First Tub Bath

She didn't like her bath at all!



After the bath and getting clothes on... she's my little angel again!

Ava's umbilical cord finally fell off Christmas Eve night and she was finally able to have her first real bath. As you can tell from the pictures she didn't like it at all. She screamed all during the bath and up until I got her clothes on and picked her up and cuddled her for a few minutes.

First Christmas!!

1st picture with Santa Claus!



With Papa and Nana Smith on Christmas



Ava in her Santa suit for Christmas



Linder Family!



Me, Todd, and Ava



Well Ava survived her first Christmas... actually she slept through most of it. She stayed awake for a little while at the Linder Christmas on Christmas Eve, but then went to sleep and slept through the remainder of it, as well as most of the 2 Giles' Christmas' that night.
Christmas day we had the Smith Christmas. We had it with just us and Papa & Nana Smith that morning. Ava was awake for a little while. But by the time the Smith's started piling in Ava was sound asleep and slept through all the noise. She finally woke up for just a few minutes right before we left.
We had a great Christmas and got many great gifts from everyone. We still have one more to go ... Nana's Christmas is this Saturday, so will have more pics from that one in a few days.

2 week checkup

Well Ava and I went for our 2 week checkup this morning. Everything was fine with both of us. She gained 1/2 pound!! So that means she now weighs 8 lbs! Our girls growing strong! Dr. Sherman listened to Ava's chest, took a look at her eyes and ears. She does have the beginning of Thrash so the doctor gave us some medicine to clear that up before it gets any worse. We also had to take a trip back to the hospital to Labor and Delivery. Ava had to get her PKU and they also went ahead and removed her umbilical cord clamp since it still hadn't quite fell off. I dont' know if it was the cord removal or the PKU but she was screaming her little head off in there. It was breaking my heart to stand out in the hall and listen to her, since they wouldn't let me go in with her. But as soon as they finished and gave her back to me the tears dried and she was my perfect little angel again.

We also had another house full of visitors yesterday. Papa Mike and Granny P came for another visit. Also, Nana Ginger and Maya came for a visit.

Well Ava is waking up so let me go... More info and pics later!

My little princess!

Isn't she precious??!!

These 2 people are my world!!

Nothing much new to report. Ava is still being a very good baby, and is still doing very well at night. She is averaging getting up just 2 times every night, which is great! She is also staying awake alot more now and is very alert. She'll lay in your arms and just look at you and look around the room.




We did have a few more visitors Friday. Uncle Josh and Hannah came by Friday afternoon for a while. Uncle Josh was a little nervous about holding Ava, but he did great!
Uncle Jason and Jessica came by Friday night. Uncle Jason wasn't quite as nervous. He and Jessica took turns holding Ava the entire time they were here.

Bright Eyed Girl

We've been home a few days now, and things are going great! Ava is eating great, and her nighttime routine is getting much better! The first night she kept Daddy up ALOT. The second night she still got up several times. However, last night only 2 times! She got up once around Midnight. I fed & changed her and cuddled her for a little while and she dozed back off. She didn't wake up again until about 5:00 this morning. Again, after a feeding and a dry diaper she went back to sleep and actually let Mommy sleep until 8:00 this morning!!!! I actually got more sleep last night than I did during the last few weeks of pregnancy.
I am thoroughly enjoying being here with her everyday. She is staying awake more with me now which is fun! It's killing daddy having to be away from her at work during the day, even though he usually checks in on us a few times. As soon as he gets home in the evenings he snatches her up and starts cuddling and playing with her. It is soo cute!



Nana finally got to get her hands on Ava yesterday! She had seen her at the hospital but only through the nursery window. Granny P and Papa Mike brought Nana with them to visit yesterday and Nana got to hold Ava for a long while. Her eyes just lit up as she was holding her! We also had a visit from Nana and Papa Smith yesterday evening as well. After a few minutes of tickling and such we finally got her to wake up so they look at those pretty eyes!

Introducing Ava Elaine Smith!!!!

She is finally here!!!! Ava Elaine Smith was born on Monday, December 10 at 10:38 AM. She weighed 7 lbs. 8.5 oz and was 20 inches long. She has a head full of beautiful black hair and is absolutely perfect in every way!!!! We were released from the hospital yesterday around lunch and are at home now. We are still recouping and adjusting to the change, but we couldn't be happier!!!!! Hope you enjoy these pictures... more to come soon!!

3 days til D-Day....

3 days until the big day... well still hoping it happens before then but that hope is fading with each passing day. This week has been filled with me being stir crazy just waiting. I am off work this week, which is a good thing because duh no work. But at the same time, I'm going crazy with all this time on my hands. It is making the waiting seem sooo much longer. I've been trying to take everyone's advice and get all the rest I can while I still can, but that's easier said than done for more than one reason. For one, sleeping is next to impossible these days. And second, I just get stir crazy laying around. I find myself up and doing anything I can around the house to keep busy (wrapping the remaining Christmas presents, doing laundry, reorganizing the nursery, etc... ) I did go spend most of the day yesterday with my Parents and my Nana. I had a good visit and really enjoyed it! It was nice to have interaction with someone other than the dog DURING THE DAY!

Light at the end of the tunnel!!!

Well I just came from my last doctor's appointment until after Ava is born!!!

I have now dialated 1.5 cm and am 70% effaced. The doctor doesn't think I will go into labor in the next day or two.. but as always could be wrong!

IF I haven't had the baby by my due date (which is this coming Sunday, the 9th), I will be admitted to the hospital on Sunday afternoon at 3 or 3:30 and they will begin the induction process. I most likely won't go into labor until the morning of the 10th.

So we should definitely have a baby by the 10th, if not before!!!!