A long overdue update

It's been way too long since I last posted. So much is going on with Ava that's it hard to know where to begin. Ava is really becoming a lot of fun. Where as the first couple of months were very hard, a fun and adorable baby is really taking shape. Ava can now hold her head up straight which confirms she actually does have a "neck." The "talking" she does is probably one of the most enjoyable things she does. She really likes to talk while she's on her back, but especially her changing table. I have no idea what she is trying to say! She sure looks like she is trying to make some profound statements. It's fun to think that there must be some thought behind her words, but it won't be awhile before we know that. Smiling is also a daily event. She can spot Amy and I from across the room now so her vision must be at least 20-30 feet in range. If you hold her close up and smile, you are guaranteed to get a smile back (unless she's hungry). During Ava's weekly bath (we should probably do more), it's clear that she has fun in the water. With this in mind, we brought her over to Lifetime Athletic Club for some swim time. In her little swimming suit and water diaper, she entered the water without a tear. I'm not saying we have another Michael Phelps on hand, but the seed has been planted. T.V. has also become a valuable tool in the distract crying baby kit. She loves the bright light the T.V. emits and is regularly watching Nickelodeon and Nogin. The shows they have on there are great for young children! I have many of the songs in my head on daily basis from the shows that Ava watches. Ava currently is weighing about 13.5 lbs, and appears to have growing periods every week and a half. During those times she will sleep a lot, and want extra servings at the milk factory.

Signing off for now.

Underwater demolition

It's been a very eventful week. Amy is back at work full-time now, and it has been challenging for her (like every mom) to make the adjustment. She worries that she can't be there for Ava when she might need Mommy.

Ava's starting to hit a very funny phase. By funny, I mean haha funny. We were giving her a bath this week and went through all the steps to prep her bath tub for her little body. 30 seconds later we see bubbles coming up from her lower region and then she poops into the water. After we cleaned the water and rinsed off the mess, we put her back in the bath tub. 15 seconds later, bubbles rise and the brown mushroom cloud emerges. We couldn't help but just laugh!

And speaking of laugh, Ava laughed for the first time. She was looking up at her mobile on her changing table, and must have found something funny about it, and let this great giggle out. Amy and I spent the next 15 minutes making funny faces and talking in high pitch voices to duplicate the giggle but with no results.

It's nice to have some of those great stories now for our own ,that our parents have only had up to this point.

Happy 2009!

We survived the holiday season! Ava had a very nice Christmas, and received the most gifts bar none. Ava spent Christmas being passed from one relative to the next, and clearly loved the attention. Ava is starting to entertain herself more without the help of her parents. The baby einstein baby gym is raw fun for her as she bangs the toys around. She is starting to learn to grab objects, but it's hard to tell if any intent stands behind her act. Amy is now back to work full-time which hasn't been easy for her. A work friend of Amy's who had a child one month before us will be taking care of Ava. She's a great mother and we trust her implicitly to do a great job! Ava is gaining weight nicely, but this also means her car seat which we lug around is really getting heavy. I'm already looking forward to when Ava can walk! That's all for now.

Long update

It's been awhile since I last posted so this might be long. Ava is about 2 1/2 months old now, and is growing everyday. Amy and I are finding raising a child is extrememely rewarding, but has also brought challenges that frustrate us on and off. It's improved recently, but Ava can put on these crying spells which seem to never end and feel like she's using a bullhorn directly into your ear. It's interesting how much you welcome a crying baby upon delivery (hey, she's breathing), but after a few weeks your supply of patience runs out. Amy can handle the crying better than me, but I've seen even Amy has her breaking points.

Amy had the idea of developing a daily routine for Ava, which has helped our entire family. In the evenings, I'm in charge of getting Ava's diaper changed and putting her into pajamas. Ava's legs can kick like David Beckham, so it can be quite the task getting those little legs into the slot. We've moved Ava into her bedroom now, and she seems to be content in her crib listening to lullabies as she falls asleep.

Ava is starting to smile on a daily basis, which is so amazing to watch. Sometimes a smile is all Amy and I need to keep going when the days get long. We are only a week away from Christmas, and Amy and I are getting ready for Ava's first Christmas. We are excited to make the rounds with her to see all of the family.

I'm growing!

Ava is about 7 weeks old now, and is weighing 9.5 pounds. We are regularly bringing her with us on errands, even if it does take forever to get ready with all the baby gear! Lucy is starting to show signs that she is accepting Ava in the family. If she sees Ava and wants to say hello, a little kiss (lick) is becoming more common. I really enjoy when Ava is having a screaming fit and then picking her up only to have her quiet down. Amy is clearly a natural mother and seems to have great instincts on how to deal with Ava. Just yesterday, Ava's pacifier fell on the driveway which we picked up just as we started to drive away. Ava started to scream, and Amy put the pacifier in her mouth to clean it off and then gave it to Ava. Now that's love!

Ava for President?

We made it through the big election this week! Ava was an undecided right up until the end. We spent election night at Uncle Bobby's where Ava received lots of love from the Speeter side of the family. Each week, Ava spends more time with her eyes open (which are starting to look blue). She will smile periodically, but we're not sure what actually brings on a smile. We continue to receive cute outfits from friends and family so Ava is a regularly modeling all her wardrobe.

I had a little bit of a breakdown this week with Ava's screaming. After a long day at work, I came home a little stressed and not with the highest level of patience for Ava. It turns out when someone is yelling at a bullhorn size decibel levels into your ear, it can breakdown even the strongest of men.

Ava does share a common personality trait with her Dad though, she hates waking up! When Ava wakes up, I swear little red horns come out of her forehead for about 15 mintues while she goes through the wakening process. Until next week, I will meditate on peace and serinity while I'm at the doctors office getting my ear drum repaired :)