Avia Noelle means "Christmas Bird."

Avia Noelle Kucic entered the world at 2:47 am on Tuesday, December 21, 2004. She was born at Lucille Packard Children's Hospital, Stanford University Medical Center in Palo Alto, California.
She weighed 8 pounds 1 ounce and was 19 1/4 inches in length. She scored 10/10 on her apgars. For more about Avia's birth go to Avia's Birth Story.

At her first doctor's appointment on December 23rd, Avia weighed in at 7lbs 10oz, 19 1/2" long. Her head was 32 cm. She was pronounced healthy though slightly jaundiced.

Avia celebrated her first Christmas at home in Santa Clara with her family. Santa left a few presents under the tree for the new little babe: a Care Bear, Winnie the Pooh, and a musical lamb among them.

Avia was a very strong newborn. She rolled over for the first time (from tummy to back) at 3 weeks 2 days old, much to Mommy's astonishment. Luckily, though she did repeat the feat a time or two, she did not make a regular habit of it! Avia flashed her first smile of recognition at Mommy on January 22nd at 1 month 1 day old ( 4weeks 4 days). At this point, Avia was quite a fussy little girl and Mommy and Daddy were looking forward to the 6 week milestone when crying would peak. Luckily, she did sleep well at might as long as she could be cuddled up right next to Mommy.

At Avia's 1 month doctor appointment she got a booster Hep B vaccination and weighed in at 9lbs 12 oz, 21 1/2" in length. The doctor said she was very healthy and reassured Mommy that fast, havey breathing was normal for a young infant and that spitting up was okay so long as Avia was gaining weight well. Avia was in the 50-75% for weight and 75% for length.

Avia first demonstrated that she could bring her fist to her mouth at 8 weeks 3 days old. She quickly decided that it was a good thing to suck on if there was no pacifier around. Soon Avia became quite fascinated with the world around her and enjoyed staring at her surroundings turning her head from side to side and often cooing with pleasure. At her 2 month well check up Avia weighed 9lbs 12 oz and was 23" in length. Thus, she continued in the same percentile for both height and weight. At this doctor visit she received 4 immunizations: DTP, IPV, Pneumoccocal, and Hib. She soon was in size 2 diapers and beginning to fit in her 3-6 mos wardrobe. At 2 1/2 months Avia was down to generally 1 or 2 feedings at night. She slept through the night (from 9:30 pm to 6:30 am) for the first time on March 2nd at 10 weeks 1 day. Avia still insisted on sleeping in Mommy and Daddy's bed at this point and refused to be put down in her bassinet, crib, or pack n' play and napped either in her car seat, high chair, or swing. Avia was a very light sleeper.

At 3 months Avia miraculously (for Mommy and Daddy) began falling asleep on her own. She no longer wanted to be held all evening, sleeping on Mom's lap but preferred to be put down in her bassinet. She would fall asleep without even crying! Avia would still end up sleeping with Mom and Dad after awaking during the night for a feeding but that was mainly because Mommy was too lazy to put her back in her own bed.

Avia celebrated her first Easter in April. The Easter bunny brought her her very own Easter basket with lots of goodies including a Blueberry Muffin doll (or wait, was that for Mommy?) and a pink bunny with a soft book on his tummy.

Avia took her first plane trip on March 28th. She flew from San Jose to Ontario, CA to visit Grandma PJ and Papa Chris. She did really well on the plane sleeping most of the time on Mommy's lap. While visiting her grandparents, Avia experienced the beach for the first time. Mommy, PJ, and GiGi took her and her brother to San Clemente for the day. The weather was beautiful and Avia seemed to enjoy the sunshine. She did not like the cold water too much though. She would tolerate her toes getting wet but wailed when the waves hit her thighs. While on the trip, Avia did very well sleeping in Mommy's old cradle that Papa made many years earlier.

When Avia returned home, she began sleeping in her crib for the first time. She did very well falling asleep in her crib, still without crying and preferred to be put straight down while still awake rather than being rocked. She was ready for bed between 8 and 8:30pm. Avia typically awoke for her first night feeding around 11 pm at this age. And would generally wake again around 1 am for a 2nd night time feeding and then sleep til around 6:30am. She was generally sleeping in her crib til the 2nd night time feeding at this point but would then spend the rest of the night in bed with Mommy. Avia got her first cold in mid-April. She didn't seem too concerned by the sniffles. She was too busy watching and giggling at her brother, Caeden. And already she was trying to sit up and appeared to be cutting a tooth. To Mommy, it seemed that Avia was in a big hurry to grow up! Avia liked listening to music and enjoyed Mommy's singing. She loved to play in the exersaucer and watch the lights on her activity gym while trying to eat the dangling toys. She liked to be outside and was fascinated by the dogs in the backyard.

At Avia's 4 month doctor's visit she weighed 15lbs 4oz and was in the 85th%. She was 24" long, 50th%. And her head circumference was in the 25th%. She received 4 booster vaccinations. The doctor advised that we should start a multi-vitamin and work on sleeping through the night. He also wanted us to exercise Avia's neck to improve her muscle strength. She had a tendency to tilt her head to the right side. He said she looked perfect and was developmentally right on track. Avia demonstrated her ability to smile, laugh, and babble.

Avia made her first road trip in May. Mommy decided on a whim to drive down to Southern California to visit Grandma PJ and Papa Chris. Avia did pretty well on the 6 hour drive but decided she was done with the trip somewhere around Pasadena and it was a scream-fest the rest of the way to Upland where we surprised the pants off Grandma at Boomers where she was having dinner.

Avia got her first taste of baby food on Memorial Day. She was absolutely thrilled to be eating solid food and tried again and again to grab the spoon away from Mommy to feed herself (so she could go faster). She basically inhaled her first bowl of rice cereal. Within a week or so she had tried apple sauce, bananas, sweet potatoes, carrots, and peas. All met with her acceptance although she demonstrated a particular fondness for the apple sauce and sweet potatoes.

Avia maded a second road trip the first weekend of June. By now she was becoming quite the wee traveler. Although, she was not nearly as patient with long car rides as her brother had been. She visited Mommy and Daddy's favorite winery, Firestone, for the annual cellar family picnic. Later that weekend she enjoyed the sand and surf at Pismo Beach. And got her first little sunburn. {oops!} Mommy thought she had enough sunscreen on! Daddy enjoyed trying out new foods on Avia during our mini-vacation. She tried cotton candy, bread, cream cheese frosting, hot German potato salad, and probably a few other things. There wasn't anything she didn't like.

At 5 1/2 months Avia was still not quite sitting up without support. She had seemed ready to do it for quite awhile but she was cautious and preferred to hold on to Mommy's hand while seated.

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