Father's Day Weekend

We had a wonderful first Father's Day. Our weekend was jam packed! We left on Saturday morning to drive to KY to visit my dad for Father's Day. We took Ava to her very first baseball game. She did very well, we got to stay and enjoy the entire game. There were a few times she started to get a little fussy, but we had a bottle ready and that made everything better! Ava also made her first big screen debut on the megatron at the baseball game! She was so cute, wide awake, and stripped down to just her onesie by that time, due to the heat. Once we got back home on Sunday, we went over to Jerry and Dianna's to enjoy a nice dinner prepared by Dianna. We spent some time with Jerry and watched the golf tournament. For Gabe's father day, I got him a dog tag necklace with Ava's name and birthdate stamped on it. Ava got him a picture frame that included pictures of her and letters that spelled out "DAD". You can see the pictures below that she put in his frame. Gabe has it proudly hanging up in his cubicle at work today. We hope all the dad's out there had a good Father's Day!

Ava's Father's Day gift to her daddy

She's such a ham!

First Father's Day picture with Ava

Grammy and Ava

Grandpa and Ava

Ava-June 2010

Here are Ava's pictures at 2 months old. She is already starting to hold her head up on her own for longer periods of time. We have even started sitting her up in her Bumbo chair. She is starting to smile more and more and be very active. She is wide awake from the hours of 5:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., which is perfect because that is when Gabe and I get to spend time the most time with her, since we both work. She still gets up once in the night, but I don't think it's going to be too much longer before she starts sleeping through the night. She is on a great schedule that seems to really work! Gabe and I are really starting to get the hang of this parenting thing. Grammy and Ava

Lazy Saturday

2 months old

June 4th, 2010
I love me some Ava!

Ava's Birth Annoucement

Here is the Birth Announcement we decided on. The photographer designed it with a little input from me! I LOVE the way it turned out!!

Ava's Newborn Photo Shoot

Here are some of our favorite pictures from Ava's photo shoot. She was only 2 weeks old in these pictures. She did very good for all the wardrobe changes and crazy positions we were putting her in. I had to feed her midway through to keep her happy, but we ended up getting some good shots!

Ava's Nursery

Here are some pictures I took a few months ago of Ava's nursery. We have hung a few more pictures since she has arrived, but this gives you a good idea of her beautiful room that I designed (I'm very proud of it!). It's definitely a little messier these days now that Ava has arrived.

All About Ava

The title says it all! For the last 2 months, my life has revolved around this beautiful little angel. Never did I imagine I could love a little child so much, she is truly a blessing from above and I thank God every day for giving me this precious gift to care for. I am just so honored that God chose me of all the women in the world to be Ava's mother.

I have learned so much about Ava over the last 2 months and cannot believe how much she has grown already. Ava enjoys feeding time, being held for hours, visitors, riding in her carseat, being talked to, going for walks, being swaddled and shushed, listening to her sleep sheep, making noises, sucking on her fingers, staring at the ceiling fan, sitting up while I move her legs in a bicycle motion, sleeping with her lips slightly open so you can see her tongue, and sticking her tongue out. She is starting to enjoy bath time, as well as tummy time, and I am hoping that, any day now, she will give me that big smile that I know she is capable of.

Ava will be 2 months this Friday (6-4-10) and she already weighs over 10 lbs, which is double what she weighed at birth. At her 1 month check up, Ava weighed in at 7 lbs. 12 oz and 20" long. We go for her 2 month check up on Monday, so I will be interested to see what her exact weight is. She will also be getting her first shots at her next appointment. I am shocked at how strong Ava is. She holds her head up for very long periods of time, kicks with force, and grabs onto my fingers and toys with a tight grip. Her eyes are still a blueish-gray color, but Gabe and I think she will eventually have brown eyes. We still cannot decide who she favors, we think she is a good mix of both of us...she's just Ava!

She is doing very well at night, she wakes up at least once in the night to be fed, but goes right back to sleep. She has been on this routine now for 3 1/2 weeks, so hopefully it sticks. She actually slept the entire night last night! Before she goes to bed, I feed her, swaddle her, rock her, and sing her a lullaby. All the key ingredients to put this little baby to sleep.

Our love for Ava grows stronger and stronger with each passing day. There are so many things that Gabe and I can't wait to do with her. We can't wait to take her swimming for the first time, to the beach, to Disneyland, watch her play sports, first day of school, her baptism, and many, many, more things. We have so much to look forward to!

Ava-Mommy and Daddy love you very much, we hope you enjoy reading this blog and watching yourself blossom into a young lady through all the pictures and videos we post. You have given us joy that we never imagined possible. We will always be here for you. We love you, darling!

Ava-May 2010

Here are just a few pictures from the month of May. Ava had a big month in May, we did lots of traveling. She is such a good little traveler, she is very calm and loves to sleep during the long car rides. We visited family and friends in Louisville, Bowling Green, and Nashville. May was the last month before I had to go back to work, so I tried to do as much with Ava as I possibly could. She is such a joy to be around and I love her to pieces.Ready to go for a ride!

Trying to grin...
#1 Dad

Loves to be held by Nana

Already a Southern girl!

All the ladies on Mother's Day

Proud Grandparents!
Lauren and Ava

Kristen and Ava
Kendra and Ava
Avery Madison Thompson and Ava Catherine Beyl

1 Month Old

May 4th, 2010

Ava-April 2010

What a month April was from start to finish, it went by so quick. Starting with Ava being born at the beginning of the month, Gabe's birthday in the middle of the month, make-up showers, all the visitors that came to see her, and just adjusting to our new life with her. It was a real treat to be able to stay at home with Ava every day. Ava is loved so much already, here are just some of the pictures of her with all the family members.

Great Aunt Carolyn

Great Uncle Frank and Great Aunt Ellen
Great Aunt Kelly and 2nd cousin Kaytryn
Grandpa Jim

Aunt Ashley
Great Grandad Charlie and Great Grandmom Jane
Mike Stewart Family
Mark Stewart Family

The Beyls

Aunt Alyssa

Grandaddy Jerry and Nana

Grammy

Aunt Brittany