This post is a snapshot into our lives the past month or so. Birthday parties, Halloween and plenty of family pictures. A little random, but fulfilling and fun just the same.
Avery's friend, Cameron's, 4th birthday party. Horses, lots of playing and swimming. What a fun day!
It's like she was born to ride.
This picture cracks me up.
Halloween! Unfortunately, Avery got a little cold bug Halloween morning, but she was able to participate in her school's parade before heading home with Claire and me. We rested all day, gave her plenty of fluids and meds and she was able to go trick or treating that night...for a little while at least. Avery was tired, not feeling 100% and scared of all the "non-princessy costumes and decorations," so we made it an early night for all of us!
Oh, Avery was a "MOM" for Halloween. =) Love her!
I kept telling her she was a pumpkin, but she kept insisting she was a pirate.
Now, a bunch of randoms!
My friend love, Julie and her mom, Loretta (Lola), came to visit a few weeks ago! This was a jean jacket picture, if you couldn't tell.
Rose and Claire - cousin twins!
Check yourself.
Ha!
Avery and Helen tearing up the culdesac.
The Simpson-side cousins. We love Tyler!
We went to breakfast at a local hotspot recently. It was a busy morning, so we had to wait outside for a little while. During our wait, an elderly couple shuffled out of the restaurant after finishing their meal and the man happened to be wearing an eye patch... As they were passing us, Avery asked pretty loudly, "mom, is that a pirate??" OMG! Everyone in earshot started laughing and thankfully, the elderly man was cool and said with a chuckle "honey, I'm too old to be a pirate." Ahhhh! Do I laugh or cringe? Since it was since an innocent question and not offensive (I hope), I went with laugh (in a polite way, of course).
Sass is an understatement.
That's a wrap, folks!
FPT
They're going to kill me for posting this picture one day, but it's a risk I'm willing to take...
Avery and Claire look A LOT alike. You can undoubtedly tell they're sisters. Major similarities: nose, facial structure and intense baby stare glare. Minor differences: lips and eyes.
It'll be fun to see the similarities and differences as they grow up.
Sometimes Avery has a hard time sitting still...even when watching TV. She's moving around, climbing on furniture, sitting here, sitting there...you get the drift. Well, one day last week she was moving all over while watching Clifford the Big Red Dog and this is what happened next...
Me: Avery, you're so antsy. Can you please sit still?
Avery: What's Antsy?
Me: It's when you can't sit still and you're moving all over the place and fidgeting.
Avery: Oh. I'll try.
(She tried...to no avail...Ha!)
A little while later...
Avery: Mom, I've still got ants!
Bhahahaha!!
I have one more notable conversation to share that had my mom and me in stitches. Avery, Claire and I visited with my parents yesterday afternoon. When we got there, my mom said she had a fun Halloween treat to make with Avery. Fun, right?
Danda: Avery, put the pretzel stick in an upside down mini Reese's just like this.
Avery: Like this? (Does it just the way my mom did.)
Danda: Yes! Now, what does that look like?
Avery: A toilet plunger.
Boy, did that have us laughing! Witch's broom, Avery. We were going for witch's broom!! =)
Claire Everly Simpson was born on Tuesday, October 14th at 12:48pm via a scheduled c-section (breech). What an experience a planned c-section was! We were relaxed and had plenty of time to get ready and drop Avery off at my parents' house that morning. Once we got to the hospital, we were calm and went through the motions of completing paperwork and settling into the monitoring and prep for surgery.
I think part of the reason I was so calm was because I spent the majority of the day before crying! Crying with Avery in the morning when she said she was going to miss me when I was in the hospital, crying when I thought of how affected she would be if anything ever happened to me, crying because I love her and Jeff so much, crying because I was so excited to meet our newest little family member. I literally cried all I could and that was such a releasing, cleansing feeling. I woke up on Tuesday refreshed, happy and beyond excited!
The surgery went as planned and when they pulled the baby out and asked Jeff to announce the sex, he said, "it's...a... ... ...GIRL!" Immediately, I was overcome with emotion! Another girl!! I would have been absolutely thrilled with a boy, but another girl is just perfect for our family and I couldn't imagine it any other way! So, back to the sex announcement...Jeff took a long time to say "girl." Right after it finally came out, our doctor said "what took you so long? Do you know the differences in parts?!" Haha! She totally called him out and everyone in the room was laughing. Jeff said it took him a minute to register that it was a girl...and it was hard to tell, because of swollen parts and lots of you know, birth stuff.
As for Avery's take on Claire...wow - talk about crying! Avery is filled with so much love for her little sister!! She is super gentle and loves to help change her diaper and cover her up with a blanket. She always tells Claire that she loves her and that she's really cute. Ha! She makes up songs to sing to Claire and gives her hundreds of kisses a day. She has shown Claire more love than I anticipated and Jeff and I are over the moon!
With all that said, there was day or two of minor adjustment for Avery with questions like "do you guys love me AND Claire?!" And, when Claire made a funny noise in the backseat on our drive home from the hospital, Jeff and I looked back to make sure she was okay and Avery said "can you guys look at me and not Claire?" Besides those few questions, Avery has exceeded all our sisterly expectations!
Claire is 15 days old today! I am trying to stop time as best I can and soak up every moment of this newborn stage. It's gone with a fleeting eye and I want to cherish this time in our lives. There have been a few times in the past two weeks when I've had a sleeping newborn on my chest and decided that that was more important to me than putting her in her cradle and writing her birth blog post or picking up the house. I think I made the right decision and plan on making ones like that for the next few months. I have my priorities straight and it feels so good.
Claire was 8lbs 2oz and left the hospital 8lbs 3oz. She lost a few ounces the first day or so, but quickly made up for that and then some. At her first newborn pediatrician checkup at six days old, the doctor had to confirm with the nurse who weighed Claire that she was indeed 8lbs 8oz just a short time after birth. Being the eater that she is, we've had some long nights and some sore "me," but it is worth it and starting to get better. She's filling out so well and already has a little baby chub on her thighs! If Claire was born on her due date (she was born one week early), she would have been closer to the mid 8's or even close to 9lbs!
Avery was the same way with eating. She was born weighing 7lbs 6oz and left the hospital at 7lbs 6oz! She weighed in at 7lbs 9oz at her first newborn pediatrician checkup. The difference between the two is that Avery was more on a schedule (her own doing). She was a 3 hour feeder from the get go with some variations here and there. Claire is all over the map with timing, which keeps me on my toes...and keeps me close to her at all times!
Claire has started sleeping in 4-hour stretches the past few nights (...or at least it starts off that way and then goes to 2.5 - 3.5 hour stretches). I go to bed with Claire around 8pm and due to this early bedtime, I am pretty rested during the day for the most part. We are in bed for 10 - 11 hours and with nursing time, I'm getting around 8 hours each night. Love me some sleep!
Claire is awake and alert more and more each day and we are all loving that. She is very calm when she's awake, for the most part, and loves looking around the room at everything. She is truly seeing her world for the first time!
I could go on and on, but won't. I'll let the following pictures tell the story!
Dropping Avery off on the way to the hospital!
Dad is dressed and ready.
She's here!!
Love. Joy. Happiness!
My girls meeting for the first time.
::tear::
Another visit and more love...
And, more kisses!
GramCin love!
Loved my view from the hospital bed...
So calm, so peaceful.
Danda!
Some gifts from our neighbors!
First bath - no tears, just questioning looks.
One very special additional piece of news is that my brother and his wife welcomed their second daughter 26 hours after Claire was born. Welcome to the family, Rose Elliott!!
Rose on the left, Claire on the right.
Happiest grandparents around!
Four granddaughters!
Busy birthday week. Claire 10/14, Rose 10/15 and Brennan 10/17!
FPT
This segment is called "The Progression of a Yawn."
I have a handful of blogs I want to post before the baby arrives, but being the "occasional realist" I am, I decided that perhaps not all of my intended blogs would get on the WWW before the impending arrival. With that said, getting the most important blog up from my Blog To Do List is crucial, because it involves my baby girl's birthday!!
Happy 4th birthday to my beautiful daughter! You blow my mind daily with the way you think about things and how you communicate. Those that know you well can attest to the beauty of when you're in the mood to chat and discuss things (i.e. calm, focused), the way you think shows beyond your years. You question everything with a perspective that we usually don't see coming. You want to know who, what, when, where and why to the extent that we can become exhausted at the end of conversations, but we always try to give you the best answers to satisfy your precocious, curious mind. Please don't ever lose this unique, inquisitive quality, Av. It's what makes you, you. You are deeply compassionate, attentively aware, downright funny and a wonderful conversationalist. You are also very sensitive, in touch with all your emotions (read: moody! :-)) and fearless when it comes to expressing or showing how you feel about something. A wallflower you are not. However, you sometimes take a few minutes to warm up to a new situation and will come across shy or reserved, but that's just you, proceeding with caution.
Another thing I want to be sure to always remember... your memory is insanely accurate. For example, earlier this week we were cleaning out your playroom and came across an Aqua Doodle mat that the Goads gave you for your second birthday. We played with it on and off for a month or so after your birthday, but packed it away for our move and just uncovered it (that's a whole other story...). Anyways, when you first saw the mat (after two years!) you said matter of factly, "Quinn gave this to me."
Here are some pictures from your birthday and birthday party...
Striking a pose in her preschool birthday dress.
Enjoying a birthday croissant at Albertsons before preschool.
Birthday party time!
Cousins
Happy birthday, baby! We love you to the moon and back!
FPT
My view one recent "football Sunday." Love. Just love.
Avery and I were talking about her upcoming birthday the other day. You know, her birthday party, who was coming, what she wanted for decorations and what she wanted for a present. (That last one is where things got weird.)
Me: What do you want for a birthday present?
Avery: Hmmmmm.
Me: You don't have to answer now. Just think about it and you can tell me later.
Avery: A real knife and syrup.
Whhhaaaattt??
Oy vey!
Needless to say, I was confused and shocked while nearly peeing my pants from laughing so hard. My Mom was in another room when this conversation was taking place and I could hear her belly laugh all the way across the house!
FPT
This is a special picture as much as it is funny. Avery and I were practicing changing her doll's diaper (in preparation for our baby, of course). She totally nailed it on the first try by herself and was beyond proud of herself. Look at that expression. Proud, sweet girl!
It's about time I do a pregnancy post, right? Let's do it!
How far along: 33 weeks, 3 days!
Total weight gain: (...this is a fun one...) 33 pounds. (I gained a total of 35 pounds with Avery and actually dropped a pound or two the week or so before having her. With this baby, I'm potentially on track to gain 40!)
Sleep: I love sleep. Always have, always will. Fortunately, I have been sleeping soundly and comfortably so far. I have to get up to use the bathroom from time to time, but immediately fall back asleep once I hit the pillow. A big, cozy, comfy bed is one of my most favorite things in the world! Since I've been through the newborn stage once before, I know I have a few sleepless months ahead of me and am already starting to mentally prepare.
Best moment this week: Avery asking me a handful of times "when will the baby come out?" She's starting to get really excited, which makes this whole experience that much sweeter. Another great moment - hanging out in my bed yesterday before we got ready for the day. The baby was really active and Avery's face kept lighting up from seeing all the movement. She has seen it before, but the baby was showing off its dance moves for a few minutes straight. Avery loved seeing it and kept looking at me like "is this real?" Then, she leaned into my belly and whispered right into my belly button (which is how you talk to a baby in a belly, right?), "hi, baby." Oh my. Loooove!
Miss anything: Sleeping on my back. Wine. Running. Staying awake past 9:30 8:30 p.m.
Movement: This baby moves, shakes and throws down some dance moves from time to time, but overall, it's a "quieter" baby than Avery was inside. Avery moved constantly...like the "does she ever sleep?!" kind of constant. With this baby, well, there are stretches when I wonder if there is even a baby in there. Just kidding. Kind of. Until about 30 weeks, there were nights when I had to drink orange juice just to get the kid to move. Thankfully, the baby has been more active lately, but is still chill for the most part. I remember laughing in the face of kick counts with Avery, but this time around, I have to consciously count the movements most nights.
Food cravings: Potatoes! Baked variety is at the top of my list, but I'll eat any kind. I also crave sweets, buuuuut that might just be me and not a pregnancy thing.
Anything making you queasy or sick: Nothing specific, but I find myself to still be nauseous from time to time. Not that bad, but a light queasiness shows itself a few times a week. Also, when not pregnant, I am a pasta lover, a sushi lover (veggie rolls!) and a Doritos lover, but those three haven't appealed to me much at all. Whaaaa?
Gender: No idea. Some days I think boy, some days I think girl. Lately, it's been more of a girl feeling, but really - no idea. Avery's guess always flip flopped between boy and girl when we talked about it or someone asked, but lately has been on a strong girl kick. Jeff and I keep saying we can't wait for the "it's a girl!" or "it's a boy!" call. We would be absolutely thrilled with a boy. One of each. Both Jeff and I grew up in families with one of each and loved it! It would be special for Jeff to have a son to play catch with (Avery throws the ball once, becomes disinterested and wants to play tea party...) and do "boy" things with. I would love to experience being a mom of a boy. Can only imagine the world of change that would be! On the other hand, having two girls would be a blast. We know girls and love ours. Having a mini-Avery just blows our minds with how cute that could be. And, I never had a sister and always thought it would be so great to have one. And, matching dresses? Come on!
Labor signs: Ha. Yes, possibly. Contractions have been my best friend lately. Does this mean I'll deliver early? Or, does it just mean I'll have to deal with this for the next 6+ weeks? No one knows, but it keeps me on my toes to put it mildly!
Happy or moody most of the time:Happy...with bouts of moodiness! I'd be lying if I said there hasn't been a time or two when something somewhat disruptive/annoying/sad has seemed like the most catastrophic thing ever. Hormones, man.
Looking forward to: Meeting my little wonder of a baby! Starting our lives as a family of 4.5 (did you forget Belle?!)! And, what gets me so choked up and so excited I want to crawl out of my skin...witnessing Avery meet her baby sister/brother for the first time. I'm crying just thinking about that moment. (Hormones, man.)
Jeff and I met on a blind date in December 2004 and were married in October 2007. He is the apple of my eye, the hop in my step and the love of my life. In September 2010 we proudly welcomed our first child, daughter Avery Elizabeth and this site was created to share with our friends and family, near and far, Avery's journey through this magical thing called life.
