Merry Frist Christmas

Well Christmas has come and gone..and Ava had a great first one. Between Us, My parents and Kenny's parents...she is one spoiled ROTTEN little baby girl. I do believe she has EVERY toy in Target and Walmart, however she still seems to find my old insurance card more interesting than anything, go figure. But Santa also brought her new tooth for Christmas! Its one of her canines, she now has 4. It honestly didn't seem to bother her too much. She is actually more fussy today than she has been in a while.
But this past month has been FULL of new things for her. She has learned to hold her bottle (while laying down still) and feed herself with her two fingers, she is holding on to everything and walking, saying Ma-ma, Da-da, Pa-pa, and Na-na although she isnt sure of what she says yet. It comes out at random times :-) She has also mastered putting herself to sleep. Now when she is tired I can just lay her down and she will usually just fall asleep, sometimes she will fuss but not for long. Usually at night she is the best, she knows when she is tired and she will go to sleep like a good girl. Its amazing, and it didn't take that long for her to learn. I'm glad we decided to do that. I struggled with it because so many people have strong opinions against "crying it out". But she is almost 10 months old now and I believe she should learn how to go to sleep on her own. I don't want to have to rock her to sleep when she is 2 and 3 years old. Kenny wasn't too happy with it, he had a hard time (he sat on the stairs and I thought HE would cry listening to her cry) but he eventually came around and is glad we did it too. He still has trouble when she does fuss a little though.
I can't wait to see what she learns over the next few months. Its hard to believe she will be walking soon!
Here are some pictures from Christmas.

At The Beach In November

We went to the beach Sunday....here are some pics, I have a video but for some reason it won't upload. It may be too long so once I figure out how to edit it shorter, I will post that.

Fall Things

Halloween was fun, we dressed Ava up as a flower and instead of handing out candy we took her to the Cape Fear Fair. It was fun but due to our house guests we were late leaving so we got there late and Ava was getting tired already. But she loved the lights and had fun, it was a little noisy though, kinda loud for her. But she had fun I think.
A few days before that we took her to the pumpkin patch to take some pictures and we bought her an Ava sized pumpkin, which she has enjoyed playing with, she especially likes to throw it around and bang it on the floor :-)

So she has had some fun, new experiences over the past couple of weeks and we have been having a lot of fun with her. She even attended her first Varnumtown Oyster Roast last Saturday.

She has been a busy little thing...

On The Move

Time is flying by! My little tiny baby is already 7 months (on Sunday) and she is crawling and pulling up already. I didn't realize it would go so fast. I'm trying to take tons of video and pictures so I can always go back to these days when she is 13 and talking back. But the other day I was walking out of the room to take a shower and all of a sudden Kenny says "Look!" and I turned around and there she went, crawling like a pro! Now is is Ms. Busy Bee and always on the move. Once she gets her balance I thinks he will be walking, and it will be soon :-)

No Regrets

Sitting around on this lazy Sunday morning. But not too lazy...after all, mommyhood has no down time. I was just thinking about how people say being a stay at home mom is a full time job. They are wrong...its more than a full time job, full time jobs are typically 40 hours a week and being a SAHM is a 24 hour, 7 days a week position in which moms don't get OT or bonuses, or health insurance or vacation or any of those luxuries people who have full time jobs get. But I do get something better, its not like I am ever going to look back on my life and say "Man I wish I had spend less time with Ava and more time working." So I'm ok with this situation. I was SO afraid that I would be missing the big milestones while she was in day care and I had to work. I desperately wanted to see her first time crawling and walking and hear her first words and the first time she discovered many new things each day. And now I do get to witness all of that. Although we could use the money, there is plenty of time for work! I am doing the most important work there is right now by being with her all the time. And this way I get to see all those little tiny things she does that are so cute and if she was in day care I'd miss those. I was actually getting a little jealous of those ladies who got to spend all day with MY little girl. But now I don't have to be jealous because after this week she will be with me all the time. I'm excited. It seems things are getting more and more interesting to her and she is really starting to experiment with stuff. Like she can pull up already! I bet she will be walking in a couple months. And I am getting more giggles out of her here and there...she is just a serious person, haha. It takes a lot to make her laugh. But now I have lots of time to try. And if I need some ME time her grandparents are always more than happy to have her come visit. So yay for being a SAHM. I know one day I am going to look back and be so, so thankful I didn't miss this first year of her life.

And We Have A Tooth!

Miss Ava has her first tooth! Its not ALL the way in but its there. It poked through Wednesday morning. The past few nights have been restless. I have tried giving her tylenol and it may help, but the baby Orajel does not. There is too much saliva to even get it to stick to her gums.
And no, I don't have a picture yet because you can't see it that well and she won't really grin so I can get a good gum shot. But thats the latest. Her last week of daycare is next week. She is going to miss the babies. She even made a friend named Macy, they love playing together and having their picture taken. But maybe as soon as I get a job and can put her back in she will get to see Macy again since they are about the same age, they should still be in the same class.
Well, we have lots to do today, going to see Aunt Faye and we have to go all the way to Topsail Beach to pick up some things...busy busy.

Decisions, Decisions

I don't know what to do...I'm trying to decide if I should take Ava completely out of daycare. She only goes 2 days a week. Kenny and I think this is good for her, she loves the babies and she gets to play all day with all kinds of toys she doesn't have at home. I can tell she has fun. But with the current financial situation we need to be extra thrifty and daycare is expensive. Also the main reason I am thinking of taking her out is this swine flu. All I can think of is those babies have siblings that go to public school and so she is so much more likely to get the flu (swine or otherwise) by being exposed to all these other babies and people. I plan on getting her vaccinated for the regular flu and swine flue as soon as her pediatrician has the vaccine but I still just feel like maybe we should just take her out. I'm home every day now so why not. However Thursdays are my cleaning and laundry days so I wonder when will I ever have time to clean again? I guess Kenny will have to take her and do some Daddy Baby time on TUrsday mornings or whenever he doesn't have a job to do, at least once a week. Hmmmmm this is tough but I think in my heart I know I should just take her out. I mean, I'm a smart person, I can set my house up like a daycare. I can spend some of the money we will save on some new, cool toys for Ava to play with, right?

The Dirt Road

It has been one long month! I'm sure everyone knows about all of the sickness we have had here in the past few weeks. So much I can't believe it. But now we are better! We made it through. But then while we were on our way back to healthy I returned to work and shortly found out I had been "directly impacted" by the sinking economy....yep, I was laid off along with 270 other employees of my (ex-) company. Sitting there listening to the lady tell me this I was almost in disbelief, I kept thinking, Really? What have we done to deserve this? But I held my head as high as I could and walked out of there. I must admit I was partly relieved..I hadn't been particularly enjoying my new work since I had returned from maternity leave. I think that was mostly because compared to being a Mommy nothing seems to measure up, nothing means as much so I was at work feeling empty and feeling like the work was just not as important as what I could be doing with Ava at home. So I left there and of course I was sad, the worst was knowing I had to come home and tell Kenny after the awful few weeks he had just been through and the fact that the boat business just isn't all that booming right now. So we had our day to be upset and we did the things I think any family would do, we cried, we talked and we sat speechless for a few days too. Then I went to spend the weekend with my family in Holden Beach so that I could have a couple nights of uninterrupted sleep and I let my parents watch Ava. While I was there I went to church with my Dad and Step mom. There was a special singing group there called the "Crab Family Revival". They are a Christian Rock group pretty much and they were great. But they didn't just sing, the lead singer would speak in between songs and the whole band would add things as they felt like it. As I sat there listening to his sermon which made me feel like I was the only one in that sanctuary and like he was looking straight at me, he talked about personal responsibility and how God expects us to have it. He doesn't help people who don't help themselves and he also never promised us the journey he has set for us will be easy. It got me to thinking....sometimes the road isn't paved. Sometimes we have to walk down that old dirt road with all the rocks and bumps and wholes to get to the place we need to go. And in this case its Home..to Heaven, after all isn't that where we are all trying to go? To such a beautiful, amazing place...why would we think it is supposed to be EASY to get there? They say your experiences shape who you are and I truly believe that. So if we went through life and everything was easy what kind of spoiled ungrateful, unaware people would we be? The Lord wouldn't want us then...we'd have nothing to offer Him all we would do would be take, take, take. So he puts us on this old dirt road to walk down in life and He expects us to jump over the wholes and kick the rocks out the way and keep on going and along the way he blesses us with drinking holes and some berry bushes and sometimes he will even carry us Himself. So as I sat there in church I was grateful for all the hardships I have faced because I know I am stronger because of them. And I was over come with a feeling of peace and no longer scared because I was unemployed because I know that I will get through this, I have been through worse times. And I know that after this is over I will be that much more strong for having endured it. So I just thought of how life is like an old dirt road, not a smooth paved road and we have to walk down it with our heads up and with our faith high because He never promised it would be easy He just left instructions for what to do to get there.

Its Been Too Long

I know, I know I haven't written is FOREVER! But I just have to tell you I have been so busy....going back to work has been insane. Its tough to find a balance but I think we are getting there. The past week Kenny hasn't been too busy with work so he has cleaned the house and done some laundry and arranged dinner every night so that has been wonderful. I have been at my wits end with work so when I come home I'm just mentally exhausted and have no cabability to do anything related to housework..or work for that matter. But coming home to this sweet face is the BEST thing in the world. When I pick her up from daycare she is always so happy to see me and when we get home we get a couple hours to play and I look forward to that every day.

For those of you in Maryland..we are coming for the 4th after all! But we aren't doing the fireworks this year, its juts too much. We are also leaving the dogs..of course. So its just us 3 and we will be there on Friday the 3rd at some point.
Its going to be crazy traveling with a 4 month old (I CAN NOT believe I just said I have a 4 month old). But we will manage I'm sure. There will be lots of stopping! Its going to take 10 hours!
But we will see you soon. I'm still too busy to write too much. I will try to get better!

Having some fun

We were just playing around one night....

Slow Sunday

Today was a great day! It was about 75 degrees out and so I took Ava outside while Kenny worked in the yard for the first time this year. We had the blow up mattress out on the deck and I put her right in the shade and she slept the whole time. It was so nice and relaxing considering we had been up early to go to a birthday party at the Skate Barn from 9-12.

We have another doctor's appointment tomorrow to see if she has gained any weight so we will know that she is getting enough to eat. I will keep everyone posted!

Tummy Time

Thought I'd share a video instead of writing this time...

PERFECTION

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AVA LANE MOORE!

I can't believe she is FINALLY here! On March 4th at 3:36pm we welcomed our baby girl into the world after much anticipation. She weighed 6lbs 7oz and was 20 inches long. She had her first doctor's appt yesterday and has a perfect bill of health. After newborns are born they tend to lose some weight. Ava lost about 8 oz, at her appt yesterday she had gained 7 oz back and now weighs 6lbs 6oz. So the doctor said we are doing great with the breastfeeding.....(after much frustration). It was a challenge as I expected it to be but she has it down now and is thriving exactly as she should. She tends to want to eat every 2 hours in the middle of the night but we hope to get that under control soon. Since she is doing so well the doctor said I can start pumping and use bottles so Kenny and I can take shifts instead of me being the only one who can feed her. We are both still the walking dead. Poor Kenny has had to return to work and as you all know he does manual labor...and he is running low on energy to get him thru. But I have to say he has taken to being a Daddy in an amazing way. He has done everything he can to help me and has showered his little girl with love at every turn. I am so proud of him...I have fallen in love all over again. There is just something about seeing him with that little girl that will melt your heart. I'm a lucky lady!!!

I don't mind being so tired, until my brain starts to refuse to work. But as soon as I see that angel face I just don't care about sleep. But I am trying to sleep when she does and take naps as much as I can. I think the older she gets the better it will get. She has her fussy nights as any baby does but I think its safe to say she is a great baby. She seems to cry only when she is uncomfortable whether it be gas, dirty diaper or hungry which is understandable.

I can say this is a different kind of love I have never experienced before and I will already go to any lengths to keep her safe and happy. I love her more than I could ever express and I am just looking forward to watching her grow up. I just wish life had a slow motion button!

March 4th is IT

We had our last doctor's appt. Monday. Everything looks pretty good, still have some protein and minor elevated bp but it seems to be stable. So the decision was made my the doctor to schedule an induction for March 4th. I go in the hospital on the 3rd to receive some medication to help my cervix thin out then on the morning of the 4th I will recieve the induction medication and then we WAIT. It could start righ away or it could still take a while, not sure. Sometimes women don't respond to the pitocin and the process can be long but we are hopeful that things will progress nicely. I am already 2cm dilated and 50% effaced (thinned) so that it a good sign that it won't be too difficult. I am on bed rest however I have started to get out in the afternoons and take a walk, partly because I hope she will come on her own and partly to save my sanity. Bed rest truly is no fun! I'm so bored...
The doctor said she had dropped quite a bit as well so I am confident that she is also doing what she can to get into this world and be with her very anxious parents.
So thats the update. The next time I write I will be introducing our little baby girl!

So,here is our little girl! The events that got us these pictures have been no fun but at least something good came out of it. Last Monday I was having BP issues at work and just feeling crappy. I called the doctor and they had me come in on Tuesday. Then they checked my BP and it was ok so they said just to keep my appt. for the next day so they could check it again and be sure. Well all day Wednesday I felt bad again, swelling out of control, short of breath, and just run down, along with a headache. So at my appt. my BP was 166/94. That got me admitted to the hospital along with the fact I had protein in my urine and pitted edema (where the swelling is so bad that when you push on your skin it stays and doesn't go back to its normal form). So my doctor sent me over right away for observation and did a 24 hour urine test. It came back early Friday morning that I had a mild case of toxemia/preeclampsya. So I had to remain in the hospital for more tests. The good news was my bp was down and had stayed down since I had been admitted. Then Saturday came and I got the news I still had to stay. They mentioned induction and other things but we were hoping that was not going to happen. Then my bp continued to be good but I was still showing elevated protein in my urine dips. So finally this morning my doctor said I could go home on the conditions that I 1-stayed on bed rest indefinitely, 2-check my bp 2-3 times a day, and 3-come into the office twice a week. So, now I am home and will be on bed rest and going in frequently to the doctor. She said she is planning to most likely induce me at about 37-38 weeks depending on how everything looks but she said I almost positively won't carry Ava to 40 wks. But the best news is that the ultra sound revealed that this all has had NO affect on her at all and she is growing perfectly in the womb. She is active as ever and has a perfect heart rate and measures exactly how she should. As you can see she is also the cutest baby ever on the u/s pics! I'm so excited to have been able to get those pictures. We were not going to go have them done but since they were necessary to check her we now have them.

So thats where I am right now, in bed and will be for at LEAST two more weeks. I'll need everyone's prayers to get through this because bed rest is going to be a TRUE challenge for me. I thrive on being busy and now I am the total opposite. I get to lay here and think about labor and delivery and induction and pain and all that fun stuff. WooHoo!

If you get tons of emails from me I apolopgize because I am already SO bored.

Here are the latest pics of the belly. I'm at about 34 weeks here. Only 6 more to go! Its coming fast...but not fast enough, haha. I'm at the stage where pregnancy has lost almost all of its glow. I just enjoy the little nudges I get every day but the rest I can do without. eI am having one or two ok nights of sleep a week and that gets old, and my feet, hands, and face have started to swell up which is uncomfortable. But I know its normal...says the doctor. My next appt is tomorrow then I go back in two weeks then I start my weekly appts...I do that for four weeks then its time for Ava Lane to make her appearance! YAY! I had a great shower this weekend and I got lots of great things. I think we just need a few things now and then we will be ready for her. While she is here in her first few months we will work on finishing the nursery but since its up stairs we aren't in a big hurry because I don't plan on hiking up any stairs any time soon after she is born, at least not in the first few months.

So thats about it. Kenny and I are just getting more and more excited and ready to meet our baby girl.

Update

I can't believe how fast time has done by! I'm 31 weeks and 2 days today! So only about 9 more weeks to go. We have been to our first of two Childbirth Classes and I have taken an Infant CPR and First Aid class last night. The Childbirth class was so much fun and I think it will be very beneficial to both of us. Kenny seemed to really enjoy it and he had lots of good questions. I know I'm in good hands with him :-) We talked about so many things. I went in thinking I am DEFINITELY having an epidural....and came out thinking I am going to try my absolute best to do this the old fashioned, natural way with no drugs. Now, if I get to the point that I just can not take it anymore I will not torture myself, I will take something but I think it would be really nice to just try to get through it myself. I know its going to hurt so I think I can mentally prepare myself for this. So please don't say "you're crazy!"....I already know that, ha-ha.

The infant CPR class and First Aid was the one that scared me. I hope I never have to use any of that information but if I ever do....it is so much to remember! When to do just breathing...when to initiate CPR in the first place...when to call who...(did you know you should never call 911 for a poisoning UNLESS you don't have the # for Poison Control?...Probably a # thats good to store in your phone and near your home phones). The instructor said the first thing 911 will do is call poison control. And she also mentioned that their # is the hardest to find in the phone book. Figures huh. We talked about so many things so now I have all these scenerios whirling around in my head. But hopefully nothing will happen.

So the picture is my 7 month belly. I'm about 5 days from being 8 months now so I'm a little bigger than that. The doctor says I'm right on track and everything is fine. I have had no major issues. I have started to see some hand/feet swelling and have had to remove my rings, reluctantly. But it seems as soon as I get home and elevate my feet they go back to normal. And I'm freezing Kenny to death. I have had the heat on 65 for the past few nights and he says it's like Antarctica in the house, haha. But I can't help it, Ava is like my own personal fernice.

So thats about it for now. My next doctor's appt. is on January 21st so if anything changes I will let everyone know.