Ava is Home with Us and Things are Going GREAT!

The last 5 days have seemed like such a blur to me. I can not begin to express all of the emotions I am feeling inside. Ava came into our lives 5 days ago and I can honestly say that I have never felt more blessed than I do right now. Although I really fought the idea of a C-section, when it came down to Ava's health, there was no question. I will be writing my birth story in a blog to come when I have more time, but for now I just wanted to let everyone know that we are all doing so great. It is so good to have Ava home with us. She becomes more beautiful each day that passes. Being a mommy means the world to me and my little family is the absolute most important thing in my life. I am still amazed how just 5 days ago this little 7 lb 6 0z girl was inside of me. I still have no idea how she ever fit into my tummy. :) Here are so more pictures of Ava. Enjoy them as much as I do. :)

As promised, here is a brief description of the last 24 hours.
First of all - Kris has done an amazing job. She was a trooper from the moment we walked into the doors of the hospital. Very proud of her.
She worked for approximately 16 hours on getting Ava out naturally. After reaching 5 + cm around 11:00, she began to plateau. With her temp. rising and an infection, Doc decided it was the best interest of Kris and the baby to complete a C-Section.
Happened very quickly after that point. Thrilling experience - little critter just about jumped out of her tummy. Very responsive and alert - decided to give one of the nurses a good spray of poop. The nurse happened to be a mother of a student/player that I have at Medford High. Couldn't believe it.
Ava measured out at 21.25 inches and was 7.6 lbs. I was one ounce off of my official guess - pretty good. She is beautiful - bigger lips and curly hair. She was hungry and latched on quickly.
Things are going well. Working on getting Kris to close her eyes - pretty tough task at the moment.
Pappa Cummins

40 Weeks 2 Days - Ava Arrives

As promised, here is a brief description of the last 24 hours.
First of all - Kris has done an amazing job. She was a trooper from the moment we walked into the doors of the hospital. Very proud of her.
She worked for approximately 16 hours on getting Ava out naturally. After reaching 5 + cm around 11:00, she began to plateau. With her temp. rising and an infection, Doc decided it was the best interest of Kris and the baby to complete a C-Section.
Happened very quickly after that point. Thrilling experience - little critter just about jumped out of her tummy. Very responsive and alert - decided to give one of the nurses a good spray of poop. The nurse happened to be a mother of a student/player that I have at Medford High. Couldn't believe it.
Ava measured out at 21.25 inches and was 7.6 lbs. I was one ounce off of my official guess - pretty good. She is beautiful - bigger lips and curly hair. She was hungry and latched on quickly.
Things are going well. Working on getting Kris to close her eyes - pretty tough task at the moment.
Pappa Cummins

40 Weeks - No Baby Yet.....But Soon!

Today is my official due date and unfortunately it doesn't look like our little Ava will make her appearance today. I had a doctor's appointment at 9:10 AM with my nurse practitioner and she was VERY surprised to see me. She thought that I was going to deliver Ava yesterday and couldn't believe I didn't. After my examination, my NP decided to get my doctor to see if he would like to start the prostaglandin gel tonight. My doctor came in and examined me and said that I was a great candidate for an induction. That made me smile because he has never said that before. He did not believe I needed the gel and said that I was a good 1 1/2 cm dilated. He felt little Ava's head and said that she had dropped from yesterday. He is going to be the doctor on call tomorrow so he will meet me at the hospital at 7 AM when I go in to be induced. His plans are to break my water in the morning and then depending on where I am at, start the pitocin shortly after. He knows that Tate and I are worried about a C-section and he told me that there are 5 factors which will determine a C-section. 1) the size of the baby - although I have not gained very much weight during the pregnancy there is really no way of knowing just how big Ava is. Hopefully she is not too big for me. :) 2) The size of my pelvis - obviously I can not control this one so it will all depend on how Ava is able to wiggle around. 3) the position of Ava - hopefully she will be able to maneuver her way down. 4) the intensity of my contractions - the doctor will be able to help with this through pitocin and 5) my ability to relax - this will be up to the me and the doctor. I plan on having an epidural so that should really help me relax a lot. But, in the end I know that I only can control so much and if I can not avoid a C-section I will be okay. Some people actually prefer it. :) I just can't believe in less than 12 hours Tate and I will be headed to the hospital. It would have been nice if Ava was born today because it is a very special day for my family. Today was my Grandma K's birthday who passed away in January and I know she has been watching out for Ava and I throughout this entire pregnancy. She meant the world to me and I know she will be there with us tomorrow as well. Ava has been moving around a TON tonight so I think she is gearing up for the big day tomorrow. Ava - mommy and daddy can not wait to hold you in our arms. There are many people out there anxious to meet you. You are already loved so much. Get some rest tonight sweetie, it's going to be a big day for you tomorrow!! Love you! Mommy

39 Weeks 5 Days - Still Pregnant and Getting Anxious

This weekend Tate and I did our best to try and stay busy because I have really been feeling anxious lately. Knowing that I could already be holding my little girl in my arms right now is starting to get to me. I officially feel like I am going to be pregnant forever. lol. I know in my heart it was the right thing to do to wait to induce, but I am becoming a little more impatient as the days go by. One thing that is very comforting is knowing that no matter what, our little girl WILL be born this week. The worst case scenario would be for us to wait until Thursday night or Friday to induce, but I have a feeling it will be this Tuesday (my original DD) or Wednesday. I went for a really, really long walk today with Bailey and I made sure to have my cell phone with me just in case. I came home and kept myself busy cleaning up the house a little and making a double batch of chocolate chip cookies (I need to have a little something when people stop by to see Ava). :) Then I made Tate dinner and headed out for another walk. You would think with all of this walking I have been doing that Ava would be ready to make her entrance, but I am starting to think she likes the walks and wants to "hang out" (literally) for awhile longer. Who knows, my tummy could be acting like a little swing for her when I walk. lol. Either way, Bailey is definitely not minding the extra walks at all. He has been a very happy puppy. Let's hope that Bailey stays that way after Ava is born. Ava, if you can hear me.....please come out, we love you so much and can not wait to hold you in our arms. Love, Mom and Dad.

39 Weeks 3 Days - No Induction Today

After debating all week if whether I should be induced today or not, Tate and I have decided to wait it out a few more days and see if Ava will come out on her own. Thankfully, the last 2 days have gone really well for me. I have been able to eat and keep everything down and I am hoping that is a sign that she is moving down and hopefully gearing up for the big day. I feel so much better now and I know I can make it a few more days. I have my next appointment on my DD of 9/9 at 7:00 AM with my doctor and hopefully I will come out of there with good news. I am pretty sure we will be induced on Tuesday one way or the other. If I am dilated to about 2-3 cm and around 70-80% effaced, they will most likely admit me to the hospital and start me on pitocin. If I have not progressed any further, then they will most likely have me go into the hospital later that night and start with prostaglandin gel first to get my cervix ready. They would then start the pitocin 12 hours later so I would hopefully give birth to Ava on 9/10. Either way, I am just so excited that we are so close to her arrival. We have waited so long for her and knowing that the end could literally be "any day" now is overwhelming. I have been watching "A Baby's Story" on cable lately and most of the time I end up crying because I am so happy for the families on there. Today I saw an episode of a women getting induced at 39 weeks and it was great because I got to catch a glimpse of what it might be like if I have to be induced. Everything went fine and that made me feel a lot better about being induced. My tummy has been cramping and aching all day so I know something is going on in there. Whether that means I will be going into labor soon or not, it's nice to finally feel some sort of progress. :)

39 Weeks - Doctor's Visit - Not Much Progress

Today I had another weekly appointment with my doctor and even though I have been walking 2-3 miles every day, I still have not made that much progress. However, since my acid reflux has been so severe the past couple of weeks, my doctor wanted to talk to me about possible induction. I am still only 1+cm dilated and 60 % effaced so I am not exactly the perfect candidate for induction. My blood pressure was significantly higher than it has been in the past and even though it was in the normal range, it is still something to watch. I have also started retaining a little fluid in my feet, ankles and hands. Fun stuff. When the doctor told me he could get me in tomorrow night to start the induction, I became a little nervous. Since Tate couldn't be there with me this morning, I told my doctor I would need to discuss this with Tate first. Tate talked to the doctor over the phone later on today and we were told that the decision is completely up to us. We also have a couple other options of waiting until Friday to start the induction with a hopeful delivery on Saturday (my doctor is on call so he would be delivering our baby which would be ideal). Otherwise I could wait until my next appt on the 9th and if nothing else has changed by then, we could start the induction then with a delivery on the 10th. There are so many decisions to be made and I am really torn. At this point, there is no medication out there that is going to help me with my acid reflux anymore and I will most likely have a hard time keeping most of my food down until I deliver. I just want to do what is best for both Ava and myself. It would be really nice to have Ava this weekend because Tate would be able to spend more time with us, but at the same time I don't want to have Ava early just for the convenience of it. One of my girlfriends had a good point though when she told me that if I am not able to sleep or keep food down, I am not going to have any strength or energy left in me to get through a long labor. I am just really confused. My doctor has reassured me that Ava is 100% ready to go and that she is fully developed now, the only thing I worry about is having an induction when my body is not ready and ending up in C-section. I really do not want a C-section at all. So, for now I have decided to wait and see what the next couple of days will bring. Who knows, Ava might surprise us all and decide to come on her own very soon. :) I will keep you all posted on what we decide. Wish us luck!!!!

38 Weeks - 5 Days - SINGLE DIGIT COUNTDOWN!

I have finally reached single digits until my due date. After being pregnant for 10 months (yes, it is truly 10 months) and thinking that the day will never come, it feels so great that Ava is only days away from being born. Today Tate and I went on another 2 mile walk and this time I had to stop 3 different times because of the strong contractions I experienced. These contractions are what I call the big-daddys, the ones that stop me in my tracks and get me to grab my belly and moan. :) Poor Tate was worried sick because he thought I might go into labor right there at the park. :) I had to reassure him that I always get contractions when I walk, so it wasn't that different from other days. However, today's contractions were a bit more intense. I felt much better having him there with me just in case. After our walk we ran a bunch of errands together and I soon started to feel very uncomfortable. Little Ava has managed to put a lot of her weight now on my pelvis and bladder and any bump in the road or quick stops make for a very uncomfortable trip. Not to mention, every time I get in and out of the car I have to rest because I get really strong contractions. On a few different times today Tate stated that he thought I was going to have Ava tomorrow because of how strong my contractions were. I still think she will hang out for awhile in my tummy, but I am not exactly sure that I will make it to my DD of 9/9. Either way, I am finally on the single digit countdown and that means she will be here with us very soon. Ava, mommy loves you so much and can't wait for you to arrive.

38 Weeks 4 Days - Day at the Race Track - Show Me Big Money

Today Tate and I decided to do something different so we went to the horse track at Cantebury Downs. Since I have been working from home now and not feeling well, it's been hard for me to do a lot of things outside so I was very excited to get out and enjoy the weather. Tate and I got to the races and found some great seats outside in front of the track. We spent time going through the different articles and experts opinions on each of the horses. It was actually really fun. One thing I realized is that my husband and I are very different when it comes to gambling and betting. I like to take the nice, safe route and pick 1-2 horses I think will win because of their stats and of the opinion's of others. Tate on the other hand likes looking at which jockey is riding the horse and he also likes to bet on the long-shot. His point is that if you pick the favorite, you won't win very much, but if you pick on the long-shot you can win a lot. Although that is very true, you still need the long-shot to win and the horse is picked a long-shot for a reason....they are not likely to win. LOL. Thankfully Tate and I worked as a team and my wins evened out his losses. :) I won $24.00 on one race and another $14.00 on a different race. Needless to say, I was VERY happy. We ended up walking out of there after bidding on 6 races only 7 dollars less than what we came with and that included food, admission and a paper. :) Pretty cheap day for this soon-to-be mommy and daddy. The only bad thing that happened was that my acid reflux starting kicking in on the way home and I got pretty sick. We had to stop at a gas station because of my stomach. I truly can't wait for the day when I can eat a meal and not have to worry if I will be able to keep it down or not. All in all, it was a great day with Tate and that is all I could ask for.

38 Weeks 2 Days - 1st Daycare Interview

Today Tate and I went on our first daycare interview. I know it seems early, but I wanted to see what is out there in case the perfect place is just waiting for us to call. We found a place 5 mins from our house. It's an in-home daycare with a woman who is just starting up her own business. She was an elementary school teacher and decided to stay at home after having her first child. She was very nice and her home was very comfortable and clean. We talked with her for awhile and we left feeling great about her. She does require a deposit to hold the spot until December, however she will use that money for our 1st and last week of daycare so we really wouldn't ever lose out on the money. We still have other daycares to interview, in fact we have another one tomorrow night.

Today I caught myself staring at my tummy watching Ava move around and wondering if she will ever come. I know it's only a matter of time, but I have waited 9 1/2 months for her arrival and now I think I am just starting to feel a little antsy. It's hard to believe that in less than 2 weeks it will no longer be just Tate, Bailey and I. I absolutely can't wait for her to come. Every time I open my blog and see her little face I smile and think to myself about how beautiful and how lucky I am. Ava, Mommy is ready whenever you are.

38 Weeks - Doctor's Appointment - No Further Progress

I had big hopes for today because I had my 38th week appointment this afternoon and I was really hoping that things have "progressed" more than last week. Unfortunately, that was not the case. I have been hoping that Ava would come a little early because my acid reflux has kicked back into high gear again and I was sick all day yesterday and up all night long unable to keep my food down. It's been a hard couple of weeks, but on the bright side, I only have 2 more weeks to go (maybe even less). I brought a laundry list of questions to my doctor's appointment today and he knew I meant business when he entered the room. :) He sat down right away so I could ask him each and every question. He is a really nice doctor and he is always able to put me at ease. After my examination, he told me that I am still 1 cm dilated and about 40-50% effaced. I discussed with him my continuing problems with acid reflux and he told me that unfortunately there isn't much I can do, but he did decide to switch my medication to another (completely safe) one. Now I will be taking this new medication 4 times a day and hopefully that will help. I am hopeful anyway. I also made sure to get the correct phone # to call when Ava finally does decide the time is right. I am trying to make sure I have absolutely everything ready. :) He told me that we will talk about possibly inducing me next week IF and that is a big IF, everything looks to be in good shape. I would have to be at least 2-3 cm dilated and 70% effaced before he would even suggest it. He has said that we just need to get this little peanut out of me so my body can return back to normal. But, I am not going to push anything. Ava is going to come when she is good and ready and unfortunately, I think she is waiting it out for a September birthday. All I care about is that she is 100% healthy.

37 Weeks 6 Days - Last Birth and Parenting Class

Tonight Tate and I had our last birth and parenting class. It was one of the most interesting classes because we had 2 couples from previous classes there with their 2 and 6 week old babies. They told us their birth stories and gave us a really good idea of what to expect and what to ask for when we go into the hospital. They both had very different stories. One was an almost picture perfect delivery and the other had an extremely hard labor process which ended up in a c-section. Hearing their stories and seeing their tiny babies really hit home with me and I just kept thinking about what it will be like when our time comes. It was so nice hearing the "real stories" of what to expect during labor and delivery and once you bring your newborn home. One of the women there said that her water broke when she was only 1 cm dilated and 70% effaced, so that really isn't too far off from me. However, I really believe Ava is going to stay tucked inside my tummy for a little while longer. I do not expect her to be an August baby, but you never know. After class we made sure to get our names on an email list so we could all stay in touch and share pictures of our little ones after they are born. This class was a long process, but it definitely helped both Tate and I prepare for our special day.

37 Weeks 5 days - Still Walking

I just finished a nice long walk with Tate and Bailey and it felt really good. It is so nice outside, around 76 degrees and it's hard to believe summer is almost over. Tate has to go back to school a couple of days this week on Tuesday and Wednesday. We have our last birth/parenting preparation class tomorrow night and although we have learned a lot, it's been a long 6 weeks at 2 1/2 hours each session. But, it has prepared me for what lies ahead and Tate has had a chance to hear about all of the things I will be going through during the labor process. We have officially finished Ava's room by putting up wood blinds yesterday and all of our bags are packed and ready to go. We even have the car seat set up and ready to go in the car as well. I'm telling you.....we are READY. :) I met my girlfriend, Dee out on Friday night for dinner and we had a great time laughing and chatting about the past. I hadn't seen Dee for over 2 years, yet when we got together, it seemed just like yesterday. While at dinner, I had a TON of braxton hicks Bcontractions and had to end up going to the bathroom 4 separate times. Dee thinks I will have Ava by Wednesday, but I honestly have no idea when our little princess will come now. It seems like every day she is moving further down, but it's hard to tell if that means anything. I will just have to wait until my next doctor's appointment on Tuesday to find out for sure how things are moving along. So, until then I am going to keep on walking (with Tate now of course) and trying to stay active as long as I don't go too far away from home. :)

37 Weeks 2 Days - Ava's Bassinet

This past weekend when I went out to lunch with my girlfriend Melissa, she introduced me to "Once Upon A Child". I still needed to find a bassinet for Ava so she could sleep upstairs with Tate and I her first few months. I knew it would be really hard to get up every 2-3 hours each night and head downstairs to Ava's room. Plus, I am going to be a new mommy so I know I would not be able to sleep knowing Ava was so far away from me. I think the bassinet is perfect. The best part was that I got a great deal on it and I was able to take the entire bassinet apart and wash it. I had to make sure Ava's little bed was as clean as possible. :) The bassinet is nice because it is lightweight and the top is removable as well so I can bring it up and down the stairs with no problems.

I find myself going into Ava's room a lot through out the day just admiring things and wishing my little girl was here. I have to admit that at times it feels like she is never going to arrive but I know in my heart that it is not much longer now. I went for a walk last night and I must have went too far because I started having really strong contractions and I didn't know if I was going to be able to make it back. I honestly even thought about asking a police officer who passed by to give me a ride home. LOL. After I waddled my way home with Bailey, I laid down on the couch and I started to feel better after about 15 min. Of course I had to call my girlfriend, Kristie to tell her what happened and to find out what was going on with me. Kristie said it could be the very beginning of pre-term labor and that it might be a sign that our little Ava is on her way. :) I am still thinking that the earliest Ava will be here will be late next week, but that is just a complete guess. From now on, I have direct orders from Tate to shorten my walks and to walk with him whenever possible. :)

37 Weeks - Officially Full Term - Doctor Visit

Well I have finally made it! I am officially full term and the doctor told me today that Ava is ready to come out. :) We have once again confirmed that Ava is in the perfect position and she is sitting low. Although I have not dilated any more than 1 cm, I was told today that my cervix has thinned out to 50%. That means I am half way there and considering that my cervix was not thinned at all last week, I think I have made a lot of progress. Tate and I were able to see Ava on the ultrasound screen today and we saw her tiny little fists right up by her face. There was a lot of vernix floating around in the amniotic fluid so that is another good sign that things are progressing. I made sure that my tummy was measuring out okay because I have been told a lot lately how small they think I am and of course after awhile, I started to worry about it. Thankfully my doctor told me that I am measuring out perfectly and that everything looks great. She just thinks Ava will be a small baby and as long as she is healthy, I am all for that. :) I am so thankful for my weekly appointments because if nothing else, they put my mind at ease. I started packing my suitcase for the hospital today and now I just need to get a few comfy clothes to wear for the days and weeks after I deliver. My doctor did tell me that there are a lot of women out there who do not dilate more than a cm before labor starts and that it was a good sign I was already 50% thinned out. :) I will just need to make sure I am not too far away from home from here on out. Come on little Ava, mommy is ready any time you are. :)

36 Weeks 4 Days - Lunch with Melissa, Ella and Evan

Today was a great day as I met Melissa, Ella and Evan out for lunch at my favorite restaurant, Jakes. It was a beautiful, sunny day and it was so nice to see all of them again. Melissa and I have a tradition of going to Jakes together and sharing our favorite turkey sandwich together. :) Ella and Evan have grown so much and Ella was amazed at how much my tummy has grown. :) I explained to her that I am going to have a new playmate for her and she was really excited. I told her that her new friend's name is Ava and that she is getting ready to meet Ella. Her eyes lit up and it was honestly one of the most precious moments I have experienced. I can not tell you how amazing it feels to know that I will soon have a little girl who I can introduce to all my friends children. Our children will be able to play together and be friends of their own. I absolutely can't wait. Since we were celebrating my birthday at lunch, I was able to share a big hot fudge sundae with Melissa and the kids. Evan was successful getting his little fingers into the bowl for some good bites of ice cream. He knows good stuff when he sees it. We had such a great day. I always love spending time with Melissa and the kids. Thank you Melissa, I had a great time! Love you!

36 Weeks 2 Days - Nursery Update - Almost Ready to Go

I think Tate and I have finally made most of the finishing touches on Ava's room. I am really happy how it turned out and it makes me feel so happy every time I go in there. The only thing missing now is our little girl. However, I think she will be making her presence before her actual due date of 9/9/08. I have been noticing a few "changes" these past few days and it just makes me realize more and more that Ava could really come at any point. Tate is hoping I hold out for at least another day so he can make it to his baseball game. LOL. I think we will be able to make that. The only things I have left to get for Ava are baby monitors for her room. I am so excited. We have waited such a long time for her arrival and knowing that it is not far away makes me so happy. I can't wait to be a new mommy and to hold my baby girl in my arms. I already love her so much. I can't imagine what it will be like the first time I see her.

36 Weeks - Doctor Visit - Progress has started

I went to the doctor today for my 36 week (9 month) appointment. Everything went really well and I found out that the process has officially started. I have begun dilating (only 1 centimeter) but the process has begun. The doctor has confirmed that Ava's head is down low and in good position. I have also been feeling a little relief from acid reflux so I am trying to take full advantage of that by eating more. :) It just hit me today that our little girl could show up at any time. I honestly don't think it will be this week, at the earliest I am betting on a couple of weeks from now, but you never know. Only Ava knows the answer to that question. Tate and I are busy finishing up getting the last few items on our list to make sure we have everything for Ava's arrival. I still have to pack my suitcase for the hospital, but I have all of Ava's things ready to go. I guess I am already starting to think like a mom and putting her little girl first. :) So from here on out, I will just need to take things day by day and see what happens. Ava, mommy can't wait to hold you in my arms. Come on out when you are ready, let's just hope it's not too long from now. :)

35 Weeks 5 Days - Couples Shower

Today Tate and I traveled to Rogers, MN to attend a couple's shower hosted by our good friends, Kristin and Ryan and Tim and Mara. It was a beautiful day and everything was perfect. It was so good being with all of our friends again and seeing all of their kids running around. I can't wait for Ava to join the group. :) We had a fun day hanging out with our friends. We couldn't have asked for a better day and I received a lot of great advice on being a new mommy and how to get through the labor process. :) Thank goodness for good friends!

35 Weeks - 4 Days - Day out with Tate

Today Tate and I had plans to spend the entire day together. We headed out on the boat in the afternoon and boy was it hot! Yes, I have still been sporting my bikini but I guess I have to be thankful I can still fit into it. Tate had to help me in and out of the boat and we put a chair in the water on a sandbar so I could relax in the water and cool off. It is really nice being able to just pack up the boat and head out wherever we want, whenever we want. After spending around 3 hours on the boat we headed back in. Tate and I rested for a little bit and then headed out to dinner. Tate managed to get the restaurant to agree to sing happy birthday to me while I was visiting the ladies rest room. Yes, it was embarrassing, but at the same time, very sweet. After dinner, we headed out to the movies to finish the night. It was a great birthday and Tate bought me a designer diaper bag, thanks to the help of Jenna helping him pick it out. :) Thanks Jenna! I love it!

35 Weeks 3 Days - Happy Birthday Mommy!

Today was my birthday and it was a very fun day. I went into the office for awhile and then headed over to my sister's place to meet up with my mom and my sister. I have been trying to follow the doctor's orders and only staying at the office for 4 hours at a time when I do go in, but it's hard to leave once I am there. But, I managed to pull myself away a little early to enjoy a night out with my family. We had reservations at Palmino, a restaurant in downtown Minneapolis. We had so much fun talking and laughing together. We kept talking about how things will be different next year at this time with my little girl now joining us. We have always had a tradition of celebrating my sister and my birthdays together with my mom and next year I can't wait to share that special time with my little Ava. Who knows? She could end up being a Leo like her daddy, mommy and auntie Kimmy. :) That would definitely make for a busy household. Tate is playing in a baseball game tonight and is planning on taking me out tomorrow. This is going to be a fun-filled weekend! :)

35 Weeks 2 Days - Doctor's Visit

Today I had a follow up appointment with my doctor. Tate was there with me which is always nice. My doctor gave me some pretty strict instructions about working from home as much as possible and when I do go into the office, she only wants me working 4 hours and then heading back home. My boss has been really great and very understanding and really doesn't want me to go into the office anymore from here on out. But, it's actually nice to go in once-in-awhile so I will just have to listen my body and little Ava and see how things go. Everything looked good at my appointment. Ava is growing right on schedule even though I don't seem to be gaining anymore weight. I have still been fighting my acid reflux problems, but I am starting to understand more of the things that are "safe" for me to eat and I stick to them. It's always so good to hear that our little Ava is doing well and growing. My doctor said that if my contractions continue next week, they are not going to stop them and they are just going to let nature take it's course. :) I have a feeling little Ava will hang out for a few more weeks, it's very possible for her to be an August baby instead of September. You never what this little bundle of joy might do. My contractions continue to be really strong, so who knows? :)

35 Weeks - Only 35 Days to Go!!!

Yeah, I have made it to 35 weeks! After everything that has happened this past week, it is good to know that I have made it another one. According to whattoexpect.com, little Ava should be measuring around 18 inches long and weighs somewhere around 5 lbs. We had our 3rd birth and parenting class last night and got to visit the hospital (which we have already visited last week). :) But, Tate was able to see the postpartum room that we will be staying in after Ava is born. About an hour to an hour and a half after Ava is born, we will be transferred from the labor and delivery room over to the postpartum room. The postpartum room is much more comfortable and has a better TV. :) Last night when we were in class I formed my list of things that I need to bring with me to the hospital. My goal is to have to my bags packed for the hospital by this weekend. I have also picked out the outfit to bring little Ava home in. :) Tate and I still need to get the stroller put together, but now that Tate has more free time since ball is pretty much done, I have a feeling he will get that done this week.

My doctor's nurse called me this week to schedule another doctor's appointment for this week. They want to have a follow up appointment since I was back in the hospital last Friday. As of right now, they have not put me on complete bed rest, however they have "encouraged" me to stay off my feet as much as possible and to limit the amount of time I am at work. I spoke to my boss yesterday and he is really understanding and is in complete favor of me working from home as much as possible. When I do go into the office, I will only be working half days to help lessen the time I am there. It's so great to work for a company that truly cares about their employees.

It's hard to tell what little Ava's plans are for her mommy and daddy. I could see her arriving early, but then again you never know, she could surprise us all and stay inside for another 5 weeks.. :)

34 Weeks and 3 Days - Another trip to the hospital

Today was my first day back to work since my visit to the hospital on Tuesday. Everything was going pretty well until around 3 pm when I started having very strong contractions that lasted almost 15 minutes with few breaks in between. I called the nurse line and she got in touch with the doctor on call. It so happened to be the same doctor that admitted me to the hospital on Tuesday. After hearing my symptoms the doctor told the nurse to have me come in right away. Unfortunately, my hospital, Fairview Ridges was closed because they were full. So, they made arrangements for me to go to Methodist hospital. They did not want me to drive so they I had two of my co-workers bring me. Once I arrived at the hospital, they admitted me and hooked me up on monitors to watch my contractions and little Ava's activity. Tate arrived shortly after and sat with me while we waited. After awhile since my contractions were still occurring the doctor decided to give me a shot in my arm that would stop the contractions and have no affect on little Ava. Once I received the shot, my contractions slowed within minutes and eventually stopped. I stayed in the hospital for another 2 hours being monitored until they finally released me. I am currently not on full bed rest yet, but I have a feeling if this happens again, I will might be. I am a little worried, but my cervix has not begun to open yet and there does not appear to be any thinning within the cervix as well. This is really good news. Ava still seems to be sitting pretty high in my tummy so that is also good news. I have really limited how much activity I have during the day. I just need to make it another 2 weeks and then I will be considered full term. Ava must be pretty excited to come into this world, but we just need to keep her in there a little bit longer. Her room is almost completed. We just need to hang a few pictures and the blinds, when they come in, and we should be good to go. My sister is coming over tomorrow to help figure out where we should place the pictures. It has been so much fun decorating her room. I will take pictures of the finished nursery when everything is complete. I want everything to be perfect for Ava's arrival and they way things look, she could be arriving sooner rather than later. :)

34 Weeks 1 Day - Happy Anniversary!!! 3 Years!

3 years ago today, Tate and I were married. It is so crazy to think it has already been 3 years since we were married and this October will mark 5 years of us being together. I can definitely tell you that my love for my husband has grown more and more each year. He has been great being there for me throughout my pregnancy and especially now that I have been experiencing early contractions. Tate has a game tonight so we are going to celebrate our anniversary on Saturday night.

I took the doctor's advice and decided to work from home today. My body is really tired and little Ava has been moving around constantly all day long. I have had a couple of intense contractions again today, but not as bad as yesterday. I have been drinking a ton of water and doing my best to stay hydrated. Now that we have wireless Internet here at the house I am able to work while on the couch with my feet up. I am hoping the contractions lessen a little tonight, but I may be working from home again tomorrow. I just don't want to do anything to get them started again like yesterday. I am doing what I need to do now for Mommy and Ava. I have a feeling Ava really wants to come out and greet everyone and I am doing my best to keep her safe and sound inside my tummy for at least the next 3 weeks. I have a feeling I can make it too.

Happy Anniversary Tate! I love you so much and I don't know what I would do without you.

34 Weeks - Long Day with the Doctors

Today marked my 34th week and little did I know what my day was going to be like. It started out at 3:00 AM when I woke up with stomach pains and ended up throwing up in the bathroom for awhile. I drank some water and headed back to bed. I tried to rest awhile, which was impossible and started to feel some smaller contractions. I was scheduled today for my 34th week ultrasound so Tate and I headed out at 9 for our appointment. On the way to the clinic I started experiencing some very intense contractions. They were so strong, they brought tears to my eyes. I have never felt contractions like this before so I became a little scared. We got to the clinic and my contractions continued as I waited to for my ultrasound. When the doctor had me in the ultrasound room and started the procedure, I became really sick again and couldn't stop throwing up. We had to cut my ultrasound short, but the doctor did see that Ava looks great and all of her organs are in good shape and developing as they should. She also was able to see that Ava is head down with her bottom up. I also found out that it's her little tooshie that keeps pushing out my tummy all the time. :) She also noticed some little white specks in the fluid surrounding Ava which means that she is developing and growing perfectly. Because I was having strong contractions again we cut the ultrasound short so she could get me over to see my doctor right away. When I got to the OBGYN, they hooked my tummy up to several monitors to measure my contractions and to check on how Ava was doing. I was hooked up for about 30 minutes and continued to have a hard time keeping anything down. Finally, the contractions seemed to lessen a little and my doctor decided to do a medical exam to check on my cervix. After my examination, we found out that my cervix was mostly closed and the ultrasound showed that it is still long. This was good news for us because it means that Ava is not exactly ready to come out to play yet. My doctor spoke with another doctor and they came to the conclusion that I really needed to be admitted to Labor and Delivery over at the hospital to get some fluids and to be monitored for a few more hours. So, Tate and I headed over to the hospital and got our first experience on what it will be like the day Ava does enter this world. After I received the fluids, I felt much better and my contractions started to slow down and become much less intense. After spending a couple of hours there the hospital decided to let me go home with instructions to drink lots of fluids, get some rest and to hold off on taking my daily walks for awhile until I start to feel better. Good news is that Ava has decided to stay put in my tummy for awhile longer. We just need to make it another 3 weeks so I can be officially "full term". I just don't want her to come out too early and have to struggle. I can not wait for the day she is here and today Tate and I really thought she could be entering our family. I am going to take this whole experience as a sign to get all of the last minute little details done with her room and I will definitely be packing my bag for the hospital just in case. Who knows? Ava might be trying to tell us something. :)

Daddy and Auntie Kimmy's Birthday!!! July 25th

Today was a very special day since it was both my loving husband's birthday and also my sister's birthday as well. Two of the most important people in the world to me share the same birthday so it is always a special day for me. I wanted to take Tate out for a nice steak dinner so I made reservations at Monte Carlo in downtown Minneapolis. Tate picked me up after work and we headed over for our reservations. It was nice having a date night night just the two and a half of us. :) After dinner, Tate and I met my sister out at Otho for her birthday party gathering. It was really nice to see all of her friends again and to just be with the people I love the most. This mommy-to-be did my best to hang out as long as I could, but by 10:00 PM, I had hit a wall and my sweet husband made sure to get me out of there while I could still keep my eyes open. Even though we were only there for 2 hours, it was still really nice to be there together. Happy Birthday Tater and Kimmy!!! I love you both very much!

33 Weeks 3 Days - XO Baby Shower :)

Today my wonderful work, XO Communciations threw me a great baby shower. It was so much fun and everyone joined in. We had a barbecue (thanks Dan-O for grilling) and a pot luck. Of course I can't forget the super yummy cake that Jen picked up. I had to indulge in it even though I knew it would kick start my acid reflux. It was worth it. Everyone was so sweet and they were very generous. I loved spending every minute with everyone. After being at XO Communications for 4 years now, everyone there is like family to me. I am actually the first women at XO Communications to be pregnant so everyone has been really into my pregnancy. They love watching my "transformation" and they all take a very genuine concern for how the baby and I am doing all the time. It's so nice to work in an environment like that where everyone is not only my co-workers, but my dear friends as well. Thanks again XO, it was a perfect day!!

33 Weeks Pregnant - 7 Weeks to Go!!

It is really hard for me to believe that little Ava will be with us in 7 short weeks. However, I am starting to realize it more and more as my tummy continues to grow. I can not believe how much I have changed within the last week. My stomach has become so hard and my skin is starting to feel a little irritated. I am sure that is because it is being stretched out so I have been adding extra lotion to it every chance I get. I experienced my first Braxton Hicks contractions tonight, well at least I think they were my first. They were definitely pretty strong but they didn't last too long. I wish I would have learned more about breathing techniques last night at class. :) My wonderful parents bought Ava her stroller this weekend! Thank you so much Mom and Dad. I love you very much!! Tate and I still need to put it together, but at least we have it now after many months of research. We still have a few more things to do to complete the nursery such as getting blinds, putting up pictures, getting a little table and lamp and moving the recliner downstairs. :) I get such a great feeling when I walk into Ava's room. Daddy Tate did a great job painting and the room feels so warm and comfortable. Wow, 7 weeks to go....I can't wait. :)

32 Weeks - First Birth and Parenting Preparation Classes

Tonight was the first night of our 6 week Birth and Parenting Preparation classes. Although Tate and I showed up a little late (we got lost, go figure), the class was actually not that bad. I was expecting to be really bored, but the time went by pretty quickly. Tate and I found out that we have the earliest due date of 9/9/08. It just showed me again how quickly the time has passed by. The first class was more like an advanced version of one of our health classes we took back in 6th grade. But, it was a good refresher course. My favorite part of the night was the relaxation part. I got to lay down on my blanket and pillows and listen to our instructor help the mom's get themselves relaxed. She did this part at the end of class which was around 9:00 PM and I have to admit, I didn't want to get up. I really think Tate and I will learn a lot from this class and I am excited for our next one. It was neat seeing all of the other pregnant women there and being able to share experiences with each other. I really think this will be a great bonding time for Tate and I. It's weird to know that we only have 5 more classes to go. It feels like I just signed up for these classes the other day when in fact I've already been signed up for a month now. Time is ticking away. :)

32 Weeks - 8 Months Pregnant - Doctor Visit

Today was a hard day for this Mommy-to-be. I have been really suffering with my acid reflux and heart burn lately. Last night I woke up at midnight and had severe heartburn. I took a few Tums and tried falling back asleep. I was awaken at 2:30 AM with even worse heartburn and I barely made it to the bathroom in time before I threw up. It was horrible. My stomach was so upset and I have been so careful lately choosing food that will not upset my tummy. I tried going back to bed, but that was not going to happen. I grabbed Bailey and headed down stairs so Tate could at least get some rest. I was not able to lie down right away so I sat up for 45 minutes until my Zantac kicked in. Finally around 4:00 AM I was able to fall asleep again. I woke up at 5:30 AM starving so I had my daily bowl of Special K. I would have thought I was safe to eat that, but my tummy disagreed. I was back in the bathroom on 4 separate occasions completely sick. Tate became really worried about me and I have to admit, I was beginning to worry too. I had my 32 week check up at 8:20 AM so I was pushing myself to just make it to the doctor's office. At my appointment my doctor told me that there is unfortunately not much else I can do regarding my acid reflux. At this stage in my pregnancy, everything surrounding my stomach begins to relax to allow for the baby to grow. My esophagus has become relaxed and the little closing between my esophagus and my stomach does not shut all the way, thus allowing for acid to rise up. My doctor said that all women suffer some kind of discomfort, whether it is acid reflux, swollen feet, back aches or even hemorrhoids and this just happens to be my one thing. He told me that I am doing all the right things and that I will just need to wait it out. He said, on the bright side, I will be cured in about 55 days from now after Ava is born, so that is a positive way to look at it. Other than my acid reflux, he said I am measuring perfectly and I am right on target. I am going to try to keep eating smaller meals and making sure not to eat 3 hours before bedtime to see if that helps. If this is the small price I have to pay for a healthy baby girl then I am more than willing to suffer through it. Ava is worth any kind of discomfort I may feel. After all, she is mommy's little angel. :)

31 Weeks 5 Days - Nephew Lincoln's Baptism

Today my amazing little nephew, Lincoln was welcomed by God into his Kingdom through baptism. I was determined to be there for my little guy so I got up at 5:00 AM so I could leave the house by 7:00 AM and drive to back to the Cities. His baptism started at 9:45 AM and I made it there just in time thanks to Tate for helping me with directions. :) It was great to see little LJ being baptized and being able to share that experience with family. Pops, Tate's grandfather was in town with his friend Millie and it was so nice to be able to see him again. Pop's is an amazing guy and he promises to come back to visit his great granddaughter this fall after she is born. Tate's mom, Shelley was in town to visit her first grandchild and witness his baptism. It is always so nice to be able to see her again as well. Adam and Jenna hosted everyone at their house after the service and they had a TON of great food, including red velvet cupcakes. Yummy! I was still full later on that night and could barely eat dinner. :) We spent the day hanging out with family and holding our new little LJ. It was so nice to see Molly, Greg and the kids again. Hopefully I will be able to see all of the again before Ava comes. :) This was the perfect ending to a great fun-filled weekend.

31 Weeks 4 Days - Baby Shower with Family and Friends

Today my Mom and my Godmother Sue, threw me an unbelievable baby shower. I had so many wonderful family members and friends there and it meant the world to me. It was a complete blast! Mom and Sue did a fantastic job hosting with tons of great food and fun games. Mom had her famous fruit pizza (which takes forever to make) and Sue kept everyone very happy with the variety of unique baby games. We all had a great time. The shower was scheduled to start at 1:30 PM, however I had my first guest at noon (I am so glad you could make it Mary!!!) and the last person left around 5:00 PM. We all had so much fun, it was hard to end the day. Little Miss Ava was showered with a ton of ADORABLE baby clothes and Mommy even received a cute pajama set for herself to wear after Ava is born (thanks Kristie)! I can not begin to tell you how much it meant for me to be with so many of my loved family members and friends. Thank you all for coming and sharing this day with me. A special thank you goes out to my amazing Mom for all of the extra little things you did to make this day really special for me. I love you!

31 Weeks - 2 Days - Growth Spurt

It is hard for me to imagine that I will be in my 8th month very soon. The time has really flown by and I am hoping the rest of my pregnancy will be the same way (doubtful, but maybe). I really can't complain about too many things except for my acid reflux. But I think I now have that under control by taking Zantac and as long as I eat pretty healthy I am usually in good shape. Speaking of shape, my tummy has really started to become hard and very round. Our little girl feels like she is wedged horizontally in my stomach pushing outwards. At times she is so strong that I need to gently reposition her. After reading my weekly update on babycenter.com they stated that little Ava will be heading into a growth spurt. She is measuring somewhere around 16-17 inches and weighs in around 3.5 lbs. She was 2 lbs 14 oz at my last ultrasound 3 weeks ago so I am sure she is at least 3.5 lbs now. I can not believe how much I feel her now. Every time I touch my stomach, I feel a part of her sticking out. They say it is a good sign for babies to be moving around a lot so I don't mind all of the little kicks and somersaults. :) It actually brings a smile to my face each time she moves. :)

Queen Fisherwoman

Tate and I headed out to our new hot spot this morning and tried our luck again at catching a few more fish for Mom and Dad and Shelley (who will be here in 5 days). The three of us (Tate, myself and bailey) headed straight for our fishing spot and dropped our lines in. Believe it or not, but I had fish biting like crazy at first. I managed to catch 3 crappies and 1 2-3 lb large mouth bass in a matter of minutes. Tate was busy taking off my fishing and re-baiting my hook so I could cast out and catch a few more. This was the first time that I saw my husband a little depressed because he wanted to catch a few fish too. Unfortunately, the wind started picking up due to a storm heading our way and we needed to move the boat to a new location. We tried several different spots and Tate managed to catch a few fish here and there. I had a little harder time, but I did get a few more. Between the clouds there were a few breaks when the sun came out and boy, was it hot. Since we were back in our boat, I wasn't able to jump into the water so Tate jumped in and splashed water on me while I sat on the side of the boat to help me cool off. What a sweetheart huh? We had a great day fishing and just hanging out together. Our new boat makes it very comfortable for me to move around when I get sore. I was watching the weather closely because I saw a few really dark clouds moving in. Of course Tate wanted to keep on fishing, but the clouds were moving in quickly and I was not about to be stuck on our boat in the middle of a storm. Thankfully I was able to talk Tate into heading to shore and wouldn't you know it, the second we started putting the tarp on the boat, it began to rain. I am SOOOOO thankful we made it off in time. Tate admitted it was a good call on my part. :) We are heading back to the Cities tonight after dinner to enjoy our last day of vacation together tomorrow. It's been a great trip and one that I will always remember. Thanks Mom and Dad for all of the meals and entertainment. We had a great time and love you very much!

Day of Fishing with the Family

Today we decided to take both fishing boats out on one of the nearby lakes around Spicer. Tate got up bright and early and headed out for the new "hot spot". After church, Mom and Dad, Kim and I met up with Tate and Bailey. Tate had already managed to catch 6 crappies and was set on getting a bunch more. I started off fishing with Tate and Bailey and managed to catch one after awhile of jigging. Kimmer started out hot right away with a couple of crappies. Poor Mom was the last one to catch a fish, but she had a lot of fun when she did catch one. I stayed on the boat with Tate until I needed to go to the bathroom. Tate had left our portable ladder back in the Cities and I was not about to jump out of our boat because I knew there was no way I would get back in. Tate thought that he could pull me back in but I was not having any of that. Granted, my sweet husband is very strong and all, but I was not about to hurt myself or this little babe of ours for anything. Therefore, I jumped over to my parent's boat and used their ladder. :) Thank goodness for Mom and Dad! It was really hot out today so I decided to sit on the ladder for awhile to cool off. Everyone was able to see me sporting my bikini even though I am almost 8 months pregnant. I haven't had to buy a maternity one, I just got a size bigger from Old Navy and it has worked out great. Hopefully I haven't offended too many people. :) You all can be the judge. I can't believe I have actually posted a picture of myself on here, but heh...I'm pregnant and proud after all. :) Tate told me that I looked great and I guess that is all I needed to hear. I managed to catch a few other fish on mom and dad's boat and then headed back over to our boat when my family was fished out. Of course Tate was ready to fish for a couple more hours, but I managed to get him to agree to just 30 mins more. :) We had fun just hanging out together and it was nice to be with everyone. Plus, I got some great color as well. Pregnant and tan is the way to go. :)

Others Golf and I Walk. :)

Today Dad, Tate and Kim decided to play golf. Of course mom and I wanted to be a part of the group so we tagged along. I walked the course with the golfers while mom followed closely behind with the golf cart. She is still recovering from her surgery and we don't want her over doing anything (which she still manages to do anyway.) :) I was glad she had the cart because I could rest at each hole while waiting for the crew to move on to the next one. I have been trying really hard to keep up on my walking. I know it is really good for me and it really helps elevate stress. Plus, I have heard that the better shape you are in going into labor, the easier it will be (I use the word easier lightly). ;) I also managed to swing Tate's driver a few times. I can definitely say that I am not a golfer. I still have managed to keep my softball swing. :) But, it was a lot of fun getting out and enjoying the day together. I was pretty tired towards the end of the course, but it felt great to walk for awhile. Later that day, Tate took mom and I out fishing on Long Lake, I call it the Dead Sea while Dad made us some dinner. Unfortunately we were not able to catch anything except a few weeds here and there. We got in around 8:30 PM and after eating dinner, we headed to the bon fire dad had started for us. Tate was in charge of making the smores for the group, with the exception of me (chocolate really gives me heartburn). We stayed out by the fire for awhile until this mommy-to-be's back started hurting and I needed to go for a walk with Bailey. It was pretty warm out so I didn't last as long as I thought I would by the fire. I had to wear jeans and a sweatshirt because I am not suppose to put bug spray on my skin. Needless to say, I became over-heated pretty quickly. It was still nice hanging out with my family again.

Happy 4th of July!!!

Today is the 4th of July and Tate and I spent the day with my family back in Willmar. My grandpa Kaufenberg, Uncle Scott, Aunt Lori and Uncle Scott and Grandma H all came over to my parents house to celebrate. Kimmy surprised us all and showed up on Thursday night. We all had a lot of fun today playing lawn darts, cards and going for boat rides (compliments of Tate). Us girls of course enjoyed sitting out in the sun enjoying each other's company. It was so nice to see everyone again. Family is so important and it was great to spend the holiday with them. My dad cooked up a huge turkey on the grill and my Aunt Lori made her famous shrimp salad. For desert mom had made some special K bars and Tate made his now famous home-made ice cream. That was a huge hit except for the fact that it gave 3 separate people huge brain freezes! LOL! I have had to stay away from the sweets lately because of my acid reflux. It has been pretty bad lately so it is best for me to stay away from fatty and acidic foods. I guess that is the price I have to pay for our little girl. I can't complain too much because I do manage to find little "treats" here and there that my tummy will allow. After dinner, Mom and Dad, Kim, Tate and I packed up our boat and headed to Spicer to watch the fireworks from the boat. Dad and Tate launched the boat for us ladies and we joined them shortly afterwards. This was the very first time we have all ventured out on the boat for fireworks. You would not believe how many boats were out there. It was like a little city of boats. The fireworks lasted for 30 minutes and we all had a great time hanging out together watching them (despite the bugs). :) Tate did a great job maneuvering the boat around as well. It was a great time and the perfect way to end the 4th of July.

30 Weeks 2 Days - Ava the Super Star - Nursery Update

I can not believe how active our little girl has been the past couple of days. She is actually kicking and moving around so hard that she startles me at times. I will be talking to someone at work and all of a sudden Ava does some sort of back flip and I jump. Everyone at the office thinks it is pretty funny. I am still trying to figure out what Braxton Hicks contractions feel like. I have been having a little bit of cramping at the top of my tummy (it kind of feels like a menstrual cramp but much less) and it goes away after a few seconds. I asked my doctor if I might be experiencing Braxton Hicks contractions and she didn't think I was. From what I have heard from others, a contraction feels like someone is hugging you really tight and your tummy becomes really hard. Well, my tummy has definitely become really hard at times, but I never seem to feel any sort of pressure. I don't know, I think I am confusing myself. LOL. It's so hard to know anything for sure when I have never experienced this before. My doctor told me I could go my whole pregnancy and never experience Braxton Hicks contractions until it's time to deliver. That would be pretty darn amazing.

Update on the nursery....I came home yesterday and Tate had finished painting all of the walls in Ava's room. Yippee!!! He still has to do all of the trim work on the top and bottom and after that is done we will need to get another coat of paint on the walls. He tried pretty hard to convince me that we only need one coat, but that didn't go very far. It definitely needs a second coat, but at least all of the walls are now "chewy caramel". I may have to start recruiting people to help get this painting done because Tate really truly hates it. I feel like I am on his case a lot to get it done because my nesting instincts are now in high gear. I really want it all completed soon so I can re-arrange all of the furniture and get Ava's room ready for her arrival. Who knows, I may have to strap on a mask and help get it done before I am too big to bend over. LOL. I found a really cute "angel" picture for Ava's room and I plan to place it above her crib. After all, she is our little dream come true and Momma's little angel. Love you Ava!!!

30 Weeks - Good bye to the 20's - Doctor Appt

It's hard for me to believe I have finally hit the 30 week marker. I have to admit, it's pretty exciting. I saw my little nephew LJ last night and it was so nice. It was hard to leave him. I can only imagine what I will be like when Ava is here. Today I had my 30 week appointment and everything went very well. My doctor told me that I am measuring out perfectly and the nurse told me again that she thinks I need to go to NY to be a pregnant model. That not only made me blush, but it made my entire week. :) I told her that it's because of those compliments why I keep coming back to them. LOL! My ear infections are finally gone and I am for the most part over my cough. It feels good to hear that I am healthy and no longer need to take any antibiotics. After I left the doctor's office, they told me to go ahead and schedule the remaining appointments. I will be heading back every two weeks for the next 6 weeks and then after my 36 week appointment I will be making weekly appointments. I am actually really excited for them. :) I just can't wait for the day to hold my little peanut in my arms; but until then, daddy and I have a lot of work to do to get ready for her big arrival. She is already so loved. :)

29 Weeks 3 Days - Energy at an all time low

Wow, I have finally hit a wall. This is really the only time during my pregnancy where I have felt completely exhausted. Work has been pretty stressful the past 2 weeks, so I am sure that has something to do with it as well. For some reason lately, I have not been able to sleep well at night and I can't figure out why. I am comfortable in bed but I keep waking up every 1 1/2 - 2 hours. Sometimes it's to go to the bathroom, sometimes it because of heart burn and sometimes I have no idea why. Who knows, maybe Ava is trying to get me prepared for those long nights ahead. I have definitely hit a wall now though. I was going to go to Tate's game tonight, but I think this mommy-to-be needs to rent a couple of movies and stay home with Bailey. I am pretty sure my body is just telling me I need to slow down and get some rest. Of course, I will probably get home and find things to do, like making some more banana bread for Tater and Jenna and cleaning (wow, I am really starting to sound like a mom now). lol. Other than being really tired today, everything else has been going great with Ava. She is pushing my stomach out more and more each day. I am really looking forward to next week and the 4th of July. It will be a great time to catch up on some R&R at my parents house with the family. Less than a week away. :) I might just have to let my Mom and Dad pamper their youngest daughter when I am home. They are always willing to and still do a great job of that. I will be more than willing to oblige them this time. :)

29 Weeks 1 Day - Daddy is so Sneaky!!!

I woke up this morning and noticed that Tate was no longer sleeping next to me. I opened the door and noticed that he was on the couch. When he got up, I asked him why he moved to the couch and he said he couldn't sleep. I didn't think too much about it after that. But as I was getting ready Tate told me that I needed to go look in Ava's room. I asked him why and he said he screwed up and accidentally left the window open last night and some kids threw stuff at the window. Of course, his story caught my attention immediately and I dropped everything to head downstairs and check it out. As I opened the door, I didn't notice anything at first. That is until I turned to the left...Tate had decided to start painting Ava's room and finished one wall. That little stinker completely fooled me. I bought his story hook, line and sinker. :) He only did one wall because he wanted to know what I thought of the color. I am 98 % sure that I love it, but there is 2% of me that isn't sure because one wall is "chewy caramel" and the other 3 are blue. :) Plus, I have been really indecisive lately and can't make up my mind on a lot of things. But, the important thing here is that Ava's nursery transformation has finally begun. Now, I just need to get Tate to find time to paint the rest of it. I know I am only going to be able to hold out for so long and then I can see myself grabbing a paint brush and trying to do it on my own (not a great idea). :) I think it's part of the nesting phase that I am going through. We will be picking up the dresser/changing table combo on Sunday so it would be nice to have it painted by then, but we will see. It's just nice to finally see another color in the room besides BLUE. :)

29 Weeks - Last week in the 20's

It just dawned on me today that this will be my last full week in the 20's. It still amazes me how quickly the time has passed (at least for now). Tate and I still have a lot of work to do in the nursery, but we have made progress. We finally bought the paint for the bedroom this past weekend and we will be able to pick up our changing table/dresser combo this Sunday. Once we have the room painted and get the changing table and dresser set up, I have a feeling it will truly start to look like Ava's room. I still need to get blinds for the window and we will need to get some sort of end table but other than that, we should be good to go. It will be nice to finally start going through all of Ava's clothes and getting them washed and packed away for her. I think I have officially started my "nesting" phase as I can not wait to get everything organized and ready for her arrival.

28 Weeks 6 Days - Complete Amazement

After seeing my little nephew this weekend and holding him in my arms, I was overcome with complete happiness for Jenna and Adam. I also found myself smiling constantly knowing that in 11 short weeks, I will be able to hold my little girl in my arms as well. It just amazes me how LJ was just inside Jenna's tummy and now he is out in the world, breathing air and surviving. It is such a beautiful miracle. Yesterday while Tate was taking a long-overdue nap, I started watching a TV show on the birth of sextuplets. I sat there, completely amazed at how one mom could be carrying 6 babies inside of her and here I am just carrying 1. I started to cry when they were delivering the babies partly because I was scared for their health and partly because I was so happy for their family. I was able to see what all of the babies looked like as soon as they were delivered. All of her babies weighed between 2-3 lbs. It all of a sudden hit me, OMG, that is what little Ava looks like right now. It made everything seem so much more real and it really made me feel so blessed to be carrying her in my tummy. She continues to be really active and her kicks/punches are much more frequent and intense. It's just an amazing feeling and truly the best part about being pregnant. I know I sound really sappy today, but we have had such a big weekend with the birth of LJ and knowing that I will be in delivering our little girl in 11 weeks. I can not wait to become a mother ! :)

Welcome Lincoln Joseph Hoffman!!!!!

WELCOME LINCOLN JOSEPH!!!!!

Our little nephew, Lincoln has finally arrived today, 6/21/08. He came into this world around 7:30 PM and weighed in at 8 lbs, 2 oz. He measured out at 20 1/2 inches. Mommy Jenna did great and both her and LJ are recovering wonderfully. Tate and I were able to see the new parents and LJ tonight and it was so great! I could not believe how tiny he was and of course how adorable he is. Holding him in my arms felt so great and I am now even more excited for Ava to make her big entrance in September. I have a big feeling that she and her cousin LJ will be very close. :) We could not be happier for Jenna and Adam! This is truly a very special day. Welcome Lincoln Joseph, your Auntie and Uncle already love you so much!

28 Weeks 3 Days - Ultrasound

Today was a big day for us as we had our level 3 ultrasound at the Perinatal clinic. Every time I go into the doctor's office, I always have tears in my eyes because I get so worried about how our little girl is doing. It's hard not to worry about this little peanut because I just want her to have the best. As we went into the ultrasound room today, I found myself taking a deep breath as the doctor placed the warm gel on my tummy. Once I was able to see Ava on the screen, I felt so relieved. Of course, I still needed to hear from the doctor that she was measuring out okay and that everything looked good but my fears were soon put to rest. All of the pictures we took of Ava turned out great and the doctor told me she is measuring perfectly at 28 weeks and 3 days. So, that means we are still on target for a 9/9/08 due date and my Grandma Kaufenberg is most likely up in heaven making sure that still happens since it was her birthday as well. :) We have also re-confirmed that we are still having a GIRL! I made them double, actually triple check because people kept telling me stories of how they were told they had a girl and then when the baby was born, he ended up being a boy. I can confidently say that there is no doubt now that we are having a girl (I will leave the details out). :) The doctor also told us that Ava weighs 2 lbs 14 oz, which is basically 3 lbs since there is 16 oz in a pound (I had to have Tate and my Dad confirm that for me). It just proves that she is very healthy and doing great. I am such a proud Momma today and I feel so much better knowing that she is on the right path. Mommy is able to breathe a big sigh of relief. :)

28 Weeks 2 Days - Frequent Trips to the Bathroom

Wow! I have finally hit the point in my pregnancy where I find myself running to the bathroom every hour or so. I have been drinking a lot of water lately, but I did not expect to have to run to the bathroom all the time. It just goes to show that little Ava is growing and I think she is currently resting on mommy's bladder. :) I can't complain too much because I am just happy knowing she is growing and heck, it gives me a chance to get some more walking in. :) Tate comes home from his trip to Omaha tonight so I plan on dragging him along when Bailey and I head out for our daily walk. :)

28 Weeks 1 Day - 3rd Trimester has definitely made an impact

I have heard everyone tell me how difficult the 3rd trimester can be and believe me, I understand what they are saying now. I have had the hardest time waking up in the morning lately. It feels like I haven't slept at all. Last night on my walk with Bailey I had a hard time keeping up to him. Lol. But, I did manage to get my 45 minute walk in which always seems to make me feel better. I just can't believe how tired I was this morning. This is just the beginning of the 3rd trimester so we will see if I am able to get any energy back. I find myself looking forward to the weekend because I know that I will be able to sleep whenever I want. :) On a positive note, I am still able to sleep very comfortably and I haven't needed to use the body pillow Tate bought for me. We shall see how long that lasts. :)

28 Weeks - Welcome to the 3rd and Last Trimester

Today I say goodbye to my 2nd trimester and welcome the 3rd and final trimester. I have really noticed a change in my tummy this week. I feel like I have really popped now and my stomach has become really hard. According to whattoexpect.com, little Ava measures somewhere between 16-18 inches long from head to toe and weighs around 2 1/2 lbs. I am still amazed by those statistics. I look down at my growing tummy and wonder how she is finding room in there. The 3rd trimester is known for being one of the hardest because of the decrease in energy level and because of the weight gain of the baby. Hopefully it won't be that bad for me. I am still taking Bailey on walks every day and I just signed up for a fitness and wellness program here at work. They give us a pedometer and a goal of reaching 10,000 steps every day. It will be kind of fun to see where I end up. The contest will last for 40 days so I am hoping I will be close to reaching my own personal goal. Starting June 23rd I will be counting my steps. :) Thankfully, I have been feeling great and walking has been a great part of my every day activity. Let's just hope that my energy doesn't fade away too fast.