Silly faces

Her little personality is emerging more and more. I love all her little faces she makes these days...

This one I feel like she's holding back trying not to smile:

This was taken just moments before the smiling pictures I posted in a previous post. It cracks me up, the faces can change so fast:

Okay this one is my new favorite:

Ponderings of Parenthood volume 1

I've decided to do some installments on my ponderings of parenthood. The point of these installments will be on focusing on this moment. One parent trap I don't want to fall into is worrying too much on what is ahead or what has already occured. Sure there will be mistakes made that I will think later I wish I would of done that differently and I could always focus on what's comming next, each developmental stage has its own pros and cons. But a life lesson I want to instill in her is peace and contentment comes with a grateful heart for what is now, this moment. I can only instill what I am willing to be, so these installments will strive towards this goal which is easier said than done.

I was just contemplating this today: I feel my experience of parenthood has deepened my relationship with God. I've spent more time in prayer in the past 3 months than I think I ever have. I thank Him each day for her health and also don't think there's been one day since her birth where I didn't say a prayer of continued protection over her health and safety. Even in the Lord's supper each Sunday I look down at her in all her innocense and sweetness and try to imagine the love God has to sacrifice his perfect child for us just as sweet, just as innocent. I've marveled through all of this year at God's design in this process. Today I was thinking how perfect his design is that he creates us where we can't talk for the whole first year, this creates a deeper communciation and conncetion between parent and child. To tune into to all the non-verbals and to just know each other on this level is truely a gift. Its like when your spouse or best friend can know what your thinking and feeling at times without you even saying a word, only the closest to you can do that and get it right. Sure there's times she's crying and I wish she could just tell me whats wrong but I see God's wisdom in his design to start this relationship in this way, just being together and having converstations and connection with no words exchanged. Once again his design is best and I love finding new ways to discover and understand this.


Don't worry I will still include pictures of Ava each time for those of you who are tuning in eager to see those:

Sweet smiles

All good things must come to an end.

Well today is the last day of maternity leave. I've loved maternity leave but I also am looking forward to getting back in the swing at work as I am returning on a part time basis. I've missed the staff there and that part of me but these first few weeks are sure going to be harder than I thought many months ago. So lots of mixed feelings as we approach this transition.



She is also exactly 12 weeks old today which means she has graduated from newborn status to being a full fledged infant! I heard the 12 week mark would be significant and life would return to some normalcy and routine. Its pretty true in our case, she's been a pretty descent sleeper all along but in the last week she is going to sleep a bit earlier and sleeping longer. She also smiles and coos so much now! She loves bath time, I am excited that I think we have a water baby on our hands which will suite me just fine! Her skin still has a dark complexion to it so she looks so pretty in so many different colors. I love getting her dressed in the mornings. On Saturday while I was at the grocery store her dad got her dressed and I was impressed to fine he matched her socks to her outfit! If your ever wondering how old she is, watch the evening news, she was born the day of the BP explosion so whatever day we are on on the oil spill is how old she is!



Here's some random pics of her for my faithful out of town readers who are always wanting to see what she's up too, couldn't leave you hanging with a post with no pictures:

Cousins

Anyone that knows me knows that I absolutely love and adore my little nieces Chloe and Allie. I was there when they were both born and have been blessed to get to be a part of their life in the way I do. I was so excited for them to meet Ava. They had been asking for a baby cousin to play with for a while so I was really excited to share our baby news with them, they eagerly awaited her arrival always wondering why my belly wasn't getting bigger faster. They are so sweet to her, they want to hold her, help me change her and talk to her. I have lots of fond memories of my cousins throughout my growing up years but never did I get to live in the same town as them so I am super excited we get to live so close to Ava's cousins. Ava smiles when see's me and her dad's face now and when we were visiting with family the other day there were several extended family members looking at her and talking to her. Ava heard Chloe's voice slightly behind her and searched to find her face and then gave a huge grin, it melted my heart!

Happy 4th!

Ava's first fourth!

Hope you and yours enjoyed the holiday like us! good food and good friends which was what makes this one of my favorite holidays!

Ava meets her uncle Matt.

Last weekend Ava got to meet her uncle Matt. He recently moved to California after being offered a great job that couldn't be passed up. We originally thought he wouldn't get to make it back this way till thanksgiving but luckily he had to go to Dallas on business so he worked out a stop here to see Ava. (Aunt Lori got to come see Ava on her way out to California to join him after finishing her semester of teaching). So glad he got to see her while she's still a tiny tot!


I really hope Ava gets to have a brother and a sister someday (not someday soon but someday). The love and bond that comes with sibling relationships is so different from any other, their a part of you in a deeply connected way that is such blessing that I really want Ava to experience too!