Ava Michelle

My friend Ashley finally popped! She was due Aug 25th, but figured since Gavin was born about a week early.. Ava probably would too. Wrong. The 25th came and went. The 26th came and went. The 27th was winding down, and bam.. right in the middle of Project Runway (haha) the contractions started and off to the hospital she went, and with only 30 more minutes left in the day.. Ava was born.

I got a call around 10:30 saying she was at the hospital, and around midnight I got another call saying Ava had arrived.. and that she weighed a whopping 8 pounds 6 oz! Which is pretty big considering her parents are both pretty small. I was so happy, it took forever for me to go back to sleep. I keep wondering what she looked like.. how Ashley was doing.. and how it all went down. She was lucky that she had a quick labor, but for the second time.. there was no time for drugs!

The next morning, my friend Brandy and I were soo anxious to go see the baby.. we got ready early.. went and got some balloons and food for Ash... and spent the whole day at the hospital. We left briefly in the evening and headed back up there with our boys. For having pretty much no sleep, Ash seemed to be in a great mood, laughing, and hanging out with her visitors.. maybe because she was finally on drugs :)

I guess maybe because I am pregnant and I know that the next baby I hold (that little) will be my own, I couldn't help but fall completely in love her and her littleness. Even though she was actually rather large.. she was still so little. I was holding her in the rocking chair and she gripped my finger and held it tight. My heart melted. *tears are actually falling down my face right now! darn hormones!* I love babies!!!

She looks nothing like her mother.. at least right now she doesn't... she resembles Gavin when he was a baby. But, she has a totally different shaped head. A large head haha.. I'm excited to see what she looks like in a few weeks.. until then, here are the pictures from the hospital.

Please focus on the baby and not the cleavage! I'm having issues containing these things :)

Diego and Ava

Big Brother

Big Brother is by far my favorite show on TV right now. It's one reason I look forward to summer.. and this season has not disappointed! Diego has started watching it too.. and even he is completely hooked. Some of these people are nuts (Chima, Lydia) but it makes for really great television! Anyway, this season is way to far gone for anyone to start watching now. But next summer. Big Brother! Watch it! I mean it.

I actually think it has helped me get through these 9 weeks of pregnancy.. since it comes on 3 times a week, there is always something to look forward too. It makes the weeks go by so fast. Seriously. Plus, we have Shotime, so we can watch Big Brother After Dark.. were you get see what's really going on. I'm a nerd, what can I say!

Team Jeff and Jordan!

Week 9

The week of the olive, that's right.. our baby is the size of an olive this week (according to thebump.com) I'm still feeling pretty good. Some days are better than others. I find myself feeling more sick when I go a while with out eating. As far as eating, some things sound great.. some things sound terrible. I can be so hungry at times, and not a darn thing sounds appealing! I'm not craving a particular thing, mostly just what I see other people eating. Example, on Big Brother they were eating Chinese food. Pretty much immediately I wanted Chinese food. So, I drug my husband to Buffet Palace on Saturday.. (knowing full well, he is not a big Chinese fan.. bad experience, long story) After I ate it, I was over it. I was thinking, well that wasn't even that good.. now I just feel greasy. That is also something I've noticed. After I eat whatever I crave, I no longer want it. Just like Sonic. I was dying for a Sonic burger, tator tots and a lemon berry slush. It was so damn good. But, I'm over it. Somebody please tell me.. what is up with pregnant women and pickles? To be honest, I thought that was a loud of crap. I like pickles, but I never get the feeling I just want to eat pickles! However, the other day.. I stopped into Bill Miller to get myself a tea (yes, I do let myself have some caffeinated tea from time to time) and found myself wanting to eat some pickles off the little cart thing they have out there. So I got me a little cup of pickles to go.. and they were soo freakin' good and crunchy and yum! I haven't done that since, but it was very odd.. and I actually laughed at myself because of it.

On another note, my pants are starting to not fit me. I went maternity clothes shopping last weekend.. I went to the Old Navy out on Bee Caves and 71. They are the only Austin store with a maternity section.. got there. It was small. They hardly had anything, but I did find 2 pairs of capris on sale, and a shirt with some belly room that will grow with me.

Anyway, I believe that's all for now.. I'll probably have more to say next week!

Week 10 begins Sunday!

Best. Day. Ever.

Today.. I had my first doctors appointment after 8 excruciating weeks! After being off last week, Diego was unable to get off again to go with me.. so I was by my lonesome. He kept reassuring me that everything would be fine. Of course, I wasn't really trying to hear that. I just wanted to see the picture of my baby.. and my babies heart beating!!!! By MY.. I mean OUR :D

I'm pretty much a nervous wreck by the time they call back which was really fast! I set in the room, the nurse came in.. she took my bp. She left. Doctor came in.. first impression. She was pretty and had cute glasses.. don't know why that matters, but it put me at ease. She seemed very down to earth and relateable.. she started talking to me.. I was very comfortable, I told her about my last experience.. and she said the same thing happened to her on her first try.. so she understood.. which also put me at ease. Then it was time to get undressed for the ultrasound.. and parts check. She turned the monitor so that only she could see. Luckily, since she had glasses on, I could also see! I couldn't tell much, but I could definitely tell it was bigger than what I saw last time. She turned the monitor around to me.. and I saw OUR child for the first time! I saw the heart beating like crazy.. it was the best thing I've ever seen. Ever. I wish soo bad that Diego could have seen it too!

The only sucky thing was that my blood pressure was high.. so next time it better be down, or I will have to go on meds.

Other than that.. I have a normal sized bun a' baking! My next ultrasound will be Sept 10th. I think that's when they check for downs and other stuff..

Ohhh... and I must brag. No throwing up from this mom to be. I can brag today, but yesterday and all weeks prior I was a nervous wreck about it. I have been nauseous though, it comes in waves. My face is breaking out like a 16 year old! Boobs are sore as hell and feel even bigger than normal! and I'm pretty much tired all day. I think that's about it. Now that it's out in the open.. I'll be letting y'all know what's up as stuff comes up!

South Padre

We spent a few days last week in South Padre. I reconfirmed the fact that I am not a big fan of the beach... I prefer lakes and pools. I think it's the sand. But, I took a lot of naps and ate lots of food. It was very relaxing to get away with the fam for a bit.

Mom and Diego playing in the waves

Brad & Lyla playing in the sand

A little ladder golf on the beach

2 silly pirates!

Don't you love Lyla's "scary pirate face"

the pirate ship they sailed in on!

Aunt Clonda and her balloon monkey

Lyla holding a bird

(btw: Lyla is Jennifer's step daughter)

Port Isabel Lighthouse

We also went to the Brownsville Zoo... which wasn't really much to speak of. Most of the animals looked hot and bored. Except for this little guy! He was so cute, climbing up on the glass and acting silly. I wish I could have taken him home!!

We watched the firework show on our last night...

it was short and sweet but we had a really good view!

Gavin's 3rd Birthday

On the 1st, Diego and I went to Gavin's 3rd birthday. Gavin is my friend Ashley's son.. who we baby sit every once in a while. The party was at Chuck E Cheese. I can safely say I haven't been there in years! It was much louder and busier than I remember. Children everywhere! It was good to see my friends and hang with their kids for a few hours.

Gavin and his mom: notice her belly.. she's due to pop any day now!

My friend Brandy's daughter Bailey (who is looking older every by the day!)

with Chuck E Cheese

Gavin and his birthday cake, which Ash was ticked about..

it was supposed to be an ice cream cake,

but they spelled his name wrong on that one..

so they got a "boring" cake for free..

And of course, Diego playing skee ball.. or whatever it's called