Mimi is back!!

My mom has been in LA helping my brother and Suzanne with baby Charlotte and Des. She was gone for a total of TWO weeks. And we missed her SO much!

Carly and I took Sage and Avery to the airport last night to surprise my mom. As Sage was running up to greet her I was right behind him with tears in my eyes.

Wow. I. Missed. Her.

Mimi is so fun!

Avery is most content in the bean bag- not the swing, not the bouncy seat- the bean bag. Works for me. Here she is while I was bathing Sage.

Picture Post!

LOVE. LOVE. LOVE.

Charlotte is here!

I have a niece! Charlotte Elizabeth Watson is here! Born March 23. I can't wait to meet her!

5 lbs 14 oz Perfect!

AAAHHHHH! I wish I was there!!

Want to laugh?!?

Words can't explain

I have the best family and friends in the WORLD!

I have not had to be alone with both kids yet. I have had someone, whether it be family or friends with me helping me everyday since we got home from the hospital. PLUS, we have had dinner brought to us everyday since we got home. EVERYDAY! Thats three weeks. This past week my friend Stevie came in from Dallas to help out. She cooked, she cleaned, she helped me with Sage and Avery, and she and I had adult conversations all week! I can't thank everyone enough for everything they have done. Whether it was a meal, a visit, advise posted on facebook, or just a phone call I appreciate everyones help!

Especially Stevie!! There is no way to ever thank you enough Stevie. You are like a sister to me and I will never be able to repay you for what you have done for us this week. You are great with kids and infants. You are going to be a fantastic mother. I can't wait for you to get pregnant and have a baby or two of your own!

As for Avery...

We went to the doctor at the beginning of the week and Avery is still under her birth weight. We are having to supplement with formula after every time I feed her. Then we went back to the doctor today and she gained 4 ounces! She is still under her birth weight so we still need to supplement and go back to the doctor next week. My milk does not seem to be getting any better, but I will still try to breastfeed for a while. Hopefully things get better or I may need to start formula feeding Avery only. This is exacly what happened with Sage. We had to start formula feeding him. Which I am fine with. Whatever works best for our family and sweet Avery.

Here are some pics from the week!

Out on the street with friends

Our first walk in the double stroller!\

Sage loves her! Kisses!


Stevie and I took the kids to my parents house for a change of scenery and to meet up with Carly and Jason. My parents are still in LA with Brian and Suzanne but we still had fun at their house! He loves being covered in animals while in the crib at my parents.

Stevie with Avery and Sage

We will miss you more than you know, Stevie!

First bath in the bath tub! She loved it, can't you tell? :)

Avery is two weeks old!

We have made it two weeks! And it has not been easy.

Thankfully I have had tons of help from my Mom, Ryans Mom, and my sister Carly. I have not had to be home alone with both of the kiddos yet. And my good friend, Stevie, is coimng in from Dallas this week to help out. My mom is in LA now, awaiting the arrival of my neice, Charlotte. I can't wait to have her back but I know she is needed there too.

The first few days and nights were great because Avery slept so much, now things have changed. She cries ALOT more than Sage did as an infant. I am exclusivley breast feeding so that has been a struggle as well. Avery wants to eat whenever she is awake. She is either screaming or eating or sleeping on me. I have had a few all-nighters.

I called the doctor yesterday to see if she had any advise for me. She said it sounded like Avery was using me as a pacifier and to try different kinds and sizes of pacifiers to see if she is satisfied that way. That helped alot last night. She slept in between feedings pretty well. I put a small travel infant bed in the bed with me, so I have been sleeping right next to her with my arm in her bed holding her pacifier in untill she falls asleep. Or sometimes I fall asleep in the glider while burping her. Last night I was so tired we just stayed in the glider until her next feeding. Whatever works right now! Its survival mode for the first few months I remember.

Hopefully tonight gets even better.

Now for Sage...

He is pretty good with her. He always wants her to have her pacifier and wants to put it in her mouth. He gets a little upset sometimes when I am holding her or feeding her and can't hold him. I hate when that happens. Two nights last week he stayed with my in-laws and I missed him so much. But I know that he has more fun over there right now. That has been one of the hardest things. Having something for Sage to do ALL THE TIME. Avery is pretty easy during the day, but Sage needs to be active. That is what I fear when I'm alone with the two of them. I don't want Sage to be infront of the TV all day or be bored or feel like he is second in any way.

Which brings me to my next thought. I hate it when people tell me that my only job right now is to breastfeed my baby. That is not my ONLY job. I have another child to take care of and love. I am not opposed to supplementing with formula. I havn't had to yet, but I think that is perfectly fine. Sage was a formula fed baby and he is just fine. Whatever the next few weeks bring, I know that I am doing what is best for Avery, Sage, Ryan, and myself. Thats all that matters.

I'll leave you with a few new pictures of my angels!

In Daddy's ties

Our first outing- to Jessica and Danny's house of course!

Sleeping with her new paci!!!

Bath Time!

Avery's first bath at home

My little boy!

He loves all of Avery's toys and chairs!

First Doctor Visit

We had to go to the Doctor the day after we got home from the hospital because we were able to leave a day early. Avery was 6 lbs 14 oz, so she lost a little weight. She was born at 7 lbs 10 oz. Then we found out that she had jaundice. Her levels were high enough that our dr. wanted us to start phototherapy and come back the next day. We went to the doctor the next three days, checking her levels each time. Avery screamed and cried everytime she got her heel pricked and squeezed to get blood. When at home Avery had to be in her lighted bed and blanket at all times unless she was feeding. It was hard not to hold her, but I knew the longer she was in the lights the faster her jaundice would clear up. On Friday we got news that her levels were stable so we could stop phototherapy. It was great to have her out! We will be going to the doctor for her two week appt. and hopefully everything is perfect.

Here are some pictures of her at the doctor and in her tanning bed :)

First visitors

Avery had a lot of visitors during her short stay at the hospital. I didn't get a picture of everyone, but I got a few. Thanks to everyone that came and visited!

The Catos

Ring around the rosie with Lia!
Jessica

Sage got to put his Big Brother handprints on the wall at the hospital. Jenny McKee, our good riend and the nurse that delivered Sage, helped sage with his handprints! Thanks Jenny!

Sunday was a long day, Sage went outside the hospital to play for a bit

Time for home early! We got to leave Sunday evening!

Avery is here!

Avery Renee DesAutels is finally here, and we couldn't be more happier and feel more blessed!

I was supposed to be induced Saturday, but there was not a bed available for me.

Saturday morning

Just the three of us for one more night

Lets try this again...Sunday morning!

I had another easy and fast labor, thank you Lord! I was induced at 6:40, got the epidural at 9:30 and she was born at 12:42. I started feeling the contractions at the very end but thats just because I progressed so quickly. I only pushed through one contraction and she was out!

Sage loved playing with the curtains in the Labor and Delivery Room

We had our friend Ciri as our nurse the whole day and she was amazing! Sage, My parents, Ryans parents, Carly and Jason, and Jacob and Laurie were all at the hospital for Avery's arrival. After a little alone time with Momma and Dadda, Avery was greeted by lots of family!

Sage was a little bit weirded out by me in the hospital bed at first but then warmed up to it. He didn't want to get close to Avery at first, but once we got to the post pardum room, he was holding her and giving her kisses. He is such a great big brother already. He always wants to put her paci in. And point out her eyes, nose, mouth, ect. We are working on the rule that you can not touch her face.

LOVE. LOVE. LOVE.