Baby Shower, Ava's pictures, and more

OH my what a weekend! I spent most of my week last week getting ready for a surprise baby shower for Cathy, a dear Friend that is expecting her second precious baby girl. The shower was at my house Saturday afternoon. She had NO idea. We told her we were all getting together for a girls day, which we do often so she didn't get suspicious. It went great. She was so surprised!! Even after we all yelled "surprise" she still didn't get it. Her husband was like Cathy this is your baby shower. We thought that was hilarious. The food was great and she got alot of cute stuff for Baby Jessa Hope. She is due October 23 but she will never go that long. She has been having contractions for months and just last Tuesday she was back in the hospital. The dr is hoping she can make it to 37 weeks. I was just hoping and praying we would get through this shower before she had her. So after the shower on Saturday some of us went down to the craft show. I love going to that but I either forget it or don't have time. I got Ava some stuff and me a couple necklaces. Sunday was church.

Today was Ava's 6 Month pictures with Allison Jansen. I really wanted these to be outside. After all the rain and watching the radar I was highly doubtful that would happen. It worked out though. I think she got some really cute shots. Ava cooperated very good. Afterward we did some shopping. I got two of my favorite things, a pretzel with cheese and starbucks....not at the same time of course!

6 Months Old

Today Ava is 6 months old! I can't believe 6 months ago today I was having her. That just seems crazy. She is growing up so fast! She rolls over and when you put her down she will inch worm and turn all around. I am just waiting for her to get up and start crawling everywhere. I find myself not wanting to put her down unless I am in the room for fear I will miss it :)

She still has her beautiful blue eyes that we all think are from her paw paw (Adam's dad). I have been waiting to see if they change. I hope not. As far as her hair :) Its blond and getting more blond as we speak. Of course if she had purple hair I would think she is the cutest little thing on earth. She is sooo strong too. She can pinch the fire out of you. I have actually screamed out loud. She LOVES to play. She thinks somebody should talking and playing with her all the time. I wonder why Nana and paw paw?

Today we went to one of our favorite stores and got new hair bows. I love shopping in general but its really fun shopping for her.

Baby Food

Saturday was Ava's first taste of baby food. She had green beans. YES I know they are horrible but that's all she knows. Everyone has made me feel so bad for feeding her vegges instead of fruit but that's how I am doing it. I don't feed her table food yet either. I know I am "green" to most other moms this being my first baby and all...but I think every mom has a right to do things the way they think is right for them. I had heard alot of comments about not feeding her baby food until she was 6 months. Technically she isn't 6 months till this Wednesday but a few days aren't going to hurt. I just don't get the rush to feed them food so soon. I mean goodness let me enjoy this time in her life because before we know it she is going to be wanting Happy Meals.

So anyways, she didn't really like it at first. She likes to blow bubbles and she did that while she was tasting it and she spit green all over me and her :) I waited till today to try them again. She made the yucky face again but then after a couple bites acted like she was enjoying it. She ate almost a whole jar(the small jars). I was proud of her!!! I can't beleive she is already eating baby food. Wow, time flies.

All better!!!

Alot has happened lately. Friday morning I woke up and my shingles looked great to me. Just to be sure I called and saw the nurses at the dr. office. I would hate to get hasty at the last minute and give something to Ava. They told me they looked healed so you know what that means. I can have my baby back!!!!!!!!!!!! I have to give credit where credit is due. Alot of prayers went up for me. I know God had a hand in my healing as quick as I did. Most people have scars too and as far as I can tell I don't have any to be seen. I read online that shingles can last up to 30 days!!!!! That's just awful. I had errands to run Friday so I did all that and got the house all ready. I went to pick her up and you would know she was snoozing. When she woke up I grabbed her up and squeezed her little bones. She was like who is this lady? It took her a few minutes to warm up.....plus she is like that when she wakes up. We came home and she gave me a welcome home present on the way home. Yeah, poop!!! I smelled it before I ever even saw it. It was all on her leg, on her car seat, and everywhere. So our first bit of business was a bath. :) We played and then we all went to eat. She did so good. I got sick when we got home so I didn't get to enjoy my night with her like I wanted. Life....never what you plan.

So early Saturday morning when Ava decides to get up at 1 and at 5 I fed her and just held her and watched her sleep. She was having good dreams and smiling. It was precious. Saturday me and mom headed to the Hampton Cove Yard Sales. YES I know its stupid to get up that early and venture out in what most people consider "junk" and I agree most of it is. BUT just sometimes you find something neat and worth while. I got Ava a cute outfit for Fall, a super cute bathing suit for next summer, a number mat, and me a top. It was funny because on our way mom said we have been to these yard sales before and when we saw others with little babies we would be like "goodness why didn't they leave that baby at home"? Then we were the very ones doing that. So we took turns looking and kept Ava in the car till it warmed up. Then we popped her in the stroller and she LOVED all the people and attention. Plus she loves outside!!!! Sat. afternoon we had a wedding to attend. Ava did great and we got to see Douglas, April, Mackenzie and Shelby (Adams sister and family). Ava loves those girls and its likewise.

Today it was church!

The pictures above are Ava playing early this morning and then the other one is her asleep between church still in her car seat holding tight to Mickey.

Happy Birthday Mom!

Today is my wonderful mothers Birthday. I am not sure she would want everyone knowing her age so I will keep that concealed. :)

I just wanted to take a few minutes and honor her. She is a wonderful mom, and a great friend. Bless her heart she is still taking care of Ava for me. I am so lucky to have somebody to depend on.

Those stupid shingles are still hanging around. I keep thinking any day now they are going to disappear. I miss Ava sooooo bad. I ran by moms yesterday to take some pjs and stuff. Mom was playing with her and Ava was laughing out loud and squealing. It was so hard not to just scoop her up and kiss her to death.

I have Shingles!!!

Yes you read that right. Go figure how I ended up with Shingles. One of those odd things I guess we just don't understand. Last week I told mom that I had this weird feeling in my left shoulder and neck. I got concerned because I had never felt that sensation that I could remember. I told mom if I dropped dead to investigate this weird feeling :) Honestly I had saw a commercial on TV about the birth control I take, Yaz. It has been known to cause blood clots and strokes so really in the back of my mind I was worried I might have a blood clot forming. I think I told her that on Thursday. On Friday morning I was getting ready for work and I saw some red spots on my shoulder. I KNEW when I saw them it was shingles. I had them when I was in 2nd grade so I knew what to look for. I got to work and called the dr. I got in and sure enough.... I was right! So from then on I have been in quarantine from Ava. That is the worse part of this so far. I can take the itching and weird pains....but I can't stand not being able to hold her close to me. She has been with Mom/Dad since Friday night. I have to admit a few days of rest sounded great to me but I miss my Baby so bad!!! And I haven't done much resting. Today I went into clean mode and started cleaning and organizing like crazy! I have went over to moms every day to see Ava but just haven't held her. That is pure torture.

So hopefully we caught them early enough that these meds will do their magic and I can be back to norm soon!! Whatever that is :)

Proud of Adam!

Well this week has been stressful. Adam had his HUGE oral board test at TVA Wednesday. He had to get up in front of a board of upper management and take an oral test. Basically they cover a extensive amount of information they have learned over the previous months. He gets sooo stressed out. He has good reason too. If you fail you get one more chance then you loose your job. So needless to say we know how important it is. He spent last weekend and the first part of this week studying. So Me and Ava steered clear of him and did our own thing!
So thanks to the Good Lord above he passed!!!!! In the past those tests have been known to last 3 hours or more. His only lasted 45 minutes so that's great. He was sooo tired last night he came in and went to bed at 7 and slept all night. People that know him know that is sooooo unlike him.

For those of you who don't know the Lord really worked it out for him to have this job. He interviewed for a position at Widows Creek TVA about two years ago or so. He passed the written test and they cleared him to work in any of the plants (nuclear, coal, etc). It just wasn't meant for him to get that job and they choose somebody else. So in June 2008 we got an email for this current job. They wanted him to interview for it. He didn't even apply!!!!! He got the position and the rest is history! Oh and we found out were were pg with Ava a few weeks after finding out he got the job. It really was the Lord and its been a blessing!
The lady we bought our vehicle from retired from Browns Ferry TVA. She asked Adam what kind of degree he had. Adam was like I don't have a degree. She couldn't believe it. We can :)
God is Good!