1 month...

Has it really been one month already? Its hard to believe that our little Ava turned one month old yesterday. The time sure has passed quickly, but I guess thats what happens when you're constantly changing diapers and having feedings every 2-3 hours (occassionally more often). It has been wonderful so far dispite the lack of sleep and our newest adventure into colic. Ava is a wonderful baby and even when her stomach is upset, she doesn't cry too long.

Yesterday we had our one month Dr.'s appt. We were very surprised to find that Ava now weights 8lbs 5oz (25th percentile), thats 2 whole pounds that she has gained since she left the hospital! She has also grown in length and is now 21 inches (50th percentile) and her head circ. is 35 (10th percentile...she gets that from her Mommy). Unlike what we thought, she is apparently getting plenty to eat and gaining more than an ounce a day which is normal. All in all, she is growing and changing daily and we are enjoying all the new things she is learning to do...smiling is our favorite.

We are taking our first family trip in two weeks so we'll be sure to post some pictures. We're heading to WV to see the Funk side of the family. Grandpa Jack hasn't been doing too well and we want to get down and see him... plus Ava hasn't met anyone from that side of the family yet, except her Grampa Fred ("Gramps" as Nathan calls him).

Well, gotta run its brunch time for Ava.

"Mom its too early for pictures!"

Right out of bed, bedhead and all

SuperMom and updates...

SuperMom, I am NOT!!! And I definitely won't ever be. Its good I've realized this early on, that way I don't set myself up for failure. I've gotten comments from people that I need to update our blog with new pictures and its taken me a while to get to it. I don't have everything figured out but things are starting to get easier. Maybe by the time Ava is 25 I'll at least have more time to blog and answer emails. So with my little one beside me, asleep in her carrier, I thought I'd take a few minutes and update you as to how we're doing.

Its been almost three weeks since our little Ava joined our family and its been full of ups and downs. We don't have a schedule, as much as we'd like to have one, so we just go with the flow. We're supplimenting Ava's feedings with formula so she is getting enough to eat, which took some time for me to get over... but man is it more convenient and she does sleep longer! (YAY!) And of course Mom isn't getting much sleep, maybe 2 or 2-1/2 hours between feedings at night. Although that does change quite a bit, and right now feedings seem to be coming more often since we are in our 3rd week growth spurt.

Ava is changing every day and she is such a good baby. We can't tell you what joy and love, not to mention laughs, she has brought into our life. She is amazing and we are so thankful to God for sending her to us....we're just hoping we raise her the best we can according to God's will.

We'll its about lunch time for Miss Ava, so we'll leave you with a few pictures we've taken over the past week or so. Enjoy!

Ava and her Aunt Tara

Napping with Daddy

bath time fun

sleeping in the bouncer...we do a lot of this!

on our way to church

(couldn't get the pic to turn right side up)

they say babies only smile when they have gas... I beg to differ!

she's HERE!!!!

Ava Reese Berry Ann

Ava was born on Saturday morning (Aug. 30th - 13 days early) at 5:56am. She was 6lbs and 9oz and 20inches long. Everything went well and we came home on Monday afternoon. Since then we've been trying to get into the swing of things again, and we are all doing well... maybe a little deprived of sleep, but thats to be expected.

Sorry this is so short, we're trying to play catch up as fast as possible. We'll get back to blogging as soon as we can, but wanted to take a minute and let you all know our little girl is here!

welcome Trent...

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

Congratulations to two more of our best friends,
Brett and Amanda Jo, on the arrival of their son
Trent Matthew Huffman!

Trent arrived yesterday weighing a whopping 9lbs & 10oz

and measuring 22".

And look at all that hair!
(I'm going to be super jealous if Avacomes out bald...
and more than likely she will - I was until I was 2)

So now with Addi and Trent here, born only 12 days apart,

we're next in line...YAY!!!

sickness and labor...

So we didn't put up a new post after my last appt. on Friday, one because we were so busy, and two, we figured that if I was in labor over the weekend a "welcome Ava" post would be better than just an update. I'm sorry to report, no labor yet.

If you've been counting, we're at 37 weeks & 4 days (today is Monday). But on Friday when I went to the doctor, I was told that even though I was only 37 weeks, more than likely I wouldn't make it through this next week... I'm still waiting. I guess I came home expecting something to happen right away. I expected contractions, or my water to break... but nothing. We'll I shouldn't say nothing, as I've been experiencing many of the "lovely" prelabor symptoms that tell me in the next 24-48 hours I should begin contractions or somthing should be happening... we're into hour 44 right now, and although I did have a not so comfortable contraction this morning at 3, nothing has happened since. That is except the worsening of my cold.

Yep, over the weekend I also came down with a nasty little cold. My first fear was that if I went into labor that I wouldn't be able to hold and cuddle with Ava, but now I'm just to a point where I feel so crappy, that I can't think of anything other than it going away. So after a quick call to the doctor to find out what I can take, I'm off to the drug store to get some meds. Yay for meds! I'm hoping that will help this clear up so if something does happen in the next few days I'll be feeling better. And hoping that my water doesn't break while I'm out... how embarrassing
*(see previous post!)

Oh, and you might be wondering why my doctor said I may not make it through the week... well, that would be because I progressed so much in just one week. Of course I know you hear about ladies walking around really dilated and such for weeks on end, but I'm really hoping my doctor didn't get my hopes up for nothing. And for those of you who want to know **TMI** last week I was 1cm/70% effaced, and on Friday I was 4cm/90% effaced. Apparently that is a big leap for a first time Momma.

We'll be sure to post again as soon as we can, and very possibly and hopefully have pictures of our little Ava to share!

tag...I'm it!

I've been tagged by my friend Ashley... so here we go...

Here are the tagging rules:

1. Post the rules on your blog
2. Write 6 random things about yourself
3. Tag 6 people at the end of your post
4. If you're tagged, DO IT and pass on the tag

1. I am very random, more clearly, I say random things at random times. It always makes sense to me, but not always to everyone else. For example, 5 yrs ago when living with Amanda Jo for the summer, I'd say something and she would make me trace my thoughts all the way back so she knew where I was coming from. Nathan makes me do the same thing even now. So if I say something and you get confused, just ask, I'll work it backwards for you.

2. I sometimes have road rage...er...am an aggressive driver. It drives me crazy when people don't pay attention to traffic signs or laws, and when this occurs I often get frustrated in the car. I'm not the screaming, throwing hand gestures kind of person, but I have been known to hit the horn. For instance yesterday I was on a side street and was turning left...I had the right of way with no stop sign, an on coming car, who had a stop sign, decided he didn't need to stop and could just turn into the closest lane to him, almost hit me as I was turning... I blew my horn. I really don't know why they even have traffic signs in Pittsburgh, no one pays them any attention.

3. I love sleep. In college I took naps all the time. But being at the end of my pregnancy is killing me. In a time when I should be storing up on sleep and energy (if thats really possible) I can't sleep well at all. I'm not comfortable, the 5 pillows I was sleeping with are now in the way, I'm always hot, and sleep just isn't coming naturally. And to think, I probably won't sleep well for the next 25 years!

4. I eat icing out of the container. It doesn't matter what kind it is, I love icing...especially right now. (with a big glass of milk)

5. I'm easily embarrassed, very easily embarrassed. It goes as far as I will get embarrassed for someone else if I find what they are doing embarrassing. It has gotten better over the years, and hopefully will improve as I know my child will embarrass me multiple times throughout her life.

6. I hate to clean! I will clean, but I really hate doing it and I don't do it enough. I'm much more about things being orderly and tidy. But, if you want to come over, I'll definitely do some cleaning just for you.

Call outs:

1. ANDREA WALKER: I think you are about as random as me, and it will be fun to know some of those little things. Plus it gives you something to blog about.
2. SALLY ANN MERTENS: lets hear some southern randomness, I miss you!
3. JULS MERCER: because its time you update your blog, its been almost 3 months
4. KACIE AXSOM: your young, somewhat newly married, and now pregnant, you must have lots of random things
5. COLE BOZIC: as a mother of two, I'm sure you have lots of new random things you can share
6. LORRIE YOUNG: you haven't been called out yet and like Cole, as a mother of two, I'm sure you've discovered some pretty random things about yourself.

welcome baby Addi...

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

to two of our best friends Tim & Shawna Smith
on the arrival of their daughter Addi.

Addi arrived last night at 11:40 pm, weighing 6lbs 3oz
(just like her big brother Elliott, now 2) and measuring 17 -1/2" long