Just Five More Minutes

(NEW POSTS BELOW)

That's what it felt like this morning when the alarm went off for me to begin my first day interning at the Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce. Nathan and I tried to get to sleep a bit earlier last night. "Try" being the key word, since we are still on college time, and we attempt to get a few things accomplished after Avery has fallen asleep each night. The last couple of nights, after we'd been getting used to getting more rest, Avery has decided that she would like to wake up and eat at 3:30 in the morning. Fingers crossed, she decides to sleep tonight. Thus, the saga of sleep versus no sleep continues. I'd mentioned in a previous post that she has been sleeping in her crib, but what I forgot to mention are the absurd and hilarious positions we find her in when she wakes up in the morning. We still can't figure out how a 3 month old can manage to move herself all over the crib.

Back to the internship...I began today, and I really enjoy the staff and the atmosphere. I'm lucky to be working with such a close-knit group. No big stories to tell today. I made a lot of phone calls to see who would be in attendance to a kickoff luncheon next Tuesday, and that was my day. Nathan watched Avery this morning, who not only decided to wake us at 3:30, but also decided that it was time to be awake for the rest of the day around 6:45 am. They survived each other, although at one point I received a text message from Nathan today that read, "Avery says, 'ok, funny mommy, leaving me with daddy, but you come home now.'" Nathan's day consisted of a fussy baby, who somehow turned not so fussy when I came home. That's not to say that I don't have my alone days of a fussy baby at times.

After months of searching, we finally found someone to watch Avery on the days I'm interning and Nathan begins work (we are praying for jobs for him right now...unfortunately this is NOT a good time to graduate). We'd been asking, calling and searching for a lifesaver, when a lady who has a first grader at my mom's school and a 2 year old at home, decided to watch children. Avery will be her first client. Nathan, my mom, Avery and I went over to her house Saturday morning, and I feel at peace with everything. The lady is wonderful and I know she will be in good hands.

Well we must get to bed, since Avery could possibly wake up in a few short hours.

(TWO NEW POSTS BELOW)
(PICTURES TO FOLLOW IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS)

Because I'm Told I Never Post

A few things that I can update everyone on. And because I'm feeling in a creative mood, they might not fall into a form considered grammatically correct, but that's ok, 'cause I'm the author tonight.

1. I graduated from Auburn on December 19th, 2008. In only 3 and 1/2 years. With a degree in Political Science. What does that mean I can do? Essentially, nothing, but also everything. Awesome, huh?

2. I really would like to go skiing out West this year, preferably the Summit County, CO, area: Breckenridge, Keystone, maybe even Copper. If anyone wants to volunteer their SkyMiles, I would greatly appreciate it. Got my fingers crossed.

4. I know, I skipped 3. It's creative. Promise. I'm trying to get a Teller position at the RBC Bank down the road. They're calling tomorrow to do a phone interview. Hopefully my glowing personality will shine through the airwaves.

5. I would give my comments here on the Israel - Hamas conflict, however, it would probably include too much depth and everyone would skip this part. So, I'll leave 5 blank, as well.

Ok, I think that's about all I have. I think Chelsea wants to post now about her first day as an intern at the Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce.

Oh, one last thing.

6. Everyone should visit pandora.com if they want to enjoy good music while they surf the 'net. Trust me on this one.

Remember, vote Nathan Payne for __________ in 2---. (Any time you see my name on the ballot, unless it's for dog catcher.)

7. Copy and paste into your browser: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRwF2X1kKII
TWO MORE YEARS!

Harry Potter land coming soon!

Bonne nuit,
Nathan

A New Year. A New Leaf. And, Hopefully, More Posts!

Perhaps, I can post more than just once a month to give the new updates on Avery's life, our lives, etc. On that note, perhaps I should re-introduce myself to the blogger world, since it has been too long.

Hello again! I hope you haven't given up on the Payne's completely. Now that we are not rushing around like mad, we will be updating more often.

With that said, 2009 New Year's resolution: post more. Especially since friends and family aren't always around to hear and see the latest.

Avery is doing wonderfully. Last night Nathan and I couldn't help but get a little nostalgic when looking at pictures of her in the hospital and coming home from the hospital. It's amazing to watch her grow every day. What once was a tiny baby who barely fit in her car seat holder, is quickly outgrowing the headrest in the car seat. I know she's only 3 months old, and she still has much more growing to do, but looking at the clothes she has already outgrown in her closet and dresser is bittersweet (Nathan's been trying to get me to put those away in storage since they are taking up space, but I just can't seem to get rid of any of her outfits).

She's learned a lot, like how to sleep for at least six hours at night. There have been a few nine hour nights and many seven and eight hour nights, and for that we are extremely grateful. However, Avery has still not mastered taking a nap in her crib during the day or moving on from a 2 hour time schedule to eat (unless she happens to be on the go and forgets about food). She is her momma's daughter, who looks so much like her daddy.

Avery is full of smiles...especially in the morning, and she is really starting to notice when people are paying her attention and when they are not (she's already started pretend coughing and loves an audience). Her newest discovery is her hands. It is hilarious to watch her fascination with her hands as she stares at them moving them closer to her face until she makes four hands instead of just two because she goes cross-eyed. It reminds Nathan and I of someone doing shadow puppets.

We've affectionately nicknamed her Avery Bear or the bear (no historical connection to anyone, guaranteed). I am afraid, however, that on the first day of preschool she will correct her teacher to tell her that her name is in fact not Avery, but Avery Bear.

Skipping Holidays

With the wedding madness taking over (the wedding is in 19 days) and a very active 2 month old, life has barely left me enough time to update this blog. True, I am on the computer a considerable amount, but it is only to look up wedding details, site and vendor bookings, or the occasional question about Avery. I knew planning a wedding in one month would be tough, but just never realized how tough--especially considering I'm a perfectionist and have already gone back and forth over details that most people would not think twice about. With that said, it is slowly starting to take place (did I mention it was in 19 days...don't really have the luxury of it slowly taking place, but I'll take what I can get). We have Christmas decorations up and are trying to enjoy Avery's first Christmas, but this year Christmas is kind of on the back burner to everything else. Next Christmas should be much more calm and we'll be able to appreciate it more. Maybe this year we'll be able to focus on our blessings and the true meaning of Christmas without all the material goods getting in our way.

In Avery news:

She is doing wonderful and growing beautifully. Today we went for her 2 month check-up where we found out she weighed 11 pounds 3 ounces. I knew she was gaining weight and told friends and family she had to be at least 10 pounds. When the nurse said 11 pounds I was pleasantly surprised. Avery is quickly outgrowing her clothes, especially many of her onesies since she know measures 23 inches. I hope she is able to wear all of her clothes before she outgrows them.

Avery is a sweet baby, and last night after her bath she went to sleep at 10 p.m. and didn't wake up until 7 a.m. (NINE HOURS!). She slept the entire night through. I was so proud of her. Sure, she still likes to eat every two hours during the day (the doctor thinks she is catching up from not eating during the night) which is kind of confining, but I would much rather her get a good night's sleep.

One of my New Year's resolutions is to update this more...we'll see if that happens.

I promise to post more pictures by the beginning of next week. We should have some good ones after Nathan graduates on Friday (Avery and I are so proud of him!)

One Month

Tomorrow Avery will turn one month old. In lieu of her one month birthday we went to the doctor today for her month check-up, and she needed to receive the second series of the Hepatitis B immunization. Avery did extremely well--only cried once and it was in response to getting a shot (who could blame her) combined with it was almost time for her to eat (I really think babies have an internal clock. She knows exactly when two hours has been).

Updates on her growth:

Weight: 9 lbs 2 oz

Height: 22 in!!

Head Circumference: Still 15 in

Our pediatrician said Avery is growing well and is healthy. Her heart sounds great and her eyes are focusing nicely. Nathan and I are so lucky!

Look for pictures next week as we will be spending almost nine days in Auburn so Avery can meet all of Mommy and Daddy's friends!

To trick or treat, or not trick or treat...

Some babies have to wait a long time before their first holiday. Avery experienced her first holiday at only 18 days old.

My mom and I had bought a caterpillar costume a few months ago at a Mom-to-Mom sale. Although the outfit looked like it might swallow her, the costume lacked feet and we knew by next year Avery probably wouldn't appreciate being so confined. So, we decided to dress her up this year (she was sporting an appropriately titled "My First Halloween" onesie throughout the day with an adorable "I love my Mummy" bib that was a gift from a friend, and to complete the look--pumpkin booties). I was skeptical about her wearing the costume, since she doesn't enjoy changing outfits. However, she shocked us by loving the costume. It was comfy and cozy, and probably reminded her of Mommy's tummy. She even wore it for a few hours to let people "ooh" and "ahh" over her. Nathan and I took her around the neighborhood to the neighbors we know well to let them see how precious she looked.

She may have had a little too much fun tonight, because she's still awake as I'm typing this...

Growing Girl

Avery had her two week check up appointment at the doctor's office today. Here's what we found out,

Weight: 8 lbs. (growing girl!). Her birth weight was 7 lbs. 4 oz., she left the hospital weighing 6 lbs. 14 oz. It normally takes up to two weeks to gain her birth weight back, but she had already gained that at her one week appointment.

Length: Still 20 1/2 inches long

Head: 15 inches. When she was born the circumference around her head was only 14 inches. A whole inch!

The doctor says she looks and sounds perfect. We thank God every day for this beautiful, but most importantly HEALTHY, baby girl.