Last Shower...

Ginger, Me, and Jen...Malia,also!

Yesterday marked the last (of 3 ) showers for Ava...she is so lucky! This one was especially touching because it was thrown by my coworkers. Also, I have been lucky enough to go through my pregnancy with two other ladies...they are due two weeks after me (both on the same day!) and it has been so nice to have someone to share this with! Jen is an especially dear friend...she and I are SO similar that sometimes the school has to watch out:-) She calls us Hammer 1 (thats her) and Hammer 2. Sometimes I feel bad for my principal:-) The shower was amazing and I could not believe the amount of gifts for the three of us...it was insane! I feel ready for Ava to come. One more week of work, one week of rest...and then she will be here!!!

36 weeks!!!

All About Ava:

Your baby is still packing on the pounds — at the rate of about an ounce a day. She now weighs almost 6 pounds (like a crenshaw melon) and is more than 18 1/2 inches long. She's shedding most of the downy covering of hair that covered her body as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that covered and protected her skin during her nine-month amniotic bath. Your baby swallows both of these substances, along with other secretions, resulting in a blackish mixture, called meconium, will form the contents of her first bowel movement.At the end of this week, your baby will be considered full-term. (Full-term is 37 to 42 weeks; babies born before 37 weeks are pre-term and those born after 42 are post-term.) Most likely she's in a head-down position. But if she isn't, your practitioner may suggest scheduling an "external cephalic version," which is a fancy way of saying she'll try to coax your baby into a head-down position by manipulating her from the outside of your belly.

Here is one of our last photos as a family of three. We are all so excited for the arrival of Ava Renee'.

Class Baby Shower!

Lucky Ava got another baby shower yesterday! My class gave her a baby shower and it was unbelievable. I had parents come and take care of the whole thing. The students put together a beautiful quilt. Each student was responsible for each square and it is pretty awesome. I felt overwhelmed by all the attention but the kids loved it. We played baby bingo and they couldn't say baby or they lost their pink pin. It was hilarious how competitive it got. What a great class! Unfortunately, most of my photos have my students in them and with photo restrictions I can't share. But here are just a few to give a glimpse!

Ava's big day is arriving quickly!!! We now know that she is coming on Monday, April 6th. We even know that the procedure is supposed to begin at 12:30p.m. It seems so crazy to me to have it planned in advance like that but I am just choosing to see it as one of the few perks of a Csection. My last day of work is March 27th and I have to be honest...I am pooped!!! I like to think that I am a trooper but it is really difficult. Malia was due in Aug. so I was done working at 29 weeks. Also, I could nap whenever I wanted!! During the weekends, we are spending as much time together as a family of three before we become a fabulous four. Malia is very excited for Ava to come and we know she is going to be the best big sister!!! Malia loves to go SO high on the swings...she has the best time every time we go to the park!!!!!

I cannot believe how big she is getting! I cannot wait for her to meet Ava and to hear her reaction. I packed my bag for the hospital and included a gift from Ava to Malia. I think that will smooth over some of the anxiety with the new baby:-) Much love to all...less than a month until Ava Renee' joins the fam!!!

Ready for Ava!

This weekend, my mom and auntie (with help from Laurie and Missy) finished the nursery. I CANNOT believe how beautiful it is. I don't think the pics can do it justice but I had to share. I look at the nursery and it makes it so real that she is coming (and soon!). We find out this week what day she is scheduled to come ( we will have another C-section) so that is another reason it is becoming more real!!!! Love to all!

It has such a beautiful quality to it when you are in the nursery. Very peaceful!

This is the border that my mom and auntie hand painted so that it would be just right.

Our little rocking corner. Eventually this will be stuffed with books, but for now it is nice and neat.

The bird house on the wall is real and actually sticks out. Also, just out of this shot between the dresser and crib is Ava's chair. If you remember, Malia took a picture in her chair every month and we look forward to the same tradition with little Ava!

A better pic of the birdhouse and wall decoration!!

Ava is one lucky little girl!!! So loved already!