5 months...

Often when I am doing stuff around the house, I think of something that I want to write about on here, but then as soon as I sit down at the computer I can't think of a thing to write about. I used to be addicted to this one mother's blog, and she posted everyday! If only my life were that exciting, and if only people cared to read about our day to day lives.
Anyway, Ava is 5 months old now. I went out and bought some rice cereal and I think we are going to try it on Friday night. That is really the only night that Brent and I have together. Otherwise it's school or work, work or school. Though I am happy to report that there seems to be a light at the end of tunnel, financially speaking. Thanks to my old job's CRAPPY insurance policy that they conveniently changed in the middle of my pregnancy, we got stuck with a lot of bills when Ava was born. When I first got pregnant, our insurance policy covered 100% except for a $100.00 co-pay, which I happily paid right away. However, in September they changed the policy so that we were now responsible for 20% of the costs. I didn't realize this until after Ava was born and the bills started pouring in. Not a very good time, I was stressed out. I had never been unemployed before, I worried about money constantly, and it really put a damper on being a happy new mommy. But now we have everything pretty much paid off, and hopefully we can get back to where we were.
Okay, back to Ava. She has been pretty cranky the past couple of days, and I keep checking to feel any teeth coming through, but so far nothing. I bought her a teething ring that unfortunatly only stays cold for about 1 minute. She likes it though. And about the rice cereal, I do not really know what to do. How often do I give it to her? Does she get it every feeding? Her feedings are down to a science right now, I am nervous about mixing it up. This is when I would love it if our pediatrician made house calls, or better yet - lived with us. He seems like he'd be a really cool roomate.
Ava is thisclose to sitting up. She tries so hard. Once you prop her up into a sitting position she can hold it for a few seconds and then starts to fall. If her have her against a couch or in her boppy, she does really good. I can't wait for her to start sitting up, that is such a milestone. With my luck, I will probably miss it, as I did the rolling over.
Right now I am sick - AGAIN!! This is the 2nd time in 2 months. Much thanks to those hooligans at the YMCA. I wash - no, SCRUB - my hands constantly. They are dried and chapped from being washed so much, and I still get everything that is going around. The kids just climb all over me and they want to get right up in my face to talk. I feel bad pushing them away but I guess that's what I'll have to do from now on, cuz this sucks! The good news is that Ava hasn't gotten sick yet. It is good news, but I am so nervous I kind of wish it would happen already so we can get it over it. I have a feeling that the longer we go without her getting sick, the worse it will be when she finally does catch something. I will feel so awful for her.
Well, I think a bowl of ice cream is calling my name, so I'm going to run. I'll have some more pictures soon.

Father's Day

No, she is not on drugs in the above picture

what a cute little...boy??

An old picture, but I needed it for my story. This is the outfit that I had Ava in today when I went to run some errands with her. Ava usually attracts some amount of attention when we go out, and the thought had crossed my mind that this outfit is a little...less girly than her other stuff, but it's still cute. Well, at our first stop, the post office, I was in line and the woman behind me was checking Ava out, and I could feel it coming: "HE is so cute!" And I responded "Thanks, HE'S a good baby!" I didn't even bother correcting her! She then asked me how old HE was, and I told her that HE was 5 months. I walked out of there feeling pretty bad about what I'd done, but I would never see this person again, and so what if we used HE instead of SHE? But we still had one more stop to make, and it gets worse...
So we're at Publix, and we get in line at the check out. It's my turn up and wouldn't you know that I got in the line with what sounded like the most talkative cashier/bagger combo in the place. Here it comes again - "HE looks so content!" "Thanks", I said, hoping they would leave it at that. But they didn't. The bagger went on and on about HIM, asking questions about HIM, and I just went along with it and felt awful. Ava was lying there so innocently, not knowing that everyone thought she was a little boy and not the cute little girl that she is, and it was my fault. I dressed her in a blue outfit, her infant carrier is mostly blue, she had a male pattern baldness thing going on with her hair... All I could think was I hope this isn't why people have sex change operations and gender identity issues.

More pictures will be posted soon...

Swimming!

Today after work we went swimming over at Brent's parent's house, and we put Ava in the pool too! I think she kinda liked it! At least she didn't cry. Brent's mom dipped Ava's feet in the pool a while back and she didn't like it. Today I just brought her right in with me. I figured that would be better than putting her in little by little. She was so cool about it, she didn't make a peep. We only had her on for about 10 minutes and then I figured we'd better get her out before the chlorine dried out her skin too much. She was just the cutest. We had her in the pool naked today but I'm sure before Summer is over we will buy her a little swim suit. The hard part will be getting it on her.

Here are some pictures but please ignore us and just look at Ava. We look a mess:






I am going to bed now. I haven't had a good night's sleep all week. I miss sleep!

Ouch!

Soooo...shots. She took it a lot better than last time. I did not take it as well. I was cowering in the corner with tears in my eyes. Hopefully each time will get a little easier. Ava is doing good; she now weighs 15 lbs which is the 75th percentile and is 25 3/4" long, which is the 90th percentile. Tall baby! She was in such a great mood all day yesterday, but today she was such a bear. Normally she is such a happy baby in the morning but today she woke up crying her head off, and was just grouchy all day. I know it's because the shots made her not fell well. I hope she's back to normal tomorrow.

After the doctors we stopped by my old workplace since we were right down the street. However, I did not go up to the office. I called my old boss Summer from the lobby and told her to come down and see us. If you've ever heard me talk about the company that I used to work for, then you know that the owner of the company is a bit paranoid. Security there was very high, we had to scan our fingerprint to get in the door. Anyway, they have this policy about ex-employees; no matter how good the circumstances were, ex-employees do not come back to visit. I didn't know if they would even let me in the door, so I just decided not to go up. There are some people there that I don't care to see anyway. Summer, Leslie and Stephanie came down and met Ava, and she was great for them. I have to admit that being back there kind of made me miss that life, just a little bit. But I wouldn't trade what I have now for anything.

So today is my 28th birthday. Blah. I kinda forgot about it until my friend from Utah called to wish my happy b-day. Brent arranged for his mom to babysit the bear, so we went out to dinner by ourselves for the first time since she's been born. It was very nice, although I was just a tad anxious. Tonight was also Ava's first car ride without me or Brent, and not in our car. All was fine, I just need to get over this FTMS - first time mother syndrome. Brent's mom has only had like, 4 kids or something and buntches of grandkids. I think she can handle our little bear.

Well, it is late and I desperately need some beauty sleep.

What's up?

I think I start almost every post with "It's been a while since I last posted." We are just busy busy busy. Basically Brent and I are single parents since it is rare that we are home at the same time for any extended period of time. He's working and going to school, I'm working in the afternoons, we seem to just pass each other. We are making it work though. It's amazing how much housework I can get done in 10 minutes. Ava now likes her carrier, so we just strap that thing on and go.

She's trying to grab the camera strap. She tries to grab everything now, including my hair. I have gotten used to having hair pulled out, eyes poked, and face scratched by her, her hands are all over the place. I love to put my face real close to hers and let her feel all over my face like a blind person.
Thursday we have another dreaded doctor appointment; her next round of shots. The last time was so horrible, mostly for me. I hate hearing her cry like that, even if it is for her own good. I started crying as soon as she did. I hope this time won't be as bad.
Here she is in her super cute jammies:

She is starting to tolerate the swing now, which is good. She was getting bored with the bouncy seat. She kept knocking those rings down and then wanting them back:

She is trying to sit up so bad! Everytime you lay her on her back she does these little baby crunches, and you can tell she is just straining so hard.


I'm excited because I think it's about time to start her on rice cereal. I know, not that exciting, but it's a stepping stone. She is going to be 5 months this month, and soon she'll be eating real baby food. I can't wait.
Well, it's getting late and I have a feeling she's going to be up early.