Father's Day

Ava loves her daddy so much! It's a little bit ridiculous, and I probably only say that because I'm a little bit jealous. It was so cute, the other day Spencer comes home from school and Ava and I were laying down. She hears the door open, lifts her head, gasps, and starts looking for her daddy. I knew as soon as she saw him because she had the biggest smile on her face. She also listens to dad. I will tell her something in a stern voice and she will either laugh or ignore me. Spencer does it(usually when she's playing with cords or pulling my hair) and she stops what she's doing and listens. 

Since we love dad so much we wanted to make his first father's day special. I tried making him breakfast(but Ava decided to wake up and be hungry in the middle of it), then Spencer went to his seminar. Then after he was done we opened presents!

Ava was really excited to help Dad open his presents! First we got him some gummy bears which mom will probably help him eat and the movie The Avengers. She wasn't too happy that we wouldn't let her eat either of those. 

Then dad opened the present that I have been planning and working on for the past couple months. In March when Grandma Zimmerman came up to visit she brought binders of pictures and things that Spencer had done when he was little. One was a little book called "how to be a dad" that he made when he was in elementary school. We recreated it word for word and then Ava added to it with pictures and her own words(with the help of mom). I was pretty excited to give it to him!

Reading his old book with Ava

The entire book!

 All of Ava's comments are in parentheses.

There is one part missing. The get a job get money was suppose to be a picture of Spencer and Ava after his first day interning at Carrick Clinic with Ava, but that doesn't start for a little while so when we get that picture we will add that.

We ate dinner. I made salmon and couscous with vegetables and a salad. We then skyped Nana and Grandpa Zendejas and then Grandma and Grandpa Zimmerman! While we were doing that I was also making homemade apple cobbler! It smelled really good and looked really good, and actually tasted really good, but it was a little soupy.  Well I know better for next time now!

Aren't you jealous!

To top it off we ate ice cream after. Not with since it was peppermint and didn't go with the cobbler. I just really wanted ice cream, but I let Spencer pick the kind we got!

We hope everyone else had a great Father's Day too!

My Memorial Day 2013

So I have a lot to catch up on but I wanted to write this before I forget.

In January a few friends (Danika and Cherisse) and I decided to help keep us motivated to lose the baby weight, we would train and run a half marathon. Our other friend Alissa was going to run with us, but a few weeks into it she found out she was pregnant and couldn't run with us. I guess having a baby is a way good excuse to get out of it! We found a race where it gave us enough time to train, wasn't going to be too hot or humid, and our husbands would be able to watch the babies. The Patriot Half was perfect. We would run during the week and then on Saturdays we would run our long ones together. I remember how scared I was to run 2 in the beginning after just having a baby and not really exercising for 9 months. But slowly we were able to make it through the run each week.  I think that the Saturday run was what helped me during the week to run!

The night before the race we had a yummy spaghetti dinner(that yes mom and dad I ate the red sauce with the noodles), a salad, and fruit. Cherisse got our stuff at registration and we looked through that and got our stuff prepared for the morning and where to meet and everything.

Bright and early at 5:45 we meet and drove to Rockwall. I kept saying how I felt before hand was the same as I felt right before labor. I was ready, prepared and excited but also SO nervous!!! We got there and took pictures and it didn't really sink in that I was really going to do this until we were lined up and about ready to go. Then it was like OH NO! What did I get myself into! But Cherisse and Danika were awesome and encouraging. My goal was to finish with them and I stayed with them for about the first half, but I had to walk when I went to the drink stations where they were awesome and just took it and went and I started slowing down a little bit. I was hoping to catch up to them but there was this horrible hill at the 10.5 mark that I swear went up for the next mile and a half and after getting to that I was like "nope, nuh-huh. I am walking this thing." So my new goal was to finish before 3 hours, which I just barely did. I finished at 2:53:30. Which is a miracle in itself! I am not a runner really. I used to run with Amy but that was a couple miles and then we would call it good. I think the most I ran previously was 6 in a row. I actually remember going running with my sister Jordan when I was younger and after a couple blocks I told  her to go on without me and feeling like I would die!

At the horrible hill I was about done and I was thinking of ways to get an injury that would hurt less than finishing. I was also praying that I would make it through and not die, bc that was also the thought that kept popping in my head. Dramatic much?! But when I started walking there was a guy and a girl who were walking as well, and he said something(now I don't know if it was to me or not but I answered anyway) like this was the longest 3 miles. And we started walking together. If it weren't for them I don't know what I would have done. Probably sit at the corner and cry while I called for Spencer to come pick me up. But we were talking and one was a nurse in the air force and the other was in the air force as well. That made me feel a little better that the hill got the best of these people as well. We talked and ran together until the last couple blocks where they were wanting to take off, so I told them I would be fine and to finish. They were really an answer to my prayers!

My favorite part was a couple of times the guys would be at a spot and were cheering us on with our little ones. Every time we saw them I would hear behind me, "Aw look how cute!" Ava became more aware after each time she saw me. But the best was when I finished, she would lean towards me and reach. She really only does that to Spencer, I think because she sees me all day. But every time I gave her back to Spencer(I felt really weak and sore after and was afraid I was going to drop her) she would reach for me again and try to give me kisses. She missed me! I can't get over how much I love my little girl!

After we all treated ourselves to a victory dinner at Papasitos, a really good Mexican restaurant.

I have 4 bruised toe nails and a lot of blisters, hurt knees and back and woke up with sore/stiff legs but I think it was worth it just knowing that I could do it. I might not do it again, we'll see . But I think I learned my lesson! Next pregnancy I will do better! At the beginning I couldn't eat anything and so the last tri when I felt better and could eat I did. And might have gone a little over board! Next pregnancy I will eat better and exercise consistently so I don't have to feel like I have to do this again to lose weight if I don't want to! And I am putting this in writing so Spencer can remind me of this!

I have so much respect for my friends and family who run! You guys make it look/sound easy! I also want to thank Spencer for being so supportive and willing to watch Ava each night after he got home from school so I could run when he could have been studying especially when he had Boards or tests, and watching her every Saturday morning, and then waking up on his day off of school before 5:30 and cheering me on! I Love you!

3 Month Update

I Just realized it's been a while. Well here are a few things that have happened.

-Dad took his first set of boards this past month. Not fun! We find out how he did at the end of April. But dad was still able to spend time with Ava...teaching her as well.. We're gonna have one smart baby!

-We've had a few visitors Nana and Grandpa Zendejas (Nana actually visited twice on her layover too Phoenix) then Amy and David! So fun to see everyone!

-Ava loves her play gym and kicking it! I got to practice my "This is why we can't have nice things" speech.

"But mom kicking it is much more fun"

-Ava also has started putting any and everything in her mouth

-She loves her bear! She held onto this thing for a couple hours and wouldn't let it out of her sight!

- Yes she has a Mohawk, no I do not put it that way. Her hair can't be tamed!

-She can hold her own paci

-And bottle for  a few seconds

-She loves laying like this

 -And flying like Superman... But hates tummy time (she also likes being naked)

-We has our 3rd anniversary and ate Mediterranean! 

-She's rolled over (see previous post)

-We just started putting her in her Bumbo and at first she was skeptical but now she loves it!

The end of the month and April will be busy but we're looking forward to it!

-Grandma Zimmerman is going to visit!

-Mom is going to be doing the Color Run with some friends from church (then the Half Marathon in May)

-Dad we be finished with Tri 4 (of 10 so we'll be almost half way done!!)

-Cousin Norah Bell Blood was born on March 18th and we get to see her and play with Cousin RyJ!

-We get to see Nana and Grandpa Zendejas and meet mommy's family!

Rolling over!

Today Ava rolled over for the first time! And I missed it! I put her down for tummy time and then went to grab something to eat for breakfast and I noticed that she wasn't crying like she usually does. So I went to look at her and she's on her back with a smile on her face like she was saying "Haha I totally got out of tummy time!" And me being me got super excited (after coming out of being in shock) and started clapping and smiling at her and after that she had an even bigger smile on her face.

I spent the next 5 minutes trying to get her to roll over again and trying to get it on video. She almost got it again but ended up crying and getting frustrated so we stopped.

It's times like these that I wish I didn't have to work and just got to play with her since she's been SO Happy today. She's also just lately, if she's not hungry, will stay in her crib and talk to herself and entertain herself in the mornings! I may be biased but she is PERFECT!

When I first saw her smiling

When I started clapping and getting excited

Happy Birthday Dad!

Today is Spencer's 26th Birthday! We started the morning early with mom going on a run at 8, so Ava got to spend some quality time with dad... they took a nap!

The rest of the day was pretty chill. We went to Sam's Club for samples and hung around the house and watched some movies and took another nap! We love sleeping in this house!

Then we went to dinner at Sweet Tomatoes. It's a soup and salad buffet. Sounds lame but we love the place and we got to determine how much time we spent there since we didn't know how Ava would do in a regular restaurant.

When we got home dad put together his birthday present. Surprise. Dad actually picked it out with us along with some much needed new shirts! He is so hard to shop for and never tells us what he wants!

Dad spending time with Ava... How can you not love that face of hers!

And of course more pics of my little cutie!

This last one she got upset with me for taking too many pictures!

2 1/2 Weeks

My little baby is getting so big! When we left the hospital she weighed 6 lbs 7 oz. When we went to her 1 week dr. appt she gained all her birth weight back and then some. She weighed 7 lbs 4 oz. At her 2 weeks appointment she was 7 lbs 13 oz, that's 2 oz away from gaining a pound from her birth weight!

On the 29th We had her baby blessing at our place. Both Sides were able to be there! And Ava looked so pretty in the dress that Nana made for her, she was swimming in it but she looked so pretty!

Ava with her dress on all she's missing is her bonnet.

Everyone who blessed her!

Family Picture!

With Nana & Grandpa Zendejas!

With Grandma & Grandpa Zimmerman!

She has recently started sleeping in her crib. She likes it more than her bassinet and sleeps longer in it so we moved the crib from her room to right outside our door. Yes I am a paranoid mommy and Spencer keeps reminding me of that and yes I have accepted it.

We also do tummy time for about 5 minutes or for however long she'll let us. It's a hit or miss with that. Some days she loves it and will stay like that for a while and some days she hates it and it looks like she's trying to roll over. I took a video but she's crying in a lot of it, but to prove to my dad that she does like tummy time here is a happy picture of her. 

She's also started to stay up longer and focusing more! The other day Spencer was watching football and I was holding Ava and she just stared at the game for longer than she's stared at anything since she's been born. Then yesterday we had her on the couch with her rubber duck that she got from Santa and she was content just looking at that for a while as well. 

Spencer and I love watching the show "The Voice" we watched it every week and our favorite contestant was Cassadee Pope this season. One episode she sang Blake Shelton's song "Over You" and we loved it and played it a bit while I was pregnant. Well it turns out Ava loves that song as well. Usually it will be able to calm her. Today she was fussy and I knew she was tired but didn't want to sleep so I put her in her bouncer. She was still a little fussy so I played this song and after the second time she was out. And it's not the first time that it has calmed her down.  She has good taste in music! And that song gets played a lot in this house now!

Passed out from her Bouncer and listening to Cassadee Pope!

Ava does not like taking baths. She does this piercing scream and Spencer holds her while I wash her. This means that after her bath Spencer is the good guy and I'm the bad guy until she gets hungry. Then she'll usually like me again. Well yesterdays bath she decided she wanted to stay with daddy and was clinging to him and wouldn't let him go even though she was hungry. What a daddy's girl. And hopefully she's not like this when she gets older otherwise it'll be interesting for me! 

Today was our first day without daddy home during the day. Usually she sleeps for like 3-3 1/2 hours at a time and then wakes up to eat. Sometimes we have to wake her up to feed her. Well today she was up for a lot of the day and has been eating a ton! Like eating every 2 hours from start of one feeding to the start of the other, and thats with me trying to distract her to make it to 2 hours before she starts screaming. After talking with a few other people, we think she might be going through a growth spurt. I guess this just means I get a lot of mommy time with this cutie! But it would be on the day the Spencer goes back to school!

Tomorrow she is having her first adjustment! I am excited because we're all getting adjusted tomorrow and my back has been killing me since she's been born! Although Ava and I will be adjusted by the dr and not an intern! 

And just because I love this pose she did while she was sleeping:

Welcome Ava!

Ava was a champ last night and actually slept at night and in turn I was able to sleep some too. The past couple nights she only slept 2 hours and was up the rest of the night. So I actually feel like I can do more than sit with her and feed her!

At my 38 weeks appt. my dr. said that he didn't want me going past my due date and that he wanted to induce me Christmas night so I would have her on her due date and that if I progressed more he might even want to induce me earlier. Then on Tuesday at my appt. I had progressed enough that he said I could have her on Thursday! I called my mom and told her and luckily she and sister were able to make down here before the blizzard in Nebraska hit.

At 39 weeks before going into the Hospital.

(This might be boring for people but I wanted to write it down so I can remember it) I had to go into the hospital on Wednesday at 2 to do some blood work and then go back in to be induced at 8. Well Wednesday morning I woke up at 4:30 with some pains and I thought it was just nerves so I went back to bed and then woke up again like 20 min later with the same pains. For a while they were semi constant and then stopped after 30 min and then came around randomly throughout the day.

When mom and Jordan arrived at around 6 the pains were getting really close together and hurt a little more. I was convinced that I was making them up in my head and I didn't want to go into the hospital 2 hours early with nothing happening.

We left for the hospital and Spencer decided to take a short cut and it ended up taking us twice as long to get there so we were a little late. Luckily we only live 2 min from the hosptial. Once we got  there, they set me up to monitors. I was having contractions 3-5 min apart and they said that they couldn't induce me because I was already in active labor. Which was something that we both preferred would happen, but we didn't want to spend Christmas in the hospital. It was good that we planned for the inducement though otherwise my  mom wouldn't have been able to be here!

I was debating if I wanted an epidural and after like 4 hours I gave in. Before hand they gave me some pain killers. Let me tell you, I dont remember any of those 4 hours minus the pain from the contractions. According to Spencer here are some of the things I kept saying:

- I want chicken nuggets with buffalo sauce ( Apparently i said this a lot and the nurses were all talking about it. One nurse helping with the epidural was like "oh you're the one they're all talking about!")
-What if I forget to breathe. (at the beginning I had trouble breathing during contractions so I guess this was a big worry for drugged up me)
-How am I suppose to tell you how much pain I'm in when I can't open my eyes.
-I wouldn't be a fun drunk.

I don't think I'll take another pain killer again.

After I had the epidural I was able to sleep off some of the pain killers and went from a 4 to an 8 in like an hour and a half. They called the dr. and he came in (he wasn't going to arrive until about 6 and when they called him it was about 2) and then got the room prepared for Ava to come. I think he jinxed me since I was stuck at 8 from 2ish until almost 5. They decided to give me medicine to make my contractions stronger and at 6:00 I was a 10 and at 6:30 am exactly she was here!

She weighed 6 lbs 15.8 oz and was 19 inches long. I had to ask again how much she weighed since I was a little shocked. I was expecting her to weigh a lot more (not that I am complaining) since at 37 weeks they said she weighed 6 lbs 14 oz and they told me they were expecting her to be an 8-8 1/2 lb baby if she went the full 40 weeks.

It's still a little weird to think that she's my baby and that she's only 3 days old today.

Here are some things that we've learned about her so far:

-She loves to eat! In the hospital it seemed like all she did was eat. Literally. The second day she slept for 2 hours and then the rest of the day was spent with her eating, giving me a break of maybe 30 min between feedings.
-She can get very angry if she doesn't get fed exactly when she wants to be fed. (She might have gotten that from her Mom)
-She is the only one I know who stretches and yawns for 20 min without waking up.
-She makes the most adorable faces when she sleeps and can go from a happy smiling face to a what are you doing face in 1 second. She is also a very active sleeper always kicking her legs or waving her arms.
-She is very jumpy, and gets startled very easily. Something she also gets from her mom.
-She hates being moved when she's up and likes staying in one position.
-Also I swear when she sleeps her dreams are about eating. I have tried to feed her but she refuses and turns her head away from me but keeps acting like she's eating.

Chubby Cheeks!

Mommy's little angel

kisses/ Dreaming of eating

How Ava looks when you try waking her up.

Chillin in her boppy.

A rare moment when she has her eyes open and isn't eating

A happy, tired Daddy!

Daddy trying to calm Ava down

Daddy daughter bonding, watching soccer.

We can go home!