Mommyhood

So I have to admit one of my biggest fears of becoming a mom was not the labor and delivery, it was what to do with a newborn when we got home. I honestly thought I would be bored out of my mind. And although there are MANY slow points to my day; nothing like life in an autism classroom, I find so much joy in just talking to little Avila. Learning all her little facial expressions and finding amazement in the way she has grown in just one week. I am loving being a mom.

Here are some photos for everyone to enjoy. Nothing too exciting. Let's all remember she if only a week and a half old, so she is still a blob in cute clothes.

Here she is at one day old. Actually to be honest I think she is only a few hours old in this picture.

This is her in her going home outfit. I was tired of being in the hospital so we left a day early. I think all of us were ready to be home and sleep in our own bed!

Even the baby was ready for her own bed too. This was right after we got home. She didn't stay in the bed too long. She was too cute to leave just laying there.

The happy family a couple days after being home. This picture was before Avila learned it was a good thing to sleep during the night. We were a little tired at this point. But we are happy...overjoyed even, to tell everyone that we are going on 6 nights in a row that she has only woken up one time to eat. This is a reason to give thanks! Sleep!

Bath time is not one of her favorite activities. She sure smells good after!

"I'm ready for my close up"
Already trying to be a baby Gap model thanks to the many adorable outfits everyone bought.

She loves her time with daddy! Blair is already teaching her to stand. She'll be playing soccer in no time! No rush, Blair just wants her to be ready.

A little rest after a hard workout with daddy.

A much needed date, just the 3 of us watching the sunset. Who would have thought we would have summer in January! It was a gorgeous day!

Mommy's little beach bum. I just love her!

Another favorite photo

I just love it when she's awake and alert like this. You can't tell, but her shirt says I love daddy and she does. Her favorite is when he sings to her. It puts her to sleep at night; mommy too!

I just love her cute little face

SHE'S HERE... meet Avila Joy Edwards

Delivery Play -by- play:

2:00 pm - went to the hospital

2:53 am - delivered little (8.4 lbs - 21.5 inches) Avila Joy

3:00 am - Avila visited the NICU for breathing complications

5:30 am - Avila was delivered to her mommy (finally!!!)

6:30 am - Mommy and Daddy tried to get some sleep

7:00 am - Nurses needed to check mommy and baby's vitals

8:00 am - Everybody and their mother started showing up to visit.  

This explains the glassed over look in my eyes.  I don't do so well on 30 minutes of sleep, not to mention a day/night of giving birth.

More pictures to come.  Blair and I are so thankful for all the calls and visits we have had.  we are at home and doing very well.  We still can't believe she is ours and how in less than a week she has completely stolen our hearts.  She is amazing and perfect.  Never have the words in Psalm 119 meant so much to me - she was fearfully and wonderfully made.  We praise the Lord for this new little JOY in our life.

Advice

Since being pregnant I have received advice from all kinds of people. Advice from people you would expect; like family and close friends and advice from random strangers. I'm still caught off guard when the lady at the grocery store wants to "prep" me on things to expect or the woman walking her dog who wants to "enlighten me" with parenting tips. It's like people look at me and think, oh this poor girl she has no idea what she's doing, i must rescue her! Please don't get me wrong, all the advice has either been good or good for a laugh. Here is today's advice from a lady at the mall. I think it wins the most absurd advice award. I definitely goes in the good for a laugh category. I loved it! Enjoy........

As I'm at the mall the lady behind the counter asked if anyone had given me post-pardom advice. And I honestly (first mistake) replied, "ummm, not really." I'm thinking she going to tell me about Lanolin or something like that. No....better. She told me that I need to make sure to stay off my feet for 4-5 days after I deliver the baby. She said the more I walk around the more air bubbles get inside me making look fat. She said that is why after you have the baby the nurses push on your stomach, they are trying to get all the extra air out. She also recommended wearing a girdle to compress the belly and keep air out as well. She also said the girdle would help get all the organs back into place as an added bennefit. She very honestly told me how much she regretted not following this advice after her mother told her becuase now she can't get rid of all the extra "baby weight". She said is was due to air bubbles and misplaced organs.

Welcome to my world. The world of crazy advice.

Baby's room tour

Most of you have seen Avila's soon-to-be room, but I thought I would share it with those who haven't. And.......... Blair and I just got our first video camera for Christmas (thank you Grandma Mavis and Muni!) and I wanted to try it out. Just wait. Soon this blog will be full of cute little Avila movies. So if you think this one is boring wait until I have a 5 minute movie posted of Avila staring at a piece of dust! I bet you can't wait!

Bringing in the New Year pregnant.

Well, Dr. Green was right. Don't trust the due date the sonogram tech's give you. So were back to believing that that the original due date is the right one. January 8th. We are taking bets on the birth date (for those of you who enjoy a friendly little wager) Simply leave a comment with the date you want to bet and the winner will get a Starbucks!

Although we didn't get a tax refund, New years eve was still a fun. We went to a little bash at the Leamans. Blair was still hopeful that the baby would come that night (you can tell by his t-shirt - he's a proud daddy already) No contractions, no broken water - just good clean fun!

Happy New Years Everyone!