More pictures of sweet baby Avery

We have been home for a few days, and are working on getting into a routine. Avery is doing well- and is eating with a very healthy appetite. I am healing and feeling better every day, especially thanks to my pain medication. It's amazing how much you can love someone you've just met.

Here are some more pictures of Avery from the past couple of days.

Hello World...

...my name is Avery.

And with what only can be discribed as a ROAR, Avery Elizabeth Baker entered the world at 5:16 am on August 20, 2008.

At 12:30 am on August 19th, Christine's water broke, by 4 am we were at the hospital. My 9 am she was on pitocin and the contractions were getting stronger, but then it happened, or it actually wasn't happening. Christine was still only 1 cm dilated, she had been that way since August 18th, and now is was 11:30 pm on the 19th. She was having contractions like she should of been at least 7 cm, but she wasn't dilated any further and apparantly Avery was very happy to be where she was that, thank you very much

So after 11:30 pm, it was decided to give her an epidural to help her possibly relax more and more importantly help her with the pain. Usually they don't give epidurals until one is at least 3 cm, but with Christine's pain becoming more and more unbearable, it was necessary.

After a short little nap, at 4 am, August 20th, Christine was only 2.5 cm dilated; this is not good. So the options were presented which included, wait another 8 hours for a possible non c-section birth, but that was only about 10-15% likely of happening. Also at this point Avery's heart rate was dropping in between contractions making Christine have to frequently change positions. No fun also. So the likely hood of having a c-section was there no matter what, and we decided earlier that this was a good choice if needed.

At 4:30 am she was wheeled into the operating room and at 5:16 am, Avery came into the world. Mom and child are both doing very well. Christine is recovering on schedule and Avery is doing all the things babies do (eating, sleeping, pooping). She was 6 lbs 14 ozs and 19 inchs long, with a head covered in black hair.

We want to thank everybody for the love and support that has given to us and we are excited for Avery to meet you.

It's time

Christine and I are currently at the hospital. We have been here since about 4 am, a few hours after her water broke. Things are progressing slow and steady and hopefully we will have pictures of our little girl soon!

Due date- come & gone

Today is Friday, August 15th - Avery's due date, and no baby yet.

There has been a little more progress this week, and some probable undercover contractions. I've experienced some intermitent lower back aches, that I've been told by several other women are probably the beginings of contractions. So far nothing consistent or what I anticipate full-blown contractions to be. So we pray and wait expectantly for her arrival.

My next appointments (OB and acupuncture) are on Monday the 18th - more info then!

Waiting on baby

I went in yesterday, Monday the 11th for another check-up. Thankfully there was more progress, and even some dilation. For now we are going to stay the course with walking and acupuncture to get labor started.

I am scheduled for my next follow-up appointment next Monday the 18th (if no labor by then). My doctor said that he will look to induce the week of August 25th if Avery hasn't arrived by then.

My last scheduled day of work is this Thursday the 14th- yeah!! We are hoping that Avery arrives soon, so that I can spend my time off with her, instead of waiting for her. :)

The countdown begins

We are less then a week from Avery's due date- Friday August 15th.

At my appointment last Monday, August 4th there was a little bit of "progess". Tomorrow (Monday the 11th) is my next appointment, so I am interested to see what my doctor says at that visit. Last Monday he did suggest trying acupuncture to get things going- so I went once on Thursday and on Saturday, but so far no baby.

Overall I am feeling pretty good besides some swollen feet and hands. We know that Avery will come when she's ready, and we are getting more and more excited to meet her.

Just add baby...

It's 38 weeks and 2 days & we are officially ready for Avery to be born. Her laundry's done, car seat installed, swing assembled and room complete. So now we wait... I did have one contraction on Saturday afternoon, but that was it. I go in Monday afternoon for my 38 week check-up.

Here is a picture from 37 weeks and some pictures of Avery's completed nursery: