Monday, March 19, 2012

Babymoon Week 2

Babymoon week 2 was just more loveliness.  Brad had to go back to work, which was SAD.  But Grandma B. was here with us and thankfully she took Eli to and from school, and watched the boys when I needed a nap.  My milk came in with a ferocity the first week, so I spent a lot of this week still resting, recovering, and trying to get breastfeeding figured out again.  You'd think with FOUR YEARS of breastfeeding experience that I'd have it down... but every newborn is a new person, and it was new for me all over again.  But by the end of the week everything was feeling better... and Ava just got cuter and cuter by the day!

First bath with brothers was super fun!


Rocking with Daddy was also a favorite activity.  I think it might have even been more painful for him than for me when he had to leave us to go back to work... as soon as he got home he would head straight for Ava and scoop her up... even if she was sleeping peacefully somewhere!  Awww...

   

And of course more brother snuggles. 

 Grandma had a big sewing project to work on while she was here, and the boys had some fun cutting fabric with her while she worked. 

Ava enjoyed modeling the rag quilt that Grandma made for her with fabric Mommy picked out... it's so pretty in person!  Grandma did a great job!  Hopefully I will get to use these colors in her room in our "future" home.  For now, she shares with us.  

The boys LOVE their Daddy in general, but this week they really ate up any and all attention he could give them when he got home from work.  They insisted on Daddy snuggles to get to sleep... and it worked just as well on tired Daddy!  (pic taken in darkness ...  I have a good flash!)

Of course I had to fit a modeling session in for Ava Jean this week! A pink cloth diaper, and hat/headband that I crocheted during the last two weeks of pregnancy countdown.











Wrapped around her little finger already....


Snoozing in the co-sleeper... I always intend for my babies to spend more time in here than they do... they learn very early on that they prefer sleeping right next to Mommy's warm body and milk, haha.  

Another baby of mine needed some adoration this week, so I wrapped him up and put him to bed and "ooohed" and "ahhhed" over what a cute baby he was!  After a couple of minutes he was ready to be a big brother again.  

Brad is the magic bedtime man... he is best at soothing Ava when she gets the evening fussies...and usually gets her to sleep with less fuss than I can!


We had crazy, crazy weather this week!  It went from being super hot (in the 80's for Feb!) to being rainy and cold.  Thankfully the boys took advantage of the warm day, and did what they do best - got dirty! 

Grandpa came back for another day before they had to head back to Utah, and I was finally feeling up to leaving the house.  Grandma and Grandpa took Eli to school and spent the morning with Owen, then Ava and I joined them to pick Eli up from school and head to gymnastics.  Eli and Owen got a kick out of having such a large fan club to watch them perform.  We later met up with Brad and drove up into Amish country to enjoy the scenery and buy some yummy baked goods from the Amish bakery.  We even went to dinner that night!  It was a loooong day out for Ava (and me!) but she was a champ!  So far, she is an excellent car passenger... I just hope it stays that way!

Saturday morning a friend of mine came over to take Ava's newborn pictures.  Grandma and Grandpa played with the boys while we were occupied with that (of course Grandpa had to build more aircraft out of Tinker Toys), but then they had to head to the airport.  The boys were so sad to see them go, but when Grandpa gave them some toy airplanes (like the ones he builds parts for) they were so excited they forgot to be sad.  Everyone really enjoyed the visit.  




I didn't end up wrapping Ava much during the second week since Grandma was always free to hold her when I needed my hands.... but on Sunday (exactly two weeks old) I got some precious wrap snuggles in with her while Brad and the boys went to church.  Gotta love that newborn hair, and those chubby cheeks!



Sunday, March 18, 2012

Babymoon Week 1

I just love "babymooning" - you know, the first couple of weeks after birth, hibernating with a precious newborn... no demands (well, other than those of the two older brothers, haha) other than to snuggle, nurse, and fall completely in love!  That first week went by far too quickly, but we all enjoyed it.  Brad was able to take the entire week off from work - in fact he had actually scheduled his vacation days ahead of time starting Monday the 20th - so Ava has perfect timing arriving the day before on Sunday!

On her second day home, we had a little "birthday party" for her.  Brad and the boys made chocolate cupcakes, and we had a good time frosting and adding Valentine sprinkles.  Eli and Owen were thankful for the excuse to have cake.



Less than 48 hours old, Ava slept through her party.  But that's ok, we had fun anyway!  I'm sure the rowdy sounds of her brothers having a good time was comforting, and put her right out... the cozy wrap snuggles helped a little too I'm sure.  I have been waiting to bust out the wraps again!

  





When Ava was 4 days old we had to drive back out to the hospital in Fulton to complete some of her newborn tests (hearing test, PKU screening, bilirubin levels) since those don't really get done at the hospital when you leave the same day the baby is born!  Which is fine... the blood and hearing tests are much easier to do when the baby is a few days old.  And Ava did get some slight jaundice, but nothing much to worry about.  Here she is snuggling in the car with Daddy after getting a full tummy of milk.  My wonderful friend Kristan came over the house with her own two kids to watch the boys so that Brad could come with me to the hospital.

Later that night, the boys got to go back to Grandma Betty's for another sleepover... they were SO. EXCITED!  They got to pack their overnight bags with toys/snacks/books and were all ready to go in their monster PJ's!

And what did Brad and I do?  Spend the evening snuggling the baby of course!  I think we tried to watch a movie, but I can't even remember which one now!  Haha.  


The boys came back the next day for more snuggles of their own.  Eli is totally in love with his sister.  Whenever I walk in the room with her he says "I want to see Ava!" and has to come see what her face is looking like, and give her a hug and a kiss.  He says dozens of times a day "Oh, I just LOVE Ava" or "Oh she is so cute, I LOVE her mom!"  What a sweetie pie.  Owen loves her too and also likes to hold her and give her kisses... he is just not entertained by her for as long a time as Eli is.  


Brad's parents came in on Friday night... so they got meet Ava when she was 5 days old.  The boys were asleep already when they got in, so they got to have a quiet evening to meet her.  Isn't Grandma pretty? 




Grandpa had a business meeting in Ohio, so he stayed with us for the weekend, then drove out for his meeting and Grandma stayed with us the whole week.  It was nice to have help and company since Brad had to go back to work. The boys totally ate up the attention when Grandpa was here... turns out Grandpa is "cool" because he helps design/build parts for special airplanes.  So of course, the had to help Eli and Owen make some designer aircraft as well.





  
Ava got to lounge on the quilt Grandma made for her, and the boys showed her how awesome trains can be... 


Everyone was pretty worn out after a fun weekend!  It was fun to be able to share our joy with family.