Mommy Pontious

From Summer to Halloween

2011-11-01T07:35:00.000-07:00

Yeah, been a while since I've updated. Who knew being a stay at home mom would be so busy ;-)

Jake is growing like crazy and is now 6 months old. Avery is in speech therapy and we are seeing some improvements there. She was not approved for the LISD speech program because she tests normal for a 3 year old. She is delayed though, so well keep her in private therapy.

I am still loving being home. I am trying to take on more odd jobs though to bring in extra money. Luckily my friends seem to want their houses cleaned on occasion, so that works out great! Lol

Here are a few pics from summer through Halloween!

Hope everyone had a fun Halloween!

Family

2011-07-18T07:08:00.000-07:00

I have been so pleasantly surprised with how wonderful Avery is with Jacob. She is very patient with me as I feed and change him throughout the day, and she loves to give him hugs and kisses and hold him. Never once has she seemed upset by his presence or frustrated with a lack of attention. I am so very lucky!

I also must mention that my husband is incredible and such an amazing dad...not to mention super good looking!

Jake is such an easy baby. Avery was a very easy baby too, so we really thought we couldn't possibly be so lucky twice, but alas, we are! I nurse him every 3 hours during the day (or whenever he wants) and then he'll sleep 4-6 hours straight at night, then nurses and sleeps another 2-3 hours. I've started putting him in his crib for the first stretch, this was the exact same age I did this with Avery too. I can't believe how similar they are, or maybe it's me...not sure.

The biggest change HAS been me...now that I am not working, I am so much more relaxed all the time, and happier! With Avery as a newborn I was instantly heart broken with the idea of leaving her. I also had to start building up a freezer stash of milk too to prepare for my return to work. I pumped 3-5 times a day for almost a year with Avery while working...so with Jake I have stayed as far away from my pump as possible! Lol. I have pumped enough for a few outings and can easily replenish that if/when needed.

I get my first girls night this coming week to see Harry Potter on my birthday...30, yikes! ;-) I have to admit though, I really have had no strong desire to be away from my kids yet. I know it's good for me though...and for Hunter to have one on one time with his babies!

I must say 30 is looking to be one of the best years of my life...can't imagine being any happier!

Love to all!

Avery's 3rd Birthday

2011-07-16T07:11:00.000-07:00

Avery had an amazing 3rd birthday! We rented an awesome bounce house and had lots of friends and family come over to celebrate. It was a scorching hot day, we are in Texas in one of the hottest summers on record, but the kids still enjoyed bouncing and playing outside. Luckily we decided about a month ago to purchase and install misters on our back porch. We are using the heck out of them! Avery got so many wonderful gifts and really seemed to enjoy her party.

Can't believe how fast she's growing up.

I took her to her 3 year well check on the 13th. She got one vaccine and was very brave! She is 3 ft 1 in and 28 lbs. She's in the 50th % for height and 25th% for weight. This is quite an accomplishment since she spent her first 2 years of life struggling to stay on the weight scale at the 5th %! The pediatrician recommended we have her evaluated by a speech therapist. She is incredibly smart, has a huge vocabulary, can count to 11, say her ABC's, do tons of 24 piece puzzles...but she's not putting her words together to form coherent sentences. So I'm researching therapists and I'm sure with a little work she will be arguing with me in NO time! She can argue now, just without articulation, lol.

Nothing to worry about though, she is healthy, happy, beautiful, and smart.

The next year for Avery will bring full potty training, full communication, lots of fun staying home with Mom and little brother Jake, and many new happy memories!

My new life

2011-06-19T12:02:00.000-07:00

I am now watching my older sisters 2 kids during the week days and am having a great time. This is by far the best job I could ever have! It's a little challenging keeping a 14, 9, and 3 year old entertained while attending to the needs of a 2 month old, but it is a fun challenge! Avery loves having her cousins around, and we get out to swim and do other fun things as often as we can.

I have such a sense of peace about quitting my job. It really was a hard decision, not only were we giving up a huge amount of our income, but I have never known adult life without being gainfully employed. I feel so fulfilled now staying home, cleaning, taking care of kids...it's peaceful, there is no other way for me to describe it. I know its temporary, so that probably makes it even more precious to me. I'm going to enjoy everyday that I have at home with my kids!

Here are a few pics from the last few weeks.

Avery got her first hair cut!

Sweet sleeping baby

Jake started smiling right at 6 weeks old

This is my current favorite photo!

Growing like crazy!

A few of my closest friends are having babies at the end of this year, so I am very excited for them and can't wait for Jake to have some very close friends to play with soon!

3 weeks old

2011-05-17T14:29:00.000-07:00

I can't even begin to express how very happy we are. Jacob is an amazingly content baby (although he still sleeps a ton) and Avery absolutely adores him. She wants to hold him all the time and kiss and love on him. In fact, the other morning, Avery woke up and came into my room. I tried to have her go into the living room with me while Jake was still sleeping, but she was NOT about to let her baby brother stay in there by himself. I had to pick him up and bring him into the living room with us, it was really very sweet.

Here are some of the pictures we took of Jacob at 1 week old. They are too sweet not to share! Hunter took these pictures on our back patio, although you would swear they were done at a studio by a professional!

It's a Boy!

2011-05-04T06:44:00.000-07:00

Jacob Hunter Pontious was born on Tuesday, April 26th, at 2:56pm!
8lbs 2.3 oz
21 inches

Birth Story:
I checked into the hospital Monday night for a slow induction. They started a drug called cryotec at 8pm, and gave a second dose at 12am. I had regular contractions throughout the night, but was able to relax and even sleep a little. At 6am Tuesday, they slowly started the pitocin. Around 11:30am I got an epidural (which was a very odd experience, although definitely made things better). My blood pressure kept falling with the epidural, so they had me on oxygen and made me lay flat on my sides in order to maintain. After another few hours, I started feeling pressure with contractions, definitely no pain though. Then I got a little nauseous and the Dr. came in to check me. "Wow, we are ready for a baby!" he said. He started yelling at all the nurses to get everything ready. After only 3-4 pushes, baby Jacob was born! I cried and cried when I found out he was a boy and was screaming with healthy lungs! Hunter was so excited and a little emotional too and was really looking forward to telling the waiting family members.

The doctor worked to control my bleeding quickly, which was much easier to take with the epidural (this was the hard part of my delivery with Avery). Baby Jake took in a little fluid, so had to be monitored closely for a little while to make sure his breathing was steady. After about 30-45 minutes, we were both ready to greet family!

Papa Kevin, Papa Mike, Mawmaw Pam, GreatPapa Sam, Great Grandmommy Joyce, Uncle Alan, Aunt Nikki, and Aunt Linsey were all there to rush into meet Jacob. Everyone fell instantly in love!

My recovery was excellent. My doctor is absolutely amazing and made sure that I didn't have any of the postpartum issues I had with Avery, so I felt great and was able to enjoy my new baby completely! We left the hospital on Thursday and have been unbelievably blessed with love and support from all our family and friends. Baby Jake is perfect and even lets me sleep for 6+ hours at night (although broken into 2-3 hours spurts of course!).

Avery has adjusted beautifully to being a big sister. She loves to kiss and hug Jake and has never questioned this new addition to our family.

I am looking forward to being fully recovered and enjoying my time at home with my babies!
We are so very blessed and happy! God is great!

Love to all!
The Pontious Family

Moments after birth-Proud Mommy and Daddy

Meeting all the family for the 1st time!

Avery and Jake's first meeting

Sweet big sister!

1 week old

Wide eyed handsome little man!

Final Days!

2011-04-25T09:18:00.000-07:00

I am spending my last day at home trying to make sure the house is neat and tidy and that everything is set up for Avery and Mawmaw (or Papa, or Aunt Linsey) while Hunter and I are in the hospital having baby #2. So glad we are here already!

I am so much more swollen with this little one than I was with Avery, and so much larger! My next post will be about my birth story and how we are adjusting to life as a family of four! EEEEE!!!!

Excitement, nerves, anxiety...that's how I've felt the last 24 hours.

Here are a few pics from Easter, our last pics as a family of 3:

39 Weeks...final belly pic!

36 Weeks = FULL TERM!

2011-04-01T09:21:00.001-07:00

It's officially April, which means it is baby month! WOW!

I am starting part-time work today, yay!! Baby is due in 4 weeks, but Dr. wants to induce a little early if baby keeps measuring so big. I am hoping baby will come early on his/her own in about 2-3 weeks, that would be perfect!

Check out this bump!

(32 Weeks)

(34 Weeks)

(35.5 Weeks)

Everyone is guessing it's a boy. I refuse to guess, because whatever I guess will be wrong! hehe
Avery was patting the baby bump yesterday, and I asked her if she thinks its a boy or a girl. Without hesitation she said, "Boy!" ;-)

I am looking very forward to not being pregnant anymore. The backaches and night-time bathroom trips are starting to take a toll. Most of all though, I am just ready to meet this little miracle!

Andrea

31.5 Weeks

2011-03-01T07:01:00.000-08:00

We are in the home stretch!

I am so excited that it is now March. This is my last month of full-time work...ahh, light at the end of the tunnel. I am scheduled to start working part-time April 1st and then have April 15th be my last day (assuming baby cooperates with this schedule of course!).

I don't think I'll complain if this little one decides to come a few weeks early like big sister Avery did. In fact, I KNOW I won't complain, and I am hoping that this pregnancy will be about 38 weeks (which means only 7 weeks left!).

(30.5 Weeks)

Hunter put up crown-molding in the nursery and we have all the furniture set up. I need to organize the closet and hang up some decorations as well as do a few loads of baby laundry. Other than that, we are pretty much ready!

Everyone keeps asking me if Avery is excited. The truthful answer is that the poor child has NO CLUE what is going on. She will point at my belly when we ask her where the baby is, but she's not comprehending the big picture. Her life will be completely turned upside down in April when this baby comes home. I'm ready for a rough adjustment for her and I'm already praying that she transitions well into having a sibling.

Happy spring time everyone! It's baby season, yay! lol

Andrea

28 weeks

2011-02-02T06:50:00.000-08:00

Well, so much for being better about blogging. Oh well. Should be fun to see the pregnancy progression all together anyway!

(I think I have a few earlier pics at home, I'll have to dig them up!)

18 Weeks

22 Weeks

23 Weeks

24 Weeks

26.5 Weeks

27.5 Weeks

I am feeling good, although my entire house has been battling the sinus crud. Hopefully it will clear out soon as the weather starts to warm up.

The biggest news for now is that I informed my workplace that I will not be returning after the new baby is born. I will be a pseudo stay at home mom, meaning I will be helping my older sister with her house and kids (and maybe taking on odd jobs here and there to make ends meet), but I will be able to dedicate myself to my family in a new and exciting way! I know this will be the hardest job I will ever have in my life, but I am ready for the challenge and excited for the time I will have with my babies.

Can't believe I only have 10-12 weeks left. I know it will fly by. I have been very blessed with a healthy and relatively easy pregnancy so far, and I pray that it continues this way and can't wait till April when we find out if Avery will have a little sister or brother!

Any guesses?!

Love to all,
Andrea

Big News

2010-09-15T08:12:00.000-07:00

Baby Pontious #2 is on board!

We are so excited to finally tell everyone that we are expecting a little brother or sister for Avery! We are due on April 28th (so I'm 7.5 weeks along) and we heard the heartbeat yesterday for the first time. I am nervous and excited and everything in between. Not to mention tired and hungry! hehe

I'll try to keep blogging to document this exciting journey, although I am notoriously bad about updating, I will be better!

Love to all!

"Mommy" Update

2010-07-06T10:10:00.000-07:00

2 years and 3 days after I brought her into this world, my adorable daughter for the very first time ran up to me, hugged my legs, and said, "Mommy!" Tears welled up in my eyes!

For months and months, Avery's been saying Dad, and Papa, and kitty, and a million other words and names, but never Mama or Mommy. I am elated. I am finally and officially, "Mommy".

Here are a few pics from her 2nd birthday party and from the 4th of July. I can't believe she's 2. She's still my baby. Always.

In her new car from Papa and Grandma

Hanging out by the pool after her party.

Waiting for the fireworks to start!

Sweet little face, with a big scratch on her nose.

Crazy girl, her personality is really fun!

Singing with Mommy!

Watching fireworks with Daddy. A little scared, but she did great!
Thank goodness Barney was there!

Oops...Been Awhile!

2010-05-17T13:57:00.001-07:00

Yeah, keeping up with blogging is hard when you're a full-time working mommy! Oh well, most everyone who reads this follows my facebook anyway, that's much more up-to-date.

Avery is talking more and more. "Mine" and "No" are common toddler staples in our house right now. I am also learning many of my idiosyncrasies by watching Avery pick them up. For example, I am now 100% certain that I say "Umm" WAY too much (see video). She's a diva, but she's adorable. Her hair is getting long, yet it remains curly. Who knows where that comes from? Gorgeous kid!

We moved Avery into a new daycare. Serendipity Learning Center in Buttercup Creek. It has been a wonderful change. Avery has been very happy, as have Mommy and Daddy! The teachers are so attentive and tell us every little thing about her day. Wonderful ladies there! They even put her hair up in the mornings sometimes! hehe

In sad news, our cat Oz was attacked in our front yard one night and passed away. He was the coolest cat ever and our hearts are still very heavy with the loss. :-(

Our home renovations are winding down (I think). We have beautiful new cabinets in our living room thanks to my talented brother-in-law, our back patio is now completed and ready for paint. The ENTIRE house will be repainted this week (minus the brick of course), which will really improve the curb appeal. Last on the list will be re-landscaping the front yard with a new walking path from the driveway to the front door. We are hoping to complete that in the next year.

Whew. We are staying busy, enjoying life, and ready for new adventures! Hope everyone is happy and healthy.

Love to all!

December

2009-12-16T06:21:00.001-08:00

I can't believe it's been 2 months since my last post. Time is flying. The holidays are right around the corner and I am SO ready for our annual Keystone trip in January. I'm sure the 2 day car trip with a toddler will be an experience, but I'm confident that we will have a great time! Papa bought Avery her first ski jacket, so of course we had to try it on her:

Hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas!

I'll try to update more often (I think I say that every time!)...

Love to all,
The Pontious Family

My Little Pumpkin

2009-10-20T06:02:00.000-07:00

Well... Avery is now 15 months. We are having a great time with her. She is expanding her vocabulary and now clearly says, "HI!", "Uh Oh", "Buu" - which translates to book, and "tihee" - kitty of course.

We had to install baby gates all over the house so that Ms. Independent is contained to the living room, kitchen, and dining room only.

Avery LOVES to be outside. She is always content to just hang out outside and walk around or play in her new castle. Since it is finally becoming fall in Texas, we took her to a local pumpkin patch this past weekend and managed to get a few cute pics.

Beautiful Girl

2009-09-25T09:27:00.000-07:00

I just can't help but to share these amazing photos that Hunter took of Avery playing outside. She has been battling a little bit of a cold lately (as have I) but we are pushing through and enjoying the cooler weather that the beginning of fall is bringing. Hope everyone is doing well!

14 months

2009-09-08T06:13:00.000-07:00

What a fun time we are having! I am already missing the tiny baby stages, but I love the little girl she is becoming.

She's down to just 2 or 3 bottles a day. She is still learning how to walk, she will walk when coaxed, but we haven't seen her just take off on her own yet. Avery loves to read books and she loves to play outside. I am going to try to buy her one of those little toddler playsets for the backyard soon.

Here's a video of her walking around the house with her Daddy.

Love to all!

Toddler?

2009-08-06T06:20:00.000-07:00

Is it possible already? I still think she's a baby.

On August 3rd, Avery moved up to the toddler class at her daycare. I almost cried. She's even trying to walk now, she's taken one little baby step on her own. She hasn't done it again yet, but I have a feeling that walking is in our near future! Anytime someone walks into a room, Avery says, "HI!"

Avery is completely weaned from nursing now, which is a little sad to me actually. She takes about 3 bottles a day (half stage 2 formula, half milk) and we are working on transitioning over to the sippy cup. I'm not in a huge hurry though because she's so small. The pediatrician told me its okay to wait till 13-14 months to wean her off formula since her weight is still in the 5 percentile! At her 1 year check up, she weighed 17 lbs 10 oz. What a tiny peanut. The Dr. is happy with her growth though, she's been on the 5 % line since she was a few weeks old, so she is growing steady! She is tall though, 70th percentile.

Here are the newest pics of her playing and turning into a toddler. . . crazy!

1 Year Old

2009-07-08T10:38:00.000-07:00

Hard to believe its been a year already. It's been the best year of my life, no doubt about it.

She's not walking yet, but can scoot around pretty fast. She gets carpet burns on her leg from doing a one leg crawl, one leg scoot thing. .. funny to watch! Avery LOVES swimming, especially with her Daddy. That has become their special Daddy/daughter time in the evenings (Mommy gets lots of cleaning done during this time!). She loves to eat too, although you wouldn't know it from her tiny frame.

She is mostly weaned from breast feeding, I only nurse her before bed at night. We'll hang on to that last nursing session for a while yet. I'm pretty excited that we've made it this far! She had her first bottle of formula at 10 months old. I have starting giving her bottles of formula with regular milk mixed in to try to switch her off formula completely!

Can't believe soon she will be bottle free, walking, talking, and who knows what else!

Hunter and I both feel that Avery is getting cuter every day. She also has the best personality I've ever seen in a one year old. I am just completely and totally in love with this little girl. Just look how far we've come!

My heart melts looking at these pictures! I'm just hoping I don't blink and miss anything.

Oh yeah. . .one year later, I think it's safe to say the blue eyes are staying (click for a closer look):

Love,
Andrea

Is it 5 o'clock yet?

2009-06-23T06:53:00.000-07:00

It's one of life's greatest quandaries! I complain endlessly about how slow time goes while working, yet I blink and my first baby is almost 1 already!! I need to make up my mind. Do I want time to move slowly, or do I want the days to fly by? I know the answer, I want time to move slowly, I need to stop complaining, period!

I'm lucky to have a job, especially one that pays decent and where I get to work with great co-workers every day. I'm lucky that I get to live a lifestyle I could have never dreamed of at my young age. Avery is beautiful, happy, healthy, and the greatest gift I could ever have been given. Hunter and I are deeply in love and appreciate each other.

Seriously. . .WHAT do I have to complain about? Sometimes I have to shake myself out of it . . . and remember to stop and smell the roses.

I think all this stupid Jon and Kate crap has made me realize how important it is to be grateful, express how you feel, and enjoy reality . . . and to NEVER be on a "reality" show. (hehe)

Enjoy your day! Every minute of it.

The newly positive (we'll see how long it lasts!),
Andrea

11 Months

2009-06-18T10:54:00.000-07:00

Holy moly! Where does the time go? I can't believe our baby is almost a year old. Here are a few pics of Ms Avery, she has finally learned how to scoot all over the place. Still no true crawling, but she is a master scooter. She is trying to pull herself up onto furniture too. I'm sure I'll blink and she'll be running! Time to baby proof the house.

We have counters!

2009-06-11T08:58:00.001-07:00

We finally have counters! They were installed yesterday and look awesome. All we need now is the back splash. . .

Speaking of . . . here is a sample of the back splash we will have installed -

We will still eventually do under cabinet lights and recessed ceiling lights . . .but once the back-splash is done, I consider the kitchen mostly complete!

We also have a 99% completed hall bath, its the closest room to completion!

Ahh progress!!

New House Pics

2009-05-29T13:15:00.000-07:00

Ok, sorry it has taken me so long, but we have been crazy trying to get moved into the new house. Its still a work in progress, but we are 90% done. Here are pics of the almost completed new kitchen. Counters will be installed in a few weeks, then the back-splash after that.

Here are a few more of the rest of the house (don't have very many of these):

It's coming along. Hopefully I'll be able to post the completed "after" pictures soon! We are in and already enjoying the new space though. Hope you can all come see it for a house warming party. . .someday *sigh*.

Beach Video

2009-04-15T14:40:00.001-07:00

Be sure to check the pics below. . .but here's a video for added fun!

9 Months

2009-04-15T11:05:00.000-07:00

It's been a long time since I've updated! Avery is now 9 months and becoming very expressive. She is very attached to Mommy, and I'm totally okay with that! She loves Daddy too, don't get me wrong!

We just got back from a trip to Saint Petersburg, Florida. We were there over Easter visiting my Nanny. It was a wonderful trip and we got some great pics!

In big Pontious news. . .we are about to close on a new house! We are moving a few blocks from our current house to the home directly behind Hunter's parents. The house needs a lot of work, but it is much bigger than ours and the price was right! Not to mention the interest rate! We are very excited and hope to see everyone at a house warming party after all the renovations!

Pictures of the new house will come soon!

Hope everyone had a happy Easter.

Spring Time

2009-03-17T10:47:00.000-07:00

I don't have a lot new to share, but I've had lots of request for new pics. Now that the weather in Texas is warming up, we have the opportunity to dress Avery is some really cute spring outfits! Girls are too fun! We will be going to St Petersburg Florida over Easter weekend to visit my Nanny who lives right on the ocean. I'm sure we'll have a great time and get some cute beach and pool pics.

Avery is experimenting with finger foods now and really enjoys being able to feed herself. We have given her puffs (like cheerios kind of) and small bits of avacado and just last night her first teething biscuit!

Happy spring break to those who get one!

Avery Loves Daddy Too!

2009-03-02T10:27:00.000-08:00

Hunter wanted me to post this video so he could show it off to his co-workers. Our little baby is become well versed! Hehe

8 Months and the First Tooth!

2009-03-02T08:40:00.001-08:00

Avery has been drooling a lot lately and a little fussier than normal. I figured she HAS to be teething. I kept feeling around her gums and nothing. Finally yesterday I was massaging her gums and sure enough, I felt a little tiny tooth starting to break through! I even managed to wrestle my way into getting a look at the tooth. I was so excited I jumped up and ran outside to tell Hunter. I then called my sister and my dad to share my excitement.

I can't believe my baby has her first tooth. I mean, she's 8 months old now so she should, but it's still a major milestone.

8 months! WOW

A tooth! WOW

Avery loves Mommy!!

2009-02-20T08:49:00.000-08:00

Hunter had the day off work on Wednesday and took this video of Avery in the morning. He emailed it to me right away and I couldn't stop watching it. I was laughing and crying. I know there is no meaning behind it yet, but it still melts my heart. I love that girl more than anything in the whole world!!

Bath Time

2009-02-16T09:59:00.000-08:00

Avery finally outgrew her infant bathtub, so we got her this little bath bumper. It lets her sit in the big bath but puts a non-skid surface under her and a soft landing all around. She loves it! She will sit in there and play for as long as I'll let her. The biggest benefit to her is that her toys are always within reach!

Need one of these!

2009-02-09T14:05:00.000-08:00

We were at our friends Doug and Julie Youngs for their daughters first birthday party and they had one of those outdoor swings for babies. Avery LOVED it.

After all that fun, who wouldn't be tired? Time for a nice nap in the sun . . .

I love moments like these.

The Rat Race

2009-02-03T10:13:00.000-08:00

I hate working, I'm pretty sure I've mentioned that about a million times now. To make matters worse, however, very large rats the size of house cats have taken up residence in our office building. Every afternoon they chase each other or run races or something in the rafters above my office. Their newest past time seems to be scratching the ceiling tiles above my office, leaving a nice little hole and tile shavings on the floor. I swear if a rat drops from the ceiling while I am working I will QUIT on the spot. NASTY.

My biggest fear is now being in my office with the door shut and locked, hooked up to my breast pump, when . . .WHAM, a giant rat falls through the ceiling. You're laughing right now, I know you are, but this would NOT be funny.

Pest control has been here and we have about 10 traps around, but so far, the rat races are in full swing.

As promised. . .here is my sap story:

For those of you who don't know, I actually hated working before I had Avery, but knew it was just a part of life. Money makes the work go round. After having Avery however, I feel my heart break every morning when I leave her and it doesn't start beating again until I pick her up. Everyone said, "don't worry, it'll get easier, I promise." They were wrong. It is getting harder. I pray every night that God will show me the right path to follow so that I can stay home and raise my children. I don't know how working moms do it. I can't possibly keep my house clean, cook decent dinners, care for Avery, and work full time. Let alone working out or shaving my legs, I gave up hope on those a while ago. My house is always a wreck, we eat take-out multiple times a week, and my baby is being raised by other people for the bargain price of $815 a month.

I'm thinking about possibly doing home care for one or 2 kids after Hunter and I pay down most of our debt (Lord willing - this could happen soon). Does anyone have any insight into doing this?

Hoping to leave the rat races soon,
Andrea

Sitting Up

2009-02-03T09:44:00.000-08:00

Milestones are one of the most exciting things about being a parent I think. Each little thing makes you believe your baby is the smartest baby to ever live. Avery's newest super-human ability to sit up without support is becoming more impressive everyday. We still have to be ready for the topple at any moment, but she is getting so strong! Before we know it she will be sitting up playing by herself on the floor. Next milestone will be getting up on her hands and knees or army crawling.

Here she is in the Bumbo Jenny and Troy are loaning us, this lets her sit-up with support (and frees mommy and daddy's hands so they can hand over toys).

Here she is sitting up all by herself on our bed. This is a good practice place since the landings are nice and soft!

And finally, because it's so damn cute. . .

Who do you think she looks like?? I think she looks like both of us, my big cheeks and nose and Hunter's eyes and hairline, maybe lips too. Comment with your thoughts!

Love to all!

The life of a full-time working/nursing mother . . .

2009-01-22T10:10:00.000-08:00

I know a lot of people are curious as to how I work full-time and continue to exclusively offer breast milk to Avery. It's no easy feat, let me tell you!! Here is an outline of a typical workday:

1am-3am: Avery wakes up for a feeding (& diaper change)
6am: out of bed, get ready for work
6:30am: wake Avery up to feed & change her (then she goes back to sleep with Daddy)
6:45am: pump before leaving for work (then pack pump and my lunch for the day)
7:10am: out the door on my way into work
7:45am: arrive and "work" or play online and eat breakfast ;-)
9:30am: pump again at work in my office (door shut and locked obviously)
**the whole pumping process takes me about 30 minutes from set-up to clean-up**
11:30am: pump at work again
1:00pm: lunch break - head to daycare to feed Avery (yes, I do this EVERY day)
3:30pm: pump at work again
5:00pm: leave to pick up Avery from daycare
5:45-9pm: Nurse, clean, cook, eat, clean, nurse, baths
9pm: nurse Avery and put her to bed for the night (my favorite nursing session-soft light and sweet sleepy baby in my arms-LOVE IT)
9:15-10:30pm: get bottles ready for the next day, run the dishwasher and get pump set up for the morning; maybe watch a little TV. . .then bed for me finally!

Sound fun?! In case you lost count, that's 4 pumping sessions every day. It's worth it, really, it is. I'll admit that I think about introducing a little formula more often these days, but it is an emotional thing for me. I'm just not ready to do it yet. I'm proud of my success with breastfeeding . . .just wish I weren't so DARN tired!

*I left one thing off the schedule. . .7:45am-COFFEE TIME!! LOL

ZZz Zzz zzz . . .Andrea

A blog about me

2009-01-20T14:25:00.001-08:00

So far all my blogs have been about Avery, which they will continue to be, since her existence is FAR more interesting than mine. I thought I'd write a little update about me for a change though.

Where to start. . .I'm the happiest I have ever been. Seriously. I LOVE my life. I feel blessed everyday that I have an amazing husband and a beautiful daughter. We have a wonderful home and we are both employed. Okay truth time, I hate working, everyone knows that. I'm not one of those women who are career driven and want to "have it all." I just want to be a stay at home mommy. It's really all I've ever wanted. I'll get there, I WILL GET THERE. I have to keep telling myself that. This will be its own post eventually I'm sure!

I still love to travel and get out of town every chance I get. My favorite spots to date are (in no particular order): Jamaica, New York, Colorado, Caribbean cruise #2 (#1 sucked). I have high hopes that we can continue to travel now that we are a growing family so our kid(s) can see the world too. Our Colorado trip this month was a good start!!

I'm out of shape. I know I just had a baby 6 months ago so I shouldn't be too worried about it, but I'm not going to be able to get back in shape if I don't get my butt to the gym. I have a solid 10 lbs preferably 15+ lbs to lose to be back to "normal." Since I'm still nursing full time though, finding the time is near impossible. I'm working on making it a priority again (hopefully with the help of my sisters).

I think that should suffice for now. . .lol. If anyone wants to know anything or has any good blog post requests, send them over!!

Love to all,
An

Avery's Kitty

2009-01-19T06:29:00.000-08:00

I caught one of our cats Oz seeking attention from Avery (which he often does). Apparently any attention is good attention. . .

PS - Green peas are a BIG hit. Solid foods are so fun!

More Keystone Pics

2009-01-16T10:39:00.000-08:00

Here are some pretty pics I got while skiing. I think I'm going to frame some around my house. Thoughts?

PS - I made Avery a batch of homemade sweet potato puree over Xmas break and froze it. I thawed some out and let her try it and she LOVED it. She actually ate the whole portion I gave her. So far she'll eat rice cereal, avocados, bananas, apple sauce, sweet potatoes, and we are still working on the pureed carrots. Sweet potatoes have received the best reaction so far!

Jumparoo

2009-01-13T08:44:00.000-08:00

We set up Avery's jumper about a month or so ago and she would sit in it and play with the toys. She never moved though, until Sunday. She has finally figured out that she can stand and jump around in this fun contraption!! It's so cute, just had to share the video. . .

Home Again

2009-01-13T06:26:00.001-08:00

Keystone was wonderful. I really think I would move there if the cost of living weren't impossibly high. Avery did wonderful with the long car ride and being away from home for so long. I swear, we have the best baby ever! She's always happy. We didn't take as many pictures as we intended too, in fact we hardly took any at all. Here are a few for you to enjoy and I will add more later.

Keystone Bound!

2009-01-02T10:03:00.000-08:00

Well almost. We will leave tomorrow bright and early. Wish us luck as we embark on an 18 hour road trip with a 6 month old! We will have tons of pictures to share when we get back. Ahhh Vacation!!!

Hope everyone had a happy new year. I can't believe it is 2009.

Side note: Avery ate purreed carrots for the first time yesterday and really liked them! Yummy!

Christmas and 6 months!

2008-12-29T14:47:00.000-08:00

This is going to be my first official blog post. The others on here are more like memory posts.

I can't believe that Avery is 6 months old already! This past 1/2 year has been the happiest I have ever been. Being a mother is more than I thought it could be. Avery is healthy and extremely happy. She smiles and laughs all the time! She is still exclusively breastfed which is honestly a suprise even to me. I'm thrilled that we've been able to keep it up this long and hope to make it a while longer. I'll admit that pumping at work sucks! Literally I guess. . .hehe. We are looking forward to heading to Colorado next week. The long road trip should be interesting with Ms Avery, but I can't wait.

Christmas was adorable. Avery enjoyed pulling tissue paper out of the bags and she really enjoyed her new toys. She received tons of clothes, toys, and books which is so wonderful.

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday with your families! Check back often!

Andrea

Birth Story

2008-10-29T06:34:00.000-07:00

Monday, June 30, 2008:
9:00am-4:00pm: I worked all day . . .feeling and little tired and crampy but otherwise okay.
6:30pm: After work, Hunter and I went to Chili's with Lindsey Paul and Chris for dinner and had a great time. . .no idea that I was about to be in labor! In fact. . .I was probably in the earliest stages of labor already at that point.
9:00pm: Feeling "off" I decide to take a shower and go to bed early. Hunter came into bed around 10:30 or so.

Tuesday, July 1, 2008:
2:00am: I can't sleep, I feel crampy and uncomfortable. I decide to go lay on the couch in my "happy position" . . .laying on my side with pillows all over the place. I lay there staring at the clock on the cable box and come to realize that the crampiness was coming about every 15 minutes . . .hmm, I wonder. So I lay there for an hour or so watching the clock and figuring out that things weren't slowing down or stopping.
4:00am: I pull out the laptop and log onto contractionmaster.com. I'm a nerd, I know. . .it was actually very helpful though! Come to find out, contractions or "cramps" as I was still calling them, were coming every 5-8 minutes. I finally decide I should wake Hunter up and have him call into work (he was supposed to go in at 6am). When I woke him up he asked, "Are you okay? Is it time?" I then told him that I was crampy and they were picking up speed, but I still wasn't sure it was real. He called into work and started getting bags together. I helped him get everything ready then we sat on the couch. I told him at that point that the contractions were 5 minutes apart and had been for about an hour. He freaked out and told me to call the doctors office. I told him I wanted to wait until 8am because the office would be open and I wouldn't have to go straight to the hospital if this wasn't real labor. I wasn't in that much pain, I would grimace with each contraction and that was about it. Hunter won the argument, lol.
6:00 am: I call the after-hours number for my doctors office and they tell me to go ahead and go to the hospital.
6:20am: We are on the road heading to North Austin Medical Center. Mind you, at this time in the morning, traffic was starting to pick up and the hospital is about 15-20 miles away. I called my boss on the way there to tell him that I wouldn't be in, but that I still wasn't sure if things were really happening. . .I'm crazy, I know. By now, the contractions were lasting longer and getting more uncomfortable. I was gripping the door handles and trying to breath through each one. (I also sat on a towel in case my water broke)
6:50am: We arrive and get sent to the triage room in the hospital to be checked (they want to make sure you are in labor before they admit you). I got into a gown and went to the bathroom. As I was sitting there waiting for a nurse to come in (we waited about 10-15 minutes), I looked over at Hunter and calmly said, "I think my water just broke." The nurse walked in a few minutes later and I told her, she looked and said, "okay . . .we can go ahead and put you straight into a room now!"
7:30am: I get put in a birthing suite and hooked up to a fetal monitor and IV. After all this time, a nurse finally checked me and said that I was 7 cm dialated! I couldn't believe I was that far already. I told Hunter to get on the phone and call and text message all our family and close friends, I was finally convinced that things were happening now...haha. The nurses asked if I wanted an epidural and I said I wanted to wait just a few more minutes, I was still tolerating things well. I was feeling a lot more pressure and having to "push up" with my hands to get off my bum with each contraction. I also wanted to stay sitting up, leaning back in the bed made everything harder to take. They rolled in the epidural cart and I said I wasn't quite ready for it yet. The nurse checked me again and I was fully dialated!! Out the cart went and I looked and Hunter and said, "uh oh! I guess no epidural for me!." 8:00am: Ready to start pushing. Hunter's now sending out new messages to everyone that I'm starting to push. Family is freaking out and trying to rush to the hospital. Dad (Papa) is on his way to Minnesota and is cussing at Hunter via text message, we thought he would have time to make a quick trip and come back. . .we were still 2 weeks from the due date. Oops, lol.

Pushing starts. I have no idea what I'm doing, but with no drugs at all, my body seemed to know what to do and I was just along for the ride. The nurses let me have total contral, I pushed when I wanted to, rested when I wanted to. I was almost in a trance, in between pushing I would lay back, close my eyes, and totally relax. No pain, just pressure which was relieved by pushing. Things moved slowly . . .expected with the first baby. After about an hour of pushing the doctor came in to deliver. I was getting tired . . .I remember looking at Hunter and saying, "I don't think I can do this." After another 20 minutes or so the doctor recommended having an episiotomy to help things along. . .I was going to tear anyway she said, it would just take longer. After a few more pushes, I told her to do it. Felt nothing, not even the numbing shots. I remember hearing everything and knowing what she was doing, but the pressure down there already had everything numb.
9:30am: Episiotomy performed and a few more pushes . . . Hunter is really getting excited and can see the baby, he was a great support the whole time!
9:40am: It's a . . . .they pull baby out and turn her around to put her on my tummy and ask, "What is it mom?!" I look and say, "It's a girl!!!!!!!!!! It's a girl?! It's a girl!!!" The relief of being done, the pleasure of looking at this new life and the excitement of finally being a mommy . . .I cry and laugh and share this special moment with Hunter who is also teary eyed! They bring Avery (luckily we had a girl name picked out!) to the warmer and start cleaning her up and suctioning her out. Meanwhile, I was bleeding more than normal and the doctor was trying to figure out why. The doctor and nurse start mashing on my stomach to get everything to shrink and stop the bleeding (this is normal by the way. . .just a little more of it for me since I was still bleeding). For the first time in this whole process, I am in SERIOUS pain! I am begging the nurse to stop mashing on my stomach and crying. They ask if I want pain meds now and I am more than ready for them. I actually regret this now . . .you'll see why.

9:50am: I send Hunter out to tell the waiting family members (Mike, Pam, and Nikki). He comes back in as they are finishing their mashing torture. Bleeding is stopped, or back to normal, and I am stiched up and finally done. They bring Avery over to me and Hunter and I just stare at her, amazed by how perfect she is. We have a baby!
10:00am: Hunter brings the family in to meet Avery and calls/texts messages everyone else. We have 15 minutes or so to meet and greet, then every goes out to wait for us to move to postpartum. I don't wait for the nurses to come back, I go ahead and nurse Avery for the first time. She latches right on and I feel complete! The nurses come back as I was finishing the first nursing and ask me to get up and walk into the bathroom to get cleaned up. I get up with help, walk into the bathroom, and . . . . . .pass out. Blood loss and IV pain meds was the wrong combo to have someone get up and walk to the bathroom after childbirth! Luckily, the nurse caught me and after several minutes and smelling salts, I came around. Scared Hunter!! I woke up and right away said groggily, "my foot hurts!" I rolled over my left foot and it was throbbing. They get me in a wheel chair and off we go to post-partum. This is all a little fuzzy for me between the IV meds and passing out.

I pass out a few more times that day with bathroom attempts (rolling over on my left foot again!). I was worried it was broken. Ouch. Luckily it wasn't and everything was fine. I was weak and pale but good. Avery was perfect and nursing was going well. Lots of people in and out to meet Avery and congratulate us.

We sent Avery to the nursery the first night for 3 hours so Hunter and I could get some rest. On Thursday (July 3rd), Avery's doctor wasn't sure if he wanted to release us because she had lost 9% of her birth weight. . .so we fed her with 2 little bottles of formula and they let us go later that afternoon with instructions to supplement after each feeding.

Finally home, I put the formula bottles as close to the trash as possible and never look at them again. Avery nurses like a pro, my milk came in, and she never had another drop of formula. Pam stayed for a few nights and cleaned and cooked for us. . .such a huge help. I don't think I could have managed without her. I was able to focus solely on Avery and resting.

We are blessed with a happy healthy family and a bright future!!

The Waiting Game

2008-06-06T09:46:00.000-07:00

Well I feel like I'm in the final stretch and playing the waiting game. 6 more weeks till the due date. Will the baby come early, late, on time?? I hear Dory from Finding Nemo in my head . . ."Just keep swimming, just keep swimming, swimming." lol

The shower is tomorrow and I am so excited for that! It will be wonderful to hang out with so many friends and family members. It will also allow me to finish preparing for Little One's arrival. I will know what I need to buy and can actually set everything up.

My back hurts. That's a new one for me. I've been so lucky with this pregnancy, no morning sickness, no major discomforts, but now that I'm in the final stretch, the aches and awkwardness are coming out! I'm trying hard not to be a whiner though, I hate whiners!