Milestones

This week, at 5 1/2 months, miss fancy pants is hitting some more milestones. Not only is she eating more food like oatmeal, banana and applesauce (which she loves btw), she's sitting up on her own! I had to sit her up, but she's staying up for a good bit. She'll topple over a few times, but she's pretty much strong enough to hang for a while. It's hilarious watching Ava get on her hands and knees too, and rock back and forth.  Don calls her "bronco billy" when she does that. I'm afraid crawling will soon follow... time to baby proof the house! (Which means I can shop for an ottoman and side table & get rid of the coffee table!)

At the pumpkin patch

Last weekend we went to the pumpkin patch with miss Ava. I was not sure how to do this pumpkin patch thing, obviously since we've not been with a baby before... but it was so fun. A local church had an amazing patch and we got some great pics. And pumpkins! Five to be exact, two big'ins and three perfect little ones. Oh and a crazy gourd.
It was a sweltering 89 degrees and we were sweating! Ava was so good though, didn't fuss at all. I'm telling y'all, she's a keeper!
Happy Fall Y'all!!

So this is 5 months....

I can hardly believe that our little snookerdoodle (as her pop calls her) is 5 months old. Not a day goes by that I'm not thanking God for giving her to us; I truly believe that she is a gift. An undeserved but totally appreciated gift. Ava is now sleeping through the night, about 8hrs. Yes, you read that right, 8 hours. I know, I know, soak it up while we can - we are! I am still quick to follow that statement with, "I know it could change tonight!" I sure hope it doesn't. You know what's so weird? Coming home exhausted after working a full day. Normally that was nothing, exhaustion-wise. I would be fine. My job isn't physically laboring, just mentally. Even so, I've been there 9 years, so it's not some new thing. I come home, and my attention is usually shared with Ava, the Don and Coco - and making dinner, playing, snuggling, bathing and playing some more. I'm just pooped by the time I drive home from work, so that's an adjustment. I am drinking coffee a lot - bc I love it and am totally into the pumpkin craze! Starbucks: venti iced coffee w/pumpkin & cream. Dunkin: large iced pumpkin coffee w/cream & sugar. I even got our manager at work to buy some pumpkin syrup from the Starbucks store online! Yes, I'm hooked. I don't care. My husband calls this a "white person thing," or "white people problems" when I can't find pumpkin creamer. Ha... Soooo anyway, back to the babe. She's really starting to get quite the personality. She is grunting a lot, and babbling "mamamama" all the time. Just yesterday, after spending 12 hrs with daddy, I heard her babble "dada" a few times. I say "babble" b/c she doesn't know what she's saying right now. She wakes up and is saying "mama" but she doesn't look at me and say it. So I can't claim it, but I'm pretty sure her first word won't be "dada." Yessssssss ;) Also what's new is her whimpering. She sounds like a little puppy - she'll whimper a short, high-pitched little noise and get a little fussy, like if she wants to move to a different view when we're holding her. It's pretty cute! Ava and Coco are totally in love with each other, besties. That right there is enough to give you a toothache, it's so dang sweet. Today I had to take off work b/c my mom has been sick & our nanny wasn't available - let me tell you I don't really mind. I love being with Ava. Not being at work while not sick is new to me, so that kinda stresses me out, but fortunately, my manager and everyone else there has children and they understand. Phew. It's just all this new stuff. It's not easy "employing" people and being employed, too. But hey, life happens. We went to the Dr. (for me - all clear after my tearing during childbirth & the stitching - fun!) and then ran a quick errand. Now we've been home, enjoyed being outside a bit and she's back down for a nap. I could get used to this. Could... ;) Now to go get her - she just woke, and find a Halloween costume! Let's try this diy fun! xoxo

i told y'all i had an obsession...

ava & her beautiful cousin ashley

just to be clear...

On my last post, I had mentioned something about not breastfeeding or pumping anymore, that it wasn't convenient for me. I want to be clear, the pumping is not convenient, and I know moms will agree with me. Breastfeeding wasn't the issue, I enjoyed doing that. It bonded me and Ava, and it was our moment. So to not be able to do that anymore just was emotionally painful. However, I am extremely appreciative that I was able to do that. I have to follow up with that because someone close to me was not able to. I cannot imagine the pain that she went through not being able to nurse her baby. She's a pumping fool, so diligent and scheduled with her pumping - I'm amazed. At 5 months, she's still pumping every 4 hours! But she had to become like that. I know it wasn't easy on her to do that, either. What I meant by "inconvenient" was just that. As a working mom, remembering to go back to the storage closet two or more times a day, for either 10, 15 or 20 min (sometimes it was longer), missing the work I was trying to do, trying to only focus on my baby, not my work, getting distracted looking at her sweet face on my phone, and then cleaning myself up afterwards, returning to my desk & getting back to what I was doing... well that's not convenient - for me. I'm just being honest. I miss breastfeeding, but one day it just seemed to stop. I'm so thankful that Ava has taken to the formula without a hitch. I started her on the enfamil newborn blend and worked her into the "purple one" for fussiness & gas because my girl has the toots! I actually tried to breastfeed her the other night, and it was so weird, it felt unnatural. Imagine that! So I wanted to clear that up because it was on my mind, eating at me. I didn't want anyone reading this to think I was a bad mom, I love my daughter and wouldn't want anything less than the best for her. I just have to be honest - that's me! xoxo

Football, fall & someone is now four months old

It's that time of year - FINALLY. Football is officially back y'all! Another season of some SEC football & NFL football too. Yes! I love it. It feels like it's been forever, so it's nice to have it again. Something to watch Saturdays, Sundays, Mondays & sometimes Thursdays. We're looking forward to the days when it's cool outside, we can open up the windows & sliding doors and enjoy the whole day.  Something about that, the cheering of the crowds, whistles blowing & the horns and drums playing fight songs that just complete my weekend.  Throw in some snacks, a drink of choice and your team colors and it's now perfect. Our friends all get along despite the rivalries, so that makes it easier.  It's FOOTBALL!!!
Another love: Fall.  That means pumpkin drinks, candles, lotions even hand sani. On the agenda this weekend: go to bath & body and stock up on the scents. I've seen a lot of posts about the drinks from Starbucks and they're looking tasty! Mmm maybe I'll get one on my way to bath & body! Ya that sounds good.
So on to the best part, our little miss.  So much had happened this week!  Little miss Ava has moved to her crib, it's official, she's in it to win it. I put her in this week or last week and she was so good, sleeping through the night. We're ALL sleeping better, so it's amazing. She's rolling over back to front, too. She had done dint to back last month, and now she's doing the opposite. I've also stopped breast feeding her. Ya it was extremely difficult, but I guess worse things have been known to happen, so I'm super grateful and thankful that I could breast feed her for so long. I've stopped pumping at work, too.  That's been difficult, too, but it's just not convenient for me. Ava got all her nutrients from me and my milk for the first three months. It's just hard coming to terms with her not drinking mommy's milk. *sigh* I keep telling myself or could be worse. All in all, its been a pretty big week here.  So as I lay here, finishing this up, I'll be staring at Ava on the baby monitor.  Coco has been watching over Ava while she sleeps, it's adorable. What's adorbs is how Ava's recognized Coco now and wants to grab her.  Coco just sits there and takes it. Such a good big sister!
Well I'm about to fall asleep. Y'all have a great weekend & Go Jaguars! Go Steelers!

xoxo

loving on sweet coco

lounging with daddy

lounging with daddy, in my cute giraffe shorts

Go Gators!!

Guess who's 3 months old!

Yes, it's already been three months and the time seems to have flown by! I can't believe my little bunny is now 3 months old. I still can't hardly believe I'm a mama, either. This new chapter in my life has been amazing.  We are so blessed with this little happy girl! I've had my ups and downs, worrying about running out of breast milk, not being able to provide that for her, but it all works out.  God knows what we need and He provides for us.  Ava is a wonderful little baby. Each day is a gift and she's grown so expressive. I love showing her off,I won't lie, because she's so darn cute! Her eyes are still light, her hair is a light, golden brown, and her skin is creamy smooth.  An absolutely beautiful baby. Oh daddy has his hands full!
I'm still pumping twice a day at work, and breast feeding at home. I'm coming to grips with the possibility of giving Ava more formula during the day, or at night too, in case I don't have enough milk for her. I'm okay with this, but it's not been easy to come to terms with. I provide her with her nourishment, and to think that I may be running low on that, or not be able to, that's heart breaking. But again, it'll all work out in the end. 
Nanny is working out very well, so that's a huge blessing. D and I are enjoying this parenthood gig, loving pretty much every moment, aside from the occasional middle of the night waking up's Ava surprises us with. But she's otherwise still sleeping thru the night - yippee.  Coco loves her little sister too, it's adorable. Has already barked at a person and another dog to back up! Never biting, just hollering at them. And I've still not sampled my breast milk... can't bring myself to do it!
All in all, life is great, not that I expected anything less!

She's a 10

Little miss has finally reached 10 lbs! We are so blessed, she's such an amazing little bunny. She sleeps through the night, smiles a ton & is overall perfect. Her Dr said so! Every day I just love her more, and our family is so complete. I almost hate to say it, because I want more children, but Ava's been so perfect, I don't want to risk it. But the next little one will be good and perfect inn their own way. 

"Every good and perfect gift is from above."   James 1:17