Spring Fever

Since Parker's absolute FAVORITE form of entertainment is finding every sippy cup, bowl, and bottle in the house, and sitting on the counter ("nonner") to fill them with water ("wah-ler"), I decided that we really need to get out of the house!So today we went on a walk along the Jordan River trail with our friends Ansku and Emma. It was so nice to be outside. The weather has been gorgeous...I wish it were here to stay. Soon enough, though!



Avery slept through the whole thing, but here's a cute picture of her awake!

Avery's Blessing Dress

Here are a few of the pictures Erin took of Avery in her dress...too many cute ones to choose from! I LOVE this newborn stage...she's a little angel!

Avery's Blessing

Since my parents were in town, we decided to bless Avery on Sunday. The day was great! I spent about two hours the night before trying on everything that I own...nothing fit! I finally settled on a maternity outfit (sigh...) Oh well...I did just have a baby 3 1/2 weeks ago. (Not to mention the brownies and cookies I've been eating since then...) Anyway, the blessing was beautiful. Avery started crying during it, and Joe's brother Matt noticed that her bow had fallen down and was covering her eyes...he put it back in place, the crying stopped, and Joe made it through. I wish I could remember everything that was said. I do remember him saying that she has been blessed with many talents that will bless her life and the lives of those around her. I feel SO BLESSED to have this precious baby in our home and can't wait to see those talents develop. She slept through most of the day, so we didn't get any pictures of her with all the visitors, but we managed to get a few before church. (Pretty impressive that we were ready early enough to take pictures before 9:00 church, eh?) My SIL is coming over later this week for a photo shoot of Avery in her blessing dress, but here's a preview...

Isn't she sweet? Mommy and Avery
Parker and his baby
The family...I made Joe wear his pink tie in honor of his baby girl
Bapa and Nannu
Matching pink

Nannu's Visit

Like most good things, Nannu's visit had to come to an end yesterday. I bawled my eyes out when my parents and husband abandoned me, forcing me to face the harsh reality that I am now on my own with these two kids. Three weeks with a new baby sure go by faster than three weeks of pregnancy! Thanks for EVERYTHING, mom! She kept my house clean, kept me happy, sat in the backseat to keep the baby happy, washed and folded laundry, organized my kitchen and pantry (yay!), entertained Parker (when he allowed it), made me Valentine's Day cookies, etc. We decided that hiring a nanny wouldn't be such a bad idea! Here are more than a few pictures highlighting the shortest two weeks in history!

Bath Time (Avery's first full-submersion bath)

Crazy snowstorm
Parker helping Nannu make cookies for Uncle Michael (to give to all the girls in his ward...how did he talk her into that?)
That's OK...Michael paid for them by shoveling my snow...
...and frosting the cookies himself (while Parker ate them).
The calm before the storm...(the day before Parker got sick and made our lives miserable)

The day Parker started feeling better (there were no pictures in between...we barely had time to shower, let alone grab the camera). I'm still finding smoothie all over the place!
Yay! Grandpa's here!
Daddy and his babies...

Parker's Letter of Apology

Dear Mommy and Nannu,

Since you've almost survived this miserable week, I thought I should write a letter apologizing for being such a terror. Somehow you've still managed to give me love and kisses, although at times I'm sure you've wanted to strangle me instead.

Nannu, you just came at a bad time for me. First came the new baby. I adore her, but despise how much of my mommy's time she demands. Mommy thought she would remedy that by bringing you over to play with me. So you're part of the baby package. I've discovered that Avery is here to stay, so I guess you can too. Let's get out of the stinkin' house to go do something fun! My mommy's starting to look like that kid on American Idol who Simon thought had been shut up in his bedroom for a month! We could all use some fresh air!

I thought having an ear infection, running a 104 degree temperature, and having an allergic reaction to the antibiotic would be enough to warrant some attention. I guess I'm more fun in my healthy state. Being sick did allow me some alone time with mommy, however, on all our trips to the doctor's office and pharmacy. So thanks for being here to stay home with the baby, Nannu. Three trips for me and one for Avery in one week...pretty good, eh?

I'm sorry for screaming for juice and crying when you gave it to me. I'm sorry for being so demanding that neither of you could shower until the day was almost over on Tuesday. I'm also sorry for the big tantrum I threw last night. I was pretty inconsolable until the minute daddy walked in the door. That was a mean trick.

I'm starting to feel a lot better, other than the darn hives all over my face. Who knew I'd be allergic to Omnicef? The Benadryl seems to be working, but it's making me super sleepy. Maybe I'll actually take a long nap today. You both deserve a little break.

Life will go on. It's nice to know that you both still love me, even without this apology letter. You know something? I love you too!

Love always,
Parker

P.S. Nannu, do you think you could stay longer? My mommy's going to be so sad when you leave! But if you do, stop hiding my toys...I like them scattered all over the floor instead of shut up in the closet! Thanks!

Avery's First Photo Shoot

My sister-in-law, Erin and her cute family came over on Saturday night to meet Avery. Erin offered to do a photo shoot while they were here...I eagerly accepted. She took about 160 pictures. I haven't seen them all yet, but I was really excited when I saw these ones! Here's the little princess....

...and one of Parker and Sadie. (Please ignore the fingerprints on the window...I am!)
Thanks Erin!!!!!!

Daddy's Boy?

Joe has been home with me all week. Luckily my mom will be here for two weeks starting Monday, because I'm definitely not ready to be the mother of 2 without any help yet. Anyway, Joe has been GREAT! He's done all the things I didn't think he was capable of doing without being asked...he's kept up on the dishes, made breakfast, cleaned up toys, changed lots of diapers, etc. Parker has always been a mama's boy, but after this week I'm pretty sure that will have changed. Joe's taken him on lots of fun outings while I've stayed home with the easiest newborn ever! Joe and I remember being on pins and needles anytime Parker was awake as a baby. Avery, on the other hand, is perfectly content most of the time (so far....). Right now Avery is doing this: While Parker and daddy are doing this:
And I am totally content sitting watching all of them!

Angel Baby

I guess it's time to post my version of Baby Avery's grand entrance into this world. Before I get into the gory details, however, let me just say that Avery is an angel! Everyone told me that my second one would be easier than the first. So far (she's only 4 days old, so this could change) this has been SO TRUE! I feel so blessed to have this sweet baby in our home. She's a good eater and sleeper, and rarely cries. My heart has grown...I didn't think I could love another baby, but I do! Parker continues to be the harder child, but he has been an angel too! He LOVES the baby and is interested in everything about her. He could sit and "hold it" and "kiss it" all day long if we let him, and I'm OK with that! Read on for the labor details (it might be long, so feel free to skip it!)
Thursday Night

10:00 PM: Watch LOST Season Premiere

11:30 PM: Go to bed after setting alarm for 4:45 am. Fall asleep super fast, amazingly!

Friday, February 1st

2:30 AM: Wake up to go to the bathroom. Toss and turn trying to fall back asleep for an hour. Finally fall asleep.

4:41 AM: Get a phone call from Jordan Valley Hospital saying not to come in at 6:00 AM, but to wait for a phone call telling us they're ready for us.

4:45 AM: Alarm goes off. Decide to re-set it for 6:00. Lay in bed for 5 minutes wondering when the hospital is going to call. Decide to get up and get ready anyway.

6:30 AM: Make Joe get up. Fold last batch of laundry, straighten up the house.

7:00 AM: Lay on the bed to watch the news. Start to fall asleep.

7:30 AM: Receive phone call from Jordan Valley Hospital saying to COME ON DOWN!

8:00 AM: Arrive at the hospital in one piece after driving through big snow storm. Check in. Fill out information on Spanish card...they're out of English ones.

9:30 AM: Finally get started on pitocin! (The IV is worse than the epidural in my opinion). Progress slowly, but steadily. Find out the anesthesiologist will be in a C-Section at 2:30. Decide to get the epidural before he goes in.

1:45 PM: Dr. Barney comes to break your water. Cervix is dilated to a 3 and 80% effaced. Contractions get really strong really fast!

2:00 PM: Get epidural! Only suffer 15 minutes of INTENSE contractions.

3:30 PM: Cervix is now dilated to 6.

4:10 PM: Feel sudden intense pressure as well as sudden gushing of fluid. Call nurse. You are fully dilated! Dr. Barney, however, is "finishing" a twin delivery. Turn off the pitocin, up the epidural and wait.

5:00 PM: Still waiting.

5:15 PM: Tell Joe to call nurse...curse a few times about not caring WHO delivers this baby...she's been ready to come out for an hour!

5:45 PM: FINALLY the doctor is out of his twin delivery. Get ready to push! Dr. Barney checks to see what direction her head is facing. He thinks it's sideways at first. After a few pushes with little progress, he discovers that she's posterior (which in this case means head up instead of down). He's going to just let you tear, but sees that you're going to tear a little on both ends, so he gives you a minor episiotomy.

6:03 PM: She pops right out, lets out a gurgly cry, they lay her on your chest, and you fall instantly in love! You are SO GRATEFUL for the epidural...your labor experience THIS time was SO MUCH BETTER than LAST time (minus the 2 hours waiting to push).

11:00 PM: Visitors are gone, baby's asleep, you are exhausted. Ask the nurse to take the baby to the nursery for a few hours. Try to sleep. Mind races for a few hours.

Saturday Morning

1:00 AM: Tell the nurse to bring the baby back in. Sleep SO MUCH BETTER with baby in the room.

Sunday Morning

8:00 AM: Send Joe home to get infant car seat (how could we forget that?) He gets stuck in the snow in the hospital parking lot on his way back...twice!

12:30 PM: Say goodbye to the relaxing hospital life, drive in HUGE snowstorm to Grandma's house to pick up Parker. The crazy life begins!