August 28, 2013

Sleep Training

So AH had her 6 month appointment yesterday and we asked for advice because she's still not sleeping through the night. We explained to our doctor what we do etc

She basically said WE are the reason she doesn't sleep thru the night

She said:

NO MORE FEEDINGS IN THE WEE HOURS BECAUSE WE ARE TEACHING HER THAT THAT IS ACCEPTABLE.

LET HER CRY IT OUT
BABIES CAN CRY UP TO THREE HOURS AS LONG AS THEY DO NOT HAVE A FEVER

BABIES HER AGE SHOULD BE SLEEPING FOR TWELVE HOURS AND ARE TOTALLY FINE NOT EATING AFTER BEDTIME

So we put a plan in play last night and here is how it played out:
Started 8/27/13
Age- 6 mos, 1 day

Last food feeding at 6:45
Last bottle at 8:20
Sleep by 8:30
Woke- 12:34am
(Changed her diaper after 15 minutes of crying then immediately left the room. I never picked her up)
Back asleep by 1:43 (after on and off CIO for a little over an hour)
Woke- 5:30
Let CIO until 5:50 when she fell back asleep. Back up just cooing (not crying) at 6:00. 
Daddy brought her to me with a bottle at 6:00. I held her and talked to her etc.  Gave bottle at 6:15.  She was noticeably tired afterward. Back asleep after bottle and clean diaper around 6:30-ish and she slept till 9:30!

(All in all not too bad. I didn't feel as tired even though I was up for over an hour when she woke up the first time. At 6:00 her mood was not bad or anything, still my smiley happy girl)

I think it was a success!

NOW THE FUNNY THING IS I PUT THIS VERY SAME PLAN IN PLAY A MONTH AGO BUT REVERTED! Lol I KNEW MOTHER'S INTUITION WAS ALWAYS RIGHT!!!

Obsession

I'm totally OBSESSED with my daughter. I probably give her about a thousand kisses a day! She's just so stinkin sweet!! There are SO MANY things I love about this child that I can't even put all of them into words but I'll try a few!

Her breathing! Oh how I love the sound! When she being carried with her head over my shoulder I can hear her breathing very clearly. It's so adorable! It makes me smile.

Her snoring! OMG freaking hilarious! I even took video of it on different days

Her toothless grins! Lord they just melt me!

Her obsession with holding her own hands! So sweet!

Her independence! I can already tell she's going to be a headstrong firecracker!

Her soft curly (sometimes straight) wild uncontrollable hair.

How happy she is all the time! She's always smiling and laughing out loud! It's music to my ears!

Her back fat and chubby thighs!

The open mouth wet kisses she gives and the "attack hugs"!

Her first little sound she made! Not sure if I can describe it in words but it sounds like a baby lion or something! Like a little cute growl! Love it love it love it!

There are truly just too many things to name! I just love this child! She's everything I dreamed for and more! Thank you Lord for blessing us with the gift that is Avery-Harper!

August 21, 2013

Avery-Harper meets her Miracle Workers

At almost 3 months old Avery-Harper met her "Dream Team" on May 20th!!!! For me this team consisted of Dr. Derek Haas and our nurse Kristie Martinets at Advanced Reproductive Care of Las Colinas!! These two were our people!!!  When I started at http://www.ivfmd.net/  I started with a different doctor named Sy Le. Now he was wonderful and came highly recommended but he kept forgetting our names! It happened I'd say maybe twice and that solely made me uncomfortable enough to move to Dr. Haas! I'm so happy I did!! He was funny and much more personable which was more my speed! He of course was also highly regarded in the DFW infertility world and that was my top priority!  He didn't rush us and he was always available to walk me through my millions of questions. Most doctors today act like they are celebrities and their time is very short, even for their own patients! Dr. Haas however had a great bedside manner and even though he has a lot of patients, I never felt like a number
 
As for my sweet darling Kristie! She was a real jewel! Every doctor should have a "Kristie" heading up their office. I can not tell you how many times I called/emailed her about the same.damn.things. She was always a total delight! She never made me feel like I was a nuisance, even though I knew I had to be! I mean hell I annoyed myself! She got me through a lot of uncertainties and I'll forever be grateful to her for that. When you go through a journey such as infertility you tend to feel overwhelmed and crazy most of the time! So it was very nice and comforting to have someone like my wonderful nurse Kristie in my corner!
 
We kept in touch after I was released from their care around my 6th week of pregnancy. So I of course couldn't wait for them to meet my miracle!!! They just loved her! The entire office came out to see her and it was just so sweet! I gave them her birth announcement pictures and lots of hugs!! It was like a homecoming of sorts! I know God is the reason but he made these wonderful people and they helped our desire become reality. So here's to Blessings and Miracles because all roads led to Avery-Harper.
 
                         
(You can't read it on this pic but on Kristie's scrubs it says "IVFMD Where Miracles Begin"! That statement couldn't be more spot on!)

Delightful Delirium

Awakened by the monitor at 4am so I go to her room and pick her up. I cradle her in my arms lovingly. I nuzzle her face and stroke her cheek. She breathes me in deeply and smiles. She plays with my hair, buries her face in my chest and drifts back to sleep. I've probably only had about 6-7 great nights sleeps since her birth. However as long as she's intoxicated by me I'll gladly remain delirious.


Milestones for Avery-Harper

 July 6, 2013- Started cereal.

July 13, 2013- She found her toes

July 21, 2013- She sat-up unassisted at her granny's house in Houston. We sat her on the bed and instead of falling over she kept her balance. Whenever she'd lean to the side or front, she'd pulse her core until she was back in a sitting position. SO CUTE.

July 24, 2013- She rolled over from back to tummy in her crib around 8:25am. I left her in her crib on her back and when I returned minutes later she was on her tummy. I totally missed her first time rolling over. Ugh I was so sad. However I grabbed my phone to video and I flipped her back over and hid behind the bookshelf.  She flipped over again and I just lost it. I congratulated her and just hold her close and wept. She's just growing too fast.

SHORTLY AFTER THE ROLLING CAME THE SCOOTING. NO OFFICIAL DATE. IT JUST BEGAN. SO CUTE.

August 6, 2013- I made her first foods with the baby bullet. Her first meal was sweet potato and she loved it!! She ate the entire container and didn't spill any on her bib.  Even though daddy fed her, I made it so I felt like a million bucks!

FOUND HER TOES!!!

SITTING UP UNASSISTED FIRST TIME

ROLLED OVER FOR THE SECOND TIME!
(I MISSED THE FIRST TIME BY LIKE TWO MINUTES)

SWEET POTATOES AND BANANAS. HER FIRST REAL FOOD.

SWEET POTATOES

Avery-Harper found her toes!

Well it's official! As of 7/13/13 my baby girl found her toes!!!! She noticed her big toe was wiggling (guess she didn't know she was doing that)! Next thing we know she was diving for it! So stinking cute! She almost put it in her mouth but I had to nix that mess! ha ha

She's also getting closer and closer to sitting up. My husband sat her up and she stayed put long enough to dive toward her toes. I figure in the next few weeks she'll be doing it by herself. Gosh she's just moving way to fast for me. It really does make me a little sad.