First Weeks Home

Avery is such a sweet and content little girl.  She has spent a ton of time sleeping which makes things easy and she is doing a fantastic job eating.  Definitely different than her brother was.  

We did take her in for her week appointment and she still had not gained her weight back from birth (7 lbs. 9 oz).  She was only 7 lbs. 3 oz. We had to take her back that upcoming Monday and she fell to 7 lbs. 2 1/2 oz.  Dr. Steinke wasn't too concerned as she was alert, eating well and hydrated.  We did have to go back though this week and she was up to 7 lbs. 8 1/2 oz so we are making progress!   

Avery and I are enjoying our time together at home and time spent snuggling together.

First bath at home

Grandma Phillips was here the first week home.  It was so nice to have an extra hand and of course Landon (and Wally) loved all the extra attention.

Being a big brother is a lot of work.  Landon fell asleep one night under the kitchen island.

Big brother watching out and rocking his sister

First Husker game day!  

Go Big Red!

Lots of Love (aka: Visitors)

Avery is definitely loved!  She had so many visitors at the hospital, lots at the house and they are still coming to meet our special little one. I haven't taken pictures of everyone but here are a few.  We are truly blessed to have such an amazing family and friends!  

Great Grandma

Great Grandpa

Landon and I even took Avery over to Mikki's house for her to meet her.  The kids all adored her.

Avery's Birth Story

40 weeks and still pregnant!

Super long post…but a memory I never want to forget! 

Well…my due date was Saturday, October 12^th however, that day had come and gone.  I was just hoping that Baby Dudo would come before or on the due date because we were ready.  I even planned on taking off Monday and Tuesday of the following week hoping that he/she would come one of those days too; however, he/she had it’s own agenda.   I was just thinking the time was getting closer as I was experiencing really strong back pains and some contractions; however, they weren’t very consistent or strong enough to go to the hospital on my own. 

Landon and I enjoyed a mommy and son day on Monday.  We went out to lunch and walked around the mall.  We also spent lots of time snuggling and playing. Then Tuesday my parents came early so we went shopping and again out for lunch.  Mexican was on the menu and pineapple hoping to jump start things; once again that didn’t work. 

Tuesday night I was so worried they wouldn’t have room for me at the hospital on Wednesday morning the 16^th.  I have had two friends in the last year that have planned to go in for an induction and the hospital called saying they had to wait because of lack of room.   Tuesday night I was so anxious, nervous, excited that I probably only got a few hours of sleep.  3 a.m. rolled around and I was ready.  I woke up, showered, ate breakfast and called the hospital.  They were ready for me!  Kurtis and I arrived at the hospital around 6:30 a.m.

The nurses checked me in and got everything hooked up.  We then waited for Dr. Steinke to arrive to check me over.  Around 7:45 a.m. when she checked me I was 3 cm and about 70% effaced (a week prior I was 2 cm and 50%), so there was progress!  Dr. Steinke didn’t want to break my water so early so they started me on Pitocin to get things going first. 

My contractions definitely started to pick up and were around 2-4 minutes apart to start.  Kurtis and I just hung out and watched TV all morning!  It was a definite change of pace than Landon’s birth. 

At lunch time (around 12:00 p.m.) Dr. Steinke came in and checked me again.  I was almost 5 cm dilated at this point and she decided it was time to break my water.

Around 2:30 p.m. I was feeling more significant pain and I was really worried about missing my window for an epidural so I decided I better jump on it.  Prior to the epidural the nurse checked my progress and I was officially 6 cm.

After my epidural things went so quickly.  I was able to sneak in a small nap but I did wake up feeling really nauseas and couldn’t breathe.  The nurse gave me some crackers; which helped but then at 4:05 p.m I had a super sharp pain that didn’t feel right.  The nurse asked me if I wanted her to check my progress or wait.  I asked her to please check. 

Good thing she did because all I remember her saying was, “oh my goodness the baby’s head is right here…close your legs and don’t move or push.”  All of a sudden the nurses all rushed in, Kurtis called my parents and Dr. Steinke arrived.  At that point I started balling.  I couldn’t believe it was going to be that easy/quick. No three hours of pushing or forceps this time.  It was funny because between contractions and pushing we just chit chatted. I pushed through 4 contractions (25 minutes!) and she was here!

Once again a very proud daddy!

This is the face of..."oh my goodness it's a girl!" 

We both thought we were having another boy.

Dr. Steinke checking her out

Proud Big Brother!!

Kurtis and I wanted Landon to be the first one in the room to see her.  

Our two nurses were phenomenal! They celebrated with Landon and even gave him a big brother bracelet that he LOVES!  He has to show everyone. 

While Avery was being moved all around Landon followed her everywhere and wanted to watch everything they did to her.  

Showing off his Big Brother bracelet!  

Our first family of 4 picture!

Then it was time for the rest of the family to love on her!

After being in the hospital only one night we were ready to go home.  Part of me wanted to stay but then again I was ready to sleep in my own bed and start our new journey at home.  Kurtis and I ended up heading home Thursday evening around 8 p.m.  

We had a cute Husker outfit for her to go home in; however it was really cold out that evening so we decided to go with the turquoise owl outfit instead.  

The next morning I saw pink flamingos in our yard and a It's a Girl sign!  My mom had decorated our house!