I didn't rush things. You and God had a plan for when you would come...teaching mommy patience!!

8/17/09 - We checked back into the hospital at 530 pm. The nurses got started on me right away. I got Cervadil at 6 pm. Your brother was with us at first, but he had football practice and ended up staying the night with the Ellenburgs. He learned his lesson about a hospital mat on the floor after our first attempt. We ate dinner and I was given Ambien to sleep.

8/18/09 - We were up pretty early. I was started on Pitocin about 6 am. My doctor came in and broke my water at about 645 and told us "no going back now; we WILL be having a baby later today". At 715am I was given an epidural and was checked again, was dilated to a 3. Checked again at 1110am and was dilated to a 4. They kept raising the Pitocin levels but I wasn't dilating. We were beginning to think we would be having a C-Section delivery. BUT, at about 230pm Dr. Rajala came back in and checked me and I was dilated to a 9!!! He left but said he'd be back in about 30 mins and we'd be pushing. The nurses came in, prepped me and the room in what seemed to be a matter of minutes. I had a rather uneventful delivery and at one point I even asked the nurses "am I even doing anything?". At 324 pm our lives were changed forever! Our miracle, Avery Alyn Eaves, was born and made mommy and daddy very proud parents! You weighed 7lbs 13oz and were 19in long.

8/20/09 - We were discharged to take you home at 140 pm. You had lost a little weight, as expected, and went home at 7lbs 6oz. We were so happy to have our baby home and when we got here we found pink balloons EVERYWHERE!! G-Momma and Preston had snuck over here while we were at the hospital and decorated the house for your homecoming. Preston even made a sign for your door! (we kept it, it's in your closet)

8/22/09 - We had your first (48hr) pediatrician appt. You weighed 7lbs 6.5oz and were a little jaundiced but they said it was nothing to worry about. They told us what we already knew: YOU WERE PERFECT!!

Jan 4, 2010

To my Avery:

Babygirl, you are growing way too fast for my liking! I absolutely LOVE being your mommy. You have been the single greatest blessing to my life thus far. Sometimes I look at you and I stare in awe and amazement that you are ours. So perfect, so sweet, so happy... You have opened my heart to a new kind of love, that I knew existed and dreamed of for a very long time, but didn't truly know until August 18, 2009 at 3:24pm when I first saw your face. Your perfect, beautiful face. You were even more beautiful and special than I had ever imagined you would be. While you were in my belly, I loved you. I felt you. I dreamt about you. I began to know you; your sleeping patterns, your daily hiccup fits... And, I just thought that I loved you then. That ALL changed the minute you were born. I love you, babygirl, more than I ever knew I could love someone. I have dreamt since I was a little girl of being a mommy and I can never fully express how thankful and blessed I feel that God chose me to be your mommy. You are my favorite dream come true!!

I love you with all my heart & soul,

Mommy

Internet

WE FINALLY HAVE IT!! I feel like a whole new girl! I have been trying to keep up with all the "little memories" we've been having since we've had Avery by hand-writing them in a journal........NO MORE HAND CRAMPS!! I will warn those of you that follow; I plan on catching this up as if I'd never skipped a beat. I have soooooo many pictures and stories!! I am truly excited about this!

So, if you follow us here...HERE WE GO!

A Newborn's Conversation with God

A baby asked God, "They tell me you are sending me to earth tomorrow, but how am I going to live there being so small and helpless?" God said, "Your angel will be waiting for you and will take care of you." The child further inquired, "But tell me, here in heaven I don't have to do anything but sing and smile to be happy." God said, "Your angel will sing for you and will also smile for you. And you will feel your angel's love and be very happy." Again the small child asked, "And how am I going to be able to understand when people talk to me if I don't know the language?" God said, "Your angel will tell you the most beautiful and sweet words you will ever hear, and with much patience and care, your angel will teach you how to speak." "And what am I going to do when I want to talk to you?" God said, "Your angel will place your hands together and will teach you how to pray." "Who will protect me?" God said, "Your angel will defend you even if it means risking its life." "But I will always be sad because I will not see you anymore." God said, "Your angel will always talk to you about Me and will teach you the way to come back to Me, even though I will always be next to you." At that moment there was much peace in Heaven, but voices from Earth could be heard and the child hurriedly asked, "God, if I am to leave now, please tell me my angel's name." God said, You will simply call her, "Mom."

Sugar and spice...

Friday morning the painter showed up very punctually and early, at 7:30 and was ready to paint. We talked with him for a few minutes about his drive (he came from Ft. Worth!) and then he was in there working away. I kept checking on him while he was there to see if he needed anything but he kept saying he was okay. He said he'd brought a sandwich to eat, but unless he just jumped down off his ladder and ate right there on the carpet; I never saw or heard him eat or drink a thing. Maybe that would explain why I never heard him use the restroom either!! He was there for a total of about 8 1/2 hours and I never once heard him come out of that room! All I heard the whole time he was in there was him moving his ladder around.

Anyway, I couldn't be happier with the work that he did. The pictures just don't do it justice. I don't have her window covered in there yet so it was sort of hard to get a good picture because it was so bright in there. I ordered the valance that matches her bedding this past week and I'm going to get the window coverings done once that valance comes in.

It is a little strange seeing this room come together as a nursery! It makes it all seem so much more real. Barry and I have both been caught just standing in the doorway looking at what little is already done in there. I know this isn't his first child, but I think he is just as mesmerized as I am; in anticipation of his little girl's arrival!! And, speaking of...I have to mention what he did on Thursday evening. He got our video camera out, set it up on a tripod and started a video for his baby girl. He said it was the "before you" video and he wanted to make it for her to see someday. He introduced himself, me, Duke...walked all around the house explaining all the rooms and "showing" her what our house looked like before baby!! He had me take a few minutes of video of him putting her changing table and dresser together and everytime I started the camera up he would say "Hey baby girl"!! It was honestly one of the cutest things I have ever seen in my life! He is so smitten already! We are definitely amateur home video'ers so I'm sure we will get many a laugh out of it someday, but I hope she enjoys it & knows how excited we were/are to finally meet, hold & love her!