Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Settling


Avery is 12 days old today. The first week was spent just getting used to having a newborn again. Avery had trouble getting used to sleeping in the Pack-n-Play beside our bed and only wanted to sleep on my chest. Dangerous and habit-forming, I know. We tried to let her cry it out, but after four hours one night, we just about gave up! So I started implementing the BabyWise schedule a few days ago. It worked wonders with Abby Kate, so we wanted to do it again. Things are going much smoother now. Avery sleeps in the Pack-n-Play during naps and at night. She is also much happier during the day. She's starting to smile, and she even laughed in her sleep a couple of times. She has the cutest dimple in her right cheek when she grins. I look forward to the one or two I see each day. I ventured out by myself yesterday for the first time with the girls. Just a short trip to the grocery store. I'm happy to say it went well. It just took a whole lot longer to get out the door!

Abby Kate is an absolute dream of a big sister. She is so, so helpful and loves her little sister to pieces. She has been such a good girl. I am so proud of her. My heart has been torn a lot as I have to constantly ask her to wait for things. But she is very patient and understanding so far. Since feeding Avery takes so much time, AK now reads to us while I nurse her. She has memorized a dozen or more of her books (I'm talking every word... even 20+ page books!) and loves to recite them. She is excited to start preschool two days a week starting Sept. 1.

Mike has already started flying again and is doing night flights this week. He only has a few flights left until his Harrier training is complete. I'm excited to get the opportunity to see him fly the Harrier up close for the first time in the next couple of weeks. I'll get to go out to the runway and take pictures and video. I'll be sure to post it here.

I'm feeling great and can't tell you how much I love not being pregnant! I'm looking forward to getting back into my exercise routine. I tried jogging a little yesterday, but my body's not quite ready yet. I think I started running again at 2 and 1/2 weeks after AK, so I'm making that my goal. My first run could turn out to be more of a shuffle than a jog though! haha

6 comments:

Brinkley Oliver said...

Congratulations on your beautiful baby girl! You are blessed with a very beautiful family. On the sleeping thing, have you ever tried a "Mommy Bear"? It's a bear that you turn on in the crib and it sounds like a mothers womb. You can get them with timers so you don't have to come back and turn it off later. It evidently worked wonders with me. Here's the link to it at Babies R Us:

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2401847

Kim said...

Glad that you turned to BabyWise again as that book was a livesaver for us. Yes, I remember how LONG it seemed to get out of the house those first few months. You'll get the hang of it. I remember showing up a few times to places about an hour late but by that time I didn't care about being late it was just the fact that I WAS going to leave the house no matter what it took to do so. So sweet about AK reading to you. Yes, it broke my heart too telling Philip to wait but he was a big help overall too and really didn't get jealous until Braewyn began eating baby food and crawling. That's when he would pretend to learn to crawl too!

Sarah said...

So glad you are getting a break from those long nights. Those pics of AK and Avery playing under the baby gym bring back memories for me of Eden and Maren!

The Moremans said...

that first run is such a joke! i am dreading it! i am glad things are going well for you! hang in there...soon having 2 is easier then one!

Cristy, Nick and Caden said...

The pics of AK and Avery are so adorable. I am glad everyone is doing good. You will somehow hoave to get AK on video reading to you and Avery...Priceless. Take care. Your little nephew Austin is adorable!!

Carrie, Sean and Savannah Leigh said...

I am so glad to hear all is going well with a family of 4. The pictures are just adorable. AK seems to be such a wonderful big sister!!
Babywise schedule...awesome! I had a friend who turned me onto the book and I tell everyone about it especially if they are having sleeping/schedule issues. It's funny because I have had people tell me it doesn't work and I laugh because if you try and follow it somewhat it WILL work.