Being 2 weeks old is hard work!  Ava loves watching TV on her daddy's chest and is starting to really like tummy time!  At first when we would put her on her tummy she would lay there or cry, but now she is starting to show us her muscles and boy is she strong!  Ms. Lisa came to visit Ava this week!  Being at home all day we tend to get lonely so we love to have visitors.  Maybe soon we will start to venture out into the world!  This week Ava started getting baths nightly to help get her into the routine of nighttime!  Ava still thinks that she is supposed to sleep during the day and party at night.  We are hoping that by doing the same routine every night she will start to get the idea soon.  Let's hope because lack of sleep is really starting to get to Mommy's head!  We are absolutely loving having Ava in our lives!  We couldn't imagine our lives without her!  We are so in love and can't wait to watch her grow!

We are very lucky that Ava's grandparents were all able to make it down to West Palm Beach within her first week here!  On Saturday we hosted Gigi, Nana, Grandma, and Papa at our house to watch football and cookout on the grill.  Auntie Em is next to visit and we can hardly wait!

Since coming home from the hospital life with Ava has been very busy.  Friday evening Gigi arrived to help us first time parents figure things out. 

Gigi was very busy cooking, cleaning, and reassuring me.  Sunday afternoon Gigi showed us how to give Ava a sponge bath. 

Being at home with Ava and having my mom and Nick to help out was amazing.  Nick had to go back to work on Tuesday, but we are so glad that he was able to take almost a week off of work. 

On Tuesday, September 4th Ava had her first doctors appointment.  She measured in at 5 pounds 11 ounces and 19 inches long.  Dr. Brennan suggested that push Ava to eat more and in longer increments.  She requested for us to return on Friday, September 7th to check her weight.  Dr. Brennan wanted Ava to gain 3 ounces.  So, we went home and I began the push for Ava to gain weight.  During her feedings Ava likes to snuggle and sleep after usually about 5 minutes of eating.  Well, now we tickle her, strip her down to her diaper, and make her mad so that she stays awake to eat.  This is not fun for me, but its worth it because on Friday when we went back to the doctor Ava weighed in at 6 pounds!  She gained almost 4 ounces!!!!!  Dr. Brennan also measured her at 19 1/2 inches long and said we don't have to come back until her 1 month check-up since she is doing so well.  We're so proud of our growing little girl!

Ava's Birthday!

39 Weeks



All hooked up and ready to go!





Daddy patiently waiting for his little girl!





She's here! 
Ava McKinley Glass
6 pounds 2 ounces
19 inches long
born at 4:32 pm
August 29, 2012




First moment together, right after delivery!





Mommy and Ava's first belly time together!



On Wednesday morning, August 29, 2012, Nick and I set our alarm clocks bright and early.  Today was going to be an extraordinary day!  Today is Ava's birthday! 

We arrived at the hospital at 6am and were taken directly to our labor and delivery room.  Once in the room the nurses hooked me up to an IV to start me on fluids and then began the paperwork.  At around 7am my labor nurse plugged the Pitocin into my IV to kick start my contractions.  I was already having contractions, but this definitely made them more frequent and they began to get more intense.  Dr. Brown-Graham came to the hospital around 10am to break my water and check on me.  I was still 3-4 centimeters so they upped my Pitocin to full throttle to get me to dilate more.  They said my goal was to dilate 1cm an hour. 

Shortly after lunchtime Dr. Patel came in to check on me and realized that my water did not break like they thought before.  She quickly broke my water and within minutes the contractions were unbelievable.  Dr. Patel said she didn't think I would be much longer and that they would check on me in 1 hour. They were also going to take me off the Pitocin, thank goodness!  Well, within that 1 hour my contractions were so frequent that I had to ask for the epidural.  After about 20 minutes of receiving the epidural my labor and delivery nurse checked me and I was 9 cm dilated!  They quickly called the doctor and began getting things ready for Ava's arrival. 

Ava was ready to enter this world!  Dr. Brown-Graham called the hospital and told them she was on her way.  I quickly began to feel the urge to push, telling Nick that I felt horrible pressure.  The nurse checked me again and said I was 10 cm dilated and she could feel Ava's head.  She then told me not to push that we had to wait for the doctor.  Seriously?  Well, Dr. Brown-Graham came and we began pushing.  She quickly noticed that I received my epidural too late and that the effects of it were at its peak and I was unable to push.  So, they disconnected my epidural and told me that in order to have this baby I needed to feel it!  Every time I pushed Ava's heart rate would drop and they brought in the respiratory specialists to monitor Ava.  They put me on oxygen and warned me that if I didn't push this baby out soon they were going to move forward regardless.  After four rounds of pushing Ava was born!  They placed her immediately on my belly and Nick cut the umbilical cord!  Within 3 hours of active labor we had our darling little angel, Ava McKinley Glass!



Two days old!



Three days old!  We are going home!