It seems like just yesterday that my baby girl was born. When I found out I was pregnant, I just knew it was a boy. I was prepared for a boy and really liking the idea of having two boys especially since Grant was such an easy-going, loveable, laid back boy. I had envisioned all sorts of things with brothers and a whole brood of boys! One bright January morning I was shocked to see the ultrasound printed out and reading "Grant's sister" with an arrow pointing to the baby. I just KNEW it was a boy and had totally prepared mentally for that. Now, it was time to switch gears...pink gears! I started getting really excited about pretty pink things and hair bows and sewing, etc...Easy pregnancy until the end. On my last appointment, Dr. Mac said my blood pressure was high and I could either stay on bedrest indefinitely or go in and be induced in two days. We chose the latter. We went in on a Thursday night, pitocin was started in the wee hours. I insisted on a natural labor/delivery again and this time it was far worse as I had back labor very bad....but a good tub in my room. After my water broke and real labor progressed, it wasn't long. Avery was born at 4:15 on Friday, May 27th 2005. She was 7 lbs 8 oz. and that was 2 weeks early! She was so laid back and took to breastfeeding MUCH easier than her brother had. We brought her home on Saturday. Heather was keeping Grant and Olivia at our house. The AC had gone out and we came home to an 80 degree house in May. Beau was able to get someone to come out and fix it late that night after pulling the "my wife and newborn" card. Next day Beau (our protector and provider) put a sign on both doors of the house that said "NO VISITORS: Cathy had a rough labor/delivery and awful day yesterday!" it made some people mad...I thought it was a very loving and protecting act! And then, AC went out again. So, we trekked an hour south to my gracious mother-in-law's house to stay until the AC was fixed for sure. No place is a good place to be other than home when you come home from the hospital, but her house was the next best thing! By Monday, the AC was fixed and we were officially home. When I think back on Avery's infancy, I recall a moment that makes me and Beau laugh today. One night, I insisted on taking over parenting duties for Grant's bedtime b/c I had been recovering for a few days and Daddy had been doing that. I tried. He wanted Daddy. He didn't want Mommy. Even though my head told me not to take it personally, my heart did. Then Grant dropped the bomb! "I want Daddy! Can't you just go put Avery back in your tummy????" I was crying, he was crying and Beau was bringing me Avery b/c she was crying and needed to nurse. I just remember the four of us in the kitchen floor....3/4 of us crying and 1/4 of us shaking his head like "who do I fix first???" Good times!
I love my sweet, funny, chatty, chatty, chatty little Avery. I can't imagine what life would be like without her...too quiet, that's for sure!