Welcome, sweet Aveline Mae.

Dear Avie,
Today you are just one week and one day old and already your presence in our lives is all-consuming in all the best ways.

There are so many words I'd like to share with you about your whip-quick entrance into this world. And soon that story will come, I promise. But for now we drift between days, unaware of hours passing, punch-drunk on love and a severe lack of sleep.

You, my sweet, are absolutely intoxicating. People warned us that we would be smitten--that the moment we met you we would be changed forever. But we had no idea how much our hearts would hang on your every movement. So, to celebrate your first week in this world with us, we offer up the following "top ten"list ...in your daddy's words:

Cool things that have happened during the first week of Miss Avie Mae's life:

1) Helping to deliver our baby daughter into this world on an early Thursday Portland morning.
2) Finally revealing the mystery of the right rib pain that has plagued Cecily during the pregnancy (Hint: Avie likes her legs positioned in a very particular way, thanks!)
3) Getting back to her original birth weight in less than a week due to a fantastically lactating mama.
4) Being so proud of our daughter's bowel movements and high-fiving each other as the colors began to change from 'Texas tea' black to a mustard yellow smear (indeed, talking poop is a rite of passage to parenthood).
5) Noticing that Avie likes to curl her toes just like her dad.
6) Being able to spend daddy-daughter time together while she sleeps.
7) Looking on in horror as right after we remove her diaper, Avie pees all over the pediatrician's table with a blissful look on her face. (Sticking it to the man already at such a young age!)
8) Realizing that you can function with minimal amounts of sleep just so that you can spend a little more time awake with your daughter.
9) Frequenting the hospital. Not to do things half-assed, the entire Sakrison clan made three separate hospital trips in the same week. Did you know? Plastic I.D. bracelets are the new bling! Not to worry...everyone left with a clean bill of health, but we hope the hospital offers a frequent customer discount!
10) Coming to the realization that we get to spend the rest of our lives with this totally cool individual, getting to know her, creating wonderful memories together and helping her become the best person she can be.

And the runner-up...Bearing witness to the first milk nose-fountain after an epic baby sneeze.