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!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

Ava's first Halloween....she decided she wanted to be a pumpkin! We had a fun night. Apparently our neighborhood is the place to be...we had TONS of kids come by! Patrick had the first trick-or-treater at 4:30!!! A little insane! But that was just one, then the rest started at about 6 and went until a little after 8! Patrick, Ava, the doggies and I sat out in the front yard and hung out while the kiddies came by. Everyone loved the dogs...and they, of course, thought Ava was super cute. (Although, Patrick was a little distressed that everyone thought "she" was a "he"...but orange is hard to tell)! So we had a fun time! Here are some pictures from Ava's Halloween week.

She had this super cute outfit!! I just love those little pants!
We wonder how long she'll let us do whatever we want to her!
Big smiles for her Halloween get up!
Mommy and Ava. I was pretty weak and "dressed up" as a kid...pig tails and drawn on freckles....as if I needed any more!
Click here for more pics...

11 Weeks!!

Eleven weeks of cuteness! I'm having such a wonderful time with Ava! She's smiling more than ever and I can't wait to hear a little laugh come out of her mouth soon! I enjoy our morning time together. I usually wake her at about 6:45 am since I've got to leave by 7:30. She's usually "itching" a little, on and off, by then. She's so cute and stretches so big every morning! Since she has been sleeping through the night, I've started waking at 2:30am to pump to increase the amount of milk that I'm storing. So, with the 2:30am pump and the lunch time pump, I'm very close to keeping up with her daily milk intake...which is really good. I was getting sad b/c she was drinking so much more than I could pump in a day (since I was only able to pump once a day)...but the nighttime pumping is helping! So, I need some good milk vibes! I'm not even close to wanting to stop nursing yet!

Anyway, everything else is going well. We'll weigh her again sometime this week to see how she's growing! We're gearing up for our trip to Athens this weekend. It's the first time we'll be able to make it to Athens for a game this season. I've actually got this Friday off from school/work because it's Homecoming here too...and I guess campus kind-of shuts down for the activities. So, we're heading to Athens on Friday morning for the weekend! Bobbi and Michee are both coming to hang out with Ava (and us) for the weekend. It'll also give Patrick and me a chance to get to the game. It'll be a fun weekend! So, that's the update...hope all is well with everyone! Here are some pics to enjoy!

Here's Ava's sweet smile!
Ava and Sarah had a good time hanging out during the Georgia/Florida game (which we won!) this weekend!

Another sweet close up...
This was just too funny....it's takes a good Aunt not to care about this!One of her many faces!
Catcher and Ava hanging out...he can't help bu be sweet with her!
Click here for more pics of Ava's 11th week!

It's Great to be a GEORGIA BULLDOG!!!

YAAAHHOOOOOOOO!!!!! GO DAWGS!!!! What a fun and fabulous game! 42-30!!! Gooooooo Dawgs!! We had tons of fun and lots of company. Steve, Sarah, and Walter came down from Atlanta. Tim, Nicole, Addison and their 2 dogs came up from Tampa. And two of my co-residents came over to watch the game as well. (They were the lone Gators of the group)! So, 9 adults, 4 dogs, and 2 babies! It was a full house...we had such a fun time...and it really rocked when we won! We had tons of food...Patrick made chili, Nicole made cheese dip, Walter did a shrimp boil (so good!), Tim made brats, and Bobbi sent Steve and Sarah with an entire Quick Trip worth of snacks! Here are a few pic from the day...

After the win, Ava and I were having a celebratory dance! (Check out her super cute socks that she finally fits into)! My girls (some of them)...Maigrely on the left and Maggie on the right.
Walter and Ava dancing...Ava's not so sure about Walter.... :)
The happy Bulldog family! What a great win!!

More pics of our tailgaiting day are here if you're interested!

10 Big Smiling Pounds! :)

Fun weekend! Bobbi came for a visit....and weekends are just always fun! We weighed Ava, and she was 10 lbs! Two months and ten days and she's growing so fast! Getting super long too! We've had to pack some of her newborn stuff away! We've been getting lots of smiles and coos these days....they totally make my day! She's just so sweet! Can't wait to hear a laugh come out of that little mouth! She's still sleeping through the night...usually about 8-9 hours! It is total heaven! She wakes (or I wake her) in the mornings before I leave for work to feed her. I really enjoy my morning time with her....she's such a happy waker-uper! :) I'm very lucky...my baby is just perfect! ;)

Here she is hanging out in her fancy big girl chair that my aunt and uncle (Toni and Michael) gave her! I think I'm going to try to take this picture every week to compare how she's growing! She is so happy on her changing table. She lays there and we talk and smile together for 15 minutes at a time!
Here's Bobbi and Ava hanging out. You wouldn't know it from this picture, but Ava gave Bobbi lots of smiles this weekend!
This was Ava at 7 am this morning...right before I left for work! I mean, seriously, what baby is this perfect, smiley, and beautiful this early in the morning?!?! Okay, well, maybe I'm a little biased. :) But, come one! Don't you think she's just the cutest?! :)
There are a few more pictures here! I hope all is well with everyone!

...Hope you're all getting ready for the big Florida upset this weekend! Go Dawgs! :)

Loving Life

Hello! Here are some more pics of Ava at two months! Sorry it took me so long to get them up! I keep thinking I'll get less and less busy, but it just doesn't happen! So, anyway, things are good! I'm looking forward to the weekend! Bobbi is coming for a visit! She'll come Saturday morning and be leaving on Monday. We love to have company down here...we're all alone otherwise! So, we're very excited!

Here's a sweet close up of our girl.
This was Ava getting ready for bath time! I mean...just the cutest naked baby ever! This is just before she peed all over my hands. Baby pee isn't too gross though! :) And coming from that face?!?! Worth it!
Now, I'll give you one guess as to who is responsible for this picture!
Mommy and Baby hanging out before bed time!
We get lots and lots of fabulous smiles now! She's starting to coo and talk too! It's still so exciting when I talk to her and get a smile back! I just love it!
Patrick thought it was about time Ava learned to walk...so, here they are practicing!
Last weekend, Ava was very fussy. We think she was sick since both Patrick and I were sick earlier in the week. We were trying everything to calm her, and Patrick finally put her in th stroller and ZOOMED around the house. I'm talkin'....seriously zoomed! He was almost running! It worked though...for a little while. He decided to walk her around the block to see if that would help...I was sitting in our kitchen with the screen door open....and 10 minutes after they left...I heard a very faint screaming baby sound...I ran outside, and sure enough...there they were...walking back...and Ava was screaming! I guess she wasn't up for walking. But good news....she's feeling much better this week and has been Miss Smiley Face!
So, anyway, that's the update. I've got to run, though....more articles to read! Click here for A LOT more pictures of Ava's second month!