Four Weeks: Where Did the Time Go?

"I'm a movie star..."
Happy ONE MONTH BIRTHDAY, Avaree!! (Thank you, Tootsie for my outfit!!)

Mommy love!

Cuddle time with Papa Bear and Nanna D

I'm so stinkin' cute my Mommy just can't stop taking pictures of me!!! :)

Our sweet baby is four weeks old!!! We had a very eventful weekend and enjoyed our visit with Nana D, Papa Bear and Aunt Connie! Last night was Avaree's first night in her big girl crib. Of course I checked on her 23 times, but she loves her bed and we love watching her on the tv monitor! She slept there for almost 4 hours without a peep! We are working on our schedule this week and hoping that our nights get a little easier!

Last week I (very gratefully) extended my leave to 8 weeks so I have 3 and 1/2 more weeks with my baby girl. I'm once again on the "don't think about it" policy and hoping that it will be easier once the time comes.

Funny Story of the Week: Daddy was going to sing a solo at Pwood on Sunday so we tried to get to church (and did so successfully thanks to "the village" that helped me get us there) and in between church and sunday school I was looking for somewhere to feed Avaree and after trying unsuccessfully to nurse her in a bathroom stall, we found a handicap shower stall and improvised there... :) Needless to say, we don't get out much! :) It is something that I will never forget.

bath time!!

Sweet angel girl... She doesn't sleep in her crib at night yet (still in the cradle in our room), but she loves to get in it during the day and look around!

"Tell me about it, stud." :) I LOVE this picture!!!

Okay, now here's the part she hates: drying off. :(

"Mommy, Daddy, I'm getting so excited!"

"Okay, so maybe I do like this whole bath thing."

The first few times that we sponge bathed Avaree she screamed her head off!! It was so pitiful sounding, but so darn cute at the same time! The girl just does not like to be naked (and I am not complaining about this!!)! However, this week we started letting her sit in just a little bit of warm water while we bathe her and shampoo her hair. SHE LOVES IT! I kept telling her, "I promise you will love baths soon; Mommy loves baths!!" We are so happy that she seems to enjoy it now and it is becoming part of her evening routine!!

Three Weeks of His grace...

Tummy time with Daddy!!
Sleeping like an angel.... :)

Bright eyes!

Hi Mommy!!

Granmamma love...

At Avaree's two-week well-baby check up on Wednesday, we learned the following statistics:

--She is back at her birth weight (7 lbs, 13 oz), putting her in the 35th percentile for her weight

--She has Mommy's head and not Daddy's as she is in the 50th percentile (among her peers) for the size of her head! :)

--She is still 20 1/2 inches long and in the 70th percentile for her height!

We had another fun weekend with a visit from Granmama and Granpapa. Avaree got to be a moviestar with all of the cameras flashing! Our wedding photographer from College Station was in town and came by to snap a few pictures too!

We love her so much and I can't imagine life without her. Please enjoy the pictures.

Two weeks...

Happy Birthday, baby girl!! 10/05/09

Laughing at Daddy!! First laugh: 10/4/05!!! I wish I had this on video!!!!


Avaree got to meet her big brother, Gimli! He was so good with her!!

The Barton's

G-Pops and Avaree

Miss Avaree was two weeks old yesterday! I cannot believe how quickly the time has flown by. Praise the Lord she has gained weight and is only two ounces under her birth weight now! I was working hard to feed her on demand and them pump as much as possible to supplement. We had an eventful weekend: Gigi, G-Pops and Gimli came for a visit and Avaree received lots of lovin'. :) We are looking forward to visits from the other grandparents in the next couple of weeks.

Who knew I could love something so much and so quickly? She's the best. Please enjoy the most recent pictures!!

AVAREE = Angel!! :)

She sleeps just like her daddy!

Tummy time!

First trip to the doctor!

Our trip home from the hospital as a family!

Alert! She is so advanced...

Well...she's here! Our apologies for not getting pictures up sooner, but our internet has been down for weeks! Thank you all for your prayers and encouraging words!! I have about 87 phone calls to return, but can't seem to put my little angel down long enough to get much done...so please forgive me! :)

There are really no words to tell you how amazing the last couple of weeks have been. Brandon, Avaree and I have had time to bond as a family, and despite the lack of sleep, it has been pure joy! More updates to come, but please enjoy the pictures for now...

The last Sunday without her...

Tomorrow is the big day! I am being induced tomorrow morning at 6am!

Pictures of our sweet baby girl are coming soon!! :) Thank you for your prayers!!

Waiting...

Avaree's sweet cradle that is at the foot of our bed!

Well, it's Sunday evening, September 13th and one week from tomorrow (if she doesn't come sooner--please come sooner!) we will have a baby. This is still unfathomable for me; however, I don't think Brandon or I have been more anxious for anything in our lives. :)

I have lots of pains (as of late) and certainly don't have a clue what they are and the current most frequently asked question from my precious husband is, "Did your water break?" ha! Our house has been quite comical lately... We have been quite the pair.

I'm not sure how to prepare myself mentally or emotionally for this life change, but I know the One who gives peace that surpasses all understanding and each day is a challenge to trust him more.

Psalm 27:14
Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD!

Here are the most recent pictures of her sweet nursery... (and by here I mean above since I am new to this and cannot seem to get them to stay where I place them!)

YAY--The room is almost finished!!

Thank you, Kerri, for the beautiful letters!!!
I can't wait to put our sweet little girl in her beautiful crib!!!!! I could LIVE in her room! I guess that explains why I didn't get much school work done today...oh well! :)

34 weeks and counting!!

This is our last picture from our apartment at 2300 Grayson Drive in Grapevine!! Hooray!!! I think I was around 28 or 29 weeks in this picture!

The finished product with the beautiful bedding!!!

He's so cute when he's concentrating and using tools!! :)

My husband has been Mr. Handyman this summer! He has been mowing our beautiful yard, cutting down trillions of boxes, and putting together all sorts of things for Avaree and for her room! He was so proud of himself after putting the crib together because the online reviews said that it would take about 2 hours to put together, but brandon put it together in about 30 minutes!!!

Avaree's room is close to being finished. I'll post more pictures when I'm satisfied with it! We have the most wonderful friends and family and our little girl is already so blessed! Come by and visit her room whenever you can!

We will be 34 weeks on Wednesday and it sure has flown by! I'm getting anxious and love to sit in her room and think about what she will look like and what she will do with her life. I love to think about how all of the changes in that will soon come to our lives will just make our little family even more perfect. I can't wait to see Brandon with her. He will be the best Daddy.

25 Weeks!

Happy Monday!

A few things that I love about being pregnant...

1. The way that my husband looks at me.

2. Feeling healthier than I've felt in years!.

3. My husband kissing me and then kissing my belly when he comes home from work! He loves my belly and he loves what is in my belly! :)

4. Eating LOTS and LOTS of fruit but never getting that horribly full feeling that I was accustomed to when eating way too many grapes or 1/4 of a watermelon!!!

5. Avaree moving and kicking. It makes my day....every day!

6. The obscure way that people look at me when they are trying to figure out: is she or isn't she pregnant? Ha!

7. The closeness that I feel with Brandon. I thought just being married brought us closer. Then I thought embarassing illnesses and surgeries that require no modesty brought us closer. Then I thought learning how to live together, communicate together, and running this crazy race together had brought us closer, but I had no idea how close we could and would become.

8. Dreaming about our baby's life and God's plans for her.

9. The way that every time music comes on, Avaree starts kicking and seems to be dancing! She especially loves the Prestonwood choir, Daddy's voice and 103.7--not that she really has a choice in these matters, ha!!

10. The idea that God actually chose Brandon and I to be parents and that he will never leave us or forsake us. What a daunting, awesome responsibility it is and will continue to be...!

In other news, we close on our house this week and I cannot tell you what a journey this has been! We are anxious, excited, thankful and broke. :) Life is good!