Happy Easter!

It is a little hard to believe that Ryen will be three weeks old tomorrow!  Slowly, we are making some progress and we are enjoying every little victory we can.  Here's what's going on with her now.  At her 2 week checkup, she weighed in at 7lbs 7 oz- that was up 9 oz from the week before!  (I think it took Avery about a month and a half to get that big!)  She is healthy as can be.  We have already put Ryen on medication for reflux and it turns out she has a milk protein sensitivity.  Avery had the same things so we were familiar with the symptoms and able to get her some help as soon as possible.  Because of milk protein issue, she is now on special formula to help her process it a bit easier.  We have seen some improvements but it can take up to two weeks for any major improvements to show.  We can't wait for that to happen.

Ryen is sleeping a lot of the day, and thanks to the reflux medication, she can do this laying down on her own.  She sleeps in 2-3 hour chunks all day and night.  The last few nights, Dave and I have actually managed to get about 8 hours of sleep....divided up of course.  Although, I think we are slowly adjusting to it.  My mom and dad will be here tomorrow through Sunday so we are looking forward to our last week of help...and some extra sleep.

Avery has also adjusted really well and is going back to the pre-Ryen version of Avery.  She has been a big help and loves being around her sister.

She loves holding her...

She loves feeding her...

She loves playing her music...(I love that Ryen looks like she is singing!)

She loves snuggle time with her Daddy and sister...

She loves holding in the pacifier.  She really thinks it's funny when Ryen chews on her finger!

And of course, she loves just cuddling up with her.

The weather this past week has been from one extreme to the other.  First, we had a huge snow storm so Avery got to build a snowman.

Then, it turned much nicer and we took Ryen out for her first walk.  Thanks to her Aunt Jamie, she was nice and warm with her new hat!

 There was just enough snow left to have a snowball fight!

This past Sunday we celebrated Easter with our little family and then Dave's parents joined us for dinner.  First, we took Avery to a giant egg hunt on Saturday at the local minor league baseball field...along with 4,500 other people!  She had so much fun!

All ready to go on the field

Check out what I got!  She kept saying, "I won, I won!"

That night we decorated Easter eggs...

 ...and then Avery threw up and needed a bath and a whole mess to be cleaned up.  But then she was ready to get back to decorating.  We are hoping it was just something she ate because she is back to herself today!

The next morning, the Easter bunny had come to visit!  There were so many eggs to find!

And then there was the Easter basket full of chalk, stickers, playdough, a kite and a brand new little sock monkey!

An attempt at a family picture... :)

Overall, we are doing well.  It has been quite the adjustment that is for sure.  We are looking forward to the weeks ahead when things begin to become more routine and the hours of sleep increase for everyone!  Although this one looks like she is doing ok in the sleep department!

We also had pictures done of the girls together with our favorite photographer Bridget!  Here is the link to the blog...

http://imaginatephotography.com/2013/03/29/newborn-baby-girl-ryen-newborn-photography-bloomington-il/

And then to see and/or order prints, here is the link to that as well.  You will need to enter your email and create a password.  Then the password for the proofs is Ryen-1

http://imaginatephotography.com/proofs

Welcome Miss Ryen!

She is finally here!  Ryen Harper was born on Tuesday, March 12 at 9:51am.  She weighed in at a "whopping" 6lbs 13 oz and was 20 inches long.  Ryen came into the world quite calmly, only letting our a couple cries before snuggling up with mama.  But how about the story from the beginning...

I had woken up shortly after midnight on the 12th with some really bad contractions.  At 1:00, I had woken up Dave telling him but we didn't leave for the hospital until 2:45.  They kept coming and going, but once they were pretty consistent and strong, off we went.  Thankfully, my mom and Ashley were here to take care of Avery.  After they had admitted us and finished all the checking in, it was about 4:30am.  The contractions kept coming and going and we tried to get some sleep.  Finally at 8:30am, I was dilated to 5cm and the pain was enough for me and I got my epidural.  My nurse had told us to get some sleep and she would be back in at 9:15 to check in on me.  At 9:15, she came back and joyfully told us that in 45 minutes I had gone from 5cm to 10cm and it was time to push!  Thank goodness I had gotten the epidural when I did....although I am not sure it fully kicked in since I could still feel the bottom of my legs!  They called the doctor and she told us to do some test pushes.  After 4 pushes, they told me I had to stop otherwise Ryen was going to be born without my doctor.  Once she arrived, all it took was 2 pushes and she was here!  As I said above, she came out without a sound, then 2 little cries and she was all done.  We got to snuggle her for quite some time before she was taken off to be cleaned and weighed.  She is just perfect!!

And now what you really want...the pictures!

And then of course, big sister Avery got to come and see her just a couple hours later.  I had missed Avery so much and couldn't wait to see her.  Here she is just hours after Ryen was born.

She climbed right up and wanted to see her.  She kept saying "Hi Baby Ryen, I'm Avery your sister".

And then of course there were kisses....

Avery is really unsure of her crying.  She always thinks she is crying because she is mad at her and keeps telling her "Baby Ryen, stop it!"

Avery held her for a few seconds and then Ryen let out a cry.  Avery said, "Mommy, you can have her back" and then ran and hid on the couch.

The next day she came back was a bit better.  The hospital has an entire play area, so she liked going there.  Then she thought she should read some books to her sister.

Day 2 was especially good because she got to eat some of Baby Ryen's birthday cake!

She had a rough time while we were in the hospital and just kept telling us "You are my best friend, please don't leave again" and "I miss my mommy, when will she be home?" seriously, ripping at my heart strings.  Luckily Dave went home each night and did her bedtime and then returned to the hospital to stay with us.  I was so excited to get home to see her and then to see how she would react to having Ryen home too.

On Day 1 of being home, we were anxious to see how things would go.  It was just the 4 of us, so I think that helped.  And....all 4 of us napped for a couple hours, at the same time!  I am calling that a success!  

We also survived night one at home!  Avery got 11 hours of sleep, mom and Ryen got 8 hours (all broken up) and Daddy got somewhere around 6 hours.  I am also calling that a success.  Also successful, Avery never woke up to any of Ryen's crying or us up and moving all night.

It is amazing how much easier things seem the second time around.  I don't think either of us are as anxious this time around and we just feel more comfortable.  Avery is coming around to her and most of the time just goes about her own business.  

We are so happy with our complete little family of 4 and so in love with our new little girl.  We look forward to everyone meeting her at some point!  Thanks to all who have called, texted, offered to bring food, those that have already brought food and all other well wishes!  

Almost Ready...

Well, according to my doctor, Ryen will be here anytime now.  Yep, any day now our little family of three will welcome our new daughter.  We are going through a mix of emotions in these last couple days complete with some stress, lots of excitement, and trying to enjoy every moment we have left with just Avery.  While we can't wait to have Ryen join our little family, we will miss it just being the three of us.  I mean, right now it is easy, we have a great routine that is pretty dependable and we have Avery figured out.  And now we get to start all over again.  We get to return to the late night feedings, all the snuggles newborns need, the sweet sounds of babies, the little diapers, the first smiles (actually the firsts of everything) and while I know we will be sleep deprived, I can't wait for any of it.  I am looking forward to her making our family complete.

We have finished Ryen's room and are really excited about how it turned out.  And, we were pretty excited that we made so many of the things in her room.

 Here are some shots of her room....

And some close ups of the little details...

Yarn wrapped wooden letters-

 Her very own bow board-

This was an old wood dresser that Dave had since his college days.  We figured we would try to re purpose it and the worst thing that would happen would be that we would have to buy a dresser.  Best case scenario, we would actually love it. And we do.

We also thought we should wash all of her bottles for future use.  Yeah, we forgot what a pain this is!

Avery has also been getting really excited about her sister coming.  She tells everyone that she can't wait to meet her sister Ryen.  I can't wait to see her as a big sister.  She was very excited when she got her first big sister gift from our friend Nicci, Justin and Brahm.  A five foot long space ship that she can color in.  Dave loved putting this together.

 And of course, she hasn't stopped being silly.  This was from our after dinner jam session.  Avery on harmonica and tambourine, Daddy on piano and Mommy on the microphone.  Stop laughing at me.  I know I can't sing.

I am sure that this will be my last update before Miss Ryen arrives.  I look forward to sharing the news with everyone and of course the pictures.  Until then, I will leave you with this picture.  The first snuggles of my two girls.

I have also visited the first posting we did of Avery after she was born so I could remember what she looked liked....wonder if Ryen will look like her or not?!  Check it out if you want!

http://glacinskifamily.blogspot.com/2010/08/shes-here.html

I have thought about updating this blog several times, but then I decide to choose sleep instead.  So, I am going to attempt to update our last month in one quick entry.  We have been keeping busy trying to enjoy the time we have left as a family of three.  Avery is at this great stage where she just wants to play all day with us and is in a great mood 99% of the time, the tantrums are almost non existent, she listens, uses her manners, and is usually in an all around great mood!  We are definitely taking it all in before her sister arrives, which might be very soon (see below).

How have we kept busy you ask?  Well....

We made a delicious chocolate dessert for Superbowl Sunday and then Avery had her first experience of licking the bowl.  Needless to say, she didn't wear this outfit (including the socks that ended up in the bowl??) much longer.

We have had indoor picnics with daddy and all of her toys.

Avery has taken a real liking to Doc McStuffins and insists on giving all of her toys checkups all the time.  Thank goodness for all the dr. equipment she got for Christmas.  One night we went into her room to find all of her animals covered in band-aids (or damn-bades as Avery calls them).

Since the weather has been cold and not really conducive to going outside, we have taken a liking to having our nails painted.  Avery's pink recliner even works as her own personal pedicure chair.

The nail painting doesn't just go for Avery.... (Best dad in the world!)

Now that she has her own big girl bed, she has been obsessed with having sleepovers.  She even convinces Grandma and Grandpa to play along!

On Valentine's Day, Avery was so excited that she got to start her day with a pink donut!

And finally, we got SNOW!  Avery couldn't wait to get home and put on her snow pants and get out in it to play.  When I tried to get pictures, all she wanted to do was throw snowballs at me!  

First, it was a small one....

Then, daddy thought she needed some help...

 And then she came after me with this one!  Silly girl!

As I said above, we are really enjoying whatever time we have left with just the three of us (and while we still are sleeping through the night and feeling rested).  At my 37 week doctor appointment, my doctor had said that I have started dilating and that while I will be pregnant at my next appointment (Wednesday), she isn't making any promises after that.  She does think there is no way I will make it to our due date.  So, while I thought I was going to work until March 8, the reality of that not actually happening is beginning to set in.  Thankfully, Ryen's room is about 99% ready to go (minus some art work for the walls) and Dave and Avery took out all of the baby toys and swing and carseat.  So, if she were to come say tonight (fingers crossed for NO), we would be ok.  Our bags are packed and we have people....great people in line to take care of Avery no matter what time of day we should go to the hospital.

I have loved this pregnancy just as much as the last one, but even still I am ready to meet our little girl and have our little family of 4 altogether.  Avery is getting excited about meeting her sister and talks and sings to her constantly.

For now we will finish working on the final touches in Ryen's room and try to relax.  Hopefully our next post is all about our new little girl.