Smiley Avery

Winter belle
Hilarious picture... it looks like she is holding the camera and taking pictures of herself!
Sporting her Colts turtleneck. Go Colts! 14-0
She found Santa boring... haha
Napping angel


Eventually I will get around to writing a post when I get some time! For now, enjoy the pictures!

Back to Work

Whew! I am so exhausted! Wednesday was my first day back to work. I went in at 10, but we got up at 6:30am, Avery nursed, I got tons of stuff ready (my pump, frozen milk, extra clothes, etc), we drove 45 minutes to my mom and dad's house, Avery nursed again, then I went in. We ended up getting a big gap at lunch time so I actually got to go and feed Avery, then just worked another 3 hours. We went to church with my parents and then had a dessert reception with my coworkers. We didn't get home until almost midnight! Avery and I were so tired... we slept off and on until almost 11am.
Avery is starting to finally get used to riding in the car for longer periods of time. She will still fuss sometimes for the first 5-10 minutes or so, but today she was super quiet and went almost right to sleep.
Today, we had the same morning routine as Wednesday, but as I was getting ready to leave my parent's house, Avery projectiled all over the front of me. My shirt was covered and it went clear down the inside of my shirt too. I had to wash it out and we tried to dry it, but I ended up going to work with it damp.
I also pumped for the first time at work today. They asked me to pump in childcare, but there is a giant window in the front facing outside. I couldn't find an outlet and I couldn't get the child gates unlocked. I ended up sitting on the floor behind the gate with my back to the window. Not really ideal... I probably need to find a new place. Then when I got to my parent's house and was trying to put the milk in the freezer bag, I spilled almost 2 ounces. Talk about crying over spilled milk!
I had to dictate an hour of paperwork at their house, feed Avery, then we finally got home about 7:45pm. If anyone would say I'm not working "full time", I think I would slug them! I feel busier and more exhausted than I have in a long time (at least since Avery's first few weeks home).
What a week! I think it's time for bed. I am so glad it's Friday!

Weight update

Avery weighed 9lbs 1 1/4oz today! She is due for her 2 month well baby check-up next week and the doctor should be pleased. It's also time for her 2 month immunizations. No fun!

Avery's First Thanksgiving

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving! We spent the day at my parents' house....eating all day and playing lots of euchre. My mom was, unfortunately, sick all day and spent the day upstairs on the couch. :( Avery got to meet several great aunts/uncles/cousins for the first time. My youngest cousin, Bryce, was very proud that he had been one of the first cousins to see her! It was nice to be hands free for a little while since there was no shortage of people wanting to hold her...but I kind of missed her at the end of the day. I am really dreading leaving her when I go back to work Wednesday!

Avery has had her first cold this past week. I spent almost 5 whole days without leaving the house. She was pretty much attached to me the whole time and wanting to nurse constantly. She cried whenever I put her down. I would occasionally get a 30 minute break between feedings. We are getting her weighed again on Tuesday...if she hasn't really grown I will be shocked!

Avery is sleeping much better. We pretty much only get up once a night and she will usually sleep 4-5 hours straight fairly consistently. She has been doing better sleeping in the bassinet, but it seems like she always has a very messy diaper that wakes her and gets all over her sheets. We are lucky if we make it all day in one outfit anymore!

We put up the Christmas tree tonight. Avery sat in her swing and we listened to Josh Groban (and a little Bon Jovi) while I decorated. She loves music and I think she will love all the bright lights on the tree once it's done. I know she won't remember it, but I am excited for her first Christmas!

We have a busy week ahead. Same some prayers for our new schedule starting this week!

Weight update

Today at Avery's weight check, she weighed 8lb 10 3/4oz! That is almost a pound gain in the last two weeks! She is also 23 1/2 inches...another inch! I think we have finally crossed over into steady weight gain as breastfeeding has significantly improved for Avery and I. I can actually say I am starting to enjoy it... unfortunately just in time to go back to work and her get more bottles.

Back from the South

Avery had her first trip on an airplane this last week. She did great and slept almost the whole flight. She didn't fuss at all!
This is four generations on the Seago side. The church ladies at my in-laws church hosted a "sip 'n see" shower for me. Avery got lots of nice things!
My little girl is looking so grown up! She is 6 weeks old now.
Avery with her "GG"- great granny.
I just love this picture... doesn't she look comfortable sitting with our friend Audra?!

We had a great trip. We got to spend a lot of time visiting with several family and friends. Avery did great. She is only waking up usually once a night to nurse. When we got home on Monday night, she actually slept all night! She is starting to smile and coo a lot. She also is loving her baths now that I figured out that she likes them warmer and to be dunked down in the water. She is starting to outgrow all her newborn clothes lengthwise, but her 0-3 month clothes are still a little big in the waist. She is in a bigger size diaper too. She is growing so much. I am planning on getting her weighed again on Friday.

I go back to work on December 2nd. Two more weeks of maternity leave. It's gone way too fast and I am going to miss spending every day with Avery! It is going to tear me up to leave her!

Well, that's it for now. Have a great rest of the week!

Weight update

At Avery's weight check at WIC today, she weighed 7lb 12 1/2oz. Almost a 3oz gain since Monday. Yeah!

Avery is almost a month old

My pretty girl is getting so big, so fast. She weighs 7lb 9 3/4oz. She wouldn't fit in her ladybug outfit because she is so long and skinny, but we still had a fun Halloween handing out candy (Avery slept soundly the whole time in the sleepy wrap). She has been sleeping a little better at night...usually 2-3 hours then nurse about 1 hour off and on all night. We are getting ready for our first airplane trip with Avery next week. I also go in for my post-partum check up next week.

Enjoy the new pictures! She is such a cutie (but I am biased)!

Avery's Firsts

My baby girl has been having a lot of firsts this week. How fast time flies. She has:

• Been to her first restaurant. Olive Garden!
• Had her first trip just with mommy to Marion to meet mommy's coworkers and have lunch with grandpa. We took a little 30 minute detour at the gas station at nurse and change a massive blowout diaper (complete with a totally dirty outfit). First time I've used my lap as a changing station.
• Went to church for the first time on Wednesday evening.
• Had her first bottle of breastmilk. First time to be fed by her daddy. (I cried the whole time... I can't believe how much I've gotten attached to breastfeeding, even though it still hurts sometimes.)
• Tomorrow will be her first Halloween. Next week I'll post pictures of her in her little ladybug outfit.

Avery was weighed again today and is still progressively gaining weight. She has gained a little slower this past week than the week before, but it is good that she is still gaining. I am going to take her in again on Monday.

Avery is spending a lot more time awake in the mornings now. If we get a decent night's sleep, she is usually awake for 2-4 hours in the morning just hanging out and intermittently nursing. She really hates baths, but does like getting her hair washed. She really likes snuggling and nursing right after her bath in just her diaper. We are occasionally having some good nights where she will sleep 2-3 hours and then we'll be up about an hour for nursing and kind of do that for a while. Tuesday night though, she was up from 10p-6a without going to sleep. That means I was also up without sleep. Avery and I have been cuddling for some afternoon naps the last few days to catch up.

We leave for our trip to Mississippi in a week and a half and I go back to work in just over a month now. I can't believe my maternity leave is halfway over. :( I am going to have a really hard time going back to work and leaving this little chica! I can't believe it's almost November...that means the year is almost over and we'll be having Avery's first Christmas very soon.

I'll post more later... Avery is ready to eat!

Relief

Avery enjoys her first time in the Sleepy Wrap.

Avery and mommy enjoy going for a walk with the Sleepy Wrap. She was as quiet as a mouse!

My hilarious cross-eyed little girl!

Avery and cousin Ethan (3 months older).

Trying to smile in her sleep. Nathan would say that angels are talking to her right now.

Avery let me sleep for 3 uninterrupted hours last night...twice! What a difference in the way I feel during the day. AND...right now, she is sleeping without me. She is in her carseat napping, but she isn't attached to my chest at the moment. Usually when I put her down, especially in her bassinet, she wakes right up and even if it has only been 30 minutes since she ate, she wants to eat again. This is wonderful!

I changed pediatricians today. I called to make her 2 month appointment and went ahead and changed her to the doctor we saw in the hospital. We were so much more impressed and really felt like he was on our side. I just have never quite felt settled with the doctor we started seeing, so hopefully this will be a better move. Unfortunately, if it doesn't work well (which I don't forsee), we can't change to anyone else in that practice and we would have to go elsewhere. Here's hoping!

Tomorrow, I am taking Avery to WIC and the lactation consultant is going to weigh her for me and work a little bit with us on nursing. People think the baby comes out and you just throw them on the boob, but it is SO not like that. Things are getting better though, but no signs of any schedule yet, except eating every 2-2 1/2 hours. The lactation consultant said that she would just weigh her to keep my mind at ease since the doctor decided to make such a big deal about Avery's "weight problem" (which I don't think exists). But at least this way, I'll know for sure she is gaining weight.

Overall, it has been a good week and I can't believe how fast time is going. Enjoy the new pictures!

Avery is 2 weeks old!

Wow, time goes so fast. I can't believe my little one is two weeks old already. She went for her two week check-up today. All her reflexes were totally normal. She is also up to 7lb 4oz, which is just 3oz short of her birth weight. She should have no problem gaining that in the next few days.

Avery has been cluster feeding the last two nights. My understanding is that often happens when the baby is getting ready to go through a growth spurt. It is NOT supposed to mean that I am not producing enough milk or that she isn't getting enough. It's just a marathon session of nursing where Avery keeps Mommy up all night. Haha! The doctor told me that I absolutely should NOT let her do this because I will become one big human pacifier and I will never be able to do anything without her needing to suckle. I will never sleep and it's a terrible habit. Everthing I read suggests it is just a phase of a few days and then they go back on schedule. Nathan and I are heavily considering finding a new pediatrician for Avery.... one that is a little more breastfeeding friendly and doesn't treat us like idiots every time we are there.

She is supposed to go back in 6 weeks and she gets her immunizations at that time. I don't want to see my baby get her shots! Nathan's parents left to go home today, so Nathan, Avery and I are spending the first night in our home just the three of us. Tomorrow, it's just Avery and I! Hopefully all will go well tonight, and we'll get some sleep and have a good day tomorrow.

I will try to download some more pictures soon. Have a great week!

Avery's Pictures

Weight gain and weight loss

So, there's been some weight loss, but fortunately...it's ME, not Avery! Today I actually squeeze gracefully back into a pair of pre-prego jeans and couldn't believe they fit. We went to see Nathan's coworkers today and they couldn't believe I even wanted to wear jeans yet (but as I type, I am back in my comfy pants).

I took Avery back to the doctor to be weighed again this morning. She has gained 2 oz back (but they misrecorded her weight from the other day...but that's a whole other story to vent about). The doctor wanted me to feed her 30cc of formula to supplement and try to continue to boost her weight. I said, "Um, no...I don't want formula." She said I could pump and give her extra breastmilk by syringe every 3 hours then. She just wants to make sure Avery is getting full.

I guess my Aunt (who works on the pediatric floor of the hospital in Marion) talked to my former pediatrician the other day and told her our story. She said she would not be concerned at all, as breastfed babies do tend to lose weight. She isn't lethargic, she seems full and content, she has good color, etc... so why are we so worried about my 9 day old losing a couple of ounces that are acceptable? In the hospital, the doctor said she only lost 5% of her birth weight and they were okay with her losing up to 10%. I really feel like we are okay here, and I'm confident everything will work out. I've been saying lots of prayers for my little one and I am sure God is looking over her.

Anyway, I am going to snag a quick bite to eat while Avery is sleeping. Keep us in your prayers...that Avery will STAY healthy and I will keep my sanity!

Frustrated

Today we went for Avery's one week weight check. I wasn't totally sure what to expect since she has really only had two good days of eating "the good stuff." So we went and she had lost 6 ounces since leaving the hosptial. The nurse was extremely rude to me and acted like I was an absolutely idiot about how I should feed my baby (I'll admit I don't know everything) and said she just wasn't happy and we needed to wait to see the doctor. So the doctor came in and the nurse had misrepresented several things I had told her. Once the doctor understood everything about how our feedings have gone over the last week, she said "Well it seems like you are on the right track now, which is good because I was on the fence about admitting her to the hospital." My jaw almost hit the floor! I was so irritated.

My take is this: Come on, I'm a first time mom, this is my first baby and I'm doing this all for the first time. Can you expect me to know everything? If I'm not doing something right, explain it to me...educate me. Don't be rude, treat me like I'm retarded, and tell me you might put my baby in the hospital. Let's just say that for most of the rest of the day, I have been pretty emotional. I have to take her back in Wednesday to be weighed again and have to follow the doctor's specific orders about breastfeeding. Hopefully she will have gained a few ounces and we'll be totally worry free. I had better not have that rude nurse again or I think I might mention my displeasure... and I probably will anyway when I meet with the doctor again next Monday.

I have had the hardest time letting Avery out of my sight or not holding her constantly today. I feel so protective of her, and pretty offended that someone would imply that I might not be taking care of my baby. I love her so much and I am doing the best I can! My discharge instructions said as long as I feed her, change her, bathe her and love her, that I'm a good mother. Not that I doubt it, but I am so frustrated!!!!

Nathan is going back to work in the morning and he is having a really hard time with it. He doesn't want to leave her either. His mom is here staying with us through the rest of the week and helping me out, so I fortunately won't be totally alone and I might still get some sleep in the mornings. Anyway, just wanted to vent. Tomorrow will be better!

Life with Avery

Day 5 with Avery and things are finally starting to resemble some normalacy versus chaos. Our first night home was very frustrating and we were up most of the night. I think I slept maybe 3 hours and that was from 8-11am when Nathan took her so I could sleep. Friday morning about 1am, my milk came in...what an adventure in weirdness! The funny thing was Avery was acting so hungry all the time and at first she just wasn't satisfied. Then my milk came in and she wanted nothing to do with me. She would try to latch on, then scream the most high pitched scream EVER, and fight me all along the way. I cried A LOT that night.

When I woke up, I called the La Leche League and the advisor told me to pump out my milk and then feed her little bits of it on a spoon. Tried it and it worked wonders! She was a little more satisfied and a little less frustrated before she started eating. By midnight last night, she was latching the best she ever has and was eating for 40-50 minutes. The little girl has quite the appetite! It has been very challenging trying to pick up on all her hunger cues and feed her before it gets to that frustrating point for both of us. Because the feedings were more successful, so was the sleep. We slept 2 hours, up 2 hours, etc, for most of the night. It was so much better.

I am feeling better every day, but still having some pain from the tearing during delivery. I think that I kind of had a re-tear last night of a little bit because I have been slightly more uncomfortable and have had some extra bleeding, but it should improve in the next little while. Fortunately, I don't really need pain medicine anymore, but I do still take my antiinflammatories. It's hard sitting and laying on my back all the time, but Avery comes first!

Avery has had lots of family visitors the last few days. She is so happy to meet everyone. She had a wonderful visit this afternoon with both sets of grandparents. We will be making our first outing on Monday for her 1 week weight check.

Well, that's all the time for updating that I have...Avery is starting to wake up and I hear those little lips smacking. :)

Welcome our little miracle... Avery Elizabeth Seago

Monday, October 5th, we welcomed our little girl, Avery Elizabeth Seago! She was born at 5:30pm, weighed 7lb 7oz, and was 20 1/2 inches long. Here's what we've been up to the last few days... In labor and exhausted already! We were at the hospital about 6:20am, and labor picked up about 9am. At 1pm, the doctor came in and broke my water and it was downhill from there! Within 20 minutes, I was having contractions 2 minutes apart and a lot more painful. By 3:30, I needed my epidural because my contractions were coming one on top of the other with very little break and I was still only about 4 cm dilated. After my epidural, within 10 minutes, I was feeling much better. It was a wonderful decision to have one! I was absolutely petrified having it and cried all the way through it, but thank goodness for it! I dilated quickly to 6cm, and by 4:30 I started feeling a lot of pelvic pressure. Sure enough, I had dilated to 10cm already and was just about ready to push. I could barely control my left leg, which made for some funny moments ( I could still move my legs with the epidural). I pushed about 40 minutes off and on, and then she was here! I had some tearing, but didn't know it (yet) and I got to hear the sweetest little cry on the whole earth.

Little miss Avery was born! She was very happy and alert for several hours and was a super pro at nursing. She loved meeting her grandmas and grandpas and her Uncle Jared. Nathan and I both started crying at this beautiful little miracle. I can't believe she is here!

My little stretcher! No wonder I felt her stretching all the time in the belly..she loves it! She was happy to get out of that cramped space. Look at all her black hair and blue eyes!

Mommy and daddy are so excited for their new little one. This picture was probably 30 minutes after giving birth. I was feeling pretty great!

Mommy and daddy get to take Avery home! A new family of three. (Man, we were exhausted!)

Avery is home and won't let mommy get any sleep! We were up from 12a-6a. She wanted to nurse constantly, but mommy doesn't have the good milk in yet. She gets very frustrated sometimes and has this super, high-pitched scream that she does that just breaks mommy's heart.

She has daddy wrapped around her little finger already. As we speak, they are napping together. Praise the Lord for Nathan, he took her about 8:30 this morning and let me sleep for 3 hours. He is so willing and helpful. He is a wonderful daddy and he loves his little girl.

We are expecting some more family over in a few minutes, but Avery wanted everyone to know she is here and can't wait to meet everyone soon.

39 week pictures

Our last picture as a duo.

Hopefully!!!

39 week belly picture!

39 weeks...almost done

So I guess the fact of the matter is that no matter when she comes now, it is almost over. I am so ready now and each day seems to just drag. The only thing I can honestly say that I will miss about pregnancy is her moving in my tummy. The rest of it, I'm so over it! I'm ready to meet my little one.

Here are some of my final insights and thoughts about pregnancy. Hopefully this will be my last pregnancy post!

5 Things I Couldn't have Lived Without During Pregnancy:
- TUMS, TUMS and more TUMS
- My Snoogle pillow
- Grilled cheese
- Under belly maternity pants
- Lemon lime Gatorade

5 Things I am Scared about with Labor:
- Pain
- Needles, especially the epidural
- Bleeding
- Possibly tearing or having an episiotomy
- Lack of modesty

5 Things I Absolutely Cannot Wait For:
- Seeing her little face
- Hearing her cry for the first time
- Giving her a name (finally!)
- The relief of no longer anticipating labor or whether I will get a late night wake-up
- Getting to share her with family

5 Things I am Thankful for:
- My husband, who has been wonderful throughout the whole process. I'm excited for him too.
- My parents, who have helped me mentally and physically along the way.
- A healthy pregnancy, and thus far, a healthy baby.
- Minimal, but normal, weight gain.
- A talented OB that I trust.

I am going to try to post some pictures later tonight. Thanks for all the prayers and well-wishes...hopefully she'll be here soon!

Slipping into the realm of miserable

So I am 38 weeks and 3 days pregnant... at least 3 days past when I thought I might possibly no longer be pregnant. I can finally say that I am starting to be miserable...not necessarily from being "huge" or anything, but just the waiting factor. We were so pumped up that we would probably be having the baby this past weekend, and nope, no baby yet. We are hanging out, jumping at every little contraction or sign that might mean possible labor. Unfortunately, in my reading, it is possible to continue to efface and not dilate, as it is that you can do both without any serious contractions.

Last night, I started having contractions 8 minutes apart, but unfortunately after sleeping through the night, they are gone. I've been trying to clean the house up from the company we've had over the weekend and hoping that by vacuuming or doing some laundry, it might encourage her along. Nathan's parents came up last Thursday, but they headed back this morning since baby girl hasn't decided to make her entrance yet. There are still loose ends in Mississippi to tend to, and hopefully when they come back, she will be on her way.

It's hard not to sit around and feel discouraged by this whole situation, especially as I am now no longer working and having quite as much to keep my mind off of the concrete pillow still attached to my abdomen. The weather is also quite a bit cooler, which is super nice because I am usually pretty warm, but not as nice because I don't really have any maternity clothes for cooler weather and my closed toed shoes no longer fit. Every single pair of closed toed shoes do not fit...hopefully my feet will go back to their normal shape after pregnancy, although I've heard they may not...

I have another doctor appointment scheduled for Thursday. I would not be surprised to hear her say that she will induce me (as that was kind of the original plan, but I convinced her to try to let me go naturally) if the baby hasn't arrived yet. Sitting at 3cm dilated and 75% effaced and her full patient load (not to mention delivering me at a different hospital) might change some things. I have no idea what to expect at this moment.

So, that's my 38 week update. Keep us in your prayers that things will happen soon and that we will all stay healthy and sane in the process. Have a great rest of the week.

New update

So Wednesday morning I woke up about 5am having contractions about 7 minutes apart. I called the doctor's office and they had me come in to get checked. I had progressed to 3cm and 75% effaced. I went back to the doctor Thursday and my cervix hadn't changed any more, but I was still having some moderate contractions. I think they have lessened up some since then, but I do continue to have some contractions. The doctor said that I am in kind of a "latent early labor" and it is just a matter of a few hours or days before I would go into active labor. She said that she is pretty sure that I won't be pregnant by my appointment next Thursday. Sounds hopeful!

They want me to watch out for my water to break, but said that the baby's head is really bearing down on my cervix so I probably wouldn't notice a huge "gush" if it does break. With the baby's head where it is and me still having contractions, it could be any time. I'm hoping she will just hold out maybe one more day (at least) until my parents are back in town. Nathan's parents got here yesterday evening and are anxiously awaiting any changes.

The doctor told me to go ahead and "tie up loose ends" at work, so I went in yesterday and chatted with the therapist covering my leave and finished up some paperwork. I guess I am officially done working until after my maternity leave is up.

I feel so much pressure now that some of this has started...like I should go into labor just to make it all real. I don't think that they thought I was in false labor because I had too many symptoms consistent with real labor, but that I was just in that early latent labor. I am kind of struggling with being patient for all this to happen, and still trying to rest so things don't happen prematurely. I am so excited and nervous that I can hardly stand it! I really can't wait to see her little face and touch her fingers and toes. Should be any day now!

Full term!

I am 37 weeks pregnant today and considered full term! The baby should be able to come any time now with the expectation to "thrive." What a milestone for us mentally... to know that unless something really out of the ordinary happened that we should be meeting our little girl any time!
The nursery is finally finished! She will stay in the bassinet in our room for a little while, but she now officially has a home/room to come home to! I feel so much more relaxed knowing that I don't just have a ton of stuff left to do! Her laundry is done, diaper bag packed, and everything put away in its place.
This is my 37 week belly picture. You can definitely tell she is dropping. Some people even think I've lost some weight because my belly is starting to be shaped differently as she moves down.
This is catch up... 36 week belly picture.
Aunt Jill and Bryce came over yesterday and helped me clean house. We got all the bathrooms cleaned, the floors mopped, the stairs vacuumed, kitchen cleaned, and strollers put together. We even had time for some down time and visiting, which was a wonderful mental break! Aunt Jennifer is coming next week and hopefully we will be able to vacuum/spot clean the carpet and wash the windows. I am going to try to get my car cleaned and set up the car seat this week. I need to try to finish my thank you notes from last week's shower this week too. The fridge and freezer are stocked and ready! I am almost ready! My bag is packed... let me get a few more things done this week and let my parents get back safely, and I'm ready for her to make her entrance!