Friday, January 31, 2014

Ava is 14 Months

14 months!
 
 
Oh this girl!  She stole my heart on December 5th, 2012 and the love continues to get deeper and deeper.  I fall in love with her more and more every day! She has been the major thing that has kept my spirits up during this very tiring pregnancy.  And I thank her for that! :)
 
She is starting to lose that little baby look and look more like a toddler.  It makes me sad, but I know she has to grow up and I do look forward to doing things with her that toddlers and preschoolers can do. 
 
I have no idea how much she weighs.  We go to the doctor for a 15 month check up in March and by that time, I will be dragging two little girls to the doctor.  Dr. Hight will be pleased that we made it to our sippy cup cut off date.  She wanted us off of bottles by 15 months and we made it!  We are also making some headway on eating people food and not just baby food.  However, she is still getting some baby food.  Mainly because I am not the best right now at cooking a well balanced meal for Curtis and I  so we don't have the cooked veggies to share with her.  I am better at buying fresh fruit to share with her.  She still wears size 4 diapers and wears 12-18 and some 24 month clothing.  She drinks about 22 ounces of milk a day and various different kinds of food. 
 
Ava still sleeps through the night from about 8:30-until 7 am or 8 am. She sleeps so long at night, she was peeing through her clothes.  A friend recommended the Pampers Baby Dry 12 hour diapers and they work like a charm!  Thanks Sara!  She has been dry ever since trying those at night.  :)  During the day, Ava usually takes 2 naps.  I think the morning nap is getting shorter.  But then that leads her to getting tired earlier in the day and wanting to go down around 3 instead of 4 for her second nap.  I just hope she holds on to these 2 naps for me so I can get things under control when the next little Miss makes her appearance in this house. 
 
She goes to the nursery at church for walkers now....sigh.  I miss her being with the best nursery volunteers ever!  They were always so good to Ava and to us!  I know she loves the new nursery because there are so many neat toys to play with and things to climb on and she gets snack time, but it's just another indicator she is growing up. 

Miss Rhonda and Ava


Ava eating a snack in nursery

 
Ava is learning how to use things as a tool to climb up on other things.  I am not too thrilled with this.  I KNOW Winston isn't excited about it either. That is his only way to get away from her-jumping up on something out of her reach.  Poor dog.  Here is a picture of her using a tub to climb on the table next to the couch to get to the couch.  Right after I took this, she fell through the space between the table and wall.   She got up and looked at me and tried it again!  Such a toughie!
 
Ava LOVES baths.  Well, she loves playing in the bath.  Ava DOES NOT LOVE getting her hair washed or rinsed anymore.  Not sure when this happened.  It didn't use to bother her, but now it does.  She screams!  She plays pretty well in the bath.  We know it is time to get her bathed when she starts standing up.  After her bath, she loves getting wrapped up in her towel and then she has to look at herself in the three mirrors we pass by as we walk to her room.  It is pretty funny.  I think she may be a little vain. 
 
Speaking of vain, she thinks she is hot stuff in her sunglasses.  She likes to wear them around the house.  I think she is just such a turkey. 
When we say to smile, this is the look we get:
 





 
Ava got to experience her first snow this month.  She didn't really know what to do with it.  She just stood there in it mostly looking at it.  She didn't really want to touch it. 


For a 14 month old, this little girl can sit and look at books for a very surprisingly long time.  Her favorite book is The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Here she is sitting in her chair "reading" that:




She also likes to eat without using her hands.  I have a little video of her doing this:
Here is Ava "talking"
Some of the new things Ava is doing this month:
  • growing 3 molars (all at the same time and handling it like a trooper!)
  • getting better and better at whistling
  • getting mad at Winston when he does something you don't like
  • singing and dancing
  • throwing bigger (more embarrassing) temper tantrums in the middle of public places
  • giving sweet kisses and big, tight hugs
  • showing more interests in our food and getting mad if we don't share it
I am loving the hugs and kisses.  I just can't get enough of them.  There are some days when she is downright mean and would rather hit than give love.  When she hits me I put her down and walk away.  She doesn't like that either.  Usually she will come follow me and wrap her arms around my legs.  I am really enjoying having her and am so thankful I get to spend so much time with her.  I know that is such a blessing that I am very fortunate to have. 

Our daily Routine

Now that Ava is almost 14 months and we are on a pretty set schedule, I wanted to write it out so I could remember what our days looked like before Sally entered our world and lives  forever. 

As of right now, most mornings I sleep right until Ava gets up (and I admit, sometimes, I let her sit and talk in her crib before I get out of bed.)  I just am trying to relish all the sleep I can while I can because I know once baby girl number 2 arrives, sleep will be considered a time of the past.  Not to mention, I am just always that tired.  I could sleep all day right now if I didn't have a little 14 month old to take care of. 

Anywhere between 7:15 and 8:30 Ava will wake up.  We change her diaper because it probably won't last one more pee.  While I am changing her she reads a little book that I keep by the changing table because it usually occupies her very well.

After that is done, we head downstairs for breakfast.  She goes straight into her high chair.  I let Winston out to go potty.  I grab a yotoddler for her and I feed her that, unless I have bought the yotoddler pouches.  If she has a yotoddler pouch  I will make her some toast and do dishes or something in the kitchen while she independently eats her yogurt. I let Winston in and check his fanny for any hanging poos ( I know, gross, but he has so much hair back there) and check his feet for amount of wetness and if they are dirty. Also during this time, I have probably had to bang on the back door because he is barking at something (who really knows).  Then, when that doesn't work, I have to open the door and tell him to stop barking and just go potty.  If the neighbors dogs come out, all heck breaks loose and I have to chase Winston away from their fence so his head doesn't get bit off.  They don't really care for each other.  I will also let Ava watch something educational on TV while she eats her breakfast. For breakfast, Ava always has a yogurt.  Sometimes she has toast with jam or peanut butter, fruit, puffs, biscuit...

After breakfast, we turn the TV off (unless I am not feeling good-which isn't out of the ordinary with this pregnancy) and Ava plays with her toys. I  might turn on music for her to dance to.  She likes that.  She will go back and forth from playing with her toys to sucking her thumb and leaning against me.  I have noticed in the morning that she is not as into playing as she is in the afternoon.  In fact, she acts ready to go to bed about an hour after she eats. 

Around 9:30, she is sucking her thumb full time and will keep walking to the baby gate.  She is trying to tell me she is ready for bed.  I get her some milk  and we head upstairs to read books.  She usually doesn't need a diaper change at this point.  I will sometimes let her pull out a few books and I pretend that those are the books she has chosen to read for story time.  She sits on my lap (as best as she can with mommy's big belly) and she drinks her milk.  Sometimes drinking milk can be a battle, other times, she takes it happily.  I read and do the voices.  Then, we sing a few songs and say our prayers and I lay her down and cover her with blanket number one and blanket number two.  Most days she whimpers for a few seconds.  Then she will start talking.  Eventually, her room is silent and she is sound asleep.

She will sleep from about 10:00-12 or if I'm lucky, 12:30.  I am noticing her morning naps are getting shorter.  Uh oh! 

Once she wakes up (and she almost always wakes up from any nap or in the morning in a good mood) we change her diaper and we head downstairs for lunch.  She likes to eat some kind of meat like ham or turkey, cheese, some kind of fruit, a veggie (still pureed) some bread with peanut butter on it.  Usually that is all.  She might get an animal cookie or treat afterwards if she does well with her eating. 

After we eat, we play, go on a walk, run errands, visit grandma and grandpa etc.  If it is a Tuesday, we are at a Bible study from 10-1:00.  Her whole schedule is thrown off and this is usually the day I try to run errands since the day is already off.   If it is Wednesday I may give her a bath now or after her nap so she is nice and clean for church.  

By 3:30 she is usually ready for another nap.  We head up with our milk and do the same nap routine we do in the morning.  Most days she will sleep until 6.  It seems late, but it works for her.  She still goes to sleep at about 8:30 every night and sleeps the entire time. 

At 6 we eat dinner and then she plays real hard during this time.  She also has daddy to play with, that makes her very happy. 


At about 8 we head up with more milk.  If it is Saturday night or if she is just really dirty, we take a bath.  If it is bath night, she plays for a while until she stops listening to us and keeps standing up in the bathtub.  She loves to splash in the water.  Then, mommy lotions her up and dries her hair with the hair dryer.  Some days are better than others with the hair drying!  Mommy and daddy take turns holding you and reading you books at night.  After the books are read and her milk is gone (or she is just done drinking it) we go brush her teeth, wash her face, then I put aquaphor on her face because it dries up easily.  We say our prayers and give lots of kisses and hugs.  We lay her down on in her crib and cover her with blanket number one and blanket number two and say "nite nite" and "we love you."  We turn out the light.  I usually say, "Love you sweet girl" and close the door.

Curtis and I will head down for a quick snack and I take my vitamin.  We will talk for a few at the table and then we feed the cat, let Winston out again, and check all the doors, turn out all the lights, and head to bed.  We don't stay up too much later than Ava.  We like to lay in bed, watch an Everybody Loves Raymond or two and he gives me back rubs! 

Not very eventful days...pretty much the same things over and over again.  But this is my life and it is safe, secure, and consistent for Ava.  And I like that and I know she needs that. 

If we have play dates, we usually have morning play dates.  I have found that Ava is in  a better mood when she has the late nap.  If she misses her morning nap, she is usually ok, but its the late nap, that if it is missed, turns her into a meanie. 

Sunday, January 26, 2014

36 weeks

36 Weeks

How far along? 36 weeks and 0 days.

How far to go?  23 days

Due Date: February 24, 2014 BUT C-SECTION IS SCHEDULED FOR FEBRUARY 18TH! So really I have 3 weeks and 2 days left. Holy cow!!!

Baby? Sally is huge from my view. Around 6 lbs and 20 inches long is what the books say.  About the size of the large cantelope.  Her bones are soft to get her ready for birth, although she shouldn't have to worry about that since we are having a planned c-section.  Most of her systems are ready to make an appearance here in this world, from circulatory to musculosketetal.           

Maternity Clothes: All the time...except for my jammies. They don't fit me and the shirt rides up above my belly. I look like a hillybilly at night! :)

Stretch Marks: I am noticing them a little on my stomach and elsewhere...

Pregnancy Symptoms: I have to use the restroom often (like every-15- minutes kind of often.  . I also have been having major middle back pain, heartburn/indigestion, emotional, hip pain, breathlessness, slightly nauseous, few headaches, sore lower abdomen,Pelvic pressure, fatigue and some other unmentionable pregnancy symptoms. *Note the large font size...those are big pregnancy symptoms.  I am feeling very done with this by this point and just want to feel normal again and not constantly icky and in a funk. 

Sleeping: I toss and turn a LOT which is difficult and uncomfortable.  Some nights I end up downstairs and clean a little or do something like sew buttons on Curtis' clothes until I feel like I am ready to get on the couch and sleep for a couple hours.          

Best feeling this week:  Getting Sally's crib. After looking at several cribs online and in stores and buying the same crib twice online and it falling through, I was starting to think that we would never be able to get Sally a crib.  The funny thing is we ended up spending more on the crib than we wanted AND we ended up getting the same crib that Ava has.  Here is a crib, but Sally's will be white.
 

Movement: Sally squirms more and kicks less often.  She is probably running out of room and quickly.

Cravings/Aversions:  cinnamon sugar poptarts, starches, lots of food with carbs (uh oh) 

Belly Button: In, but it is a little more pushed out than normal.

What I miss: Having a day that I feel normal and good all around.   

What am I looking forward to: This week I am looking forward to holding this girl in my arms!  I am ready to count her fingers and toes, hear her cry, and see those eyes.

This week I have just been extremely uncomfortable and nauseous.  I am so very anxious to get this show on the road. To see what it is like to be a mommy of 2 children 14 months and under.  To see how all the unknowns that are rolling around in my brain will pan out.  To hold Sally and know that there is enough love in my heart to share with another baby girl.  My appointment this past week went fine.  I am measuring fine, I only gained a pound from the last appointment and Sally' heartbeat sounded good.  I had to get the Group B strep test at this appointment.  I asked Dr. Makemson about how many c-sections I could have and he said every case is different.  It depends a lot on the amount of scar tissue you have.  So that is something I want to talk to Wicker since he will see what that looks like.  I also asked about Papaya enzymes for heartburn.  He said that it would probably not hurt the baby at this point because everything should be formed, but there just isn't a lot of research done on it.  So, of course, that makes me skeptical and more likely to just bear through it.  I was having weird, sharp pains in my lower abdomen and in even lower places and it was concerning to me.  He said it was probably just stretching of the scar tissue from my last c-section.  I have been moved to weekly appointments as of this week.  I go again on January 30th.

Thursday, January 16, 2014

34 Weeks

34 Weeks
 
How far along? 34 weeks and 3 days.

How far to go?  33 days

Due Date: February 24, 2014 BUT C-SECTION IS SCHEDULED FOR FEBRUARY 18TH! So really I have 4 weeks and 5 days left. Holy cow!!!

Baby? Sally is huge from my view.  Around 4.5 lbs is what the books say.  Like a sugar pumpkin.  She is covered in vernix which protects her skin  which also looks more like an infant's skin.         

Maternity Clothes:  All the time...except for my jammies. They don't fit me and the shirt rides up above my belly.  I look like a hillybilly at night! :)    

Stretch Marks: I am noticing them a little on my stomach and elsewhere...

Pregnancy Symptoms: I have to use the restroom often.  I also have been having major middle back pain, heartburn/indigestion, emotional, hip pain, breathlessness, slightly nauseous, few headaches, sore lower abdomen, and some other unmentionable pregnancy symptoms. *Note the large font size...those are big pregnancy  symptoms.

Sleeping:  I toss and turn a LOT! I am thankful for nights that I sleep through the entire night.  However, turning from one side to the other seems to take like an eternity.  It si hard and difficult at most and I wish I didn't have to roll over.        

Best feeling this week:  Getting Sally's room painted. 

Movement: Sally moves often and hard. Her movements are bulky and heavy. 

Cravings/Aversions:  Breads, cinnamon pop tarts, cream cheese danish. 

Belly Button: In, but it is a little more pushed out than normal.

What I miss: Having energy!!!!! 

What am I looking forward to: Finishing up Sally's room.  Putting the finishing touches on it. I am also looking forward to nesting...I hope it happens because I have a list of things that need to get done that I have no motivation for right now. 

I have really struggled this week with my emotions. I cry a lot and often feel like a failure because I get nothing done.  I don't cook, clean, anything besides what I have to do with Ava.  I don't feel like grocery shopping so I eat crud and then my poor husband has to eat junk, too.  There is a list of things to do, a mountain of laundry, dust and cat hair everywhere, floors that need to be swept, mopped and vacuumed, but I just can't seem to get any of it done.  I am really hoping that a time will come soon where I am running on adrenaline and have this huge surge of energy to get these things done. 


Thursday, January 9, 2014

New Year's Resolution

"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again, Rejoice!"
Philippians 4: 4

During the month of November, Curtis and I practiced being thankful. I cut out some leaves and  we would both write something we were thankful for that day. It was a great exercise and I looked forward to reading Curtis' leaf each day. It was also a gentle reminder of how there IS something to be thankful for in every day. The fact that God has allowed me another day is something to be thankful for because I don't even deserve that. As a human being, a sinner, the only thing I'm deserving of is death. 

But, as 2014 has begun, I have found myself dwelling on our dwindling savings, credit and car payment debt, and tight monthly budget. I find myself reading other peoples blogs and posts and comparing myself to them. I see their beautifully, well organized homes and start staring at my unpainted walls and mixed match, hand me down furniture.  I read of my friends with kids who are able to go out and do fun things with their kids and we just can't do that right now.  I see pictures of all the Christmas presents under the trees and think about how we weren't smart enough with our money to do that for Ava or each other.  I have become discontented and ungrateful once again.  

Are we lacking anything? NO.  Are we hurting because of the financial strain we are under at this time? NO.  Do we have food on our dinner table every night? YES.  Do we have clothes to wear every day? YES. Do we have running cars and money for the gas? YES!  Do we have a nice roof over our head with heating and cooling, running water, warm beds, hot showers, place to do our laundry, a place to come home to every night and be together as a family, a place for Ava to feel safe and secure and to have fun? YES!!!!!!  So what excuse in the world do I have to be ungrateful? I don't have one. 

Yes, things are tight.  Yes, I made a financial sacrifice to stay home with Ava.  But, I wouldn't trade my time with her for all the money in the world.  And, yes, there will be an end to these momentary financial troubles we are in.  We are slowing paying things off.  We may not be saving a whole lot right now, but we are getting things paid off, slowly but surely.  I don't go out shopping unless I absolutely need to, so I am not tempted to buy something that is unnecessary.  We don't always shop at the best grocery store and we don't buy expensive clothing or other items.  We buy what is necessary and what will do the job. 

I use to get mad at Curtis because I thought he was the only one in our little family who struggled with this.  But, God has pointed out to me that this is a HUGE, DAILY struggle for me, as well.


 A friends blog wrote about her family's New Year Resolution. I read that post and was convicted.  I decided that we were going to join her in practicing being thankful for what we DO have, instead of what we don't.  So, we too, have started a thankful journal that we are doing each night at dinner.  I am looking forward to the things in life that come to mind as we fill out our journal.  I am tired of fixating on what I don't have and what every one else has.  I am tired of not finding the joy in my life right now, because there IS so much to be joyful over.  How can I look into those sweet eyes of my daughter or feel the kicks (and rather painful) punches of my little girl who is due in 40 days and not be grateful?  How can I look at my house and see that, even though it may not be decorated the way I had planned or may not have the storage that I want, it has a lot of love and it provides all we need during this time in our lives and not be grateful? How can I be ungrateful when God has given me and my family good health, healthy pregnancies, healthy babies, and provided us with safety as we go about our day?  It just doesn't make sense.  I have got to stop wasting time on being discontent and start rejoicing because God has given me another day, which in and of itself, is something to be so thankful for.  I don't want to meet God face to face and see His tears as He asks me why I spent so much of my time full of regrets, frustrations, and jealousy.  He deserves way more than that from me.  It's the least I can do for Him. 

Wednesday, January 8, 2014

33 Weeks

33 Weeks
How far along? 33weeks and 2 days.

How far to go?   41 days

Due Date: February 24, 2014 BUT C-SECTION IS SCHEDULED FOR FEBRUARY 18TH! So really I have 5 weeks and 6 days left. Holy cow!!!

Baby? Sally is huge from my view.  Around 4 lbs is what the books say.  Like a pineapple.  I feel like I am running out of closet space here.         

Maternity Clothes:  Anything that is comfortable and doesn't cut into my belly.    

Stretch Marks: I am noticing them a little on my stomach and elsewhere...

Pregnancy Symptoms: I have to use the restroom often.  I also have been having major middle back pain, heartburn/indigestion, hip pain, breathlessness, slightly nauseous, few headaches, sore lower abdomen, and some other unmentionable pregnancy symptoms.

Sleeping:  I wake up a lot.  Sleeping is extremely uncomfortable and I don't look forward to going to bed at night right now, because I have a hard time falling asleep and getting comfortable.  I toss and turn, my back aches, etc.       

Best feeling this week:  Buying Sally her crib and bedding. 

Movement: Sally moves a lot still.  Her movements are more painful.  Today I feel like she is not as active as normal...

Cravings/Aversions:  chocolate and peanut butter....nothing really healthy. 

Belly Button: In, but it is a little more pushed out than normal.

What I miss: Having energy!!!!! 

What am I looking forward to: getting Sally's crib and getting it set up.  I am also looking forward to picking out paint colors. 

I went to the doctor today and I haven't gained any weight. SAY WHAT?!?!? Sally's heartbeat was in the 140s and she is head down and in position. I am measuring between 33 an 34 weeks which is right were I am! Yay and thank you God for good baby/pregnancy news!!

Ava is 13 Months

13 Months


I bet you thought I was going to stop documenting every month of Ava's life once she turned a year.  Nope!  I just can't do it.  Hopefully, I will be as good about this with Sally Jean as I am with Ava. 

Ava has become hilarious!  She is full of herself, full of personality, and full of energy.  She certainly has kept me on my toes and busy, busy, busy during this pregnancy.  I am worn out and exhausted all day, every day.  One thing is for sure, we have just a little over a month before Sally gets here.  I can't even believe it has gone by so fast, but with such a busy little bee running around the house, I guess it makes sense that this pregnancy has flown by. 

I am pleased and proud to announce that Ava is no longer drinking from a bottle.  She now is fully drinking from a Sippy cup.  The NUBY is her favorite kind.  I think she loves that one best because the top is more like a bottle nipple.  She drinks about 20-22 ounces per day, most days.  Today, not being one of those days.  Ha!  She still likes for you to hold her while she holds her cup and drinks it.  Some days she drinks her milk very quickly.  Other days, she takes her merry, sweet time drinking her milk.

We are still eating mostly baby food.  We did go to Trader Joe's today and get some lunch meat.  She had some turkey and veggie sticks, as well as, an apple and carrot pouch.  She is showing more and more interest in the food we are eating.  Today, at SouthPark she had a few bites of a chocolate chip cookie.  This girl loves chocolate. 

Ava has started to really enjoy music.  She claps when she hears it and loves to twirl round and round.  She gets so dizzy and can usually only twirl a couple of times before becoming wobbly and falling over.  We often listen to Disney music on Pandora during the day.  

She has also started to enjoy the movies Tangled,  Brave, and Princess and the Frog.  I know she is too young to be watching TV (yada,yada, yada)  but sometimes it is all this pregnant mommy can do.  We use it as snuggle time or I use it to get a couple things done in the kitchen.  It keeps her from coming in and "helping" me. 

During her 13th month, Ava spent her first night away from mommy.  She stayed with grandma and grandpa on New Years Eve so Curtis and I could have a night out.  It was hard. I thought about her so much, but it was much needed and much appreciated by us. 

A new every day occurrence is finding Ava in the morning in her crib soaked in her own pee.  EWWWW! I am not sure what is going on or what to do about it.  It's pretty gross. Here is what I saw this morning:

Disregard the unmatching clothing ensemble. Jammie's were dirty and laundry wasn't done.

Ava still likes her 2 naps. In fact, if I say nap time or nite nite time she heads to the baby gate so we can go upstairs. I hope she will continue to like her 2 naps.  I am going to need those.  She takes one around 10 and one around 3:30.  However, she still adjusts well if we don't always get in those 2 naps.  She is still pretty easy going and flexible.  She goes to bed around 8:30 or 9:00. It depends on when daddy gets home so he can spend some time with her. 

She wears 12-18 month clothing and wears a size 4 diaper. 

She likes words that start with the letter B.  She can say boo, book, bye bye, baby.  She woof woofs at dogs and moows at cats.  She tries to say cookie (coocoo) and all done.  She also will say amen at the end of our prayers with prompting.  If you say to smile, she will smile.  She is also starting to put her shape toys in the right holes, put blocks in her alphabet train, put her buckets inside of each other.  She notices that some of her toys have a purpose.  She also whistles. 

She is absolutely infatuated with poor Winston.  He can hardly get away from her ever.  She wants to pet him, lay on him, hold him...poor dog.  He has been pretty good and patient with her.  I don't know what he is going to do when she can climb on furniture and get to his "hiding" spot.

Here are a couple cute pics of her: