What Pigs and Pterodactyls Have in Common With Our Daughter

Do you have one or two (or more) children and multiple “animals” like Kelley and I? Whether domestic, farmland, or extinct, I’m willing to bet we all associate our offspring with one or more different species.

A pig is pretty common and is probably used to describe most breastfeeding babies when they are feeding or ready to feed. Avery makes a very distinguishable snorting while she is trying to latch and even during feeding; she even does it to let us know she’s hungry.

Of course she's a cute pig!
Of course she’s a cute pig!

If I had a choice of how she lets us know when she’s hungry, it probably wouldn’t be a pig, but it sure is cute and makes for a good laugh. I really don’t see her snorts getting old, and we will miss them when the phase is over.

We discovered her pterodactyl mimicking abilities when I was trying to help relieve any gas in her stomach a while back. I read about folding a baby’s legs up to her stomach to help push any trapped air out, so I proceeded to do so. Once her knees were up to her stomach she let out a long, “ugghhhhhh” sound and I automatically called it a pterodactyl sound. Why? No freakin’ clue, it could be any other living thing, but I chose pterodactyl and now it’s stuck.

Pretty cute for a pterodactyl too.
Pretty cute for a pterodactyl too.

Our friends, Sean and Erin, weren’t able to make it down to visit last weekend, so they came this weekend. They have a 20 month old daughter, Brooklyn, who is full of life and very adorable. It was great to see them since it’s almost been a year, and Brooklyn helped to foreshadow what we’re in for when Avery is a walking, talking, terror little angel.

I proudly showed Sean and Erin how Avery can be a pterodactyl and at one point thought, “Wow, this is my entertainment now.” Put ashamed I am not, in fact, I’m way more proud to be doing this than plugging away at a computer. This just fits me better and I can’t wait to run around after Avery as she tears through the house turning my hair gray. Sure, ask me if I still feel this way when that time comes…

The day they arrived, Avery was not accepting her normal nap times and only got a few, short 30 minute naps in. She just wouldn’t stay in the crib like was doing; probably because there was too much going on. Can’t blame her I guess. Anyway, she spent most of the night in bed with us. But, Kelley and I didn’t care because as I said about my view on Sleep Training, we are enjoying this time while we can.

Avery also started becoming more vocal while Sean and Erin were here. She has been cooing and “talking” to us some already, but she really ramped up the conversation that day and continues to a couple days later. As new parents, every single thing she does just puts us in awe and we have to tell everyone via text or on Facebook. Who doesn’t, right?

I used to be annoyed seeing all of those baby posts by my peers, but now I totally get it. Our babies become our lives and they are the most wonderful yet stressful beings!

It was a short visit, but we enjoyed seeing our old friends and hope to go visit them soon. Maybe when Avery can run around make a nice mess!

Do you associate your kid’s sounds with any animals? Please share, I’m interested what other parents are raising in their household.

Looking Back to Avery’s First Day

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We’ve only just begun riding the choppy waves of parenthood, and can already feel the frustration getting to us some days. Right now, it’s centered mostly around sleep…..or the lack thereof.

Something that helps me look past the difficult times when Avery is being fussy, is thinking back to the day she was born. The journey to just getting pregnant was very long and emotional, and I’m so happy we are parents to a healthy, beautiful baby now.

So, when Avery has the floodgates wide open with the windpipes blaring and doesn’t show signs of stopping, it helps to ease frustration by thinking back to the day we first met. Kelley started going into labor at the Baylor Regional Medical Center of Grapevine the morning of November 15, 2013. We just spent our first night there and were ready to see our dear Avery!

Kelley was in a major pain and I kept on trying to make jokes throughout the day that were only met with evil glares. After what seemed like ages with Kelley not progressing, she finally made a huge jump basically skipping any of the stages in between. By early afternoon, she was ready to deliver our baby!

Kelley, not happy with anything I did. This didn't help.
Kelley, not happy with anything I did. This didn’t help.

We all know labor and its lack of joyful, fun moments, so I’ll spare the details. Once Kelly started pushing, it wasn’t long until our little Avery was born and in her arms.

Thumbs up for a job well done by my wonderful wife!
Thumbs up for a job well done by my wonderful wife!

The feeling that overcame my whole body is one I can’t describe, but it felt wonderful, like nothing I’ve felt before (besides when I first saw Kelley walking down the aisle). I was a dad!

I remember being very adamant that both Kelley and I not have any visitors until we had our skin to skin with Avery. We had learned so much on the benefits of skin to skin and wanted to make sure we started things off right. We did, and it was another wonderful experience to add to the already awesome day.

Skin to skin with dad!
Skin to skin with dad!

Avery was born at 4:13 p.m. that Friday afternoon, 12 days earlier than her due date of November 27th. Although she was early, she was still perfectly healthy and weighed 7lbs 9.3ozs.

Kelley did have some blood pressure issues so we had to stay a couple of extra days at the hospital, but all turned out well and we were able to bring our daughter home on a nice, sunny day.

Thinking back to that day and how far we’ve already come lets me relive that overwhelming feeling and helps me to not be as frustrated during Avery’s fits. Yes, they will always be frustrating, but I’m not going to go crazy and pull my hair out…….yet.

Do you have certain memories you use to help ease any current difficult situations you’re facing?

Any other methods to help qualm frustrations that you care to share?

Sleep Training vs Sleep and Avery’s First Snow

Can you mix attachment parenting with sleep training? I say yes, as we’ve been doing just that for the past few days.

A successful sleep! sleep training
A successful sleep!

Avery has been going to sleep in her crib for almost 2 weeks now, and when she wakes for feeding during the night, I’ll bring her to Kelley to have her fill.

Then, the plan was that I would take Avery back to the crib and get her back to sleep. Fail. Either Kelley or I will end up sleeping with her the rest of the night. Oh well, this way we all sleep longer without fighting to get her down in the crib. Win.

If she’s not fussy, she’ll stay with Kelley and have easy access to boob for the next feeding, but if she’s not going back to sleep, I’ll take over so Kelley can rest since she has to work.

All of the sleep training, cry it out method supporters are probably just thinking, “Suckers, they’ll never win.”, but I disagree. I know that being able to just hold Avery close and cuddle with her (yes, I said cuddle and I’m not ashamed!) will not last forever, so making the most of this time only seems right. Kelley and I both agree with this as we all know time goes too fast and we don’t want to waste it trying several times to get her to sleep in her crib at night.

She does just fine in the crib during the day, and eventually, we know the inevitable will happen, but for now, I see no harm. The other day as the cold front swept in, our heater crapped out and blew nothing but cold air which woke Avery from her nap. I had things to do around the house, but wanted to make sure she was rested and happy before Kelley got home. So I brought her to the recliner, wrapped in my jacket, and just rocked with her until she was asleep again.

The sun went down and I had to pee pretty bad, but didn’t want to stop holding her. So I sat in a cold, dark room with a full bladder until se had a good sleep and Kelley was home and ready to see our happy baby. It doesn’t sound like a big deal, but I’ll remember that time for years to come.

Yesterday it remained cold here in the Lone Star State, and we were graced with snow. This was Avery’s first! She wasn’t doing very good in the nap department, but we eventually ventured outside with her oversized bear coat. She was pretty damn cute with her long sleeves flapping as she moved her arms all over!

Free Bear Hugs!!
Free Bear Hugs!!

After the photo session to document her first snow, we went on another Long, Cold Walk just like the day before. She was squirmy at first, but before I knew it, she was sound asleep and I was just talking to myself (not uncommon). And so another long, cold walk ensued. I thought I lost an ear at one point, but it was just my whole face turning numb……then burning. 3+ miles in the books and I loved every second.

Getting tired of the camera.

Once we returned, I couldn’t help but try for a few more pictures. I even tried making snow angels with her facing out in the Baby Bjorn..

Dad_Avery_Snow Angel

That was my first and last try to do that!

It’s still cold her and more snow might come, so I’ll try for round three of walking with Avery to see if she’ll nap again.

What are your thoughts on sleep training and the various methods used to get your baby to sleep?

How do you make the most out of the time with your baby before they are all grown up?

An at-home dad on a mission to keep it real when it comes to food, fun, and raising a healthy, happy family.