Pressing On: July 2012

Hard to believe we've almost been in Fort Worth for a month!...It's even harder to believe that Avery is one day shy of being one month old. We've really been enjoying living in Fort Worth...our apartment is close to the zoo, several parks, some great neighborhoods with excellent walking opportunities, as well as some cute restaurants and shops. In the 108 degree heat we've definitely been taking all this in from our car window, enjoying the air conditioning. But we are excited about busting out the BOB (thanks to Avery's grandparents) and walking and running around these parts. We also live close to a Braums...maybe a little too close. Zach has started his job here as an official pediatric dentist. Zach's mom has visited a few times too- which has been such a help. Avery loves all her Gammy's songs! We've also had several other friends in the DFW area visit. It's been fun to see some friends that we don't see so often. Several folks have brought us meals as well. We've really been blessed by their kindness. It is an amazing thing to have dinner just appear. If I had to pick one word to describe what Fort Worth has been so far to us it would be friendly. We've felt very welcomed to our new home by strangers and friends alike.

And Miss Avery- now almost one month old. We love, love this girl.
Here are a few Avery updates:
-at her 2 week appt she was up and over her birth weight at 7 lbs, 2 ozs ( I told you we live too close to a Braums :)
-We love how big her eyes get when she looks at really cool things...like the window blinds for instance
-She's lifting up her chin and turning her head from one side to the other during tummy time (the physical therapist in me is pretty excited about this)
-She began to track toys and faces
-She is verbalizing tons more- all sorts of cute sounds come from this girl
-Sweet smiles...I know they say these aren't intentional smiles, but we love to see them
-She's a rebel...no more arms in the swaddle...she will find a way to work them out
-Sleeping with her arms high above her head
-She's also become quite the kicker
-She loves to stretch her arms high above her head and let out a big sigh

Here's a few photos from the last few weeks...

Sad to have to say bye-at least for awhile- to Avery's grandmama

Avery meeting Shea and Jamie

Gammy and a VERY curious Luna

Arms up!

And again!

Good times with her daddy

Looking at those cool window blinds

Snoozing in her cradle made by Greg

Here are a few from Avery's 3 week "photo shoot"

On June 26th we joyfully welcomed Avery Grace into our family. Due to Avery being 10 days past her due date, we had been scheduled for an induction on the 26th. Thankfully, I went into labor early that morning and by the time we got to the hospital for the induction, I was already having fairly regular contractions. To ensure that my labor continued, Dr. Heck augmented it with an induction medication. However, Miss Avery was not a fan of this medication and within a minute or two decided to tell us by having some heart irregularities. Intense is the best way to describe the next several hours. We went from preparing to have a c-section due to the heart irregularities, back to normal labor, back to c-section, back to normal labor and then to a very quickly progressing labor that thankfully resulted in her birth! Avery Grace was born at 2:44pm weighing 6 lbs, 8ozs and was 19.5 inches long. She waited for what seemed like hours to make her first cry, but when she did it was the most beautiful noise I've ever heard. Labor was one of the most intense experiences I've encountered- on a physical, emotional, psychological and spiritual level. Zach was an incredible coach- I couldn't have done it without him. We are also grateful for Dr. Heck's excellent care in helping bring a healthy Avery into the world with the least intervention possible. We knew so many were praying for us during this time as well- and really felt strengthened by these petitions. Thank you for your prayers. They were effective! Meeting Avery for the first time went beyond my best expectations. Zach and I were/are amazed by her. She is absolutely worth the wait and we thank God for creating her and allowing us to be her parents. Sometimes it's hard to believe that she's really here, really ours- seems too good to be true!

The first week of Avery's life was a tad bit crazy. Zach had to go back to Laredo to finish up the last few days of his residency. And then he moved the remaining things out of our little apartment there and back to San Antonio. While he was moving out of Laredo, my parents were with me at our house in San Antonio along with some movers trying to get half of our things moved to storage and the other half packed up to move to Fort Worth. Zach's mom and brother, Bailey, joined us later that weekend and joined in on all the moving fun. Our families should receive the family of the century award. The time and effort they willing gave to care for us and help us move was unbelievably generous. We were also blessed by friends bring by meals and giving a hand with the packing. They all were such an extension of the love and grace of Christ to us. Last Monday, when Avery was 6 days old, we all got in our respective cars and trucks: my mom drove Avery and I, Zach drove the moving truck, Bailey drove Zach's truck with the trailer and my dad drove my parents car- and we made the trek northbound I-35. Zach's mom headed back to Abilene with Luna and Bear for a little more time at "summer camp." Avery was a great little traveler. She slept save 10 minutes until we arrived in Waco to stop at Grandma Dot's house so she could meet Zach's dad, aunt Janey and Greg. Then she continued to sleep all the way into Fort Worth. We all made it safe and sound to our new apartment and our sweet friends, Jake and Laura Mitchell, were there to greet us and brought us all dinner! Our plan is to be in Fort Worth for at least 6 months. Zach will be working at a pediatric dental clinic here and continuing to work on the upcoming practice in Midland. We're excited about the time to come: getting to know our sweet baby girl and how to be her parents, getting to know a new city, Zach starting a new job, and for me to be staying at home with Miss Avery.

Here are a few (plus a lot) of photos from Avery's birthday and first week.