One week old

Today Audrey is one week old! We took her to the pediatrician today for the first time. She has grown about half an inch in length and 10 ounces in weight!

 

"the girls" playing

 

Addison is doing a little better with things today. We are trying to find a balance between giving her the extra love and attention she needs right now while not rewarding her fits and bad behavior. She loves her sister, but doesn't quite understand why she needs to sleep and eat so much! She loves to tell us that Audrey doesn't have teeth.

 

I still have absolutely no idea how I will juggle all this when Andrew goes back to work!

 

I saw this quote on Pinterest a few months ago and I think I need to print it and read it every day:

 

"You will never have this day with your children again.

Tomorrow, they'll be a little older than they were today.

This day is a gift.

Breathe and notice.

Smell and touch them;

Study their faces and little feet and pay attention.

Relish the charms of the present.

Enjoy today, Mama.

It will be over before you know it."

 

Happy Birthday, Audrey!

On Thursday morning I started feeling more of a crampy Braxton Hicks contraction. Around 10 am I noticed that they were getting more regular and intense...I also promised Addison I'd take her on a bike ride. So we went. I told the girls (my college roommate girls) in our message thread about how I was feeling and they encouraged me to download an app and start timing them. So I did. Once I saw how long and regular they really were I told Andrew about it and he suggested I call the doctor. They told me to go straight to the hospital to triage for monitoring. I finished packing our bags just in case it was real labor and around noon we headed to the hospital. After about an hour of monitoring, the nurse decided to do an exam and found that I was about 4 cm and 80% effaced...ready to be admitted for labor! Meanwhile, Teresa was on her way and my Mom and Steve were on their way over to help watch Addison. They got here pretty quickly! Addison went home and stayed with Poppy while Teresa and Mom came to the hospital for the birth. Once the doctor broke my water, which by the way was incredibly painful and emotional for me, the contractions started getting very intense. It was time for an epidural! This epidural was so much better than my first one with Addison. I could still move and feel my legs and feel the pressure during contractions. It was perfect. Pretty soon after Mom and Teresa arrived I felt the urge to push. After examination, the doctor said I was "plus one"... ready to push and the baby's head was crowning! So we did a practice set of pushes and then he determined we were ready to prep the bed and room! Two sets of pushes later and Audrey Diane Ritter was born! It was very quick. She was born at 5:36 pm. She weighed 5 lbs 12 oz and measured 18.5 inches long. She has a full head of dark hair and light eyes (not sure what color yet).

 

before

 

after

 

our family is now complete

 

The next day we had visits from Grandpa and Grandma Barber, Grammy and Poppy, Addison, Nana and Papa, and Uncle Benjamin and Uncle Michael! We are so blessed to have the support of our family! Thank you family! Addison had a blast while we were in the hospital! Family provided us with gifts, meals, a loaded refrigerator, and a very happy toddler.

 

Today Addison is doing much better with the reality of her baby sister! She is still a little emotional about it, but much better than day one!

 

 

We are so in love...

 

Happy Birthday, Audrey Diane Ritter!

May 23rd, 2013

 

 

If You're Happy and You Know It

Head Shoulders Knees and Toes

38 weeks

Today I am 38 weeks pregnant! COME ON AUDREY! We are so ready to meet her! Tomorrow is Nana and Papa's anniversary...sounds like a good day to me!

 

 

cute new outfit from Grandma and Grandpa

Grandpa and Grandma Visit!

We just said good bye to Grandpa and Grandma Barber. They spoiled her with clothes, toys, and the cutest little doll high chair ever! We enjoyed their visit very much. It was good for Addison to have some last one on one grandparent time before Audrey arrives! Dad helped us set up our new monitor camera and phone app, he helped us recover the glider ottoman, and he fixed Addison's fire truck...such a good Dad and Grandpa! We can now pan/tilt the camera in Addison's room to see what she is doing instead of napping! Haha!

 

38 week check up

This morning I had another doctor appointment and everything looks good. Audrey is moving around a lot, her heart beat is 164, she is very, very low, and still small. I'm still feeling really good, but things are getting so difficult with this big belly! I still hear "wow, you have your hands full" every day. I think that should be added to the list of things NOT to say to a pregnant lady. It's not very encouraging! I'm not dilated yet, so Audrey still probably has some time to grow. The doctor thinks she may come next week, but who knows! Andrew, Addison, and I are all so excited for her! Addison loves to give her kisses (and stickers) and to include her in our night night song. Let's face it Andrew is excited to have a two week vacation with his girls!

Addison came 15 days early...

Dad and Kim are visiting this weekend!

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to my Mom, my stepmother Kim, my mother-in-love Teresa, my grandma, my friends and family who are new moms, and to all the motherly figures in my life! It has been so fun to watch our moms take on the grandmother role! Addison is one lucky little girl!

 

Being a stay-at-home has been both the easiest and hardest job I've tried yet. I am so thankful that I can be so involved in Addison's life and honestly most days are easy with her. On the hard days, it helps to know that moms have been doing this for years. Thank you, Mom, for putting up with all the whining, tantrums, and emotions of a baby girl!

 

Today we went to the Fairchild Garden and to lunch. I love spending time with my little family and I am getting so excited for Audrey to join us. I am full term and I really feel great. No achy hips or back like I had with Addison at this point. Just constant Braxton Hicks contractions. Andrew has been very kind to me on my special day - following me around with towels! One on the couch, one in the car...he will never forget the night my water broke with Addison! My next doctor appointment is on Friday.

 

 

Almost Full Term

On Sunday I will be full term, 37 weeks! Today I had another doctor appointment and ultrasound to measure the baby. She is still a very small little baby, just like Addison was. She is in the 20th percentile according to their measurements at about 5 lbs 6 oz. My fluid is perfect, her heart beat is strong, and she is moving well. Hoping she can wait at least another week to come because Andrew has a big project at work this week. Otherwise, we are completely ready for her! Our hospital bag is even (mostly) packed!

 

Tomorrow I turn 28 years old, yikes! On Saturday, the Ritter's are coming to visit!

Addison's First Hair Cut

Everyone who knows Addison, knows how crazy her hair can be! She has my hair...thin, wild, and slightly curly (poor girl!). She is 26 months old now and we figured it was time to take her for her first hair cut! We found a salon just a block from our house and went on Sunday. I know we could have done it ourselves, but I wanted her to have the salon experience! She did really well. Once the hair stylist put the cape on, she got a little confused about where her hands and feet were! So we let her limbs hang out and she was fine. She sat so still as the stylist cut off those baby curls...I saved them, don't worry! The past two months she has become such a big girl with potty training and toddler bed. Now she looks like a big girl too with her new hair cut. I also got my hair cut and I cut Andrew's hair too. Next weekend the dogs are getting their hair cut! Trying to get ready for baby Audrey!

before the cut

she was very serious, of course!