Welcome Home Avery!

After a sleepless night and long morning, we finally got out of the hospital after 12:00 p.m. You needed a bilirubin test done at the hospital and the results were taking longer than expected, so we were starving and a little annoyed by the time we hit the road.

Fortunately, Grandma Debbie and Aunt Jessie were at the house waiting on us with lunch on the table. We pulled in the drive to see pink balloons on the mailbox and Aunt Jessie in the driveway holding a video camera.

Welcome to your home Avery Anna! We've been waiting on you.
We weren't sure how Cotton would react to meeting his little sister. He did a lot of sniffing and licking.
The Ewing family. Cotton got my dress wet from jumping on me.
He missed us and we had plenty of hugs and kisses to go around.

He loved you at first sight.
We were still wearing our hospital bracelets. It's the new fashion trend.
Your Daddy wanted you to come home in a UGA outfit, but we settled on just socks instead.


This is you the first time in your new crib.
Cotton couldn't take his eyes off you!

Your first diaper change on your changing table. I actually felt skinny in this picture, believe it or not. Thank goodness that belly is gone!
After we got settled in, we changed into our PJ's, ate a wonderful lunch, and your Daddy and I jumped right into our bed. I only had maybe an hour to nap before it was time to get back up and feed you.

The next day was Memorial Day and we celebrated by taking you back to the hospital to get your foot pricked for another bilirubin test. Little did we know this would happen five more times that week until we ended up putting you on a "bili-bed" for your jaundice.
There was a lot of cuddling and napping throughout the day.

Your hair was so dark. I thought maybe you were going to have darker hair like me (or, my natural color at least!) But it soon changed to blonde, like your Daddy's.

Your Granddaddy and Grammy Ewing came over to see you.
We put on your little mittens to keep you from scratching your face. Your grandmothers thought they looked like oven mitts and got this bright idea....
You were so little bitty, and not always happy, either.
Maybe you were sad because you knew your Daddy was going back to work that day and your Grandma and Aunt Jessie were leaving you. By Tuesday that week, I was all alone with you in the house and not nervous at all. I kind of felt relieved to finally be with you, taking care of you, all by myself, something I had been waiting on for 9 months.

Now, I look back on all these wonderful memories and look forward to tomorrow, your FIRST BIRTHDAY. It's been a roller-coaster year. Through the jaundice, colic, sleepless nights, teething, sleeping in our bed, sometimes painful feedings, and just trying to figure out what the heck we're doing....it's been the BEST YEAR OF OUR LIVES! We love you Avery, and are so blessed to have you as our daughter. Happy Birthday Baby:)