Introducing Avery!

Avery

born December 30th

6 lbs. 10 oz.

19 inches long

This picture was taken just before we left for the hospital.

So this is how our day went... My induction was tentatively scheduled for 7:30am but, just my luck, the hospital was full when I called in at 7:00. I happily accepted the new time of 12:00pm, glad I didn't have to wait another day. I received my first dose of Pitocin and had my water broke around 12:35pm. From then on, my dose was increased every half an hour. The first couple of hours were torture because although time seemed to be flying by, I was making very little progress. I got an epidural after I reached 4cm. Shortly thereafter (at 4:45pm) I was at 6cm, so we called our parents to update them and say it would probably be another few hours. But then everything changed. Within a minute of this check-up I began feeling A LOT of pressure. My doctor came in the room 10 minutes later and decided to check me again even though the nurse had just been in there, I guess he must have seen something on my face. In those 10 minutes I had dilated from 6 to 9cm and within the next 5 minutes after that I was fully dilated! So they prepped the room, in came my nurse and the doctor again, and I was ready to go.

On cue, the nurse told me to push as she counted to ten. Like normal, I took a short breath and braced to push again, but then I noticed something... the doctor was sucking out her mouth! "Is she OUT?!" I think that's how it went. Seriously, was she out after a single count of ten? Yep. Not even another push to get her body out. Now it really can't get any easier than that, can it? Anyway, she was beautiful and I felt great, so life is good.

And here she is...

Brad is so great, he even gave her her first bath, although really the nurse could have done it in half the time.

I've got to hand it to our hosptial. Not only have we had a great experience there with each of our kids births, but now they also bring a romantic dinner for two before you leave! And it was so good! That steak could have been served at any restaurant, mmmm.

Because of flu season, no children are allowed in the hospital so the boys didn't get to see her until we were home. We got home shortly before bedtime, but they were so wound up and excited. Jack was a little unsure of what to do with her, so he just said "baby" a couple times, rubbed her cheek, and the headed off to bed. But Wesley was so cute with her. He kept saying "Mom, she looks so cute" or "I love my baby sister" or any other sweet thing he could come up with. He's such a good brother!

The days since Avery's been home have been a whirlwind of visitors and adjusting to three. But she is delightful. She only cries if she's hungry or we're changing her diaper, she barely makes a sound otherwise. And I can't begin to tell you how much fun I am having picking out her clothes and accessories every morning!

And thank Heaven for our moms. Chris brought over a delicious dinner the other night! And my mom has been working like crazy to make her nursery just beautiful (pictures will follow). Not that my mom hasn't had twenty other things to do, watching two active little boys most of the time!

So here she is and our family will never be the same. We love her and are enjoying every second!