7 weeks

The weeks are flying by!  I had every intention of posting on the same night each week (ideally Mondays) but it's just not happening.  :)  Oh well.  I'm not too late this week. 

Last week was BUSY!  We started off the 7th week with another attempt at a photo shoot.  I'm just not good at this stuff!  LOL.  I think that I need a photo assistant or something.  ;)  It's too hard to try to pose her and take the picture, etc.  It was really hard to try to get that darn thing wrapped around her w/ her squirming.  Definitely didn't get the image I had in my head.  I think we're beyond the snuggly, sleeping baby that can be put into random positions.  She's over it.  And I give up.  :)  This (very brief) attempt w/ our previously missing cheesecloth ended in pee and poo all over our couch.  Guess Avery told me how she felt about the session.......  :)

Avery - 6 weeks

Get me outta this thing!!!  I'm warning you - I'm gonna poo.......!

The rest of the week was pretty much spent organizing!  I felt like I was on an episode of Hoarders.  ;)  And my professional organizer is Amanda Bradstreet!  (Sounds very professional!)  Mandy - if you ever get tired of doing hair........
Mandy came over to kick my butt in gear.  It was just what I needed.  I've been talking forever about wanting to get organized, declutter, deep clean, etc.  So Mandy came over on Thursday and Friday and we tackled the kitchen!  I'm glad we started there because everything else after this should seem easy!  LOL.  I wish I'd gotten better before and after pics too because what I have does NOT do it justice.  We started by pulling everything out of the cabinets and sorting through.  Lucas about had a heart attack when he came home the first night.  But everything has to get worse before it can get better, right?  Slowly everything (probably less than half) found its new home!  (I think I seriously had over 15 vases!)  Our kitchen is way to small for all of that crap!  (One person should never own that much "tupperware"!)  I love love love having an empty countertop and organized cabinets.  I love that everything has a very clear spot!  I can't thank Mandy enough for helping me and keeping me motivated.  It was just nice to hang out too.  :)  I had to laugh today though because an episode of Hoarders was on today - damn TLC - and the therapist was talking about how Hoarders often focus on the future and if they can use something "someday".  That's so me!  More than once I think I told Mandy "what if I need it someday?".  And she would bluntly tell me that I wouldn't.  LOL.  Or I didn't need 3 or something.  ;)  (Hey - you made out w/ a lovely jar opener!  HAHA.)  Anyway, seeing just that little bit of the episode today freaked me out because it sounded like me.  So now I'm in even more of a mood to throw everything away!  My goal is to have every room organized and decluttered so it will be easier to talk Lucas into a cleaning person (heehee) and that we can eventually think about putting the house on the market and finding something a bit bigger.  I'm just tired of the junk.  I figure what better way of spending the munchkin's nap times!

Before

Before plus pulling everything from off the TOP of the cabinets....ugh

Here we go........pulling it all out

This just doesn't do the mess justice!  Ha. 

Yay!  I think it's looks better in person!  I should've taken pics of INSIDE the cabinets!!

The babies were complete angels while we worked!  Mine slept the entire time and this little guy played contently.  :)

Mandy and I agreed that if we have more sessions, we should do Sundays, so the kids can play with their daddies!

Ok, so what else is new this week......
Miss Avery moved to her crib!!  Friday, April 20th.  6 weeks, 4 days.  Last week was ROUGH as far as sleeping at night goes (up most nights until well after 1), so we figured that maybe it was best that she move to her room and we try to establish more of a bedtime routine (we'd just been doing baths each night as her "routine").  Nothing too strict, but something to signal night time.  :)  It's been less than a week (of little sleep for mommy) but it's slowly getting better.  Last night was the first night she slept all night in her crib!  Not sleeping through the night, mind you, but staying in her crib!  Most nights have ended with me giving up and sleeping while holding her on the couch.  Then it's amazing how long she sleeps.  :)  But in the crib, it was 15 minute intervals.  Then a bit longer, but no more than 2-3 hours (we'd previously been getting 5 straight).  Anyway, last night was pretty good.  I just refused to give up.  ;)  (Lucas had taken the previous night so I could sleep a bit, in bed!, so I had some energy.  Did I mention that I've been sleeping on the couch since we got home from the hospital??)  I nursed her around 7, then she had a bath at 9 and bottle in her room.  Then LOTS of rocking.  Man, that girl is wide away at night.  :)  She'd fall asleep and wake up 10 minutes after laying her down.  She finally fell asleep for good around 1.  Woke at 4:30.  Then back to bed at 6.  Then she didn't wake up until almost 11!  She at least slept in her crib, so that was a huge plus!  We'll get there.  :)  Carson was sleeping through the night by 8 weeks, but I know we were probably just really lucky with him and every baby's different.  We'll figure out what works for her eventually.  Guess I'm giving away my "8 weeks" post - haha!  ;)  Spoiler alert.  LOL. 

Here was my little burrito after 6 hours cuddling with mommy on the couch....

And then last night in her crib!

Guess since I'm posting about this week too (8th week) already, I'll just continue.  :)  Lucas fed her for the first time Tuesday night.  Our new "routine" will allow them to spend more time together.  Not that he hasn't helped with her, but with two now, I've been focused almost solely on her and he's been focused almost solely on Carson.  It's just what's worked for us.  And because of that, I've realized that I'm pretty possessive of her.  :)  I need to trust her Daddy to take care of her too!  We're going to start alternating nights putting each of them down now.  I miss Carson! 

First time Daddy fed her

Carson quotes from this week:
 - "I need to start listening.  Listen to Daddy Lucas."  (we've had a few time outs this week).  The funniest thing is that he put HIMSELF in time out TWICE.  And then cried because he was in time out! 
 - "Mommy, you made a big mess!  You clean up?"  (referring to the kitchen!)
 - "That's just crazy talk!"
 - "Bye girls!  Have a good day!"  (when he leaves in the morning)
 - "That's okay baby sister".  He still loves to try to comfort her if she cries.
 - "Good job Avery!"  I think this was when we were doing tummy time.  :)
 - "Tickle tickle!"  He likes to try to tickle her feet and belly.  It's so cute.  
 - When I asked him if he wanted to help change Avery's diaper, he replied, "Umm....no.  I'm good."
 - "I just need to shake it off".  He had a few spills this week and kept saying that.  Such a tough boy.
 - Carson:  "There's Lightning McQueen!  He 'ca-chow'!"
   Mommy:  "Ca-chow!"
   Carson:  "Not you, Mommy.  Just me."
   I couldn't help but laugh, to which he replied with "I so funny!"   He IS so funny to us.  Probably bad that he knows it though.  :)
 - "Monsters up there!"  (looking up at lights)  "It's scary.  You protect me Mommy?"  (I love that!)  "Look.  Four monsters.  And three monsters. And one.  And two."  The whole time he just nodded and stared seriously at the ceiling fan.  I wonder if he was counting the blades....?

He's been telling "stories" lately too.  It almost seems that it's whenever he might be in trouble.  He's been telling us the following repeatedly this week:
"Maxi hit me.  He pushed me down.  He in trouble.  He go to time out.  He kissed me.  And hugged me too".  Since we didn't see Max this weekend, I'm pretty sure poor Max was just a ploy to get some attention.....

And his favorite thing over the last couple of weeks, which I think it's totally adorable, is the "stealing body parts" game.  He ran up to me the other day and "stole" my ear.  He ran off with it.  Ten minutes later, he remembered and came back over and gave me my ear back w / kiss on the cheek.  So cute.  He constantly "steals" our noses ("I eat your nose!").  So we do the same back.  ;)  ("Hey - give me my cheeks back!).  Pretty cute. 


More pics from the last (7th) week:

Holding sister's hand

Baby fat rolls!!

Carson LOVES his bubble swords!!  Daddy got him a new Spiderman one!

7 weeks

She's filling out!!  Love it!

Week 6

I can't believe my baby girl will be 6 weeks old tomorrow....well today actually (since it's after midnight!).  That means that I only have 4 more weeks of maternity leave and that literally makes my stomach turn......but I won't focus on that now.  This week, Avery does that adorable laugh/smile thing in her sleep.  I keep waiting for that first "real" smile.  My mom is convinced I got on on the 11th, but I'm not so sure we can count it.  Hopefully I'll get one soon.  :)  She has much better head control.  She looks around all over when I have her up to burp her.  She's not so great at tummy time yet - we tried a couple of times this week and she just lays there w/ her face in the mat.  :(  But I think overall, she's got really good control already.  She recognizes my voice!  I love that.  She kind of follows my voice when I move around the room.  Love that she knows her mommy!  She's still sleeping pretty well.  We kind of started a very loose bedtime routine.  We really just are giving her a bath every night (we just don't do soap each time so her skin doesn't dry out too much).  It seems to relax her a bit - either because she enjoys it or she's tired from crying all the way through it!  Depends on her mood.  :)  I try to feed her right after and hope for the best.  Some nights, she falls asleep between 10 and 11.  Others, she's fussed/nursed until 1 or so and then gone down.  When she finally goes, she sleeps hard.  But she's not real consistent yet as to when she wants to go down.  I keep hearing about another growth spurt at 6 weeks, so I'm trying to prepare.  :)

Let's see what else.....she had her first blowout this week.  :)  I did NOT get a picture of that one.  Wow - I didn't miss those.  She actually had a few this week.  One led to just tossing the nightgown out altogether.  :)  We got our other activity mat out this week.  She seems to like that one.  It has lights and music.  And of course Carson really loves it....ha.  We've had a few slight signs of jealousy.  He just wants to play with her stuff and wants to do things like her (I change her a lot on the couch so now he wants his diaper changed on the couch sometimes).  Overall though, he's done such a good job adjusting to her!  He's really been wonderful overall. 

We had another doctor's appointment this week.  It's seriously been every week.  It's getting ridiculous.  I am so over this stupid incision/infection!!  She put me on my THIRD round of antibiotics.  Ugh.  It just won't close up completely and stop bleeding.  :(  She still thinks that it was a blood clot that they missed or whatever when closing me up.  That can lead to an infection internally which then tries to force itself out through the weakest part of the incision.  Sorry - gross.  :(  But it's been FOUR weeks now.  It's much better for sure!  But it's still tender and still bleeding a bit.  She doesn't know why it's just not healing completely. She doesn't think it's infected anymore but put me on one more round of antibiotics to be safe.  I go back in 2 weeks for my 6 week checkup, so I'm praying it's healed by then.  I'm just tired of dealing with it.  It's really put a damper on my time w/ her and just overall recovery.  I know it was major surgery but I was hoping to feel better faster.  Hoping to feel like doing more things out of the house, etc.  It started out SO WELL!  It's getting better though so I guess I'll just focus on that.  Nothing I can do to change it!  At least it hasn't affected my nursing as I thought it could.  They at first told me that my antibiotic was safe for breastfeeding, but then my pediatrician said it wasn't.  They said I'd have to pump and dump for 6 days and feed her formula.  I was seriously so upset at the thought!  At the time, she hadn't had a bottle period, let alone formula.  I just cried and cried when they told me.  But our pediatrician did some more research and they determined that the risk is jaundice (in Avery) so I could take it as long as I kept an eye on her coloring.  Round 2 finished and she's still pink!  :)  Anyway, I'll be glad to have outings to somewhere other than the OB.

This week, we had a visit from Aunt Allie!  I haven't seen her forever!  Miss her so much.  It was so nice to see her!

We also had a girls day!  Brooke, Susie and Kristin (and kids!) all came over Saturday for a visit.  So nice to catch up w/ them.  Carson and Tyler got along so well!  He kept yelling "I having fun!" as they jumped in the jump house.  Too cute!

Beautiful Miss Alaina

Sharing....kind of.  :)

Carson's new basketball hoop

"Hey guys....can I come in?"

Other pics from week 6:

Oooh...lights!

Carson likes it too  ;)

Sharing w/ sister

Kiss.  Sweet boy. 

Almost a smile.....

She was touching his "yellow".  Haha!

Seriously, that face.  :)

Oh those cheeks!!

By the way.....my daughter's been asleep for over two hours and I'm sitting here blogging.....I'm going to regret this.  :)

Weeks 4 and 5

I'm already falling behind in blogging.....so many feedings and diapers.....the days are flying by.  :)  Avery's changing so much every day.  It's pretty amazing.  She's becoming more and more alert.  She's still sleeping fairly well for a newborn.  Just up once a night.  We've had a couple of growth spurts already which made for some rough nights, but we seemed to get through them and back on track.  No routine as of yet, but she's having more awake stretches during the day and is becoming more consistent in her sleeping, etc.

Week 4
Mommy was going a bit stir crazy by week 4.  Recovery has been really rough so I wasn't getting out of the house much (aside from weekly doctor visits!)  We did manage to get out and take our first "walk" - although it was seriously only like a few houses and back.  #1 because I didn't want to push it w/ my incision and #2 - my toddler now doesn't want to go far enough to let our house out of sight.  Even though he asks to go on "wagon walks, he's begun freaking out at soon as we get a couple houses down. 

First walk - 3/28/12

Daddy also got me out of the house to our first meal out as a family.  Our first venture was only to Qdoba (which ironically was the first place I took Carson out to way back when - when Mandy thankfully drug me out of the house w/ him and it was so much appreciated!)  Well, Lucas did the same week 4.  It definitely lifted my spirits.  So nice to do my hair and makeup for a change and just get out of the house!  It's been kind of easy for me to feel the "baby blues", especially with my complications w/ recovery.  That's definitely put a damper on my leave.  It's hard not to let it get to you after a while of feeling crappy.  (My incision opened up 3/17 and I've been dealing with it/infection ever since).  But anyway, here was our first outing as a foursome.  :)

Other week 4 pics:

Week 5
Week 5 was pretty eventful!!  We had another doctor's appt. (me), another "photo shoot"  (my kids have had the camera in their faces from birth - lol!), a visit from Uncle Bob, Aunt Mandy and baby Fletcher (cookout), our first lunch out with friends, our first visit to work, first real bath, Easter...oh, and someone turned one month old already!!  Whew!  What a week.

Avery had her first real bath on 4/3/12!  It went fairly well.  She didn't like being cold of course.  Peg got us the coolest "bath luve".  It's like a big washcloth that you just run under warm water and cover them in.  She really seemed to like that at least.  It helped a lot.

That Wednesday (4/4), we met Meg and Jen at our favorite, Buffalo Wild Wings.  Mommy (and Avery) hadn't had it since the Monday before Avery was born!  5 weeks w/ no buffalitos??  Too long!  We got used to once a week (at least!)  She was an absolute angel all day and slept from the minute I put her in the car, through lunch, to our arrival at the office.  She's such a good baby!  She didn't fuss much at all once there either.  I think she enjoyed seeing everyone.  :)  I think they at least enjoyed meeting her.  She had her first bottle at the office (breastmilk) and took it like a champ.  Slept all the way home. Grandma was waiting for us when we got home to start on her taxes!  I nearly forgot that we both needed to get them done ASAP.  I had a goal of filing before Avery was born, but like so many of my other goals, they just didn't get accomplished before her arrival.  :) 

Jen and Meg

I shouldn't post this since I look like a whale, but it's her first bottle, so........ :)

The next day, we had a visit from Carla and her family!  It was so nice to see her!  It's been such a long time.  It was the first time that I got to meet baby Grace - although she's not a baby at all anymore!!  She'll be one next month.  I can't believe how quickly this last year flew by.  It's seems that since last May - everything was on fast forward and it was all I could do to just hang on.  But I feel like a complete jackass of a friend for not making it an absolute priority to get over there and meet that precious little girl.  So glad I got to see her now though!  They are all adorable.  We didn't get to visit for too long, but I told her that I'm just going to invite ourselves over there sometime soon and we can all hang out for longer!  :) 

Avery turned one month old!  I can't believe how quickly the time is flying by.  Of course, we had to get her an elephant of her own - everyone in the family has one.  We took a stab at our first "elephant" shots.  She wasn't a fan. 

Avery's "Miss Elephant"

"I hate this!"

"Mommy, please stop!"

Maybe on the other couch.....

One month!

I tried to catch Carson for his 2 1/2 year "Mr. Elephant" picture.  Yeah, it's hard getting good pics no matter what their age is. 

Carson was very excited/concerned that Avery had an elephant too....

Carson - 2 1/2 years old!

 
She learned to stick her tongue out on her one-month birthday.  So cute.  :)

4/5/12

 

We got out one of the activity mats for Avery to try out, since she's awake a bit more during the day and I'm not quite sure what to do with her.  HAHA.  She didn't seem too excited by it yet.  Someone else, however, was very excited to see it and exclaimed, "Mommy - for me??" when he got home from daycare.  He said that he'd share with Avery, but he wasted no time in playing with it and wanting to take a nap on it w/ his blankies.  ;)

Avery - 5 weeks

Other week 5 pics:

 

He loves his sister!

Love that smile!

Easter
We celebrated Easter at Nana and Papa's house on Saturday and then at great-grandma Rose's on Sunday.  Carson had a blast w/ an Easter egg hunt at Nana and Papa's and also at our house.  He got a lot of "monies" for his piggy bank!  And way too much candy.  Grandma Rose really enjoyed meeting Avery.  (Carson wasn't so much of a fan of hers this time since she spilled his glass of milk on him, soaking his shirt!).

My babies!

How cute is she in her first dress?? 

He found all the eggs!  He learned quickly that the "quiet" eggs had candy and the others had "monies"!

Donald Duck bunny from Nana.  He yelled at Donald to "give that egg back"!  LOL. 

Daddy and Carson.  Carson's "flying like a bird.  Tweet, tweet!!"

Muscles!  (It took a while for his shirt to dry after Grandma Rose soaked him.  Ironically, she was telling him to be careful not to spill....

Easter 2012

Grandma Rose, Grandma Margaret and the kids!