Day 3 in Houston

Last night went well and we are getting better at figuring out how to take care of Ava.  She is such a patient little girl as we try different ways of doing things -- how to swaddle her just right and how to not take too long when we do a diaper change (the only time she really cries a lot is when we are changing her and she is no longer in her warm outfit).   In some ways, she reminds me of Jenny when we were in China -- just looking at us very patiently while we fumble around!

Everyone told us we would be delirious from lack of sleep but the pleasant surprise is that at least for now I don't feel too tired.  As Rachel put it, our normal mode is not getting a lot of sleep so in some ways this is no different.  Last night, I set my alarm to ring every four hours so I can feed Ava and she generally goes right back to sleep after I feed her.  Meanwhile, Rachel has been taking care of Jenny at night and making sure that she doesn't feel neglected.  So far, it's working out well.

I just fed Ava and now she's asleep in the bassinet.  The nurse at the hospital had told us that we should only give her between 20 and 25 ml in each feeding but it's hard to know how much she is drinking.  She just wolfs it down and sometimes she drinks too much!  For example, last night she drank almost the entire bottle before I could take it away.  So I keep having to pull it out and see how much she has done.

Now Rachel and Jenny are in the bedroom where Rachel just gave Jenny some earrings (according to R, a gift from Ava to Jenny).  Today, Rachel, Jenny, and my mom are going to the Houston Ballet to see the Nutcracker.  It will be a nice diversion for them and I know they will enjoy it.  My dad and I will hang out in the room with Ava and will watch some football on TV.  We might also venture out and get some sunlight.  It's beautiful here in Houston - warm and sunny.  It will be a shock to get back to DC where we hear it is cold and icy.

Here are some photos that Jenny and I just took.  We are having fun playing with the camera.  The last photo we took using the "photo booth" application which we love.  Jenny set the effects to look like an Andy Warhall print.

J.