Church Cookout

Ava is ready for the cook out!

Ava loves her sunhat!

Thanks Grammy!

Ava enjoyed the cook out so much

that she fell asleep.

Today after church we had a family cookout/picnic on the field at Allatoona High School. It was great fun to sit outside with all of our friends. We did not stay out more then about forty five minutes because it was very hot. Adam, Ava and I came home and Ava got a bath because she was very sweaty. After bath she went down for her afternoon nap.

Praise the Lord!

Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, let the Earth here His voice! Ava has gone one month with out an alarm on her monitor! YEAH! I am so excited. If she can go through the end of June without an alarm going off then she will be able to be taken off the monitor. Lets hope that happens so that we will be free for the summer!! Thank you for all of your prayers and support, we feel them!

a letter to Ava

Dear Ava,

Tomorrow you will turn five months old! Wow how time has flown since that scarely December early morning. I remember the first time your daddy rolled me down to the NICU to see you. You were all hooked up to every kind of tube imginable. I remember your little toes, your little hands and your sweet little nose. My fondest memory of your first few days of life is getting to hold you for the firs time. I remember you were crying as the nurse took you out of your warm isolet. As they placed you in my arms for the first time, you stopped crying and I started crying. I was your mommy. The one that would change hundereds of diapers, change your clothes, give you a bathe, feed you in the early morning hours. Your mommy, the one who would walk you into your first day of preschool, drive you to all of your fun activities, host your friends at crazy sleep overs and sneak in at night as your slept and pray for you. Your mommy, the one who would be there for you as your first "boyfriend" broke you heart and cheer you up with a "girls day" of tea at a girly restuarant and manicures. I will be there to help you pick out your prom dress and help do your hair and make up. I am your mommy, I will be the one who is the first one to call when you meet your prince charming and he proposes, and I will be the one that will hug you and and pray for you as I watch you ride off into the sunset with your new man and name. I am your mommy, the one who will be there and support you as you become a mommy yourself.

How do I know this?? Because I have a mommy! The lady you call Grammy, is my mommy and she did all the things that I can't wait to do with you, she did with me. I am thankful each day, that God blessed me with an incredible mom, so that one day when God saw fit He blessed me with you, to be your mommy!

Fun at the Park

Ava loves her sun shades, thanks Grammy and
Doc

Kristin and Maddie Grace love the swing

Luke and AJ are best friends!

Ava laughing as she watched her friends swing

Our play group went to the park today and had a blast. We had a picnic together at the picnic tables and then went to the playground. After the playground we went on a walk all together. It was such a beautiful day and we had fun hanging out together.

Ava is eating Rice Cereal

The bib says it all

Taking a bite of rice cereal

I gave her a "big girl" pacifier and she liked it!

Ava started on Rice Cereal today. I gave her one tablespoon of cereal with four tablespoons of formula. So for her 9:00 feedin she took 2 oz of a bottle and then I gave her the four tablespoons of formula. She did really well with the rice cereal. She even knew to do the "tongue thrust" to help her swallow the cereal. Of course I cried because I just see that she is developing great and right on schedule.

Fun at the Lake!

Hudson loves Ava

Ava enjoyed the swing

...and the hammock!

McClellen and Ava playing together

Hudson wanted to join in on the fun

But it was girls only!!

What a fabulous Memorial day we had with family! Adam and I and Ava went up to the lakehouse on Sunday afternoon and mom, dad and Uncle Barry and Aunt Barry arrived shortly after we got there. We hung out that night, took a walk, road on the jet ski and of course had a great meal and wonderful conversations. On Memorial day, Brad, Carri, Hudson and McClellen came up and we had even more fun. Hudson is so good with the two baby girls but loves to be out side and down at the lake dock with Brad, Adam and of course his buddy Doc. Grammy and Barbara took care of McClellen and Ava so that Carri and I could have some girl bonding time. As we sat at the lake, I was almost brought to tears at times to just look around and thank God for how blessed I am with such an amazing family. I have amazing parents who love me and support me with unconditional love. The longer I am a parent myself the more and more I love my parents and appreciate them for all they did for me as I grew up. I am thankful that I have parents that have done everything, emotionally, spiritually, financially, educationally and in every other way to make sure that I had the most incredible, loving life! I am also thankful for an amazing brother who has loved me and protected me even when I did not realize that I needed protecting. I am thankful for an awesome sister in law, who is more like a sister then the "in law". I am blessed to have the sisterly relationship that I did not even know I was missing. I am also so very thankful for a loving husband who loves me, supports me and encourages me through both the great things and the hard things in life. Finally, I am so very thankful and feel so blessed to have a beautiful daughter that I cried for, prayed for, fasted for, and finally was able to hold in my arms. God is so very good to me and I am blessed beyond what words could ever express!

Nap time together

Ava and I enjoyed taking a nap together on Saturday mornings!

Ava's Monitor

The straps go under her little arms






A cord is attached to the strap and then

to the monitor

Here is what the monitor looks like. It is big and obnoxious, but it gives us a peace of mind

Ava's pediatrician said she has to go two months with no alarms. So far we have almost gone a whole month with out one. So fingers crossed that maybe by July we can have it off. The great thing is, that none of the alarms have been while she has been asleep (either at night or nap), only really goes off when she was eating and got choked or if she got mad and held her breath while crying. My one request with the monitor is for someone to make a preemie monitor that is not the size of a DVD player. If we can make Ipods the size of a key chain, I-Phones and Blackberrys, why does the preemie heart monitor have to be so big, cumbersome and look like it is from 1985!!

New Pictures

Ava asleep with "lovey dovey" and "George"

The smile that melts me every time

Just chillin, love that belly!

What a sad face!

Ava in her bumbo seat

Just wanted to put some new pictures up of Ava. She is now 9 lbs and is now rolling over. Today when she was on her tummy she reached out and pulled herself forward a little bit to touch one of her toys.

Ava is flipping over!

This is when I met Ava for the first time in the NICU

Ava at her sickest...very scary time for us

Ava at Easter!

Ava and Curious George

WOW! It is amazing to see Ava grow and develope each day! Yesterday she rolled over from her tummy to her back. She only did it once and only to the right side. But this afternoon she rolled over several times and rolled from her tummy to her back to the right side and to the left side. After she did it I just sat and watched her and cried tears of joy. It has definitely been a life changeing, challenging few months but watching her grow and develope pretty much up to speed with her age group, I am so thankful and overwhelmed with God's goodness! One of my favorite passages that I read throughout our journey of infertility is Lamentations 3:22-32.

"The Lord's loving kindness indeed never cease, For His compassions never fail. They are new every morning Great is your faithfulness...For the Lor will not reject forever, though He causes grief, the He will have compassion according to His abundant loving kindness.

**I have included some pics of Ava in the NICU and Ava now!!** God's faithfulnes is so good! Never forget that God is good, life is hard...don't get the two confused!

Ava's 4 month visit!

Ava and Kate taking a rest together

It's Ebony and Ivory!!

Ava's favorite place to sleep!

Ava had her 4 month visit today. She is now up to 8 lbs and 11 oz. She is 21 1/2 inches long and her head circumference is right on track. In fact she is now in the 3% for height and weight. I am so excited that she is actually on the growth chart. Her doctor (Dr. Kim), said that she is doing great and growing right on schedule. She did have to have two shots and an oral medication given. She did better with the shots then she did with the oral medicine. I gave her some baby tylenol and now she is sleeping soundly in her bouncey seat. We have come along way since December the 30th and I am so excited that she is growing and developing right on track.

Also exciting is that my cousin Lisa had her baby girl! Katherine Virginia is so cute. She has dark hair and beautiful olive skin. Kate's daddy's both grandmothers are full Cherokee indian, so I think Kate will have that kind of coloring. When Ava and Kate are beside each other it looks like "Ebony and Ivory"!!

Ava rolled over!!

This morning, I put Ava on her stomach for some "tummy time" and as I played with her and watched her play, she swung her hips and turned her head really hard, and surprise to both of us, she rolled over onto her back. I tried to get her to do it again and it has not happened again today, but it was very exciting to see her roll over. She amazes me everyday. Even though she is still very little, she is making great progress in her development!!

1996!!!

Adam and I were looking at some old pictures that Adam had on his computer from our wedding rehearsal dinner video! It made us laugh! Wow, has life changed since then. Hope this gives everyone a good chuggle today.

Mother's Day

The four generations: Me-me, Grammy, Abbey and Ava

Doc and Grammy with Ava

Bob-Bob and Ava

Me-Me and Ava

Ava loves "George"

"Oh Lord of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your maidservant and remember me, and not forget your maidservant, but will give your maidservant a son (or daughter), then I will give him/her to you all the days of his or her life." 1st Samuel 1:11

Last year on Mother's Day Adam and I had our first IUI. I was so looking forward to it working and becoming a mom. Yet, the first time did not work and after it did not work I was so sad and my heart ached for a child of my own. I continually prayed and prayed the verse above in 1st Samuel. I prayed that if God would give me a child I would give her/him to the Lord. Little did I know that if just four short weeks after our 2nd IUI I would be pregnant with my sweet Ava! Oh how blessed I felt today when I was able to be with my grandmother, mom and Ava! God is so good and this mother's day was one of the best day I have ever experienced, to literally see and hold an answer to my prayers. Words can not described how very blessed, excited, hopeful and loved I feel today. Praise the Lord, Praise the Lord, Praise the Lord!!

Fun Time in Greenville

Ava has found her thumb!

Lunch with Brandi, Mia, Ava and me

Mia and Ava enjoyed meeting each other!

Ava in the swing in Grammy and Doc's back yard

Hudson at the zoo!

Hudson checking out the goats at the zoo, they were his favorite

I have been a little slack and did not post any pictures of my wonderful trip to Greenville last week. Adam was in Arizona for some training and a meeting, so Ava and I went to Greenville and stayed with Grammy and Doc. It was great! We went to the zoo, went to Bible study at ERBC, to shop at Greenridge, a chick flick and lunch with friends. Ava and I were also glad to be in town when McClellen was born. It was so nice to be in Greenville with my mom, dad, brother, sister in law and nephew and niece. There are many days that I long to be back in Greenville, but I know that God has me in Acworth for his purpose and His glory. I am so very blessed here with a great home, a wonderful husband and fabulous girl friends. Yet, as a new mom it would be great to be near my mom. I just look it as I am so very blessed to have two places that I can call home and have amazing people that love me!