Happy Halloween!

I admit that we are not doing too much this year for the holiday. We aren't even passing out candy. We do, however, have a couple of Halloween outfits that Avery just had to wear. The first is one that we bought with great anticipation a couple of months ago. It is still a little roomy, but it is adorable (In case you can't read it, it says: My First Halloween; Don't Scare Me!). Unfortunately, Avery was in no mood for pictures when I was trying to snap a few and by the time I could try again she had already had an accident all over the outfit. Thank goodness for Halloween outfit #2!

My friend Anndalyn stopped by a few days ago with this little number that she made at a Young Women's activity a while ago. Again, it is a little big but SO cute. My favorite part is the bum. What is it about baby clothes and having stuff on the bum that is so cute? It can be an image like this or ruffles; it does not matter. If there is stuff on a baby's rump, that did not come out of it, it is too precious!

Joe and I thought that we would take our little pumpkin out to a Fall Festival tonight and show her off a bit. Avery had other plans apparently because she had ANOTHER accident before we could get out the door. I guess she would rather cozy down tonight in her pink jammies. At least I got in a photo or two of the outfits that no one will see now. Silly Birdie.

Family Surprises

So last Wednesday I got a call from my sister, Angela. She was wondering if it would be okay if she and her husband, Micah, showed up Friday morning to spend the weekend with us. Since they live in Utah and I rarely get to see them I was elated!

They showed up bright and early on Friday and we spent the weekend doing not a whole lot more than looking at Avery and chatting. Even so, it was the best weekend I've had in a while. We did get out to Papago Park again for a walk and I got a couple of photos of Angela and Avery. I really should have far more pictures since Angela held her for about 12 hours over the three days she was here, but this is it.

I would have gotten a picture of Micah holding her too, but those instances were few and far between so I missed them. With all this baby holding going on, Micah and Joe had a little time to go and hike around another favorite spot called Camelback Mountain. I heard that their 1/2 mile trek was grueling!

Then on Monday we got some good mail. My sister Jenn sent us a Halloween care package with candy and a gift for Avery. I was just going to take a picture of the cool gift, but then I thought I should put who it was referencing in the photo too! So, check out my precious baby and the way cute letter Jenn sent. Isn't the letter "A" such a pretty initial? I love my baby!

I can't wait for December when I get to see the rest of my family and introduce them to my little Birdie.

Leelou Blogs

As some of you may have noticed, I love to change my blog layout fairly frequently. My favorite layouts come from Leelou Blogs. You can find the link on my side bar. This week she is doing giveaways and prizes for people who post about her website and enter to win on her site.

You all should check her out if you haven't yet. Her layouts are adorable and FREE! If you want something custom she will do that as well for a fee. Go to Leelou Blogs and enter to win and get a new fancy layout!

Firsts

Every day that Avery has been alive I think she has had a first. Whether it has been her first bath (pictured in the previous slide show) or her first shot (no pictures of that since it was about 5 seconds after birth), she has experienced a lot of new things. This last week had some fun firsts that I thought I would post.

Her first day alone with Mommy. Grandma Sauter was here to help out for 10 whole days and then I was left to figure the rest out myself; and rightly so. I nearly cried several times but managed to do just fine. Each day gets a little easier, but I would not mind if she decided to come back to visit. I love Birdie's surprised face; it cracks me up!

Her first picnic. Joe and I took the little Birdie to Tempe Town Lake for an evening picnic and a walk. The weather was perfect, but the park was being set up for a huge concert so it wasn't looking its best.

Her first hike at Papago Park. Okay, it was more like a stroll but it was still fun. Joe and I love that park for hiking and bike riding so we thought we should introduce it to Avery now. Avery, however, did not feel the same way and slept through the whole thing.

Her first traumatic visit to the Pediatrician. This was traumatic for me as well. I have never heard my baby scream like this before and I nearly burst into tears. Darn those rectal thermometers and PKU tests! This is her little face in the car after the event. She looked so dejected! I just wanted to cuddle her for hours to make her feel better but decided it would be better to just get her home. On the plus side, we found out that Avery has gained a whole pound since birth putting her at a solid 5 lbs. 13 oz.!

I'm sure that there will be more firsts to come and whether you want to know about them or not I will probably post about them too!

More about Avery

I'm telling you right now that I just don't think I am ever going to figure out when to stop posting a million pictures of my baby. I just think she is so cute! I have some time and some energy now so I guess I can start telling a bit about Avery.

First, she did not have a name for 24 hours of her life. Joe and I thought we had settled on one but when she came out it did not seem to fit right. We threw out a few more names but I was to tired, or too drugged, to really make a decision. Because the poor little thing was nameless she was given many nicknames in her first day.

The nurses called her Peanut. I think this is funny because Joe was calling her that in the womb.

The pediatrician called her Little Twerp. He meant it lovingly.

I call her Birdie because of the little mouth she makes when she is hungry and because she has skinny little bird legs.

Joe calls her Sweetheart.

Grandma called her Pipsqueak because her newborn cry was really this high squeak that lasted all of 2 seconds. It was cute and heartbreaking at the same time.

Random names like Runt, Monkey, Little Squirt, and Baby Girl have all been used at some point.

All of these because Joe and I could not decide on a name. I told him the next day that it was time to get serious and sit down to pick a name for this little girl and Avery May was decided. I know that Avery didn't win in the poll I had, but I did reserve the right to NOT pick the winning name. My mother and I found out later that Avery means "light and agile bird." I was so excited since I have thought from the beginning that she was a little birdie.

Special thanks needs to be given to Grandma Sauter for coming out to take care of me and Avery for the last 10 days. I miss her already and can't wait to show the rest of my family our new baby.

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Baby Couldn't Wait

She's here!

Avery May Jackson

Born 10/5/08 at 8:56 p.m.

4 lbs. 13 oz. (I'll explain the size later)

18 inches long

Long story short, we are finally home from the hospital. Avery is tiny but perfectly healthy and developed. I, however, was suffering from HELLP Syndrome and could not be released until my liver enzymes and blood pressure went down and my platelets went up. It was this syndrome that also made her such a light weight since my capillaries were constricted throughout my pregnancy making the placenta and my baby small. We are all happy to be in our own house and on the mend and we will let you all know when we are ready to visit or have visitors. Until then, enjoy the slide show!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Photo Shoot

Last Sunday my sister-in-law Stacie came over to take some pictures of me and Joe. We thought it would be good for posterity, as well as family spread out all over the country, to have some documentation of our family in its beginning stages. Both Joe and I do not relish getting our picture taken, but Stacie was fast and fun so it was bearable. Good thing since I had to wake Joe up from a nap for this photo shoot. I swear that women become mothers as soon as they are married!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

INSURED!!

Hooray for insurance! Today is the big day; I am now an insured pregnant lady. I celebrated this event by going to my first Dr.'s appointment since May! I am happy to report that all things are developing quite nicely. The baby is head down as she should be at this point and she is a little smaller than average for this stage of pregnancy. She is not abnormally small, just a little on the dainty side. Here's hoping for a 7 lb. baby! I have started dilating and softening, so we really are getting close to showtime.

I am at a new OB now and I am so happy with him. They don't use nurse practitioners at this office. Patients only see the real doctor so I already like this one infinitely better than the last one. The other staff was friendly and nice and I have another appointment set up for next week. All in all it was a great visit.

To make the day even better, I received a phone message from my last Dr.'s office when I came out of my appointment that said that they have resolved the issue of the mystery bill I received last week. You may remember me blogging about this $850 mess. I was told that the matter had been cleared up and my cost for labs was not the original amount stated, but it was in fact only $184. WOW! Big difference. It has just been a really great morning.

So I am feeling good about life right now, my baby seems healthy and almost ready to show her face, and I can't wait to be a mom and see my mom in the next few weeks! I decided to post my weekly belly picture today instead of tomorrow because I am just overflowing with joy right now. I know that for continuity I should take it tomorrow, but I don't care.