The Momma Diaries About Loving Life and Each Other...: January 2009

Sunday, January 25, 2009

Ava is 6 months- 1/24/09

Ava 1/19/2009

Ava is six months old, it is so hard to believe that she has been here with us for 1/2 of a year, it feels like yesterday that I was going to the Doctor's 3 days a week and asking Dr Mckernan when we could schedule the c-section for so that my family could get their plane tickets.

She is accomplishing so many new things every day, this last month has been filled with many firsts:

On 12/27/2008 she tried sweet potatoes for the first time, and sucked on her toes for the first time.

On 12/28/2008: Ava was blessed

Ava's first New Years Eve 12/31/08

Started using her high chair on 1/9/2009

Moved out of her bassinet and into her bed (I am kicking myself for not taking a photo of her end to end in her bassinet) also on 1/9/2009.

On 1/10/2009 she started to give her baby doll "kisses".

Started sitting up on her own on 1/14/2009

Learned to roll from back to stomach on 1/7/2009. This picture was taken on 1/9, Ava rolled onto her stomach and then couldn't figure out how to use her hands to play with her toys, so she decided her tongue would work nicely.

Ava went on her first hike at Thunderbird Conservation Park 1/19/2009

This photo is of A entertaining herself while waiting for her shots at the Doctor's office (1/26/2009). She was so big she had to get three shots they stuck her and she whimpered for just a moment, I gave her a kiss and she stopped crying.

The PA we saw kept saying how delightful she was. She was super smiley and whenever the PA would ask if she could do something she would do it as if on command. She was so cute and such a little show off.

Her six months stats:

25 1/2 inches (50th percentile)
15 lb 15 oz (50th percentile)

Monday, January 19, 2009

Sunday January 11, 2009

Warm Days in January (1/10/2009)

So there is a definite plus to living in Arizona, like the fact that you can go on a bike ride on January 10th, to the local Sonic for ice cream while dad is at work (rotation) and then you can stop and play at the park. Its days like today that definitely make the 115 degree summers worth it.

Katrena and Ava

at the park

Asleep by the time we got home

Super cool

December 29th: Santa, Picture Day and Dinner with the whole North Crew...

This post is coming 3 months late, but its here. I wanted to make sure to post about everything so that when I make my blurb book, its not only all there, its in the right order as well!

We started December 29th with Santa pictures, I know a little late, but worth it! My Dad dressed up like Santa and took pictures with the girls for me. Ava of course had no clue it was Grandpa and had more fun eating his beard than anything else.

Next we went and had family photos taken with the North side of the family. We never seem to be able to get all together. This is the first family photo taken since our wedding and there are 2 more beautiful grandkids.

After photos we all went to lunch together at Texas Roadhouse where we were spread out over three tables after all there were 17 of us! Grandpa and I got to sit with little kids at the kiddie table. We had a great time and it was nice to spend time visiting with each other.

Christmas with Grandma and Grandpa Watts, 12/28/2008...

After Ava's blessing and get together at my in-laws, we headed to my grandparents for christmas dinner and fun.

My uncle Gary and his family drove up from St George just for the day, and it was so good to see them. We were sorry they didn't make it in time for the blessing, but totally understand. As my Dad loses weight he begins to look more and more like his brother Gary. When we first arrived at my Grandparents I didn't know they were there and I actually thought Gary was my Dad when he opened the door. After a yummy dinner we visited and exchanged white elephant gifts. It was a lot of fun, and it was so good to spend so much time with our extended family.

My grandparents Duane and Judy with their sons, Gary, Wayne and Wade.

Gary's Family (minus Justin who is serving a mission in southern California.) back: Brady and Gary, middle: Maddison and Dawn, bottom: Hannah.

Wades Family: left to right: Preston, Wade, Tyler, Megan and Traci

Grandma with the two newest members of the family

Ava with her Great Grandparents

We also took some time to take a picture with all the Grandkids, their spouses and Great Grandkids:

We also took the opportunity to take a family photo with Grammy Ann:

And last but not least we took a four generation photo:

Happy Anniversary...

December 28th also marked mine and Brent's four year anniversary. It feels like we've been married forever already. I don't mean this in a bad way, it just feels as though we've always been together. I think its because of all that we have been through in our short married life. Someone once said to me that if we could make it through what we had that we could make it through anything. I second that. In our times of trial if one of us has been down the other has been there to pull the other up, and vice versa.

Its interesting that we mesh; because we are two very different people, and yet we work. We may argue about stupid little things, but when it comes to the big things we agree. I came to the realization not to long ago that when it boils down to it, I would rather argue with Brent than sit contently next to someone else for the rest of my life. I am so glad to have him in my life. I am glad for his desire to provide for our family and to let me just be mom and to be home with my girls. I am thankful that he always kisses me goodbye and tells me he loves me. I am thankful that he enjoys going on family outings and enjoying the outdoors together as a family. I am thankful for the times he spends riding bikes and playing games with Katrena. I am thankful for the times that he spends loving and playing with Ava. I am thankful for the rare times that we are able to spend on a date just the two of us, or just watching a movie at home snuggled up in bed.

Most of all I am thankful for the opportunity we have to spend eternity together...

Ava's Blessing, December 28th...

While we were in Utah for Christmas we took the opportunity to have Ava blessed. All of our family that would want to attend live in Utah except Brent's brother and his family and they would be there for Christmas as well, so it was perfect. Our little girl looked beautiful and it was so wonderful to have so many friends and family there. She was blessed in the ward that I grew up in and that Brent's family moved into during his late elementary years. Both of our parents still live in the ward and we did too after we were married until the time we moved to Arizona.

Ava was blessed by her Daddy and it was a beautiful blessing. I have to say that my favorite part was when he blessed her with much love. Some of the other things she was blessed with were a desire to learn and to be teachable. That she would have and find joy in having children. That she would find a good husband. Be a friend to others and have a desire to help others. That she would be blessed to know of her Heavenly Fathers and her parents love for her. He also blessed that her caretakers and those that would be influential in raising her would know how to teach and raise her. It was a beautiful blessing.

After Sacrament meeting was over my in-laws had everyone come to their home where we had punch, yummy desserts, salads, fruit,veggies and mini sandwiches on rolls. Thanks so much for having everyone over I know it was a house full.

Here is our beautiful little girl on her special day:

Her full dress. I was worried about finding one that would fit a 5 month old, and my mom suggested the distribution center. I saw this one online on their website and thought it was perfect and only $28 to boot.

Our Family

Ava with Grandma and Grandpa North

Ava with Grandma and Grandpa Watts

I have made both of my girls afgans for their blessings. They look completely different from one another. I asked Katrena if I should make Ava's just like hers and she said no, that they needed to be different. Katrena's was a little more feminine, but I am pleased with both of them. Katrena's had hearts and Ava's has scalloped edges. So here is Ava with her afgan, that I finished an hour and a half before the blessing. It's not like I didn't have almost 14 months to get it done or anything.

Christmas with Trena, December 27th...

We had Christmas with Katrena on the night of the 27th, with my parents, Grammy Ann, my siblings and their significant others.

We met for dinner at Golden Coral (definitely would not have been any ones first choice, but it would house us all easily and everyone could get what they wanted). We then headed home where Katrena and Taylor (Kay's boyfriend) opened all of their presents and Ava opened her presents from Brent and Iand Katrena (we wanted Katrena to be there).

We had a fun night that ended with a lot of people playing games and Tyler getting his hair interestingly styled by his baby sister. Joy and Katrena played about 5 rounds of Electronic Guess Who and I didn't take a single picture of that.

Also while taking a time out to change Ava's diaper, she learned a new trick that it is just as fun to suck on your big toe as it is to suck on your thumb. She still continues to do this every time her diaper is changed.

Here are some photos from the night:

Katrena in her cute hat from Uncle Tyler and Aunt Joy

Katrena in her apron that I (mom) made her for Christmas, she got this along with a Betty Crocker Jr cookbook.

Ava sucking on her big toe. My mom always tells the girls she is going to get their sugar toes and then pretends to nibble on their toes. Katrena and I now tease Ava that Grandma doesn't need to get her sugar toes, because Ava has already sucked all the sugar off of them.

Katrena showing Ava the present that she gave her.

Playing games

Mom and Ava

Tyler with one of his many fantastic hair do's (or dont's ) from Karey, some how they just kept getting worse.

Christmas at Mom an Dad Norths 12/25/08...

We decided to go ahead and open presents while we waited for Shelly's family to arrive as Gary's family was headed to Bountiful. After we were done opening presents Shelly's family arrived and we headed upstairs to eat. (And plans changed a little and Gary's family was going to be there a little longer, yea).

We had some yummy food: ham, turkey, rolls, fruit salad, veggie tray, sweet potato casserole, and this couscous couscous salad that my mother in law makes that is HEAVEN! I love that stuff. I am pretty sure I am missing something, probably green jello and maybe something else. Hey I remembered everything I spent my points on, I think.

Then we went back to the basement where Shelly's family and Ava opened there presents and we just spent some good ole quality time visiting and hanging out the rest of the day. It was nice to be together as a family. Its something that just doesn't happen enough. With the family in two different states. The only thing that could have made the day better was if Trena had been there.