Four month doctor visit

Ava had her four month check up today. Her stats were as follows:

• Weight - 15 lbs 14 oz. - 90th %ile
• Length - 26 1/4 in. - > 95th %ile
• Head - 16 in. - 25-50th %ile

So, all in all, she's just chugging along. We have the go ahead to start on cereal, but I'm going to put that off for just a couple more days. She didn't feel well and Dr. Fred obviously noted that. He thought he heard a little rattling going on in her chest and so we got an antibiotic as well as a cough medicine. He said that what she has was probably just viral, but wanted to prescribe the antibiotic as a precaution. I was fine with that as I'd rather this cold not turn into pneumonia or something worse. So, that's where we stand as of today. If she isn't noticeably better in 2-3 days, I have to take her back. I don't really want to start her on the cereal while she's starting some new medicines. Hopefully, we'll be able to give the cereal a try this weekend.

A very upset little girl at the doctor

The video I took the other night of Ava talking just won't upload, so I took another of her last night. You can see that she doesn't feel well and you can somewhat hear how hoarse she is! Poor baby! Hopefully that antibiotic will get to work quickly!!

Safety & sickness

My guardian angel was definitely with me this morning as I finally ventured into work. I was terrified the whole way here and thought about pulling over, calling my dad, and asking him to come take me the rest of the way. But, thankfully, all of my prayers were answered and I arrived safely. The thing that scared me the most was as I was coming down our street, I couldn't stop. I was trying to tap my brakes and nothing was working! Well, the end of our street is a pretty major thoroughfare and I was just begging God to stop my car so that I wouldn't roll out into the oncoming (although it was very little) traffic. Thankfully, my prayer was answered and I was able to stop just inches from being out in the intersection in the path of an oncoming car. I had a couple of other scares but I survived!


I'm so glad that the schools are closed again today. Our poor little girl has a terrible cold and we both thought she needed another day at home. Since the schools were out, Zach got to stay home with her without using any personal or sick days. Hopefully she will get better soon. Last night she felt so awful and her little cry is so hoarse and pathetic it just broke my heart. We go to see Dr. Fred tomorrow for her 4 month check up so I'm thankful he can go ahead and check her out to make sure it's nothing more than a cold. I'm ready for my little girl to feel better!

Check this out!

My buddy Jen, over at Meet the McFamily is hosting her first giveaway! You can check out her blog and see some examples of either burp cloths or ribbon key chains that you can choose from if you enter her giveaway and win! Go check it out!

Goodbye weekend, hello work week

Things have been somewhat quiet on the homefront these days. We pretty much go to work, come home, and repeat. I'm trying to enjoy the quiet weekends we have now and the next couple of weekends, because around mid-February, everything kicks into high gear.

Ava seems to be thriving these days. She really loves day care. In fact, she hates to leave it each day. I think she really enjoys the constant stimulation and we just don't have that here at home and she gets bored. I'm just thankful she's settled in well there and enjoys it.

Funny face while playing with her Uncle Nick

She may finally (slowly) be growing into her cheeks

No pictures now, Mom - I'm going shopping!

Laughing at herself in the mirror during bathtime

I also wanted to upload a video of Ava's chattering, but Blogger wouldn't cooperate so I'll try that again soon.

I hope everyone has a great start to the week!

Achievements

As mentioned in my letter to Ava, I cannot believe how fast she is growing up! It really amazes me that she has been here with us for four months! Her four month check up isn't until next week, and I'm anxious to see how much she weighs, how long she is, etc. I'm also ready to start feeding her cereal!

It seems that these days she is always working on something new. She's a very curious, determined little girl and when she sets her mind to it, she usually gets it done.

Things Ava is doing @ 4 months:

• Rolling from back to tummy
• Occasionally sleeping all night
• Grabbing her feet
• Pulling hair
• Eating her hands
• Lifting her head and chest up off the floor when on tummy
• Lifting her rear off of the floor when on her tummy
• Holding objects
• Playing in her exersaucer
• "Talking"
• "Standing" on our laps

And some recent pics of this smiley girl

Having loads of fun...

...So much so she needed a nap

Big smiles

We've been occasionally giving her baths in the big tub just because she's getting a little big for this small tub. However, some nights this is just easier. She is really into splashing these days and makes a huge mess! In the pictures below you can see the water flying!

Trying to get Mommy wet

The water she gets on the mirror

Another month gone..

Sweet Baby Girl,

How can I make time stop? I cannot believe it is already your four month birthday! Time is passing so quickly and you are growing up so fast. I love the little person you are and cherish each and every moment with you

During this past month of your life, your little personality has come shining through. You are such a strong-willed little girl - and while that sometimes makes life difficult, I know it is something I am glad you will have as you get older and learn to fend for yourself.

Your smiles and giggles are one of my favorite things about you. It absolutely melts my heart when I get home from work and walk in the door and see your face light up because Mommy is home! So many things make you laugh these days and it is fun trying to find new ways to entertain you.

You had a tough month this time around - we spent a couple of weeks in your "scared" phase and I must say I'm thankful we've more or less outgrown that. You now like to look around when you are out and take in your surroundings. You are also getting better at recognizing people even when you aren't in a familiar place. I'm so thankful you are getting excited to go places - we like taking you out and showing you the world!

That being said, you are becoming more social! It's fun to see you examining new places. One of your favorite places to take everything in is church. You are quite the little entertainer, laughing and smiling at those around you. Not only that, you are finally happy and content enough that we don't have to sit in the cry room or take you out in the middle of church! You have been such a good little girl in church the past two weekends and I've been so proud of you! Along with hamming it up, you are talking now! Your little mouth seems to be constantly running and I'm excited for the day that you can actually say words. For now though, I just want to enjoy every moment of you being my little baby.

I cannot tell you how much joy you bring into my life. We have our ups and downs, but there has never been anything I've enjoyed more than being your mommy. I love experiencing new things through you. Seeing you accomplish something new gives me such extreme satisfaction and excitement! I'm so proud of who you are and all you can do! You are truly a blessing, Ava.

As the months go on, I can only imagine what lay ahead of us. I thank the Lord everyday that we have been blessed with such a sweet, precious daughter. You are our beautiful firstborn baby and will always be so incredibly special to us. As much as I hate to see these days pass by so quickly, I'm so excited to see what the Lord has in store for you and your life!

I love you sweet baby girl!

Mommy

Need a good laugh?

One letter makes a difference..

Tutu Making 101

I've had a few different people ask me how I made Ava's tutu and if I had directions. No directions here! I just sort of went about my business and made some guesses. Anyway, I thought I would share the process here for those of you interested.

I used this size ribbon (my guess is that it was about an inch thick) to go around the waist. I measured it around Ava to see how big it needed to be and to leave a little extra to tie a bow when it was on.

I then cut a piece of tulle (just one to start). My pieces ended up being about 27 inches. You can adjust this depending on how long or short you want your tutu to be. Once I figured out the length of each piece of tulle, I just unrolled the tulle on top of the cut piece so that I could measure and then snipped away. I did several of these at a time, but not the whole roll, in case I didn't need it.

I used the rolls of tulle that were 6 inches wide. I looked for this at Wal-Mart, Michael's and Hobby Lobby and found the largest selection of color at Hobby Lobby. Be sure and watch the ads, because as I mentioned earlier, I bought all of these while they were 1/2 off and I know they run their sales often!

Once you get your strips cut, tie the strips of tulle to the ribbon. I did not use any special method of tying. I basically just knotted it so it wouldn't come undone.

And wa-la!

Thankful

"You shall rejoice in all the good things the Lord your God has given to you and your household."

Deuteronomy 26:11

I want to say thanks to each one of you who has taken the time to send me sweet comments, emails, messages, etc after my rough week. I'm truly blessed to be surrounded by such wonderful, caring people.

Even in these tough times, I'm trying to be thankful and remember that it could be worse - I keep telling myself that I at least have a job. I am thankful for that. And I am thankful that it provides us with the means to live. My hardest struggle right now is being in a job when the only job I want to be doing is taking care of this little girl:

But as a good friend reminded me:
“Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s Will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thes. 5:16-18

God is good ALL THE TIME!

Be still..

It never ceases to amaze me how the Lord is always there and always gives me hope when I am feeling at my lowest. Things have been really hard for me lately - work has exploded into a seemingly never-ending pile and I have been stressed to the max. Yesterday was probably one of the worst days I've had in a very long time. And I hate how it affects me. I hate feeling so beaten and defeated. I hate being so worn out and stressed when I get home that I'm exhausted and feel like I have no energy for my family. It's been a long, long time since I've gone home from work and cried. And yesterday was just one of those days.

This morning I was driving to daycare and Ava was in the backseat talking up a storm and I was just praying: praying for strength to make it through the day, strength to handle the stress and just to remember that I work for HIM. Anyway, I was feeling pretty sad and was having a hard time leaving Ava this morning. And I got back in the car and heard these lyrics from this song by Storyside B:

When I feel like caving in

My heart, my soul is wearing thin

I just want to give up

Nothing seems at all to add up

Can You hear me Lord?

When my face is down upon the floor

It's then you whisper in my ear

Be still and know I'm here

I so needed that this morning. I felt like that was my whisper in my ear. And the funny thing is that I have a daily words of wisdom for Moms calendar, and I was so busy yesterday I didn't have time to flip from Friday's verse, but when I got in this morning and was reading through the weekend verses, the one for Saturday mirrored the song:

"Be still, and know that I am God."

Psalm 46:10

Thank You, Lord, for the hope You give when it seems like there is none. Here's to being still!

I hope that this song touches you today too and reminds you what an AWESOME God we have!

Tutu fun!

I've seen lots of little girls sporting little tutus in pictures and have been trying to find one for Ava. Well, I decided that instead of buying one, I'd make one instead! I picked up my supplies at Hobby Lobby yesterday - I had a hard time deciding what colors to use, but all of the tulle was 1/2 off, so I just grabbed several colors and figured if it went well, I could make more than one! I finally decided to make a red and white one. She will be able to wear this in support of the Razorbacks and for Valentine's Day. I also made it in a way for it to "grow" as she grows! I was pleased with how it turned out and can't wait to make another!! I also can't wait for her to wear these in future photo shoots with Jon & Emily~!

She looks thrilled doesn't she?

Love this picture - just with she hadn't moved her head and cut it off at the last second!


Also, after finding out she reads this, I just wanted to give a big CONGRATULATIONS to my cousin, Lexie, who got engaged the day after New Years!! Can't wait for your wedding!!!

Oh please, let it be for real!

I have refrained from posting, because I didn't want to jinx myself, but for the past 4 nights, Ava has (more or less) slept through the night!!!!!!!!! We've been wondering if this day would ever come! She's gone down anywhere between 8:30 and 9:30 and has slept until 5:15 - 5:30. Now, granted, that's an early morning, but it's still better than getting up anywhere between 1:30 and 3:30! After the first night (Tuesday) we figured it was just a fluke. And it has happened each night since! Usually around 2:30 or 3, she kind of starts getting restless, but if I go pop a pacifier in her mouth she goes right back to sleep! I'm hoping it lasts!

She also finally mastered her back to tummy roll-over. She accomplished this Wednesday morning (probably because of all of the energy she had from sleeping all night!). She did it while we were getting ready for work, so I didn't have the camera handy and she's yet to do it again. She's still trying though!

Still trying to figure out how these hands work!

They work sometimes!

And when they don't work, I just eat them!

Look what we got today!!

I have always enjoyed reading and have looked forward to reading stories to Ava. I got many of our old childhood books from my parents' attic so that we could have a "library". Our nightly routine sometimes includes a book after bedtime - Ava doesn't understand the stories but likes to look at the pictures!

A few weeks ago, Zach came home and told me about this program called Dolly Parton's Imagination Library. It is sponsored by Dolly Parton (obviously) and the United Way. You can sign your child up and they will send you a book every month until the child is five! And it's free!!! There are only four counties in Arkansas that offer this program and I'm so thankful ours is one of them! I was so excited to come home today and find our first book! I can't wait to see what others follow!!

Back in the groove..

Well, things are back to "normal" in our household. Christmas break for Zach and Ava ended and they both headed back to school this week. With Ava being afraid lately, I was so worried about her return to daycare. However, we got there yesterday morning and her teachers started talking to her and she just laughed and grinned at them. They said she had a GREAT day the last two days so I'm very thankful we didn't have a hard time returning.

Speaking of being afraid, she is getting SO much better about being in new places and not getting scared! I'm so thankful for that as it made it very hard to do anything or go anywhere. Since she goes to my parent's house some days in the afternoon, we dropped her off there on New Years Day to reacquaint herself with being there and she had so much fun. She laughed and "played" hard for a couple of hours. She also had no problems going back there this week. I picked her up today and my sister said "You have SUCH a good baby!" Yay! I never thought we'd get to that day!

And now some random pictures of our sweet girl!

Being independent and holding her own bottle

Still trying to roll from her back to her tummy

So excited!!

Smiling with her daddy!

In the process of trying to roll over, she got herself stuck!!

Friday Night Fun

Why do the weekends always seem like they are over before they begin? I am already not looking forward to returning to work tomorrow. I have been so busy lately that the weeks fly by (which is a good thing); however, I have so much to do, I don't know when it will get done (not such a good thing).

Anyway, this has been an action packed and fun weekend. Friday night, Jon & Emily came over for dinner and a game. It had been a month or so since we'd gotten to hang out so it was a well over-due visit.

They took these two ADORABLE pictures of Ava:

After Ava was put to bed for the night, we played a rousing game of Quelf. Now, I had never heard of this game, but if you are looking for some entertainment that will keep you in laughter the entire game, play this! Just a warning - you do have to be willing to make a fool of yourself. Zach had to write me a song and sing it to me opera style - he got extra points for using the words hormonal, mountain, gorgeous, plank and absentee ballot. There are also "Roolz" cards and if you get one, you have to follow that rule until you get another rule. So, I drew one that said I had to act like Frankenstein - I could only grunt, groan, or use one word phrases - do you know how hard it was for this girl to NOT talk? They all laughed at me because they knew it was killing me. Emily got to have fun too:

Thanks for a fun night, you guys! We look forward to the next time!

Coming to a town near me...

Those of you familiar with the NWA area may be excited to hear this like I was! Like most American families, we enjoy an occasional pizza. We have several local non-chain pizza restaurants that we like to order from because every pizza place is different. So I was excited to be driving down the road yesterday when we spotted a logo for this establishment - Jim's Razorback Pizza! This used to be one of my favorite pizza places when I lived in NWA, and they are opening one here! I'm looking forward to adding another pizza place to our list! It's always nice to have some variety!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to everyone! We hope your year has started off great! Just a little reminder that our 365 project starts today! The Day 1 post has already happened! Be sure and check this out for a quick update on daily life in our house. The more detailed stuff will still be here! Please also take the time to leave us a comment and let us know you've stopped by!

2009 E Family 365