Doing Great!

We're doing great around here. We came home on Tuesday and everything is going well. We've had some bad moments at night but other than that she pretty much sleeps and eats. She changes everyday. Here are a few pics of the last couple of days.

Chase also had a little birthday party while all his grandparents were here. :)

Meet Ava!

Ava Nicole was born July 28, 2008 at 3:41 p.m.
7 pounds, 12 ounces, 20 inches long

I'll write more later but I thought you might like some pictures!!!

On the way!

We're on the way! No time for a long blog. Contractions coming fast. Wish us luck.

See you soon Ava!

How is it possible!?!

How is it possible to be dilated to a 5 (that's right 5!) and effaced 80% and not be in labor? Seriously. My body has this uncanny ability to hold a baby in. It's ridiculous.

Yes, I had a doctor appointment today. It was good I guess. I know I should be happy that things are still progressing but I'm actually kind of mad that I'm not in labor yet...considering. OK, rant is over. The appointment was just the usual. She told me to go to the hospital if I start experiencing any kind of regular contractions since it's likely that it will be a fast labor (I am already half way there after all). So that's good...to not be very likely to be in labor for hours and hours. I just don't want to miss the epidural window! All will be fine. Miss Ava is really low now. I visit the ladies room pretty frequently. :)

I had another ultrasound which was fun! It was so different than any others I have had. She's just so big and cramped in there compared to last time I saw her. The measurements indicate that she is around 7 lbs and 5 oz right now. That sounded OK to me since it hopefully will mean that she won't be any bigger than Chase was (8lb, 14oz) even if I go to my due date. We'll see I guess! Pictures below...

The top one is straight down on her face...that's her hand up by her face on the top...not a huge cheek. The bottom on is a profile...she's looking up.
Here's me with 9 days until the due date.
And of course Chase wanted me to take his picture too!

Quick update

I'm having a pretty good week. I have my moments of feeling good and also of feeling not so good. I also have my moments of completely freaking out about taking care of two kids while also working from home and keeping up with all the other millions of things we do in a given week. It's a little stressful to think about. :) I'm sure it will be fine....right?

I went to another doctor appointment this morning and I'm now 4cm and 70%. How can I possibly not go into labor like right now. Seriously. But I'm probably going to hold out another 2 weeks and 2 days until the due date....or longer. Sigh.

In other news, this week is Vacation Bible School at our church. Chase is loving it. Not to mention Preston is in the drama. You're going to love those pictures....coming soon.

Happy Birthday Chase!

Chase celebrated his third birthday over the weekend! What a big boy! Can't believe my baby is three! We celebrated by going to breakfast at Krispy Kreme....candles and all!

Party pictures coming soon!

A little Aunt and Uncle time!

This week Chase spend some time with his Aunt Wendi and Uncle Wade just for fun. He was there for 4 nights and I think they all had a lot of fun. I'm told that he was a good boy. Chase is a really good traveler!

Here are a few pics:

If you want more details you can see Wendi's blog...

Doctor Appointment

Had another appointment today! More progress (T.M.I. alert)! This time I was dilated to a 3 and still 70% effaced. Moving right along! I've actually felt better this week so that's good (though, it does make me feel like labor is farther away). I went to step class at the gym this morning and I felt great. We did some driving yesterday and I swear I could see my feet swelling. Salty food all weekend, being out in the heat a lot, and then sitting in a car for too long is definitely a recipe for fat ankles. A few days ago I was reading more of my old blog from last pregnancy and realized that at this point last time I already had the car seat in the car. So I decided I should probably go get it out of storage and clean it off. :) After hosing it down in the yard and letting it dry it looks like new! (No it's not in the car...we'll probably wait a bit on that.)

Lovely feet.

4th of July Festivities

We had a great 4th of July weekend! Here are some photos:


Friday night we went to the big fireworks show at UCO with some friends. Chase really thought it was cool!
Saturday we had a picnic at the park and then fed the ducks!
Then Saturday night we went to a big 5th of July celebration at our friends' house. There was good food, swimming, volleyball, a moon bounce, and fireworks.

Chase was a little more scared this time b/c we were so close to the action and it was so loud!

The next morning Chase crawled into bed with us and fell back asleep. Two late nights in a row can make a kid tired!

Ava Update! - 36 weeks!

Well it's JULY! Due date month! Man I can't believe how fast June flew by. Crazy!

So I had a doctor appointment today. You know, one of those that's not fun but fun all at the same time. T.M.I. ALERT....if you don't want to know how I'm progressing to labor please jump down to the next paragraph. :) So as of right now I'm dilated to 2 cm and am 70% effaced. If you don't know what that means...well...look it up on your own. My doctor also commented on how the baby has dropped based on the measurements of the belly. So things are happening! yay! But before you or I get too excited lets not forget that at this point in my last pregnancy i was 3 cm dilated and 70% effaced and Chase was still one day past his due date. But it's just so hard to not read something into every little feeling!

I went back and read my entry for the 36th week of pregnancy with Chase and man are things different! I said my bags were already packed...honestly this is the first time that I have even thought about the fact that bags need to get packed at some point. I also said that I had gained 24 pounds total...um, not so this time. I'm only 1 pound away from weighing as much as Preston!!!!

Anyway, 'how am I doing' you might be wondering.... Well, I've been better. I can't even walk around without having braxton hicks contractions...and some of them hurt. (Yes, this is also the same as last time.) I can't sleep. I've been up since 4:00 a.m. just b/c I couldn't get comfortable in bed! I just feel generally uncomfortable all the time...and I even feel a little sick today.

Wow, what a Debbie Downer.

Let me add that other than that I'm absolutely GREAT!

I have to admit that I'm ready for this baby to exit the premises. But not just b/c I'm ready to sleep on my stomach and not go to the bathroom every 20 minutes....I'm ready to hold her and know what she looks like and show her to my family and friends and see what Chase thinks about her....I could go on and on.

But seriously....get out.