Ava Grace

Our sweet little Ava Grace finally made her appearance on July 23rd @ 8:16 pm ( I was due July 16th). I was absolutely sure that she was coming early and as I came upon 40 weeks and 1 day, then 2 days, and 3, and on and on...I just thought maybe my body doesn't go into labor. Maybe it takes medicine. Riley was late and induced. I felt pretty good until about 40 weeks and 5 days, then I was finally just tired and really ready to meet this girl. I tried telling myself there was no reason to rush having 2 little knuckleheads running my life, but as most pregnant women know, in the end, each day makes you more and more impatient. These girls, they just get so comfy.

I had an appointment with my doctor on July 23rd, exactly 41 weeks and we set a date for induction for that friday. After the appointment I had what I thought was irregular, but constant cramping the rest of the day. Robby, Riley, and I went to a late lunch on Shelter Island. After we ordered our lunch and as I saw people walking around with delicious looking ice cream cones, I realized my body was telling me it was a better idea to call the triage nurse and run how I was feeling by them instead of filling myself with fish tacos and ice cream. Something was definitely happening for me to pass up good food.

For all of you L&D girlfriends of mine and such, if you want more details I'll fill you in anytime, but to make a long story short: I checked in at 5 pm, had my water broken at 7 pm, and delivered just after 8 pm...narrowly avoiding giving birth in the bathroom, which as an ER nurse was my biggest and most potentially embarrassing fear. It was very quick. Ava and mama were healthy. And now we have made room in our hearts for a second beautiful girl.

Her name means bird-like, which is very appropriate, since as she wakes up she lets out a dramatic sounding squawk. She has a couple of similarities to her sister, like the area between her lower lip and chin and parts of her nose. I do have to say, she did look a little over-baked initially. Sorry if you look back on this one day girl, but I'm not sure if it was the hormones, but I remember thinking that Riley looked perfect, and with you Ava, I remember thinking you looked like a little old man. Don't worry, day by day you have become more delicate and feminine. One of my favorite physical attributes is the shape of her head as it extends into her graceful looking neck.

I am so excited to see this little bird of ours grow, but I do wish she'd stay this size forever. She took some time to grow on me. Now as she is about two and a half weeks old, all that I can say is that she and her sister make me have chest pain. The love in my heart exceeds itself in a way that it must be pushing on the walls of my heart, because I swear I have pressure in my chest, but in a positive way.

 A few shots since we've been at home...

Sisters

"Tool"

We bought Ri her own stool so that she can look into her new sister's mini crib (instead of grabbing and pulling the crib over). Little did we think ahead that her new stool also gives her access to better climbing, stove knobs, drawers with sharp and small objects...
At least she loves her new "tool." S's are a little hard for her. The pitter patter of her tiny feet coming down the hall when she wakes up, hops out of her little bed, and comes in each morning to see her baby sister is heart-melting. Her hair is pretty great too. 

Hold on!

The other day Robby and I were complimenting Riley with things other than physical attributes like "you're so cute" or "you're so pretty." When one of us said "are you patient?" she looked at me and shook her finger and said "hode on!" Which is actually 'hold on,' and is her newest thing to say...and it is hilarious the way she marches around saying it. Since Ava's been around apparently I've been saying "hold on" and "be patient" back to back much more frequently. Here's to patience for everyone in this family...

These days

These days, as we wait around for the next baby to arrive I am limiting my nesting in exchange for spending time squeezing the fun out of life with with my favorite little buddy. It's a weird thought knowing that it won't just be her and I soon. Everyone with more than one child says that you miraculously have room in your heart for the next, and I know that's true....but I keep getting these extra surreal surges of joy while spending time with Riley. I love how the simplest past times with a toddler are so extraordinary. 

She loves helping us make our espresso. She calls it "boppee," (sounds like "coffee"). She gets to enjoy her steamed milk n' foam in an espresso cup while we have our macchiatos each morning.

We have spent almost every day at the beach or pool. 

She loves smelling flowers at the farmers markets.

She LOVES LOVES LOVES her new cousin Luna. She calls her "Lu-lu." 
And the matching outfits begin...
Happy 4th of July!

My husband, the stellar athlete.

(Your'e supposed to laugh by the way when you read the title of this blog...Neither of us take anything that serious).

But in all seriousness, I can't say enough of how impressed I am with Robby's lifestyle that has become so incredibly healthy over the last year and a half. It is wonderful to be coming on 9 years of marriage and be so motivated towards health by your husband. Don't be too impressed though (I mean with me), my sweet tooth has only gotten sweeter in this last trimester.

The other day in a triathlon, Robby came out of the water first in his age group. He said he didn't know what to do for a second since there was no one else around.

The pic's below are his team that ran a relay race from Huntington Beach to San Diego.

Beep Beep

She is obsessed with the song 'The wheels on the bus go round and round...' It started with a nursery rhyme book where that is the first song in the book. It's pretty adorable that every time she is drowsy now she says "beep beep," wanting us to sing that song to her. I think Robby and I have sung that song at least a thousand times each in the past few weeks. 

Getting crafty again

In June we get to celebrate the marriage of some of our closest friends. Robby, Riley, and I are all lucky enough to be apart of it. In preparation, I crafted up some mason jars as the drinking glasses for Ashley's shower. You may now call me a hipster if you must.

Sleep

I think traveling does Riley well. Since Boston, I'm not sure if it's mama's motivation that she senses or what...but she is sleeping better. I say that, and she'll probably wake up 5 times tonight. If she does, then that's just life. I laughed in my head as I put her down tonight thinking that after almost 2 years of broken up sleep, big time, I have been getting some actual shut eye...and what am I doing 2 months from now? Popping out a little sister. Lord, let her be a better sleeper.

After coming home from Boston, we started her in her new big girl bed. She is doing so well with it. For more reasons than that, I am just so proud of my little girl.

The joys of being a home owner

For the third time in the last few months, our sewer backed up. Each time, Robby has been at work. Lovely.
This time a simple snaking of the pipes wouldn't do the trick. The problem was an old broken pipe. Thankfully we have the most helpful family: one dad who is a plumber and another who loves a chance to rent, or more accurately, to play with, a big tractor and tear up the earth.