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!

So blessed...Ava's Shower!

Today was Ava's surprise shower at Casa Mia. I was completely overwhelmed by the thoughtfulness of it all. I had pretty much decided that since Mel wasn't here to give one, I would give a welcome to Ava once she arrived. This was amazing and so appreciated.

These are two of my dearest friends from my high school show choir days...look at those matching smiles!Here is my mom and Missy...what a blessing it is to have them in my life. I am SO lucky!!!!!!!!!These are the matching summer outfits that my friend, Becky got Ava and Malia...such a cute idea!This is my grandma Cook...she is a legend. I get my good looks and winning personality from her.Here is Grammy Tommie (Aaron's mom). She keeps our family running smoothly..we couldn't do it without her!We got so many adorable things for Ava...poor Keri must have had a hand cramp from writing everything down!!!My dad crashed the baby shower. It was wonderful to see him there and Grandma Corol brought so many wonderful gifts for baby Ava!!!These are two of my dear friends from college. Holly (far left) did not take the plunge with me this time, but Malia and her daughter are 17 hours apart and born next door to each other!!! Ava's beautiful cake...notice that the baby is brown. I love my mom for the little details!!!!!!!!!!!!!

32 weeks...10 years...and more!

This Valentines Day was even more special than most. I am 32 weeks pregnant and it is 10 years that Aaron and I have been together. Our very first date was on Valentines Day 10 years ago...who would've known how our journey would go?? This Valentines Day, Aaron got us a room at the Clearwater Casino...it was beautiful and so special to share the day together. Soon Ava will join our family and life will be even more blessed and busy. We hope that everyone had a wonderful holiday and much love to you all!

This is our beautiful room...it is hard to tell from this one photo, but it was so gorgeous!

Here is an update on Ava:

How your baby's growing:By now, your baby weighs 3.75 pounds (pick up a large jicama) and is about 16.7 inches long, taking up a lot of space in your uterus. You're gaining about a pound a week and roughly half of that goes right to your baby. In fact, she'll gain a third to half of her birth weight during the next 7 weeks as she fattens up for survival outside the womb. She now has toenails, fingernails, and real hair (or at least respectable peach fuzz). Her skin is becoming soft and smooth as she plumps up in preparation for birth.See what your baby looks like this week. (Or see what fraternal twins look like in the womb this week.)Note: Every baby develops a little differently — even in the womb. Our information is designed to give you a general idea of your baby's development.
How your life's changing:To accommodate you and your baby's growing needs, your blood volume has increased 40 to 50 percent since you got pregnant. With your uterus pushing up near your diaphragm and crowding your stomach, the consequences may be shortness of breath and heartburn. To help relieve your discomfort, try sleeping propped up with pillows and eating smaller meals more often.You may have lower-back pain as your pregnancy advances. If you do, let your caregiver know right away, particularly if you haven't had back pain before, since it can be a sign of preterm labor.Assuming it's not preterm labor that's ailing you, you can probably blame your growing uterus and hormonal changes for your aching back. Your expanding uterus shifts your center of gravity and stretches out and weakens your abdominal muscles, changing your posture and putting a strain on your back. Hormonal changes in pregnancy loosen your joints and the ligaments that attach your pelvic bones to your spine. This can make you feel less stable and cause pain when you walk, stand, sit for long periods, roll over in bed, get out of a low chair or the tub, bend, or lift things.