It's been too long

The title says it all. Ava is now 13 months. A whole year has passed and so much has changed. It seems that I can't ever catch up with life and I'm always running behind. Hence the lack of posts on the blog.  Being a mother is by far the hardest thing I've ever done in my life.  Some of my friends make it look so easy. I definitely do not.

Ava is the best and most wonderful gift from God. But she has been a challenge.  For the most part of her 1st year, Ava has not slept through the night. In fact, she still does not routinely sleep through the night.  For those who have not experienced lack of sleep..it's something that changes who you are.  For the first 3-5 months of Ava's life, I walked around like a zombie. As if I was floating through life but not really connected. I was sad, emotional, but then I would look at her and she would take my breath away because she was so beautiful and so angelic. 

12 months of pictures is extremely too much at one time so I will post some of my favorites. These are in no particular order. Enjoy.

Hungry baby

Christmas at Grandma Michelle's

Practicing the sippy cup

Day after Christmas - First Snow

Sleeping beauty on the beach

Ava's first beach trip in November 2010 - 3 months old

She loves her daddy

What a cupcake!

Christmas Day with "Raffe" - Mommy had to work on Christmas Day so dad took lots of pictures and sent to mommy's phone.

Family pic on mommy's 28th birthday

This girl is gorgeous

At 13 months

Motor skills:

• Ava started walking on her own on Aug 27, Saturday - the night of her birthday party.  We actually caught it on video!! She was so proud of herself. She was trying to clap and walk at the same time.  The best part was that a lot of the family was still there to see this great mileston.  The funny thing is the next day she wanted nothing to do with walking.  I was ok with that. I'm going to try and really let Ava do her thing at her own time and pace. 
• Ava tries to kick the ball and also tries to throw the ball. Most of the time it ends up going behind her
• Ava loves to go up and down steps. She could do that all day!
• She does the cutest little dance. She bends her knees then bobs up and down while clapping her hands.

Vocabulary

• Mommy - she calls me this, but usually calls me daddy
• Daddy - she knows Charlie is daddy for sure
• Baby - Ava knowingly calls little babies "baby" and she also calls her baby dolls "baby". But she also calls all dogs "baby". She cracks me up.
• Ba - for ball. when she sees a beach ball or any kind of ball she'll point and say "ba"
• mimi - she calls her blanket mimi - NO idea where that came from.
• Bubble - for bubbles
• She tries to say banana
• Ba-ba for her sippy cup

 Commands

• Ava knows "NO" but usually doesn't follow it. Sometimes when I say no really sternly, she will start to cry as if I've hurt her little feelings.
• Ava knows to go get things like her shoes, her bubble sticks, her bat, her ball, baby, mimi, ba-ba (sippy cup).

I can't think of all the things that Ava does that amaze me each day. I know all toddler are doing the same things she is doing. It's hard for me to realize that she's no longer a baby and is a toddler now. A little person - and I can't wait to see the person that she'll become to be.

36 week Drs Appt

We're dilated 1 cm!!! Dr.Lampley said baby's head is down. So that makes two physicians to confirm she's down and ready to go...Baby's heart beat is still good and she's still growing.  Things are going well. Maybe we'll see her sooner than Sept??

Baby Shower #2

The weekend crew in the ICU threw me a mini baby shower on Aug 1, 2010 since they couldn't make my shower on Aug 8th. They texted me to come on that Sunday and I knew it was going to be something for baby.  But I didn't know that they were going to have food and lots of gifts.  I was quite impressed their spread.  Sadly, I didn't bring my camera because I didn't know it was going to be an actual party/shower..Just thought it was going to be a hey! look what we got your for baby kind-of-thing. 

We got lots of stuff and very excited about the bouncer we got..

Baby Shower #1

My high-school girlfriends threw me and Baby Ava a baby shower on July 11, 2010 at Lauren's house.  It was a great and fun shower.  Lots of delicious food, great friends, and fun games.  These girls know how to throw a party and are very creative.

Our welcome banner

check out the food spread!! it was all soo delicious!!

Love Love my cake!! Dr Seus theme. One fish two fish three fish!!

Little mommy fish walking her baby fish :0) How adorable!

Me and Meg!

The old high school gang

Me and Mal

 

Me and "Lavender"

Me and Brandy

Me and "Sneed"

Me and Lauren

Me and "Cov"

Me and Miss Julia!!

Nursery Pics

Ava Michelle's nursery is almost complete!!Only a few more details here and there.

Updates

Weight: 142 lbs
Total weight gain: + 27 lbs

*People say that I've gained it all in the belly.  Semi true - I'm definitely getting hips, bigger thighs, and J-Lo booty. 

Innie/Outie:  The belly button is definitely out there now. You can see it pretty much through anything I wear, even if I layer it.  I find that a lot of peole poke at my belly button than rub the belly. Weird I know.

Swelling: Yes!! It used to be only if I ate something salty that day or day before.  Now my feet and hands are swollen all the time. It's not bad.  But I used to be a 4 1/2 ring size.  Now I'm a size 6. Charlie had to buy me an el cheapo replacement ring from Belks.  Also, I used to wear size 5 1/2 - 6 in dress shoes.  I have orientation all this week July 19-23 and have to dress in business casual clothes.  My shoes no longer fit me. I have borrowed some of mom's and she wears size 7. Some of her shoes hardly fit me!!  It is just swelling though. I don't have pitting edema yet - where my fingers leave indentions in my ankles/feet.

Mood: Ill and mean. I have found that pregnancy makes me more impatient and grouchy.  The little things that never bothered me make me so ill these days.  Especially now, my hormones are going crazy.  Sometimes I just want to punch somebody's face if they something that I don't like.  Yeah..it's bad..

I don't feel bad.  And I still smile and laugh a lot. I'm just way more impatient.

Physical ailments 1. I can barely shave my legs these days.  Shaving in the shower is a major accomplishment for me.  2. I gag everytime I brush my teeth. I hate to brush my teeth.  3.  My feet and legs hurt no matter what shoes I wear to work.  4. My back hurts when I'm sleeping. I actually wake up in the middle of the night because my back hurts.  It hurts when I sit for long periods of time. And it hurts every day that I'm at work even if I'm taking it easy.  5. Baby girl loves to kick and rearrange my organs these days. Which is fine because I want her to have lots of movement. It's reassuring to know that she's ok and strong.  6. I get leg cramps like crazy.  7. I have restless leg syndrome especially in the middle of the night. They will just have this weird sensation and I feel like I have to constantly move or kick my legs.  8. I can't breathe after I eat because she is so high up.

**These physical ailments are all normal. I take all of them pretty lightly and just laugh.  All I care about is that Baby Girl is healthy. 

Upcoming events: Maternity photo session at Myrtle Beach on July 24.  Second Baby Shower Aug 8

Thoughts: It's so crazy thinking that I will be a mommy in about 6-7 weeks.  It's mind blowing actually.  I am so excited to finally get to meet the little munchkin that's been in my belly for so long.  Charlie is sooo excited. I wish that I could record how his face lights up when Baby Girls moves and kicks. I will wake up in the middle of the night and feel that his hand is still on my belly - exactly where it was when I fell asleep.  Baby Ava and him play a game every night at bedtime. He gets her all excited and she just moves and rolls while he lays there and laughs at me.  Believe it or not, I can fall asleep even if she is a little tumbler in there. 

31 weeks

31 weeks