Avaleen's Half Birthday!

Honestly...sloooooooooooooooow down.

Our baby girl is half a year old...I am not sure how that happened so fast but it did (sniff). However...we are having so much fun with her as she continues to hit great milestones and continues to grow. Such as:

1. She is teething! Two...maybe three??? on the bottom are poking through. I LOVE her toothless grin but it's also so cute to see those little teeny tiny teeth poke through.

2. She is getting more hair! Yay!

3. She can sit up on her own for at least 30 seconds:)

4. She still talks a lot...and she still LOVES her bouncy toy...again...thanks Grandma:) Here is a fun video of her dancing...

5. OH! duh...she is eating solid food! see?

She wasn't quite sure about avocado in the beginning...

But Dad was sure excited about it....:) (She LOVES avocado now)

She LOVES sweet potatoes and gobbles them up!

Her current diet consists of:

Oatmeal

Avocado

Sweet potatoes

Peas

and were trying Carrots today:)

We took Ava swimming for the very first time! And by swimming...I mean fillinf her bathtub with water and hangin on our deck:) However...her cute pink swimsuit did not fit...so she had to go naked...but whatever! (I did pick up another one...pics to follow).

Trying to soak up these last days of summer as it's coming to an end so quick! I'd be lying if I didn't admit Fall is my favorite season...but Fall means going back to work! I'm excited to begin my adventures as a Kindergarten teacher...but will miss my days with Ava so much! Although I think Brad is looking forward to some Daddy Daughter time:)

5 months old!

Okay...here we go...Ava is five months old!

The time is flyyyyyyyyyying by so fast! It really is just like everyone says...so we are trying to enjoy every little second we have with her because she keeps changing overnight! It's so fun to watch her grow and reach different milestones...but bittersweet as I recently had to box up her newborn and 0-3 month clothes:(

At 5 months she:

1. Rolls over...when she wants to:)

2. Smiles REALLY big

3. Giggles

4. Talks!...well...you know what I mean:)

5. Bounces in her bouncy thingy...thanks mom:)

6. Sucks on her toes

7. Is a major wiggle worm

8. OH! Is eating rice cereal!

9. Drools a lot...no teeth yet

10. IS SLEEPING THROUGH THE NIGHT!

She is SO MUCH FUN. She loves the outdoors..thank goodness because Brad and I are big outdoorsy type of people. We can't wait to take her camping! Fir now...we'll enjoy our front, backyard and deck:)

Ava has been a little spooked lately with strangers... see?

However...she is getting more comfortable now and is starting to recognize more than just mom and dad...Yay!!!!! Ava is such a happy baby and we are just having a ball with her. Love you Avaleen! Now stop growing up so fast...:)

Father's Day

Okay...I've been meaning to blog about Brad's very first Father's Day! It's a bit harder to get to these things since I went back to work...but HELLO summer! So here we go...

Like Mother's Day...Brad, Ava and I hosted Father's Day at our house! We had Brad's parents down for an afternoon dinner...want to know what was on the menu?? OKay!

Homemade Mac and Cheese:)

Lana made a deeeeeeelicous chocolate Whopper Cake:)

We had a relaxing afternoon with some great presents for both Brad and Scott. Brad got Scott an awesome "shirt and hat" combo...."#1 Grandpa!"

Ava and I made Brad a handprint plaque. My sisters and I did the exact same thing for my Dad when we were little...even the same poem! So it was real special...thankfully my mom and Colleen were there to help...hee hee

   Oh...this is an interesting texture on my hands

 

 Wait a second...I don't know about this...
  

                   What.Is.Happening!!!!!!!!                  Finished product

I know it doesn't LOOK like she was having fun...but she really was and LOVED how the product looked when we were done:) We also wrote Dad a yummy poem to tell him how much we love him. She is an excellent writer already...:

Brad also got some fresh steaks from Lana and Scott that he is anxious to enjoy...he dove into one the next day:) It was a great first Father's Day and fun to spoil both Brad and Scott on this special day:)

  

My Baby Daddy

Happy Father's Day to my baby daddy!

hee hee

Thought I would take the time to blog about my love. This is his first Father's Day and he is pretty much the best dad to Ava ever. let me tell you why:

He was amazing throughout the entire pregnancy...took care of the house (inside and out)...let me sleep for hours on end (like 12 a day...no joke)...cooked meals...came to appointments...went out late for ice cream and lemonade (with ice) cravings...kept telling me how beautiful I was when I would constantly complain about my fat thighs...and much more.

Super calm (at least on the outside) and supportive through Ava's birth. Couldn't have done it without him. I mean..he had to pretty much force me to go to the hospital because I think I was in a bit of denial..thank goodness he did...we may have had a baby in the car!!!

He is a very hands on dad. Helps whenever I need it. Diaper changes, plays during wake time, makes her smile...A LOT...he's the best at it...see?

Is great with bedtime routine...reads stories...soothes her...gives her bottles...and is already teaching her how to play the drums!

Now that I am back at work...he gets to stay and take care of her during the day...

(so jealous)...and they have built such a special bond together. I know how important the relationship is between a daughter and her Daddy and I couldn't be more happy to watch their relationship grow. Happy Father's Day to my baby daddy! Thank you for all that you do:) I love you.

4 Months Old...Say What?!!!

Well it's official...our little peanut is 4 months old!

Here are her current stats:

- I'm guessing somewhere around 13 or 14 lbs?

- Brad and I measured her around 25 inches long 

- Is most likely in the 50th percentile for everything...just perfect:)

- Still hates shots

Honestly...I could have waited until after her dr appointment next week but I didn't want to...I'll make sure and document her ACTUAL stats when we get them:) For now..we'll go with our gut. I'm teaching measurement in class right now too so it's good practice...hee hee.

Avaleen continues to make us so happy...and laugh a lot! She's like...really funny:) At four months old she can do so much...are you ready??:

1. ALMOST rolls over

2. Blows bubbles

3. Gives BIG smiles

4. Tiny giggles and lots of squealing

5. Can do 180's in her crib

6. Talks to herself

7. Is currently scared of others who hold her...

8. Loves to suck her thumb

9. Has discovered her feet

10. Enjoys listening to music:)

She is not yet sleeping through the night...but is getting verrrrrrrrrrrry close. We're hoping to try that rice cereal stuff soon...maybe that will help? 

I've been back to work for two weeks and although it was REALLY hard to leave...Brad has been doing GREAT with her at home. They've got their own little routine going and it's been a perfect opportunity for them to bond! They're like best buds:)

As the year winds down...I'm so looking forward to summer break! Too bad June 27th is basically July...ugh. Time to go make my paper chain...:)

One week down!!!

So I made it through my first week back at work! Woohoo!! Couldn't have done it without the hubby...(duh)...and the awesome support from my staff! They are amazing and so kind to put up with my constant "look at my cute baby!" pics I'm always waving around...like this:

The kids at school were great and it was nice to remember..."Oh yeah? I forgot about this whole teaching part of my life..." My second graders have literally doubled in size so no more pregnant flats and flip flops for me...wedges and heels it is! Although I am WIPED from the week and had a few tears (Thanks for listening Chelsea...heehee)...I feel great that I made it! Well both Brad and I:) We seem to have gotten a good routine going and thankfully he sends me plenty of pics and videos throughout the day. Here's one of him teaching her how to play the drums:

Now we have the weekend to look forward to and play! Or sleep:) I'm pretty sure both Brad and I have permanent bags under our eyes...and my eyelids are seriously extra droopy...is that just because I'm tired or do I now have to worry about age? Whatever...nothing a little CoverGirl can't fix right?

Weekends can be a little tricky because Brad tends to work and this weekend he was booked solid. But we were still able to fit in a little family time!!! Mornings always begin with a little coffee...MMMMMMMMMMM....

Then we have a little morning chat and play time...

Followed by some Saturday morning cartoons!

Aaaaaaaaaaand then it's nap time again! This weekend Ava is officially 17 weeks old but not officially four months old until June 11...I know...Brad and I are still trying to understand the math behind this...but she is just as cute as ever and growing so fast! Only 12 1/2 more days till school is out....then it's summer...summer...summer time!

Hi Ho...Hi Ho....It's off to work I go...

Well...after four months of maternity leave...it's time for me to head back to work:( Don't get me wrong...I LOVE my teaching job...but I also love my NEW job as a Momma. It's just going to take some adjusting having my time with Ava literally cut in half!! Yikes!....One moment please...(needed to grab some tissues...sniff sniff).

This has been the best four months ever as both Brad and I have gotten to watch Avaleen grow and change each day. It's crazy to think how much time has gone by...I just try REAL hard to soak up every snuggle...smile...wiggle that I can:) She's like a "little miniature human"..as Brad likes to say (duh honey) because her personality and characteristics are really starting to come through! Thank goodness for summer break!

I feel lucky to have had the time off that I did...even taking an unexpected extra month off! (So worth eating top ramen for the next few months:))

Here are some of my favorite things so far:
1. Her soft skin, baby smell and chunky thighs (Brad likes to call them her giblets)
2. The way she smiles and squeals when I get her up in the morning or from a nap
3. How she sighs REALLY loud after almost every yawn
4. Watching her try and find her thumb to soothe herself to sleep
5. The constant kicking and wiggling she does on the changing table...so funny!
6. Bath time!!!!!!!
7. She lets me dress her in anything I want:)
8. Her big, beautiful, blue eyes and crazy long lashes!
9. Her instant smile when she sees Brad...no joke...he gets her going WAY more than I can..what is that about?? Hello?? I'm the one getting up with you in the middle of the night? Carried you for nine months?? Pushed you out?? I guess she's a Daddy's girl:)
10. How excited Brad and I are to watch her grow up...but not TOO fast.

So here I am...four months into being a Mom and I love it. Brad is an amazing father and I love watching the two of them together:) I appreciate all the support we've been getting...especially as I return to work:) Thank you! Thank you! I have the best family and friends ever.