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

chubby cheeks and the home stretch...

chubby cheeks on a 2 year old... very cute,

chubby cheeks on a 26 year old...not as cute!

I guess I can't complain, we are in the home stretch now, with only 4 weeks to go... 28 days, can you believe it? Yes, my cheeks have finally filled out a bit and so has my belly (although this shirt does make me look bigger than I actually am), but its almost time for our little Ava's arrival.

I went to the doctor this morning, going every week now, and according to my doctor we have a bit of a "jump start," at least thats how she put it. *Forewarning TMI is possible in the next sentence!* Today we are officially 36 weeks, 1cm dilated and 70% effaced. I also had a real contraction last night... up until now its just been BH contractions, and Dr. Wecht said that if it happens again and begins to progress they won't stop it as I'm full term and ready to go. She checked again today and Ava is still head down and has dropped into position... so truly, Ava is ready, now its just a waiting game to see when she will make her debut. Of course, we could go all 4 weeks just like this and nothing may happen, but I can't help but be a bit excited and hopeful that she will come a little early... man, Sept. 11th seems so far away.

(And Andrea, if you read this, would it really be that bad if I had to bring Ava with me on the 30th?)

Two of my best friends, Amanda Jo and Shawna, are due any day now. Both of them are rounding out their 39th week, and I know they are both excited to meet their little ones (Trent & Addi). And the excitment of that doesn't help with my excitment to meet Ava... it only increases it. Every time she kicks I'm reminded that it won't be much longer until she'll be here and I won't just feel her kick anymore, but I'll get to see her and hold her.

I found myself completely overwhelmed in prayer for her this morning during my quiet time. Usually I have tons to pray about, friends, family, finances, etc., but this morning it was all about the baby. I figure last night's contraction put all that in my mind. Not that I didn't have other things to pray for, specifically my sins, but for some reason the baby seemed more important at the moment. I prayed for her health and safetly, for our labor and birth, for her life, her salvation, our parenting and ability to give her all she needs as well as raise her in the church...etc. There seems like so much to pray for, and I'm sure I forgot plenty of it.

So we're finally in the home stretch, and its kind of scary, yet very exciting. We will do our best to keep you up to date on what is happening... and when!

contractions huh?...

so I went to the doctor again today and lo and behold he told me I was having a contraction... a Braxton Hicks contraction that is. He was feeling my stomach trying to figure out what position Ava is in (she's head down ready to go!), when he said "oh, do you feel that? your having a contraction." Nope! Didn't feel a thing. By touch I could tell that my stomach was hard, but other than that nothing. About two years ago my friend Heidi let me feel her stomach while she was having a BH contraction, but for some reason I thought it felt different. Anyway, after learning this tidbit of information I now know I've been having them for a while, and should be able to tell from here on out when I'm having one. That might be help full in the future telling the fake ones from the real ones.

Oh, and one other piece of news I got today, our little one shouldn't be a 10lb baby like her Daddy! YAY!!!!! Of course she could surprise us and gain 6lbs in the next 4 or 5 weeks, but Dr. Perryman said she'd probably end up in the upper 6s or 7s. Perfect!