1 year old, really?!

I cant believe it has been a year since my love bug was born. This has been the best -craziest - fastest - most memorable - year of my life yet.

I can still remember leaving work last year for a doctors appointment & ultra sound (to check if Ava was still breech & my amniotic fluid). I left about 2 & told everyone, "see you tomorrow." Boy was I ever wrong. My amniotic fluid was extremely low & I needed to have an emergency c-section that evening. I remember being in shock & disbelief that I was about to be a mom. It was so unexpected & out of my control. I had so many thoughts running through my head…she cant come now, I'm not ready, I didn’t set my out of office on my computer, take my lap top home, I didn’t have a great meal, my mom wasn’t on vacation yet, who was going to watch the dogs & most importantly my bag wasn't packed.
It wasn't until I had talked to my dad (well tried, I was balling & just listening to him) when he said to me, "well you want to be a mom, right?"; that I sucked it up, gained my strength & composer to walk in the hospital & let them know I was there & ready to have my baby. I was calm the rest of the time. Ahh…and life would never be the same.


Ava - you have made me a stronger women, a better person, enjoy life more, take it one day at a time, love harder, smile more & most of all complete me & this family. I look forward to seeing you grow up.

1 YEAR OLD

Height: 29.92" (76.93%)
Weight: 23lbs 4oz (82.43%)
Head: 18.31" (86.65%)

Clothes size: 12-18 months
Shoe size: 3 or 4
Diaper size: 3 or 4
Bottles per day: 2 bottles at daycare/1 before bed @ 6 oz each of whole milk. Juice/water with afternoon snack & dinner
Solids per day: almost 100% on table food
Health: has been good once she got over strep throat. Has 4 top teeth & 2 bottom
Routine: same as usual.
Sleep: Back in the cib & sleeping like a big girl. I will rock her or just lay her in her crib & she will fall asleep. Some nights we will hear her cry for a second or more, but most she is out until I wake her up to get ready for daycare. I cant remember the last time she slept in the bed with us. Hallelujah!
Milestones: walking!! holding her bottle & sippy cup (took forever to do)

@ Ava:
Walking, but still prefers to crawl
So cute when I wake her up in the morning
Loves to run around the kitchen in her walker
Feeds the dogs her snacks & thinks its so funny
Loves bananas
Hates shoes, socks & will take bows out of her hair
Loves to roll around on all the couch pillows (we put them all on the living room floor)
Goes straight for the dishwasher, pantry or fridge if we leave the door open
Likes to play with Boudreaux & hand him her toys
Tries to get Teddy on the couch
Loves family hugs & will pat you on your back when hugging you
Keeps getting into all the kitchen cabinets
Giggles & screams all the time (with her mouth wide open - see in pictures)
Loves to play with all her toys. We always have a huge mess of toys in the living room
Starting to hold dolls & mock me (holds them to her chest & pats them)
When you say, "give me a kiss" she will lean her head forward to you

Christmas Eve & Christmas Day 2011

Christmas Eve:

We had a fabulous time Christmas Eve at the annual Guerrero/Villa Christmas Party. This year we were all decked out in our tacky sweaters. It made for a funny & festive night. I love our family tradition of Santa coming close to midnight & everyone sitting on Santa's lap to get a gift. Ava didn’t make it to midnight, but she sure did have a great time.

After leaving the Christmas Eve Party we headed to my parents house for the night. Mom & I stayed up wrapping last minute gifts & setting up for the next morning: cookies were set out for Santa, stocking were filled, gifts were spread out under the tree & throughout the living room.

Christmas Day:

We didn’t get up until about 8:30. Ava was ready to go. She 1st saw all her unwrapped toys under the tree & couldn’t resist playing with them. After sometime everyone woke up & it was "go time". Ava loved opening up her gifts. She would play with a new toy then get infatuated with the wrapping paper/tissue paper. By the end of it all she was immersed in paper & thought it was so funny. I think her favor toys were: cozy buggy Mimi & Gramps bought her - she kept trying to get in & out by herself, her baby doll - she kept holding it to her chest & her leap frog learning book - she kept pressing all the buttons to get the music to come on.

Over all it was an ah-mazing Christmas. I was more excited about seeing Ava open all her Christmas presents then I was about getting my own. I cant wait until next year when Ava really understands the meaning of Christmas & starting our own little family traditions.

Party! Party! Party!

1) Daycare Party. Plenty of singing & eating.
2) Kelsie's Gold Party. Great time mingling with the ladies.
3) Neighborhood Party. Our neighborhood hosted a Family Event in the club house. No long line to get a picture with Santa (yea!). Ava didn’t know what to think of Santa. She did fine when I was in the picture, but looked scared when I left her with Santa.

.

Winter ONE-derland

We decided to have Ava's birthday early. It was a great turn out with a ton of family & a few close friends. Ava got so many great gifts & really enjoyed her 1st taste of birthday cake. We are so greatful for all the wonderful people in Ava's life.

Look at me go

Guess who...

Made his debut?

Elf on a shelf. I know Ava doesnt understand the meaning behind it now, but I plan to explain it to her next year & make it a Nixon Tradition.

11 Months

Keeps getting better..........I love being a mommy


Clothes size: 12-18 months
Shoe size: 4
Diaper size: 4
Bottles per day: Still 4 - 6oz bottles throughout the day plus juice.
Solids per day: great little eater. Is about 80% on table food.
Health: Just got over strep throat. It was by far the worst I have ever seen Ava sick. I hated seeing her that way. Now she has 4 teeth. The 2 bottom & 2 top teeth.
Routine: same as usual. Takes 1 long nap from about 11-1ish. Will take a short evening nap if she had a busy day.
Sleep: When she was sick I had her in the bed with me. Now that she is better, back to the crib she went. She still will wake up once a night. If she puts herself back to sleep, awesome, if not & she cries for too long, I just put her in bed with us.
Milestones: trying to walk. Will hold our hands & walk or stand & walk behind her walking toys.

@ Ava:
Getting close to walking
Starting to shake her head no if she isn't happy
Waves bye-bye
Will smack her lips & give a kiss
Dances just about every time she hears music
When we ask her "where is ???" she will look for that person/animal
Loves table food, not picky at all
Starting to point
Loves her mommy. Going through a mommy only stage.
Has major attitude. Hates getting her diaper changed or when you put her down & she doesn’t want to be down.
Still refuses to hold her bottle
Says da-dad, ma-ma & screams, babbles all-the-time
Is stretching out & seems to be not a chunky anymore

Thanksgiving 2011

We had Thanksgiving with my family. Ava was showered with attention & love. She enjoyed her feast & shoveled plenty of turkey, green beans, mashed potatoes & pumpkin pie in her mouth.

I have so much to be thankful this year. Most importantly my little family. Ava has been the most amazing addition. I'm so unbelievably in love with that little girl. My wonderful husband who I couldn't ever imagine being with out. He completes me, knows me so well, is the best husband & most amazing father. Family...my mother & best friend, my hard working dad, my brother, friends...my bestfreinds, my health, my job, the roof over my head, the clothes on my back & for 2011. It has bee a great year!. I became a mom….

Still Sick

Our Little P is still sick. We thought she was getting better, but to be on the safe side I decided to take her into the doctor before the weekend. GOOD thing I did. My poor baby was diagnosed with strep throat. They gave her a 10 day antibiotic. We have been giving it to her since Friday evening, but Ava still has not been at 100%. Saturday she was so miserable. Ryan & I took turns holding her all day long. Sunday was a tad better, but she started to get a horrible dry cough. Makes me so sad to see her this sick. Ryan & I did our best to comfort her over the weekend. Now my mom is in town taking care of her while we are at work.
So glad this is a short week. I want to be with my baby. I sure hope she starts to feel better real soon.

Sick Baby

After a long crazy weekend Ava & I got back into our normal routine. Monday came & gone, then by that night Ava started to run a fever & not feeling well. I tried my best to ease her discomfort all night long, but nothing seemed to work. After everything….diaper change, milk, rocking, Tylenol, oragel, lastly kicking daddy out of bed, Ava feel asleep in our bed. Wednesday I stayed home with her. I couldn't figure out what was wrong. She had no symptoms just a high fever. Finally around 4pm it started to break & she started to play. We put her to bed & she slept all night in her crib. She woke up Wednesday morning ready to go to school & back to her normal little self.
Then I got a phone call from the daycare about 11am. My poor baby was running a fever again. I picked her up from daycare & we laid around all day. She was running such a high fever for hours. I had her in just a diaper & a wet cloth on her head. I hate seeing her that way. Especially when I cant figure out why she is sick. I guess it could have been her teeth coming in. So I did my best to comfort her. All day she just wanted me to hold her or lay with her. Finally late in the evening her fever started to break.
Thank god she woke up fine & no more fever this morning. I have been watching her all day on the daycare cam & she seems fine. I hope what ever she had, has come & gone….and stays away!

Big Mexican Wedding

My mom & her Aunts

(Tia Lala, Mimi & Tia Olga...now more then ever I wish my moms mom were alive to see Ava)

This past weekend we went to my parents home town of Ingleside for my god sisters (2nd cousin's) wedding. It was Ava's 1st Big Mexican Wedding and she had a Blast. The wedding party was huge, groom wore a hat, Mariachi Band played during dinner, lots of family, DJ, dancing, cake and full band until 1am.
Ava was such a trooper. She really enjoyed watching all the big kids dance and run around. But most of all she loved the loud music and all the lights. She would stand in my lap and clap her hands or move up and down dancing to the music. We lasted until 11pm then called it a night.

Ella Rae

Ava & I went to my cousin Drea's baby shower this past weekend. Drea looked gorgeous & was glowing. She received so many great gifts! I'm just beyond thrilled for the arrival of Ella. I look forward to Ava having a little girl cousin so close in age.

Note: Ava was not in a good mood. Poor baby is getting 2 teeth in. She was being Ava the grouch the whole weekend

Halloween Night

We dressed Ava up & stayed in. She helped us pass out candy. I'm not sure who had more fun....Ava or the dogs barking every time the door bell rang.

1st Slumber Party

Our good friends (Chris, Nadia & Heidi DeKoch) came to visit from the Dallas area. We love this couple & don't get to see them that often. The visit was short & sweet, but it was great to catch up & see the girls play. Heidi will be 3 in November. Ava was in all of Heidi. She was chasing her all around the house in her walker.

Fun Times

Happy Halloween

10 months

Really!! I cant believe it has been 10 months already. Ava is at the cutest little stage right now. She is so active & keeps a smile on our face.

Clothes size: 12-18 months
Shoe size: 3
Diaper size: 3-4
Bottles per day: 4 - 6oz bottles throughout the day. I have noticed she wants less. We have started to put water & juice in her sippy cup for dinner. She has the hang of it, just needs help sometimes lifting it up once at her mouth.
Solids per day: great little eater. Still eating little Gerber Toddler foods, but very interested in what we are eating. If our dinner is simple I will give her some. Ex: cut up grilled chicken breast, green bean, etc. She loves table food. I gave her daycare the ok to give her some of their lunch items
Health: She had a runny nose right before we left for Jamaica. Doc said just a virus that will pass. Still only has 2 bottom front teeth.
Routine: same as usual. Is starting to take only 1 long nap from about 11-1ish
Sleep: The CIO method is still going strong. We do the usual night time routine…then 8pm bottle & put her in her crib sleepy. After a couple minutes of crying she finds her pacy & goes to sleep. Lately she has been waking up in the middle of the night. We let her cry for a little, but if it persist I put her in our bed.
Milestones: pulling up on everything & trying to walk along them

@ Ava:
Super fast crawler
Getting brave about pulling up on everything
Waves bye-bye
Claps her hands at everything she does
Bounces up & down (dances) when her toys make music
Will hold her play phone up to her ear when we tell her to call Mimi
Loves to ride on her pink pony
Chases (crawls fast) after the dogs
Finally goes forward in her walker.
Enjoyes shopping & sitting in the grocery cart
Starts to act silly when she seeing other kids
Is shy when strangers try to talk to her
Saya da-da all the time. "Still" waiting for her to say ma-ma, mommy, mom...anything
Her daycare said she is "The Boss" of the class room. Not sure if I should be happy about this or not.
New nik-names by Ryan- princess, Little P & LP
We started changing her on the floor on her room. She was getting to long for the changing table & moving too much.

We are back

….and so glad to be reunited with Ava. It was the longest 6 days ever! Ryan & I had an amazing time. We forgot what it felt like to be without Ava. It was nice to relax & spend time together, but never will we go that long again. I cried a tad the 1st night. Then when we got back to my parents house all we wanted to do was hug & love on Ava, but she was a little confused and wanted my parents. Broke my heart. She warmed up to us after a little while & was back to her normal little cute self.

We are all trying to get back into our normal routine.

Bittersweet

Ryan & I are leaving for Negril, Jamaica on Saturday for 6 days. I'm super excited about our trip & celebrating our 3 year anniversary. But, on the other hand I'm starting to get a tad sad about leaving Ava. I know she will be in the best of care with my mom, but I just cant imagine not seeing her for 6 whole days. I'm going to miss her so much.
Ryan said he doesn't want to see a tear from me while in Jamaica. I told him not sure I can promise that. I will let you know how that goes.......

CIO

We have let Ava cry it out a little before she goes to bed. It really has not been that bad. She has slept in her crib the past 3 nights. We put her to bed tired & after her night time bottle. She will cry for no longer then 20 minutes then falls asleep. It actually seems to be getting a little easier. The past 2 nights she slept the whole night, not a pep. I hope this continues while she is with Mimi.

Ava Update

Well we have been super busy. Ava keeps us on our toes at home. I find myself either following her every where or telling her "no". She is getting so brave. She will pull up on everything & get into everything (cabinets, closets, laundry basket...everything). Now her favorite thing to do is dump all her toys out in the living room. It's a huge mess, but it keeps her occupied & in one place for awhile.

Her little personality is definitely starting to show. Very type A: demanding, stubborn, intense, not easy to please....we have our hands full with her. I swear I tell her at least every other day she is going to be the only child if she keeps up her attitude. As of now, I know she wont get a sibling anytime soon. ha!ha!

9 Months

9 Month Stats.
Doctor appointment went well. She got the flu shot & check up.
Height: 28.11" (73.30%)
Weight:21lb 3oz (87.84%) still a little chunk
Head: 17.91" (89.12%)

Clothes size: 12 months
Shoe size: 2
Diaper size: 3
Bottles per day: we offer 1-4oz bottle before daycare & 4- 6oz bottles throughout the day. She typically drinks about 24oz a day.
Solids per day: we are trying to add more soft table foods to her meals. Our pediatrician said to try more. By 1 year she should be on all table food. I was super concerned because Ava still only has 2 bottom teeth, but the doc said she can mash with her gums. So I went out and bought every Gerber Toddler meal for Ava to try. We will see how it goes. I know Ravioli's were a hit (see picture).
Health: perfect health!
Routine: Weekdays - Ryan takes her to daycare by 7:30. She has breakfast by 8:30. Am snack & bottle. Then long nap @ 11 for 1.5 to 2 hours. Lunch about 2. Bottle about 4. I pick her up by 4:30. She takes a nap on the way home, sometimes until 5:30. Dinner. Bath. Bottle. Bed @ 8pm. We just pick up & go on the weekends. We let her lead. If she want to stay up later we let her & don’t mind. Just means she will sleep in later & that is great for us.
Sleep: sleeps with her mama! My mom is going to try & break this habit mid-Oct when she babysits for us while we are in Jamaica for a week. I can not do the CIO method. I'm a sucker & don’t like to see/hear her cry if she really doesn’t have to. She sleeps so good with me, but I know I need to get her in her crib. I will just let Mimi do all the hard work. We shall see….
Milestones: full blown crawler. Now trying to pull up on everything.

@ Ava:
I can finally clip a very small bow on her mohawk
She knows her name & will turn to you if you call her
She will look for the dogs if you ask her where they are
Will clap her hands. Loves "If you are happy & you know it"
Loves Peek-a-Boo
Likes when you read or sing songs to her
Is taking her pacifier less & less
Officially hates her bouncer. We packed it away.
Enjoys running with me as long as I have snacks (Gerber Puffs)
Screams, squeal, roars & grunts
Hate to get her diaper changed. It’s a battle now how fast we can change it or how much we can do by the time she rolls over & tries to crawl away from you
Can have such an attitude (aka Ava-tude) when she doesn't get her way. Will throw herself back or scream & clench her fits.
Her favorite toys or things are: stack-able rings & pink shoes. Will carry them everywhere. Tries to crawl with them too.
Gets into everything. We are in the process of child proofing everything.
We are letting her practice from a sippy cup. She thinks its pretty funny. Will put it to her lips & laugh. No luck yet.