Week 10

Week 10

After being away from home for almost two weeks Ava Joy and I have definitely enjoyed being back in our home and spending time with Jordan/Daddy. :) Unfortunatley, Ava Joy spent the beginning of this week still feeling pretty bad with her cold. Sunday afternoon it seemed like it got really bad, she was so congested, coughing, sneezing. It was terrible. It is so hard to feel so helpless. We were using a humidifier, steaming up the bathroom, suctioning out her nose, putting saline drops in her nose, yet nothing was seeming to help. I put a call into her doctor and they told us to take her in to Peds After Hours just to make sure it hadn't gotten into her lungs. It was still just a bad cold, and there was still nothing we could really do except let her body fight it off. I was very relieved it was nothing worse. By Monday afternoon she was really starting to feel better and was getting back to her smiley self. The one big hiccup we are having as a side effect of her not feeling well is Ava Joy no longer has any interest in a bottle. She was taking it great and now... nothing. I'm hoping that since she's feeling better she'll take to it again. It makes going out in public a whole lot easier! While she was sick I also didn't put her down to sleep at night because she was choking on her spit and mucous so much I just felt much more comfortable holding her all night. Sleep deprivation was definitely worth making sure she was ok! I was worried it would interfere with her sleeping but as soon as she was feeling better she was sleeping like a champ through the night again.

Monday morning I went into school to drop off some supplies and meet my students. I didn't stay too long because I was anxious to get home to my princess since she wasn't feeling well. I did extend my maternity leave while at school to the full twelve weeks. I have no idea what I was thinking only taking part of it. Now I don't start back until November 5th which also means that Thanksgiving break and Christmas break will follow shortly after which will give me more time with my Muffin. She slept the whole time I was gone and was just waking up when I got home.

Tuesday was her 2 month check up. She weighed in at 11 pounds 5 ounces and was 23.25 inches long. She's in the 50th percentile for weight, 90th for height, and 75th for head circumference. She also got her first shots. :( She was SUCH a champ though. I cried longer than she did. Popped that boob in her mouth and she was a happy girl, even stopping to look up at me and smile. 

Thursday we went grocery shopping and did a little shopping at Old Navy. Ava Joy got her first cowboy hat. It is pretty much the cutest thing ever! Friday we went to visit Daddy at work and bring him lunch.

This week I also joined Weight Watchers online. I really want to get this leftover preggo weight off but don't want my milk supply to drop. Weight watchers calculates in if you are breast feeding so I feel comfortable doing it this way. Ava Joy and I have also been jogging every night and she has started using the regular stroller seat this week. I need to pull out the jogging stroller pretty soon.

Here are some pictures from our week:

Jogging with Mommy

At the after hours clinic :(

Shots :(

Feeling MUCH better!

My cutie!

SPERRYS!

Mommy's little cowgirl. :)

Big girl stroller seat!

At the doctor.

2 month check up.

My Muffin!

Out for another jog. Helping Mommy get back in shape!

Visiting Daddy at work.

Week 8 & 9

Week 8 & 9

As of Wednesday our Princess is 2 months old. I don't know what we did without her. I stare at her and am so overwhelmed by the intensity of my love for her. She is developing and just thriving so much. 

She is starting to really like being in the sitting up position so I bought her a BebePod. She still needs a little support but she seems to really like it. I just feel so blessed to be her Mommy.

Hangin out in my big girl seat!

The past two weeks Ava Joy and I spent the majority of our time in Gainesville. Jordan had to go to Utah on business so we decided to pack up and head to Papa and Gamma's house. We left on Sunday morning the 12th and got back on Thursday morning the 23rd. It was a lot of fun spending so much time with our family and friends but we missed Jordan (Daddy) sooooooo much! It feels very good to be home! 

Here is a snap shot of our days in Gainesville:

Sunday: Jordan helped me pack up the car before he left for work then I fed Ava Joy and we headed off around 9:30. She did awesome on her first road trip and slept the entire way. We went straight to my parents church where she woke up and decided to sing along in church. That is until the singing turned to crying and we left a little early with Auntie Blair. My sister and her girls came over and my Dad grilled. Auntie Pie and Uncle Justin also stopped by. That night my Dad, Bergen, and I went running. My mom called close to the end and Ava Joy was starting to get hungry so I sprinted home to her. :)

Sisters with our sleeping babies.

Uncle Justin cuddles.

Monday: We had lunch with Auntie Pie and Uncle Justin at Crispers. Later Ava Joy and I ran errands with Gamma. I bought a bunch of back to school supplies for my students. My sister's family came over for dinner again and she gave Evie (6.5 months) her first solid food... sweet potatoes! So cute!!!

Evie B's first food!

Tuesday: Our friends Renee and Baby Arianna came over to visit. Later in the afternoon we went over to visit the Doles family. It was the first time most of the siblings has met Ava Joy.

Rockin that hat.

Arianna and Ava Joy

Graham Cracker feeding Baby Girl.

Meeting Uncle Ryan

Wednesday: Ava Joy and I went with Auntie Pie and Meggie to McAllisters for lunch. After that we went with Auntie Pie to Old Navy. She bought Ava Joy a new outfit. Ava Joy was soooooo good shopping! Auntie Karen and Emily came over for a little while then we all went to Auntie Bergen's for a Thirty One Party. 

Gamma cuddles.

Thursday: Ashley, Kaylin, and Evie were over for the day. I took Ava Joy by Benton Pediatrics to show her off and visit Papa and Auntie Bergen at work. She weighed in at 11 pounds 5 ounces! After that we went with Auntie Pie and Uncle Justin to Coldstone. Uncle Justin kept Ava Joy very happy by dancing around with her (to Call Me Maybe- of course) and bouncing her on his knee. Then they came back home with us to have dinner.

Visiting Papa at work.

Coldstone with Auntie Pie!

Dancing with Uncle Justin.

Good practice. ;)

Friday: I brought Ava Joy to have lunch with Auntie Blair at school and we showed her off to my mom's class (4 year olds). Then we went with Auntie Blair to the mall for a little while. After my mom was done working we ran errands with her. Uncle Justin came over for dinner cause Auntie Pie had to work.

Visiting Gamma and Auntie Blair at school.

Eating lunch with Auntie Blair.

Loving on Papa.

Hanging out with Uncle Justin.

Saturday: I went with Blair to get a pedicure while my mom walked around and sat in the car with Ava Joy. Then we went to the mall with Papa and Gamma and Ava Joy got the CUTEST overalls with hearts embroidered on them! That night I also gave Ava Joy a bath and Auntie Blair and Gamma helped.

Gamma cuddles.

Sunday: We went to church again and Ava Joy was precious as always. Then Ryan, Karen, and Emily stopped by the house. My dad set up all of his photography gear to take pictures of my nieces and we grabbed a couple of Ava Joy as well. All of the pictures are so fantastic! Ava Joy, Gamma, and I met Auntie Pie and Uncle Justin for dinner at McAllisters (by my request...again).  

Auntie Karen and Ava Joy.

"Grandma Says I'm Purrrrfect"

Monday: Auntie Bergen and Evie came by after she took Ashley and Kaylin to their first day of school. Can't believe Ashley is a 5th grader!!! And a safety patrol! The rest of the day we just hung out with Gamma and Auntie Blair. Gamma made fried chicken for dinner and it was delish!

Tuesday: Auntie Bergen, Evie, Ava Joy, and I went out to visit Auntie Karen and Emily at the lake. Evie and Emily were so cute playing together. It was very rainy but we survived.

Evie and Emily. Ava Joy will be down there with them soon!

Wednesday: Our last day in Gainesville was pretty eventful. I noticed Tuesday night that Baby Girl was a little bit stuffy so I asked my Dad to make her an appointment with Dr. Benton. Sure enough... my Muffin has her first cold. :( Dr. B put some saline drops in her nose and said that should clear it up. Ava Joy SCREAMED! It was so terrible. I started crying but luckily it wasn't anything a little booby juice couldn't fix. She weighed in at 11 pounds 7 ounces. We left there and went and picked up Auntie Pie and went to Toys R Us to buy a humidifier. Then Auntie Pie came back home with us and Graham Cracker and Grandma Doreen came over for a visit. Ava Joy was smiling away at them. After Uncle Justin got off work he came over also. Auntie Bergen, Uncle Den, and the cousins stopped by to say goodbye also and we gave Kayliny her birthday present.

Smilin for the grandparents

Thursday: We got up, got the car loaded up, and hit the road to head home. Ava Joy fell asleep and woke up about an hour into the drive, cried for about 10 minutes and fell back asleep. We were so excited to get home and see Daddy, as he was to see us! 

It was quite a long time away from home but overall Ava Joy did excellently traveling. She is sleeping around 11 hours straight at night!!! My Pretty, Pretty Princess is the light of my life!!!

My Muffin is 2 months old!

Finally home with Daddy! :)

Week 7

Week 7

"Forever would never be long enough for me, to feel like I had long enough with you..." This is a song lyric from Train's song 'Marry Me'. Although it is a love song that first line just says everything I feel about my baby girl. As the weeks fly by my anxiety about returning to work increases. I still have 9 weeks left to spend with Ava Joy but I know that the time will go too quickly. I find peace in knowing she will be home with Jordan two days a week and only at daycare 3 days a week (in our neighborhood). I find myself already worrying about pumping and my milk supply dropping. I am trying to just push all this worrying and anxiety aside and focus on this precious time. I also love that she will be 4 months old when I go back. Just trying to focus on the positive!

This week Ava Joy and I have continued to go jogging. She absolutely loves it. She loves her stroller (when in motion) as well as the car seat (when in motion). This is a good thing and hopefully she will prove to love the car seat for an extended time as we make our first trip to Gainesville on Sunday. Jordan has to go out of town for business so Ava Joy and I are headed to Gainesville for the week. Packing with a newborn is overwhelming but I'm excited to spend so much time with her and our family and friends. I don't know what I'm going to do without Jordan. This is the longest we've been apart since before we were married. Luckily we'll be able to skype. 

On Monday my mom came down for the day and helped me set up my classroom. It was the first time I left Ava Joy. Of course it was with Jordan so it made it a lot easier. She did great. Slept most of the time, woke up and had a bottle and we were home not long after that. Luckily I had prepared most everything at the end of the school year so my mom and I got my room done in 2 hours. On Tuesday Jordan's mom and sister (Jessica) came to visit. It was the first time Aunt Jessica got to meet Ava Joy before she headed back home to California.After they left our neighborhood had a food truck round up at the clubhouse. We put Ava Joy in the stroller and being the time of day it was I expected her to be awake, but no she slept the whole time- loud music and all! Wednesday Ava Joy and I did a little back to school shopping for my kiddos. Friday I took Ava Joy to visit Jordan at work and show her off to his staff. Of course everybody loved her. :) 

This week Ava Joy has continued to sleep great. We even got a TEN hour night one day this week. On average it's a 6 hour stretch, eat, and then back to sleep for another 3-4 hours. She even has taken a few naps in her bouncy seat this week.

Here are some pictures from our week:

Monday- spending the day with Daddy.

Super Daddy! 

Grandma Doreen

Aunt Jessica

Ava Joy's first food truck experience.

Watching the olympics with Daddy (although I think this is actually a commercial).

Uncle Aymer

Visiting Daddy at work!