Family Fun

Last week I made the trek over to Forsyth to my aunt Sheri's with Little Miss Ava. The trip went fine! She's still getting used to the carseat I think though, so I am always afraid she is going to start crying while I'm driving alone with her. :) We spent the day visiting with my Mom, Aunt Sheri, Grandma, and cousins Anna - home from Arizona, Abi, and Megan. Ava met Megan and Nate's little guy Reddington for the first time! He's such a doll!

We had fun and I actually got a little bit of sun time chilling on Sheri and Bret's new deck! Ava and I even matched (not on purpose!). I got her a few new outfits in newborn because she wasn't quite in the 0-3 month stuff yet but this particular outfit must run small. She won't be able to wear it again because I realized when I went to change her diaper that it was a little tight on her little leggies! Of course I had backup outfits but I'm so mad because it is sooo cute!

Newborn Pictures

My Uncle Dennis and his wife Lori came up last weekend to take Ava's newborn pictures. Lori also took the maternity photos we had done. Thanks again Lori for everything!!!!

These are just a sample!! and we love them all! I have no idea how I am going to choose so I'm sure I'll end up with one of each. :)

Newborn Pictures

Time Flies When You're Havin' Fun

Tomorrow Ava will already be 2 weeks old!!! Not sure how that is possible. Things are continuing to go extremely well. Please pray it stays that way. :) Ava is as sweet as ever. I just can't believe the miracle of having a baby and I already seem to forget that she was actually in my belly. Thank you to everyone for coming to meet her in the last 2 weeks and for the well-wishes!

I am feeling really great for it only being 2 weeks after my c-section. I was all freaked out about having it (before...) but really it's not all that bad. Anne was here yesterday and today so we took Ava to the mall today. She did great! I had to have a feeding session in the dressing room at Kohls and she only cried one other time and was fine once I took her out of the carseat for a bit. It was fun to actually shop in normal departments for me and of course I found a few cute outfits for Ava. I guess everyone had the same idea when buying her clothes because I'll have plenty of the bigger sizes but only really had a few newborn things. I know she'll outgrow those super fast anyway!

Ava is also doing really well. Breastfeeding is going well and she is sleeping about 4 hours at night so I can't complain. We go for her next appointment this Wednesday. I can't wait to see how much she weighs because I SWEAR she is already growing like crazy!!!

She had her first trip to Trav's office, her first sponge bath (and I've washed just her hair several times of course!), and I've since clipped her nails TWICE and I think a few need it again--so no more mittens. hehe! We also had newborn pictures, which I'll post soon. They are absolutely adorable!! My Uncle Dennis and his wife Lori came up to take them (same as maternity photos).

Since I'm feeling human again, I am venturing out to Decatur (Forsyth) tomorrow to see my mom, aunt, cousins, and gma. I'm a little nervous but as long as I feed Ava soon before I leave, she should be fine. She seems to like the car rides and stroller rides so hopefully no crying while I'm trying to drive there! :)

One Week!

Ava is one week old today! It's hard to believe how much we can love her after only knowing her for just one week! I could stare at her all day and just watch her cute little facial expressions and listen to her little noises she makes. Just thinking about her brings tears to my eyes! We feel so lucky to have such a perfect, healthy, baby. Travis has amazed me at how great of a dad he is! Not that I had any doubts but it is so true that when it is your own baby, it is totally different. He said the cutest thing while we were still in the hospital--'a baby crying went from being kind of annoying (I think was the word) to him thinking 'what can I do to help her??' I can already tell I am going to be a wreck when I have to go back to work in August! and I'm lucky to get more than the 6 weeks that some people get. I'll actually get all summer!!!

Things have been going really well. She started breastfeeding immediately, has been pooping regularly and usually sleeps for about 3 hours at a time, so we can't complain! She had her first doctor's appointment today. Dr. Emm says he has no concerns. She is back up to her birth weight though he'll check her again at our next appointment in another week. He asked if that was just from breastfeeding alone so I guess that's good! She grew in length too! Whohoo Ava!

I also had an appointment today to get my staples out and other than a small area that she said was a little too red for her liking, all is well. I have to cleanse it with peroxide and keep an eye on it--no need for antibiotics yet. I just need to take it easy and not overdo it. I am feeling pretty good so it's easy for me to start doing too much. Trust me, though, I am still leaving the laundry up to Trav!

Here are a few pictures from her first week of life!

Proud Daddy!

Cousins :)

Little sweetie!

Going home!

Going to the Dr.!

Grandma Holtman stayed the weekend with us spoiling all 3 of us! She cooked several meals, cleaned and helped take care of Ava. We couldn't have done it without her! It definitely made the transition home go smoothly.

Ava Lynn Cunningham

Well, I am FINALLY getting to my blog. It has been quite the job updating everyone on Ava's arrival especially with today's technology...email, facebook, texting, blogging, etc. so, hopefully you've already heard the news but thought I'd do my official blog post about our precious little girl!

Ava Lynn arrived Tuesday, May 26 at 5:25 pm (one more minute and it would have been 5:26 on 5/26, hehe!). She was 7 lbs. 10 ounces and 19 1/2 inches long. The most common comment I've heard about her is of course 'Look at that HAIR!!!' Both Travis and I had hair but trust me, not that much. It is super long all over - at least an inch and a 1/2 to 2 inches.

We are both doing well and Travis has been there for me through it all! I could not have done it without him!!! We go home tomorrow sometime so I'm enjoying one more night of having the nurses take care of me and taking advantage of the nursery, though if Ava is gone too long, I get a little worried and make Travis go check on her or go get her. ;)

She arrived via c-section, which was unplanned but after what I thought was a perfect induction, little Ava wasn't making much progress on getting out. At 1:30pm, I joked that I was planning to have her by 3pm so I could update everyone at school and the nurse said that sounded about right since I was making such great progress. Unfortunately, after several hours of pushing and her not moving down, my dr. recommended c-section. At that point, I was ready for her to be here, no matter what method! She either was just too big for my pelvis or the nurse said maybe her head was possibly wedged in there wrong making it pretty much impossible to get out. She had a little conehead for a while but its much better now. All in all, the c-section wasn't horrible and I'm recovering pretty well. Please pray that I have a speedy recovery.

Thanks to everyone for all of the well-wishes, cards, flowers, outfits, balloons, etc. We have enjoyed showing her off to everyone. We feel so blessed to have such a perfect baby welcomed into our lives! I will post more pics and blog more eventually!

Let's Get Crackin'!!!

Well, here it is - May 24!! It is WEIRD to see 0 (ZERO) days on the baby countdown! She's still not showing any signs of arriving, other than the fact that I can LITERALLY feel her sitting on my bladder!! It's all good but I had hoped she might come on her own. There's always tonight and tomorrow. :)

Speaking of --tomorrow is the induction 'night'! We have everything ready - of course - you know me! It will be an interesting day though knowing that I am going to the hospital at midnight. I am trying to get myself in NIGHT MODE but not sure if it'll work. I might attempt to start the 2nd painting in Baby _____'s room in a bit so I can stay up later. I was falling asleep on the couch last night by 9:30!!

We had a fun day today. We drove over to Peoria and had lunch with my Mom and John at Joe's Crab Shack. YUM! I had crab legs - and thought the bib was fitting! Then Travis and I went to The Shoppes at Grand Prairie for a little shopping and of course, an ice cream treat for me after.

...Literally!!!!!!

We sat outside. It was heavenly! I am in dire need of some sun! My right arm might be more tan but oh well!

I feel like I look HUGE so I'm glad I'm almost done being preggo, though I can't complain! It could be worse. :-)

This is where we parked--down by the river (no van...) but thought the water level was pretty crazy!

Signing off! The next post will most likely be with pictures of our baby girl!