26, 27 & 28 Weeks
Those two weeks off flew by wayyyyyy too fast. I enjoyed and soaked in every moment spent with my Princess, our family, and friends. Ava Joy had an amazing first Christmas. We baked cookies together on the 23rd and delivered them to Daddy's work. We spent Christmas Eve and Christmas in Gainesville. We went to Christmas Eve service with the Grandparents at the church Jordan and I got married at. Ava Joy talked in her own little language constantly throughout the service. We woke up and spent Christmas morning with Grandma, Papa, and Auntie Bear then headed over to the other Grandparents house for awhile. Later in the day we spent time with the cousins and Auntie Bergen. Auntie Pie and Uncle Justin stopped by to get their share of spoiling in as well. :) Jordan had to go back to Orlando to work but Ava Joy and I stayed in Gainesville through Friday. We did some shopping, I got a hair cut, and we headed back with Grandma, Papa, and Auntie Bear Friday evening. The traffic coming home was terrible and I was soooooo glad I wasn't driving. It took 3 hours to get home and Ava Joy was pretty much a rock star. I celebrated my 26th birthday. My dad and I have gone to breakfast to Cracker Barrel on my birthday as long as I can remember, so this year Ava Joy came along! It also was always tradition for me to pick out something from the store there- so of course this year Ava Joy got her very own TB (just like cousin Kayliny!). Jordan and I went out to dinner for the first time alone since having the baby. She stayed with my parents and did great- even fell asleep on Grandma's shoulder. It felt sooooo strange to be out without her. I guess I have gotten used to being at school without her but that is literally the only place I have been without her. I never stop at the store or anything. After dinner we went to Target and bought her a toy- for Mommy's birthday of course! We also took Ava Joy to Disney's Hollywood Studios to see the lights. She LOVED sitting on Daddy's shoulders and watching the dancing lights. There wasn't too much for a baby to do there but we still had a great day. We returned to Gainesville to go to Jordan's big family Christmas. It was so cute watching Ava Joy and her cousin Emily together. I can only imagine next year when they will be running around together! And to wrap Christmas up, I finally took down the Christmas tree a couple days ago. Usually I am antsy to get everything put away before I return to work but I really didn't want to take it down this year. I have so enjoyed sitting by the light of the Christmas tree rocking my baby to sleep.
She had her 6 month check up and weighed in at 16 pounds, 9 ounces and is 26 inches long. She is in the 50th percentile for both height and weight. She seemed to recover faster than last time with her shots but it still was terrible. So sad. :( But my girl is healthy and strong so that is wonderful!
This baby is seriously on the move now. She can half crawl/half scoot and she is FAST! Now that she can get where she wants to go she hates being confined. I tried putting her in the exersaucer while putting food in the crock pot and she screamed for bloody murder. oy. I was folding laundry on the floor while she played... that didn't workout so well. She was into my nicely sorted, folded clothes instantly- grabbing them and sticking them in her mouth, mmmm yummy sports bra. She belly laughs a lot and we do whatever goofy things we can think of to instigate her laughs! I'm sure if you were to video tape us people would think we were crazy, but it is all so worth it!
Another big milestone, we have started solid foods. New Years Eve Ava Joy had butternut squash. Yum. I am making all her baby food. Super cheap and easy to make! She has now had butternut squash, sweet potatoes, bananas, applesauce, and green peas. She doesn't hate it but honestly isn't all that interested either. She does LOVE drinking water from her sippy cup though! She gets very excited when she sees her cup!
I have started running again and using the jogging stroller. I am hoping to do a 15k in March. We've been going on some family jogs together and I just love it.
Only 10 weeks until Spring Break... but who's counting? ;)
Seriously though, I am blessed. I am living a life that I LOVE. Bring it on 2013!
Here are some pictures from the past few weeks. Fair warning that there are A TON! Enjoy.
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| Auntie Kym and Maddie brought presents! |
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| Cute little reindeer! |
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| My sleeping beauty. |
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| All dressed up with Daddy on Christmas Eve. |
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| Brothers with their Babies. :) |
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| First Christmas morning. |
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| Opening presents with Auntie Bear. |
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| My favorite present. Ever. |
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| COUSINS! |
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| Last Christmas we took a picture in front of the tree with our bumps and a now a year later here we are with our babies! |
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| Opening presents from Auntie Pie and Uncle Justin. |
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| Lunch with Meggie! |
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| Breakfast with Papa on Mommy's birthday. |
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| Matching with TB. |
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| 6 month check up. |
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| Napping (and matching) with Grandma. |
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| Too sleepy to make it on her first New Years Eve. |
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| First food! |
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| Hollywood Studios! |
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| Daddy's girl. <3 |
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| Lunch with Uncle Justin and Auntie Pie. |
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| My glamour girl. |
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| Cousin Emily gave Ava Joy this elephant for Christmas so I had to put her back in her costume and get some pics! However, all she wanted to do was get that elephant. I got a couple of good shots! |
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| Yummy, yummy string. Her favorite. |
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| Watching football with Daddy. |
