Happy Halloween!

Tonight we celebrated Halloween with our friends Amber and Matt.  Ava didn't really have a costume so Nick and Ava dressed up as South Carolina Gamecock fans.  Ava finally fit into her South Carolina cheerleader costume!  We walked around the neighborhood for about 45 minutes and then it started to get a little chilly so we headed back to Amber and Matt's house.  We love that we were able to celebrate Ava's first holiday with such good friends!  

Happy Halloween!

Happy 2 Months!

Ava is 2 months old! 

This week is a busy week for us.  Monday night we attended my school's Boo Night.  Ava didn't have a costume since I couldn't find one that would fit her itty bitty body, but she was still the cutest thing there! On Tuesday Ava had her 2 month check-up.  Dr. Brennan answered several of my questions about getting her on a schedule and how much she should be eating and gaining.  Ava measured in at 9 pounds 2 ounces, 22 inches long, and her head circumference was 14 1/2 inches.  That puts our little one 25th percentile in height, 10th percentile in weight, and 8th percentile for head circumference.  She truly is our little girl!  With the fun stuff out of the way the nurse came in and gave Ava her shots.  Ava received her Hepatitis B, DPT/polio/HIB, Prevav, and Rotovirus shots.  Ava cried real tears and so did I.  Thank goodness Daddy was there!  Ava doesn't have to go back to the doctor until her 4 month check-up.  My goal this month is to get her on a daily schedule.  Dr. Brennan suggested putting her to bed every night at 8pm and in just a few weeks she should be sleeping until 7 am.  Ava is still taking Zantac for her reflux and will continue to take it until she is 6 months old.  Dr. Brennan also suggested that we wash her in Cetaphil to help with her mild eczema.  

Here is what Ava is learning this week:

Ava is drooling like crazy and starting to put everything in her mouth, especially her fist.  Ava loves to suck on her whole fist which causes her to drool all over herself.  It's time to break out the bibs! Ava is spending more time awake during the day, but gets tired very easily.  One thing Ava is starting not to like is being laid on her back.  This doesn't happen at night time, however during the day she will pitch a fit if you put her down on her back.  She is developing quite the personality and has no problem telling you if she doesn't like something!  Ava is a funny and very happy baby.  She loves to catch your attention with a big smile and will coo and giggle at you.  Ava loves music and likes to dance to it by kicking her legs back and forth.  Everyday Ava learns something new! 

While playing on her tummy time mat Ava decided she no longer wanted to lay on her tummy and rolled over!  Watch our big girl!!!

Ava is learning lots of adorable new facial expressions this week, like pursing her lips, raising her eyebrows, and widening her eyes.  When she smiles she scrunches her nose like she's laughing and has even let out a few squeals.  She's also discovering how cool it is to have fingers, and has even started sucking them.  Ava loves to grab your finger and hold on to it as well as her hair.  When she eats Ava wraps her index finger around her hair and plays with it!  It must be so cool to have all that hair to play with.  Ava has finally grown out of the newborn diapers and officially wears size 1!  So far this week Ava has been sleeping 7 hours straight every night!  I'm still getting used to this and find myself wide awake at 1 in the morning.  Waking Ava up in the morning has got to be the highlight of my day.  To see such a happy baby smile at you like she is so excited to see you is the best feeling ever!  Ava has also started to roll over from her tummy to her back.  The first time she did it she scared herself since she flipped over so fast!  Ava is growing and learning so much every day!

Ava had a busy and fun week!  Nick had to go out of town for work so Ava and I decided to go with him.  Her first road trip!  Of course we looked like the Beverly Hillbillies with everything we packed, but she did great!  On Friday night we went to the Lake Worth German Clubs Octoberfest with our friends Amber and Matt and their twins.  Ava loves being outside and feeling the wind blow through her hair.  She slept through most of the event and was the most perfect baby ever!  On Saturday we took Ava to her very first pumpkin patch at Bedners Farm in Boynton Beach.  We met several families there and love that we are able to take Ava to do the things we love to do and start some traditions of our own. 

Here are some of the things Ava loves this week:

Ava loves going on walks in the morning and at night when it cools off here in South Florida.  Usually right after her morning feeding I strap her into her stroller and hook Haley up to her leash and we venture out!  We love that it is starting to cool off some and we are starting to take her out more and more.  Ava also loves watching football with her Daddy.  This means she gets held and cuddled by Nick for most of the afternoon on Saturdays and Sundays.  Nick loves that she can fit into her South Carolina onesie and he even ordered her a bow that would fit her itty bitty head! 

Here is what Ava is learning this week:

Ava is learning to respond to our voices and can follow our voices as we move around the room.  I can walk in the room and say her name and she will turn to look at us.  She loves being sung to and especially loves it when her Dad sings to her!  Her neck muscles are also developing and getting a lot stronger.  She can even hold her head up and turn it back and forth for short periods.  Ava loves to smile and has even started a little giggle.  She talks even more this week and we know she is telling us really important things!  Her bedtime routine is reaching perfection!  After her bath we can put her in her crib and she will be fast asleep with 5-10 minutes.  At night she is sleeping in 4 1/2 - 5 1/2 hour increments!  

This week Ava had her 1 month check-up with Dr. Brennan at Palm Beach Pediatrics!  Her doctor was very impressed with how strong she is and how much she has grown.  Ava measured in at 7 pounds 9 ounces and 20 3/4 inches long!  Also, this week Aunt Emily came to visit!  This was her first visit meeting her neice and we had a blast!  Over the 4 day visit we enjoyed hanging out at home!  We did venture out into the real world a few times.  Any guesses where...TARGET!!!!  I'm sure Ava will love Target as much as her Mom and Aunt!  Aunt Emily returned home on Sunday, but we are so glad she was here to spend Ava's 1 month birthday! 

Here's what Ava is learning this week:

Ava is learning that she has hands and fingers and feet and toes. She's also starting to talk more. Not with words, of course, but by cooing — with increasing goos, gurgles, and grunts. She is the loudest grunter ever! She loves to follow you with her eyes and enjoys watching the television.  She is starting to get on a very good sleeping schedule at night. Every night her dad gives her a bath then I feed her and she is in bed by 9:30. She sleeps in stretches of 4-5 hours at night with a few 6 hour stretches! Her favorite time to play is right after she eats in the morning. She is such a happy baby which makes us happy parents!