Just Can't Wait!

Oh my gosh! I am SO excited to go home I can hardly stand it! Only 2 more days at work, then it's ATL, here we come! I'm so excited to have a break from school! I know I had 4 weeks of maternity leave, but it's nothing like vacation...y'all know that! :) Things are going very well...Ava's so sweet and getting cuter by the day. I came home from work today, and when I looked at her, she looked bigger than this morning! That's the first time that I've looked at her and thought that she looks significantly bigger/older! It's crazy! It just snuck up on me!

She's smiling like crazy now...she's so easy to please! I think she's on the verge of laughing! Can't wait for that! She's been talking so much...I've noticed a huge difference just in the past 2 days...she's making lots of purposeful sounds! She's got such a sweet little voice! She's totally obsessed with her hands now. She either holds or chews on her hands constantly!! And she's still drooling up a storm...I tried to see if I could feel any little teeth, but I still don't feel any. I guess she's just a drooly girl! :)

She's such a sweet little thing, and we just love her. She's very excited to get home and visit Michee, Pop, Bobbi, and Grandpop! Here's Ava hanging out in her favorite blanket from Bobbi!A funny closeup of tummy time...and those eyes! Man, those eyes!
Dad got Ava a new toy this week! She's still a little small for it. We had to put a blanket in front and in back of her to keep her steady...and we had to put a pillow under her feet to get them to touch! But she seems to like it! Right now, she's still overwhelmed by all the colors and sounds! She's just stares with wide eyes!Still loves her changing table...smiles for 30 minutes at a time!
I went a little crazy with the pictures this week! Here's some more pics of Ava's 14th week! There are lots! So, beware!

Happy (3 month) Birthday Ava!

It's official! She's three months old! Just can't believe it! We had a restless night last night thanks to the stuffy nose! But I've been sucking all sorts of stuff out of there...so, hopefully tonight will be better! We've also got the humidifier going along with saline nose drops! Maybe tonight will be less squeaky!

We weighed her today and she is a growing girl at 11lbs 3 1/2 ounces. And she is 23 inches long! Five inches longer than 3 months ago! She wore her birthday cupcake outfit today! Here are a few pics from this morning! (I know, I'm camera crazy)!

Ava up close!

Ava and Salsa are hanging out...
Salsa gave Ava a wet willy birthday kiss! Ava's not sure she likes those kinds of kisses!

A sweet little smile...even when she's feeling yucky...she still manages to look super cute!
Just thought this one was sweet!

3 Months

Today is 13 weeks to the day...and tomorrow will be her 3 month birthday!! It doesn't seem that long ago that she was just born! :( Time flies....

Things are going well, though! We're having tons of fun with Ava, and she continues to show more and more of her little personality everyday! She's smiling all the time...not quite laughing yet...but almost! Her head and neck are getting much stronger now. I can hold her just around her waist, and she can support her back and neck now without any trouble. She's been enjoying her baths...she splashed for the first time the other day! It was so cute! She also just started drooling a lot! I hope she's not teething....I'm not ready for teeth yet...she's too little! Apparently Patrick got his first teeth at 3 months, though...just not ready for that yet!

One sad thing...it finally happened....she's got her first cold. :( She's been stuffy for many weeks, especially in the morning, but there was never a runny nose or anything. But, now we've got the runny nose along with the stuffiness, and it's so sad! All I want to do is blow her nose for her...but no can do. Not for a long time, I'm sure! So, I take the bulb syringe thing and try to suck it out of there, but it doesn't do a very good job. I guess working with all these grimey (but cute!) kids everyday is catching up with her. I must be bringing home some yucky germs. I've got to try to be better at washing all the way up to my elbows as soon as I get home. Hopefully, that'll help!

We went to an art festival downtown today which was a lot of fun. Ava was so good! We also went and watched Patrick play in a tennis match this morning. Ava had a busy day!

We're REALLY looking forward to getting home for Thanksgiving. I've gotten a little homesick lately. We haven't been home since we moved here in June! That's a long time for me! I guess I'm probably more family-and-friends-sick instead of homesick...if my family and friends were around, it wouldn't be so bad. But, anyway, we're coming home next week (not this week)...I'm in the OR on Wednesday (before T'giving), and hopefully we'll be able to head out that afternoon/evening! So, we'll see!

I got to sneak home for lunch once this week and have lunch with Ava....and I got to rock her to sleep.....
We had a fun time watching the Georgia/Auburn game on Saturday for the Blackout! We had to put Ava's Halloween stuff on...shirt was on backwards, and I tried to cover all the orange as much as possible! She also sported her new Georgia hat and decal! :)

Daddy dressed her this day....very cute. (It's easy to tell b/c he only pics the "I love Daddy" onesies....never picks the Mommy ones)! He was going for the Ughs look with the socks! Pretty close! Fresh out of the bath...all cozy and clean!
She zonked right out after we got home from the art festival! Look how much bigger she is now than when she was born! She's growing into her crib!
We hope everyone is doing well! Here are some more pics of her 13th week! Talk soon!

First trip to the Classic City

Well, Ava is officially 12 weeks old...although, she wont be 3 months until the 12th of this month! We had a great time this past weekend. We were able to head up to Athens for the weekend! It was Homecoming there, and I had a three day weekend (since it was Homecoming here too)! Both Grandmas met us there so Patrick and I could do some fun stuff. We went to the Georgia game on Saturday (GO DAWGS!), and then after Ava went to sleep, we were actually able to go out for a night on the town! Thanks to Michee and Bobbi for taking care of Ava! Ava got some new cute UGA stuff...including this hat! She'll grow into it eventually....Ava is getting so big these days! She's holding her head more steadily now, and she has just discovered her hands! She holds them right up under her face all the time...and chews on them! Ava has started to talk quite a bit...lots of noises and coos! I LOVE hearing them! We've also started reading at night. Ava LOVES to read! She'll sit on my lap and look at books for 30 minutes! I'm reading, but of course, she's just looking at all the bright colors! But she really is calmed by the books! How great!Ava's a pretty happy baby! She's lots of smiles and sweetness! I can't wait to get home for Thanksgiving so everyone else can enjoy her as well!

Here we are hanging out on a day that I got to come home for lunch! I love my surprise lunch visits....even though they are few and far between!

We're all doing well down here in Gainesville. Patrick is wonderful with her and is getting to know her very well! They get lots of quality time everyday! We'll probably have to get someone to come in and help take care of her pretty soon...she's getting a little more demanding during the day. But, maybe we can hold off until the summer....and maybe Aunt Sarah can move in...?!?!?!? :) We'll see! So, anyway, that's about all for now! Hope you're all doing well!

Click here for more pictures of Ava's 12th week!