Pics

I almost forgot to share the link to Ava's pictures. I was just so rushed to get these pics back and ordered for Christmas Cards. To all that are reading this if you didn't get a Christmas Card I am sorry. We only had 25 cards and it was VERY hard narrowing the list.

Check out the pics. Go to ajpbaby.com. then click on Proofs, find photos, Nicole then the password is Estes.

We had a really hard time picking from these pictures. We loved them!!!

We have an exciting and busy week ahead. I can't wait for Christmas this year!!! We finished our shopping up yesterday so I am ready to get all the fun started.

Ava is 9 Months

Today my little baby is 9 Months old!! Wow how did we get here so fast?

I remember being pg and thinking about her first Christmas. Now its only days away, and I hope and pray me and her are both well by then. We are both still suffering with runny noses and coughing. She finds it funny when I cough and blow my nose. She freaks out when she even sees me get the tissue to wipe hers :)

I have a feeling we aren't far from her first steps. She is pulling up on EVERYTHING. She is so independent too.

Honestly I am ready for the Christmas tree and presents to be GONE. Those are her new found curiosities. She is in them every time I turn around. Yesterday I turned my head for a moment and she had a present in her hand almost ripping in half.

Missing Christmas Program

I can't help but be a little heart broken this morning. Ava is still sick and she is going to miss her First Christmas play tonight. I know she has no clue what it is but it was something I was looking forward to. I even had the cutest little Christmas outfit for her to wear. I just feel like she is missing out on so much her first year. We didn't go to the Christmas parade because she was starting to get sick that night. I make the Christmas programs, and last night as I am typing all the names It was so hard not to put hers down too. She was going to be a little angel. It was funny actually, the director of the play asked me about Ava being baby Jesus when it all started. I laughed to myself and told her NO. I think you want a baby Jesus that lays in the manger very meekly. Ava would be playing with the hay (probably eating it), and crawling over to see what the wise men were doing. :)
My main concern is that Ava gets better.

Dr. Update

So after another awful night of throwing up and coughing I called the Dr. We made an appointment for today. Ava has a bad cold and ear infection in one ear. Bless her heart!!! It was actually time for her 9 month checkup so they went ahead and did that today. She is growing good and weighing in at 17 lbs 2 oz. She had two shots and they took some blood. I feel so sorry for her. Its bad enough being sick but then getting shots too. I just tell myself its for her own good. I know by now she doesn't even remember it.

Thanks to my WONDERFUL mom who took off half a day today to take care of Ava and give me a much needed break. She is keeping her tonight and tomorrow. I sure hope the meds the dr. prescribed starts helping ASAP!!!
I am feeling better as far as being achy but this cough is really bothering me. I might go to work tomorrow if I feel ok. Considering I haven't worked any this week :)
I am really trying to avoid going to the dr. myself. I guess wishful thinking is it will go away on its own. Maybe this once?

UGH...the sickness bug has hit us

That is me and Ava. We have both been showing symptoms since last week but yesterday we both were really feeling bad. Last night was horrible. Ava was awake more than she was asleep it felt. She was sneezing up all that junk and it was making her throw up. We were up a lot during the night tending to her. Even worse I felt awful so it was very hard staying awake. I normally have a strong stomach when it comes to her, but when she would throw up I would gag too. I guess already feeling bad didn't help. We woke up at 6:30 and I was suppose to work today. I decided I better stay home since Adam didn't go to bed till 4. I am SOOO thankful for a husband that helps me out. Its bad enough having a sick baby but when you are sick too its SO hard. All my life when I have been sick I just take some meds and go to bed. Sleep is my remedy for most things that ail me. Since Ava has been born that just isn't possible. She is the first priority!! So today has been a day of naps, wiping noses, and coughing our heads off. I sure hope this passes really fast. I can't stand her being sick. I feel so helpless as a mother.

Our Christmas has started

touching the ceiling...she loves to do this

Baking cookies with the girls and Nana

Opening her first Christmas gift

Rachel and her baby bump

Giving Nana sugar

Jenny and jameson

Playing with the girls

Our first official Christmas gathering was this weekend....so the madness has begun. We stayed the weekend in ATL with Nana and Pawpaw Estes. Sunday we had Christmas with Papa (Adams moms dad) and all that side of the family. Papa took us out to eat at Buckners. You just have to go to understand. Its great home cooking and they just keep filling the bowls on a lazy Susan. After lunch we went back to Aunt Teresa's to open gifts. Ava got her first Christmas present, a cute stuffed bear that sings and talks. We are on our way home now. Adam is off work till Friday so we decided to make another day of it. Today Nana watched Ava so we could do some Christmas shopping and eat a yummy lunch at a local Mexican place.

Unfortunately me and Ava are both sick. Ava is really congested and coughing. She started this last week but it has got worse. Therefore we aren't going to the Christmas parade tonight. :( I was looking forward to taking her to her first parade, but I just don't want to risk making her worse. Not that this parade is something to see but its all we got :) LOL

Pictures and Snow

Friday we went to Huntsville for Ava's 9 month/Christmas pictures. I had originally wanted to take pictures outside with the Christmas lights. As my luck would have it, Friday was the coldest day we had yet. We decided to do them all in studio. Especially since Ava had a cough too. She did great. We got some good shots. I will share as soon as I get them.

We woke up Saturday to snow!!!!!!!!!!!! Ava's first snow! I let her look out the window at it. I wanted so bad to wrap her up in her snow suit (yes she has one) and take her outside. My Aunt bought it in California. I didn't though because all I could think about was her getting sick.

We left Saturday to go to Atlanta. Our Christmas gatherings have officially started. We have Christmas with Adam's grandpa on Sunday. We are staying till Monday.