Ho, Ho, Ho!

Merry Christmas everyone! We had a great Christmas and a WONDERFUL break from work! We're back in Gainesville now since I'm on call for New Years. It's actually nice to be home...didn't think I'd want to be back...but there's something about being in your own house that makes everything just a little easier. We got to spend lots of time with our family and friends....and everyone got to see just how cute Ava is in person!!! ;) (I'm sorry, I can't help myself)! :) Ava got tons of new stuff for Christmas! A high chair, a jumperoo, many new battery powered toys that make noise (!), clothes, and more! (The grandparents are a little nuts). So, her first Christmas was really fun!

Here we are Christmas morning opening up some of her gifts....she wanted the bow in her hair. :) She was actually pretty entertained by the whole process! Okay, so, I kinda wanted to bring Ava to see Santa....I mean, I felt like I'd be depriving her of one of those "first time" experiences.....and I didn't want her to miss out. But, life was too hectic and I didn't even make it out to the mall until Christmas Eve (to shop!), so I wasn't able to get Ava to see Santa. Soooooo, Sarah's boyfriend Nate has a Santa suit....and PATRICK DRESSED UP AS SANTA!!! I was shocked! But, he was such a good sport....so, now I didn't have to be sad about Ava missing that first time visit to Santa! Here he is with Ava and Keegan (my nephew).
A family picture on Christmas Eve.
The fam on Christmas day with Santa!! :)
A big smile on Christmas Eve....so excited for Santa!
She's taken up a new habit...biting her lower lip. I think it's SUPER cute. By the way...check out those beautiful eyes!
More biting the lip! All snug and ready for a ride in the Bob!

Okay, I just want to bite those cheeks! I mean, they start right under her eyes and go all the way down to her chin! ....And that upper lip!! ....And that nose!!! Oh dear...I just love it all!
Daddy playing "zerbert" with Ava! Keegan and Ava hanging out on Christmas morning. The photo shoot here was ridiculous! I think there were 4 or 5 different cameras flashing every 3 seconds for a good 2 minutes! I got many pics, but I just thought this one was hilarious!
My little snow elf....with ridiculously plump lips and cheeks! She'll never need an ounce of botox! :) This is probably my most favorite winter dress! And those blue tights (really they're long-johns)....just too cute!
So, anyway, that's the update! A few other things... She can roll from her belly to her back, but I think she's getting very close to rolling over from her back to her belly! She's talking like CRAZY now...tons of babbling noise and lots of spitting/bubbles! She's also laughing much more! She thinks her reflection in the mirror is just the funniest thing ever! Still loves to read (or at least look at all the bright colors)!

Bobbi drove down with us to spend a few days here before she has to get back to work. Patrick is leaving to go to New Orleans tomorrow to watch the Dawgs play in the Sugar Bowl; so she's hanging out with me while he's gone! We'll have lots of fun! So, that's what's going on with us!

As usual, I took 3 million pictures over Christmas, so here's a link to them if you're interested in looking at even more!!

Ava's First Christmas

Merry Christmas everybody!! Ava really enjoyed her very first Christmas. She received lots of great gifts from her aunts, uncles and grandparents!! We hope everybody has a wonderful day!

All bundled up

Patrick took Ava on a run in the Bob...I was at work when they left....but was home when they got home...and THIS is what I saw come in! Ugh! SOO cute! ...just can't stand it! All bundled up for 1 of the 2 cold days!



Just in case you can't get enough, here's a link to another video!

4 month check up!

Well, Ava had her 4 month check up yesterday, and everything went very well. I was really sad, though, cause I wasn't able to get off work to go with her. Patrick and Aunt Sarah took her instead. But I sent them with a list of typed out questions to have answered...so, I was remotely satisfied! :) Sarah was great and actually took notes for me!

So, here are her stats: She is 12lbs 11oz and 24.2 inches long. So, she's almost doubled her weight and has grown in length by a little over 6 inches! She's in the 25% for her weight and 50% for her length/height...which is right where she was at her 2 month checkup. She got 5 shots and one oral vaccine. Patrick said she was so happy on the table the entire appointment, talking away...until the shots. Although, he did say that she recovered almost immediately when he picked her up to comfort her. Her doc didn't recommend that we start cereal yet. She said that it's best to wait as long as possible (as long as she's growing) to decrease the chances of developing allergies. Plus she wants her to be able to take the cereal with a spoon...which I don't think she'll have a problem with...but she's really happy just with milk for now. So, we're going to hold off. So, Her next visit to the doctor wont be until she turns 6 months old! Yikes! I just can't believe she's going to be that old that quickly!

Here's Ava and Patrick in the waiting room. She looks pretty cozy!
Here she is just talking away to Patrick while they were waiting for the doctor!
Look at this sweet, sweet profile! I think those lips are my favorite!
Awe...that sweet smile. She's such a wonderful and happy baby!
Getting in the Christmas spirit...hanging out with the tree!
She's got her Eurkle pants on here...but she's just so cute! Doesn't she look so big here!?
We've been so lucky to have Sarah with us for the past 10 days! She has been a huge help and has really enjoyed taking care of Ava and getting to know her little personality! Patrick keeps convincing her to stay longer, but she is actually leaving tomorrow. :( We will miss you Sarah! Hopefully, we can convince her to come back and live with us for the summer! What great fun that would be!
Patrick Ava hanging out. "What, mom, this is how everyone hangs out!"
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this little dress that Ava finally grew into! Some friends of ours gave it to us before Ava was born....and it just hung off of her forever...but finally it fits! It's been 80 degrees outside, so she's been able to wear all her cute summer stuff that was too big this past summer!
Ava's (half Asian) Aunt Sarah had her all bundled up one day...they were playing outside and it became really windy! So, Sarah made her nice and cozy!
So, we're all doing well! I'm really looking forward to getting home for a nice break from work/school! Can't wait to show Ava off some more at home! :) Other tidbits: Ava is still sleeping though the night; her bedtime is around 7:30 now, and she sleeps until I wake her at 6:50am or 7:30 (if I don't have to wake her). So, I'm super happy about that! She's drooling like crazy; we put a bib on her during the day otherwise her clothes would be soaked! She's talking a lot and interacts a ton with us...smiles all the time and gives us a giggle every now and then. (We're practicing the giggle to show people at Christmas)! We're starting to establish a bedtime routine- bath, book, prayers and a snack. It works really well for her and helps her wind down. She keeps getting cuter and sweeter everyday...I just love looking at her. She's just such a joy...I have the world's greatest baby, and I am so lucky. So, things are good! Hope they're good for you!

Click here for a few more pics of Ava during her 4th month!

Suckered into it...

So, I decided long ago (and Patrick agreed) that we weren't putting up a Christmas tree or decorations because we're going to Atlanta for the week of Christmas. Also, things are just very busy and hectic with the residency, and it was one less thing to worry about. Well....we went to Starbucks early this afternoon (Patrick, Sarah, Ava, and I)....and on the way there, we drove past a Christmas tree farm. Patrick and Sarah thought it would be fun to "look around" on the way home. Well....guess what. We ended up getting a Christmas tree. I just haven't been in the Christmas mood, but we did have a fun time getting a tree...so, I'm trying to get in the Christmas spirit!

Here, the doggies are about as excited as I was to be getting all the decorations out. But I put on my Mannheim Steamroller Christmas music and felt much better!
It's the shortest tree we've ever had. It's also the very first real tree that we've had since Patrick and I got married. But, it's a nice little tree! It's all wrapped up, so it's not quite as skinny as it looks here.
Here's Patrick bringing the tree in in the frigid weather. Burrr! The projected high for Christmas Day in Gainesville is 75 degrees. Like I said...frigid.
Here's Ava hanging out with me while I figure out which lights still work from last year! Always has her hands in her mouth!

Patrick was so nice and even put up some lights outside!
So, here it is...all nice and pretty. Now, I feel like it's Christmas! A little blurry for the first one, but it's the only way I could get that "natural glow!"This one has no "natural glow," but at least it's in focus!

Tomorrow, Ava has her 4 month check up appointment. I'll post her stats hopefully sometime tomorrow! Good night!

Getting ready for bed

So, I have to admit....I'm pretty obsessed with video taping Ava...now that I've learned how easy it can be with my little digital camera! So, this was one of many little clips...it's pretty good. This is what she does every night on her changing table...you remember I told you she loves her changing table, right? This is her "talking"...squeaking, really! She's about to grow out of these cute footed PJ's...so, I'm trying to put them on her as much as I can They're pretty much stretched to the limit! But, anyway, I hope you enjoy the video! How exciting it is to be able to share her personality through a video instead of just photos!

Enjoy!

Caught on Video

This morning Sarah caught baby Ava laughing with her digital camera. It was just a mini-laugh, but I thought everybody would like to hear it! Make sure you turn the volume way up on your speakers!





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Listening to: Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds - Cornbread
via FoxyTunes

New toys!

I've been wanting a Bumbo for Ava for a while now...finally Patrick ordered one! I love it, and I love looking at Ava in it! It's so nice for her to be able to sit up and look around. (Hopefully, it'll give her bald spot a chance to grown back)! There are several pics of her in her Bumbo on the counter or the table...but just FYI, I only put her there for the pictures....but then I always moved her to the floor! So, no worries!

Isn't this definitely the cutest center piece you've ever seen?!?!?! :) We weighed Ava this past weekend....a few days before her 4 month birthday (which is this Wednesday)...and she weighed a whopping 12 lbs 6oz. What a porker! :) She is growing...check out these kickin' thunder thighs she's got going on! She usually has pants on these days, so I feel like I'm missing out on seeing these cute, chubby legs....so, we decided to have her hang out sans pants for a while! She's just so cute!
Up close of those perfect, porkey thighs! :)
THE BOB!!! This is the most excited Patrick has been about anything for Ava! Bobbi bought us the Bob (ha, ha...funny) as a Christmas gift...but Patrick didn't want to wait! So, Sarah brought it down with her. For those who don't know...The Bob is a brand of a jogging stroller that is top notch and so nice. Patrick put it together and Ava got her first ride in her new Bob this morning! She loved it! She's been loving her daily walks and always falls asleep on the way. The weather has been ridiculously nice, so she's really been enjoying the outdoors!
Aunt Sarah, Salsa, Ava, and Bob :) went on a walk this morning....it was 70 degrees at 10am today...can't beat that! Although , it's hard for me to get in the Christmas spirit when the highs are 80!! So, I'm gonna listen to Christmas music 24-7 so I can remember that it's December!
We've got Ava's 4 month checkup a week from today. I'm am SO sad because I wont be able to go. :( I've got to work and can't get out of it....I already tried to think of a way! So, I have a list of questions I want Patrick to ask the pediatrician. Maybe I'll send him with a voice recorder so I don't miss anything....

Anyway, here are a few more pics of Ava in her 4th month!

She LAUGHED!!!

Actually laughed!!! She's been making noises for ages and squeaking away....but today....she really laughed! It was the sweetest sound yet! I just stood there...listening and watching her sweet face...not wanting to move just in case my moving threw her off. Aunt Sarah was holding her and I was....taking pictures (surprise!)....then she spit up a bit. Sarah and I reacted with our usual, "Oh Ava, eww"....and for some reason, she just thought that was great and let out a huge loud laugh that lasted for 6 or 7 seconds! Oh my gosh...it was all I could do not to cry...I would have if I was by myself....but I don't want other people thinking I'm more nuts than usual! Unfortunately, Patrick wasn't here. He was still in route on his way back home from Atlanta for the weekend. I got her to laugh a little more a few minutes later when I was giving her a Superman ride in the air. I got the video camera out to tape her...but she wouldn't do it again. Darn! So, I finally got to witness one of her "firsts!" I'm writing it in her baby book! "Today...Ava laughed for the first time. And it was the sweetest, most wonderful sound ever."

A lifetime of hearing my sweet daughter laugh will make me so happy!

3 1/2 months!

HELLO! Well, Ava's a little over 3 1/2 months now! Growing so fast! She's getting to be so much fun now. She really looks and watches us as we talk to and smile at her. She's very easy to get to smile. And she's a talker too! She's so close to laughing....cooing and talking! We're just having so much fun with her!

Patrick and Ava like to hang out just before bedtime. He's teaching Ava how to watch TV! Genius!
Patrick got Ava a new mirror for her crib. She likes to lay in there, but we wanted her to have more to look at. She really loves it and spends probably 30 minutes watching herself everyday! She totally loves mirrors and just cracks herself up when she gets to look at them!
Here she is just hanging out in her glider...I was putting her clothes away...and she was just sitting there watching me...holding her hands....which she ALWAYS does!
We went with some of my residents to a place called Dudley Farm. It was really random....an old Florida farm has this festival every year...I still don't really know what it was....but it was fun to be outside and hang out with everyone. Poor Ava...since she has albino parents...she had to stay covered the whole time. Looking back at pictures, I'm not sure she saw much of anything with that hat on! But she seemed content!
There you go...you can actually see her face here! And good thing! It's just so CUTE!!!
So, things are going well! We're getting close to 4 months! Can't believe it! I'm already looking forward to getting home for Christmas! I know I've got a few weeks, though. I'm hoping it'll go by fast and kinda sneak up on me....since the weather down here doesn't feel like December at all! Beautiful days of mid-70's and sunny! Can't beat that! Gotta love this Florida weather!

We're also looking forward to a visit from Aunt Sarah! We think she'll be coming for a visit this weekend. She'll be done with school for a while and she's gonna come hang out for about a week. Ava's getting really excited cause Aunt Sarah is so much fun!

So, anyway, that's about it! Here are some more pictures of Ava! (You knew I'd have more than just this)! Enjoy, and we'll chat soon!

Ava's First Trip Home!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!! I know my post is a little late...but I've been busy and freaking tired! So, anyway...Ava made her first trip home to Alpharetta! We had such a great time seeing everyone....and meeting the other newest addition...Keegan! Keegan is my brother's baby, my (only!) nephew, who was born about a week before Ava! I'll tell you more about meeting him a little later. We left Gainesville on Wednesday at 5pm....right after work. We stopped twice to let the doggies have a break and to feed Ava. We got to Alpharetta at about 11:30pm. It wasn't too bad...it got a little less stressful after Ava went to sleep for the night...around 8:30 or so. So, overall....it was a pretty decent trip.

On actual Thanksgiving day, we all went up to the lake house for soup and hanging out. We had our real Thanksgiving on Friday so Ian and Booj could spend the day with her family on Thursday. The lake house was great and very relaxing...even though half of the lake is gone. :( Although, Catcher and Salsa didn't seem to mind and got very dirty. Here they are thinking about jumping in....which they both did shortly after! Thanksgiving Day (for us, Friday) was great! Patrick and I got to meet our little nephew Keegan. He's such a wonderful and happy baby...and I was completely caught off guard and overwhelmed when I finally got to meet him! Tears just rolled down my face when I saw him....ha gave me a huge smile...and I fell in love. He's such a sweet baby; I had a great time with him! Here's Patrick, Keegan, and me together shortly after we met!

Keegan and Ava spent a lot of quality time together, and I got TONS of pictures! So, here are several of the two cousins. Here they are chillin' on the kitchen counter with both grandmother's entertaining them...one from each side! Keegan is on the left and Ava is on the right!

Here are the babies with their mommies! They are just too cute! Everyone wanted to hold them all the time! Keegan is on the left, and Ava's on the right! More photo opportunities! Bobbi works at an elementary school and had on of her friends make these ridiculously cute turkey head things made of out construction paper. She made one for Keegan and for Ava...they were just histerical in person! Patrick wanted to try it out too! It matched his shirt!And poor Catcher...he got roped into wearing it too...he's such a good sport!
We had tons of yummy food...including this fried Turkey! The next day, I had a full plate of left overs for breakfast...and then again for lunch! I just can't get enough!
Here's Ava having some tummy time on the kitchen counter. Apparently she rolled over several times up here....Bobbi and Michee were cheering her on!
Grandpop had such a fun time playing with her. Ava just had tons of stories to tell him....she's in the middle of a story here! Grandpop is such a good listener!

Here's FOUR generations of MacMasters! My Grandma (who turned 93 in November!), my Dad, Ava, and myself! Ava just slept right through all the excitement!
Here's Ian and Ava hanging out! I think he likes her!
Daddy kissing Ava...she still doesn't love our kisses yet. She usually makes some kind of face similar to this one while trying to push away! One day, she'll love our kisses!

So, we just had such a good time! I was SO not ready to go back to Gainesville! I can't wait to get back for Christmas. I really miss seeing everyone on a regular basis...and I'll really miss seeing more of Keegan! I'm going to miss so much of him growing up! :( Lots of pictures will have to do!

So, I have problems...and we ended up with 600 total pictures from our Thanksgiving break! That's pretty ridiculous! I narrowed it down to (I think) about 200!!! (Still ridiculous, I know)! So, if you're at all interested in checking them out....here they are!

Just a real quick update...Ava's 3 1/2 months now and weighs right around 12 pounds even. She's a sweet little peanut of a girl and we ADORE her! She's getting cuter and sweeter everyday! ....Can barely stand it! I just wish our family could be around more so they didn't miss anything about her growing up! We've been video taping just some regular everyday stuff...maybe we'll get some videos up on the blog sometime soon....ish. (I'm definitely not promising anything...that would be up to Patrick)!