A Year Ago Today...

 Evelyn was just 10 days old!

A Story That Avery Will Be Embarrassed That I Told One Day...

So this morning, I went to change Avery's diaper because I noticed a stench coming from her diaper region when I woke her up from her nap to eat.

When I laid her on the changing table, I remembered that she also needed her eye dropper of Poli-Vi-Sol, which smells like it can't taste good, and I figured it would probably end up on the changing pad, so I'd have to change that.  This was all right because earlier this morning, she had spit up on it and it needed to be changed, anyway.

I got her diaper open and was wiping her cute, little tushy and all of a sudden.....

SQUIRT!

Poo.

Poo all over the changing pad cover, the wall, the diapers in the basket...pretty much everywhere within a 3 foot radius.

I know.

I screamed in surprise.

Stephen came running upstairs to see what was going on.  He actually thought I came across a large bug or something.

He was surprised it was poo.  Not a bug.

A slightly humbling experience.

The changing pad now had 3 reasons to be changed.

Avery looked quite pleased with herself.

First 2 Weeks...

Visitors...

Great-Grandpa John

Great-Grandma Nancy

Great-Grandpa Dallen

Great-Grandma Glennis

Uncle Erik and Aunt Julie

Great-Aunt Kris

Great-Grandma Colleen

Angie and Carissa

First Thanksgiving...

Aunt Julie

Meeting Hannah and Aunt Alexis

Aunt Alexis

Uncle Kyle

Whenever Bompa or Gramma would hold Avery, Hannah would come running and need to also be held!

Giving "Baby Avey" kisses

Hannah loved playing with Avery's carseat

Gettin in...

Backing in...

Dragging it all over the place!

Grandkids with Gramma

Avery is two weeks old!

I can't believe it's been two weeks since Avery was born already!  It has been a crazy two weeks, that's for sure.  Lots of family was in town, we've had lots of people to visit us, and Avery, Stephen, and I have been learning a lot about each other.

I have learned that I gave birth to the sweetest little girl.  Avery has been so patient with me.  She rarely cries, and when she does, it is because something is wrong.  So, it doesn't take long to figure out what she needs.  And then, she's happy!

Everyday, Avery changes.  Already, I feel like she doesn't look like such a newborn, but is starting to look like an infant.  Avery spends a significant part of her awake time, looking us in the eye and interacting with us.

Everyone says that babies this young don't smile ~ that it's just gas.

My baby smiles at me.  I haven't caught it on camera yet, but I'll work on it.

Avery is feeding really well.  She is eating for about a half hour every three hours during the day and I am having to wake her up at night every 4-4 1/2 hours to eat.  Not too bad!  And I'm pretty sure she is trying to set a world record with how many dirty diapers she can produce in one day.

We are going to Avery's two week checkup tomorrow morning, so I'll post her stats when I find them out.

I am enjoying every second of this...even when I'm crying at nighttime out of sheer exhaustion and pain from recovering still.  I am so blessed.  So happy.  So content.

Cousins Meet...

Introducing Avery Elizabeth Yoshie...

Here I am, in the labor & delivery room, getting ready to do this!

Oh, wait. That was 10 days before Avery was actually born, when I thought I was having labor pains in the middle of the night.

Here I am, actually in labor.  I look like I'm in much more significant pain, don't you think?

And the swelling....oh my.....

And here she is!

Avery Elizabeth Yoshie Bruce

Born at: 4:04 pm

7 pounds, 7 ounces

19 1/4 inches long

Now, when I gave that final push, Dr. L showed the little peanut to Stephen and said, "So Dad, what do you think?"

When Stephen exclaimed, "IT'S A GIRL," I had the strongest feeling of surprise in my whole life!  Remember how I just knew it was a boy?  So much for mother's intuition!

Here I am, getting to hold my baby girl for the first time...

And Daddy's turn...Avery was alert with eyes open right away!

Proud Papa

I think the scale might be showing her weight in kilos, but it later flashed 7 lbs. 7 oz.

All cleaned up in the nursery

Like my mohawk?  I have LOTS of black hair!  That's why my mommy had such horrible heartburn when she was pregnant with me.

Still swollen....look at how big my fingers were!  I knew I was swollen, but I didn't realize my face was so bad.  I look like a different person!

All dressed and ready to go home on Thanksgiving

All buckled in for my first ride in my car seat

From the hospital, we went to our house and repacked our bags and headed an hour away to our parents' houses.  We had Thanksgiving dinner at Grandma and Grandpa Bruce's (I can't remember what they want to be called) house and then we all headed over to Bompa and Gramma's house to watch the Broncos game with all the family that was in town.  Pictures of all that to come later!

It has become clear that the reason Avery wanted to stay in my belly for so long is because she is a professional cuddler.  I say professional because I know several people who would fork over a lot of money to cuddle with her! 

I love to be swaddled!

My first bath outside of the hospital.  Well, sponge bath.

We have been getting this look of bewilderment from Riley a lot lately.

Sleeping in with Daddy

It has been frigid here, so the pink bear bunting has been necessary.

Beautiful baby girl

Avery has the sweetest disposition

Mommy is tired!

Idid this whole post with one hand, which is why it might have typing errors and took me a few hours to complete. Please bear with me!