Got Milk?...

So I was thinking of putting this post together when I read on Facebook (I don't know that I can do a fast like Ashley...sometimes this is where I escape) that my friend Lauren is having to go on a non-dairy diet like I did. Let me tell you, it is NOT fun, but well worth it for our little ones. I hope I had some encouraging news for Lauren though when I told her that I was finally able to add dairy back into my diet about two weeks ago! YAY!!!

When Ava was about 3 weeks old, she started to get really fussy. She would cry and cry and was very hard to console. The doctors kept telling us it was colic and it would pass eventually... maybe when Ava was about 3 months old. Nathan and I both agreed that the thought of our daughter crying for no reason was torture, for us and her. So after talking to our pediatrician and reading as much as I could, I decided to remove all dairy from my diet. For a short period of time I even cut out coffee.... I soon found out that was a crazy idea and added it back in. Thank goodness flavored creamers are non-dairy!

It took some time to see the results, dairy can stay in your system for about 2 weeks, but Ava seemed like a different child almost immediately. Since then, I've slipped up once or twice, but since correcting the problem, we've been doing quite well. And I figure Ava is much happier this way, especially since her tummy doesn't hurt anymore.


Ava is now 5, almost 6 months old, and two weeks ago I finally added dairy back into my diet. Its been nice to add a few things back in, and I know Nathan is happy that I can go back to making "good" dinners again. I had been cooking with soy milk so I could eat things too, but there are only so many things you can make without dairy. I'm still trying to be careful with dairy, I know its not the best thing for you, but I am enjoying making caseroles again and having cheese on my burgers, not to mention a glass of milk if I really want it. (I love milk with pancakes on Saturday mornings)

It took some time to get used to not being able to eat/drink dairy. I guess I was lucky that Ava wasn't super sensitive to it. I was still able to eat things that were made and baked with dairy, ie cookies and cakes, I just had to stay away from dairy in its raw form... if that makes sense. The hardest thing I guess was the holiday season. There was tons of great food around me all the time and I couldn't have half of it. But we made it through, and I've already said that if we are blessed with another child in the future and I have to do this again, I'll do it, its worth it.

I thought I'd end this post with some pictures of our little one... she seems to be the reason everyone reads this blog anyway! Enjoy!

Ava was trying out our new bed, we finally got bedroom furniture....and it all matches! After it was all set up last week, Nathan and I both thought that our bedroom finally looked like it belonged to adults and not to kids right out of college with mismatched furniture.

our fly girl... just having some fun

oh so happy

new babies...

Just a quick

CONGRATULATIONS

to our friends David & Sally Ann Mertens as well as Daryl and Lauren Reynolds as both couples are expecting little ones this summer and early fall, respectively.

Steeler's Babe and more...

Ava is changing so much every day, its hard to keep the blog updated. So here is a little recap of our past couple of weeks.

A little over a week ago was a "holy" day in Pittsburgh, it was Super Bowl Sunday and the Pittsburgh Steelers were in Tampa, FL to take on the Arizona Cardinals. Since moving up to Pittsburgh we've gotten lots of comments about being from WV and being WVU fans, and NOT being Steeler's fans. It wasn't that we weren't Steeler's fans, we just didn't follow the team until about a year ago. So this past fall when the NFL season started we jumped on the bandwagon and started watching the games. A lot of the time we went over to Jon and Val's to hang out, Jon and Nathan watching the game while Val and I chatted about pregnancy and babies while glancing at the tv every few minutes. (Val is pregnant and due 3/21)

Since the Steeler's were in the Super Bowl we decided we should get our act together and get a t-shirt at least so we could blend in with the rest of the crowd. You see, during football season, it is rare to go a Sunday without seeing a massive sea of Black and Gold at church.... yep, AT CHURCH!!! It was a bit of a shock the first Sunday of the season when we were a part of the few who didn't wear black and gold. So we went out and got our t-shirts early in the week and then on Sunday headed over to Jon & Val's with some snacks. Oh, and of course we had to dress Ava up. I looked around for some baby attire, but wasn't willing to pay the high prices for something she would only wear once, so we improvised.

Our Steeler's Babe

Ava was hilarious during the game. She was sitting on my lap, yelling, and I mean YELLING at the tv. The Steeler's would make a play and she would talk and yell, while waving her arms, staring right at the tv. All the excitement must have worn her out, she passed out during the half time show.



This is Tico, Ava's buddy; Jon & Val's dog. Tico has always loved Ava from the moment we brought her over. He is quite protective and gets very upset when Ava cries. They were just saying "hello" for the millionth time.

Jon felt it was his duty to introduce Ava to the "Terrible Towel" Ava thought it was something to chew on ;o)

Jon telling Ava the Steeler's were #1 after they won

We had a great time during the Super Bowl and can't wait until next season.... I guess you'd say we're now Steeler's Fans.

Ava is doing so many things these days. She absolutely LOVES her exersaucer, and I must admit I love it too. It gives me a chance to do a few things, even if that is just running to get a drink or going to the bathroom.

can you see that she is almost standing flat footed? And we've already raised the height once!

Ava is still a good eater, although we've tried applesauce and bananas, and she wasn't really a fan. She does like her cereal though, and Daddy has even gotten the chance to feed her some. I feel like Ava is so big, now when you give her a bottle she gets so excited and opens her mouth before you're done making it and the minute you give it to her...

she tries to hold it like a big girl.

Ava relaxing with Daddy

Its been a couple of weeks, but Ava has gotten her first two teeth. I keep trying to take a picture of them, but everytime I get the camera ready, Ava gets distracted by the "red-eye reduction" light. Silly Girl. So I had to take matters into my own hands so you could see.

she hates it when I do that!

Ava is also learning to sit up by herself. She doesn't have it completely down, but is able to sit for a few seconds on her own. And now that she can roll over, and does it the minute you put her down, she has gotten to where she can push herself up a bit and doesn't fuss as much, that is until she gets tired.

Our little girl is growing up so fast. She is almost 6 months old. Can you believe it? Its just amazing how the time has flown.

We'll try to keep the blog updated as much as possible. But until then, enjoy the pictures we have posted!

Ava looks like...

So I thought I'd have a little fun and see who Ava looks more like...according to a computer that is. We constantly get differing opinions from other as to who they believe Ava looks like. My Mom thinks Ava looks like Nathan, some of our friends say she looks like me. As for us, we are't quite sure, so we'll just have to wait and see I guess.

Who do you think Ava looks like?

Ava looks like...

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