Ava Claire

 

 

 

 

Outtakes of our little girl with the “pirate smile” as we call it  (90% of all the pictures we take have and smile plus a wink)

    

Winner of least likely to use on our Christmas Card: Nothing says Merry Christmas like this face, Ba Humbug! 

Uncle Brad and Boo

I just had to share this picture of one of Baylor’s favorite people!  She loves Uncle Brad as you can see by the lab smile!

(P.S. Ava’s 2nd birthday blog post coming soon!)

Baylor Boo I love you

Cousins

We had such a happy weekend! Jessica, Scott, Emmy, Hayden, Karo, and K Bob came to visit. Ava LOVES her cousins, no doubt about that. I think she watched Emmy and Hayden’s every move. Here are a few pictures of the sweet girls! (Ava has a new posed smile as you can see, I call it her pirate smile.. arrrr!)

Greg made a super yummy dinner on his barbeque pit…. ribs, brisket, chicken and sausage. Ava inhaled the corn on the cob, yum!

I love my nieces and little scrunchy face smiley girl!

I'm Bubbling in my Soul

Listen carefully! Here's my mommy interpretation of Ava's toddler words:

"I singing, laughing, Jesus... whole"

"I'm Bubbling Bubbling Bubbling.... night"

"I'm Bubbling I'm Bubbling, I singing, laughing"

"I'm bubbling (big pause) day and niiiiight"

AND here is the song word for word: I'm bubbling I'm bubbling I'm bubbling in my soul. I'm singing and laughing because Jesus made me whole. Folks don't understand it but I can't keep it quiet. I'm bubbling bubbling bubbling bubbling bubbling day and night."

My heart melted this morning when I heard Ava singing this song in the bathroom. (Listen carefully over the sound of running water- I let her play in the faucet with her water toys when I am in my room getting ready) This was more than just a song to me and I have to share this story!

This is a song that Ava learned at church and we sing it sometimes at home. We haven't done it for a few weeks at home so I know it was a song from her heart and not just a "parrot song." (Plus we sing many different songs all throughout the day- Bingo is still Ava's reigning favorite) After I finished taking this clip I sang the song with Ava, she was super excited and sang almost the entire song second time around with me. So precious! BUT here is why I am so touched by her little song. I am currently doing a Beth Moore Bible study on Revelation and loving it. Last night I was studying approaching the throne of God and how we can approach with confidence. I love the verse Rev 5:8 on how the prayers of the saints are "golden bowls of incense," so beloved by the LORD! In my study guide I was asked to "approach the throne" with my heart's desire. The following has been my prayer since the day I found out I was pregnant with Ava but again I prayed this to Lord .... "God I want my children to LOVE Jesus above all earthly things, to listen to you, to have open hearts and ears, to let you lead their lives, and to love others with your love." Every night Greg and I pray over Ava that she will trust in God for her salvation at an early age. I believe that God will bless my family and I am so thankful for my spiritual heritage to pass on to my children. This said there is nothing like having God BE your life, the joy, peace, purpose, hope, truth, everything wonderful! I want this for Ava and my baby boy so much that I can't express it in words. What a sweet gift from God this morning to hear my 22 month old baby girl singing that she was bubbling about Jesus!! My heart just goes crazy to know that God invites us to approach him, listens and answers because he loves His children!

FOUR Rowes and a Boo

Ava is having a baby BROTHER! We are so thankful and super excited to have a little boy!

I had been counting the days until today. I remember seeing Ava at her 2nd trimester ultrasound and just falling even more in love with her then. I felt the exact same way for this little baby. At first he was curled up for a few minutes and then he decided to stretch out which made it easier for the technician to do the organ measurements.

It was so funny because the second he was on the screen Greg and I were looking for the gender. At first Greg and I thought we saw a little boy, but then we couldn’t figure out if it was the cord. The ultrasound technician could tell we were really wanted to know so she did the gender bit right away. Greg’s face LIT up when she said that the baby was a boy. He high fived me and after a few "It’s a b-o-y!” exclaims he looked at the technician and said “are you sure?” She was so sweet and got that close up pictured above just to prove to us that us that she was sure.

We feel so thankful that God has blessed us with another baby and can’t wait to meet him! (due date is Jan. 6th)

Oh, I was thinking about how this blog has come first circle in an ironic way. In our first post when we found out we were pregnant with Ava, Greg got to buy a new boat as his end of the “ baby deal." Yes, I know that sounds pretty crazy to barter a baby for a boat but I REALLY wanted to start our family and Greg really wanted a new boat so that reasoning worked for us! (And of course Greg was so in love with his baby girl the day she was born, with or without a boat) Anyways, when Greg found out we were pregnant with baby #2 he decided that it would be wise to sell the boat. Bye Bye boat and hello BABY BOY!! We wouldn’t have it any other way!!

Summertime

We headed out to the houseboat this weekend to celebrate K-bob’s Birthday. Ava just loved playing with her cousins! Here they are in the adorable dresses that Karo made. Capturing a picture of two toddlers looking at the same time was tricky, but we finally got one!

Ava went down the slide for the first time (and most likely last time until she is big enough to go on her own in a few more years) The two seconds it took for her to pop up out of the water felt like hours in my mommy mind.

Out on the lake….

Aunt Sarah took these pictures, so precious!

Because it has been oh so HOT lately we’ve had to find places for Ava to play instead of the park. She loves slides and climbing so we’ve moved our Saturday morning family time from the outdoor play park to Chick-fil-A or as Ava calls it “Chick-FLAY.”

I thought this conversation with Ava when asked if she wanted to leave was funny, she sure holds me accountable to my promises! -Translation of the toddler talk: "Wh-Wh- Where's the sucker?"

Will dance for food.....

Time Out

A few minutes ago Ava needed a trip to time out for throwing toys in Baylor’s water bowl. When I told her that she had to go to time out she squealed in the most excited of voices “TIME OUT,” bolted with a huge smile to her designated time out corner and then proceeded to lick my drywall and giggle for the next few minutes. I had a really hard time looking and sounding serious while trying not laugh at her enthusiastic self-discipline. So I am back to trying to find a new time out place that hopefully she will not eagerly put herself in.

My little peanut

Oh what a day! We made a trip to the allergist this morning and confirmed that Ava is allergic to peanuts. Our doctor had advised that we steer clear of all peanut products due to a hive outbreak when she was 12 months. She had a sip of a shake that had peanut butter in it. We planned to stay peanut free and test her when she was a bit older. But due to two more reactions I knew that I wanted to know for sure and have an epipen if she indeed was allergic. This next sentence is hard to write because I feel like mom of the year with two peanut exposures being on my watch. Okay, here goes….Ava has had three accidental exposures to very small amounts of peanut butter which resulted in hives and the most recent time a bit of swelling in her mouth. I booked it to the ER when her tongue started to swell (thankfully the ER is less than one minute away from our house). The swelling went down as soon as we arrived and she was breathing just fine. I was relieved but worried and didn’t want to feel unprepared again.

At the allergist she had the prick test where the doctor put a small dose of peanut protein into her back and then we had a fifteen minute wait to see if she had a reaction (a positive allergy would result in swelling and redness around the prick.) I already guessed it would be positive because of the hives in the past but it was so sad watching her poor little back puff up. She kept trying to scratch the bump and we learned the new word “itchy.” She kept saying “hold me mommy, itchy.” All this to say it is a scary thing for us! I am going to be informed and responsible but at the same time I have to stop and trust the Lord for peace because this allergy makes me feel a bit helpless as a mom. I’ve already thought about how many times I won’t be right beside her as she grows up and had to battle the guilt that two exposures happened on my watch. I’m sure all moms have gone through the process my mind took me through in those fifteen minutes of staring at her sweat little back with the ever swelling peanut prick. I first thought about leaving her with a babysitter, and then the church nursery, would they forget and she would accidently be given something with peanuts or swipe some toddler’s peanut butter cracker? Would people take my concerns seriously or just think I am an overprotective mother suffering from mommy hypochondria? Then I thought about sending her to school and birthday parties. I’d already written up my warning speech in a matter of minutes in my head to every adult I would leave her with. Then I thought about if she went to summer camp far away from a hospital, finally what about when she goes off to college on her own. Will she always remember to bring her epipen with her? I won’t be there to remind her or watch out for her. And here I came back to a place I once was she was first born. I kept thinking, if we can get to her first birthday then I’ll have peace… she will have had vaccinations, SIDS risk would be down.. yes, one year and then I can relax. I then remembered when I was pregnant with her and thought if I can just get to 12 weeks, then I can relax… followed by after the birth when I can just hold her in my arms then I’ll trust everything is okay. So here I was back again with my milestones. God gave me peace in my heart that day when she was a baby. He reminded me that Ava is HIS child and he is her loving father. No matter what may happen in this life, he has her precious soul in his loving arms and loves her even more than I do! I don’t know if I’ll ever get my mind around that one but I know it it true because God is love! I’m sure as a parent I will have to remind myself of this promise many times in the future. From Ava’s first day at school to her first drive as a teenager alone in a car, and then finally leaving our care and being off on her own. Such PEACE from the Lord to know she is HIS. I pray that Ava has a long, blessed life but I know even after I say goodbye here in this life I will have an eternity with my precious child, what JOY. I am thankful for this truth, promise, and hope through my trust in Jesus. I know the way I am digesting this news may seem a little extreme but I am a mom and can’t help but experience anything but the deepest feelings when learning of something that may endanger my sweetie.

So here is a bit on the facts. She has never been exposed to a significant dose of peanuts but the doctor said that food allergies are very unpredictable and that one exposure may result in hives and the next in an airway closure. I don’t want to dwell on scenarios that have not even happened like Ava going off to college and having an allergic reaction but you better BELIEVE I am going to be the most cautious and prepared mom I can be! We are armed with four epipens. One will stay in her diaper bag, one in my purse, one at my parents house, and one at the church nursery. I learned how to use it today and have practice pens to train everyone else. The doctor did a great job of explaining when to use it. If there is any swelling (especially tongue or mouth) to go ahead and give her the injection followed up by a trip to the ER to monitor her. Sometimes people will need an additional dose of epinephrine on top of the epipen. He even went as far to clarify that if I am debating whether or not to use the epipen then I should. If she just has hives with no swelling or changes in breathing then I can stick with an antihistamine. Here is the bottom line though: NO PEANUTS, NO PEANUT BUTTER, I’m not even going to eat a PB&J and kiss her! The last peanut scare happened because she took a peanut butter dog treat from Baylor and and licked it. I was across the room and didn’t get to her in time, in split second it the treat was on her lips. Peanuts are in so many foods, even dog foods, and Ava moves fast; therefore, peanuts are now banned at this house. I was surprised to learn that foods cooked in peanut oil are okay, as long as it is not an imported peanut oil. I now have a new view on people with peanut allergies. My mom and I were out with one of her friends years ago who had a severe peanut allergy. She accidentally had a bite of cheesecake with one nut at lunch and completely freaked out, verging on a panic attack. I remember she immediately started swelling and used antihistamine she had in her purse. In my teenage mind I was thinking “lady, so dramatic, it was one little nut, you are a nut for going crazy in public!” Oh Gina, how my heart has softened. So my sweet girl will be the kid at the birthday parties with the big red NO PEANUTS sticker on her back. I’ll be “that mom" using a megaphone to tell every adult she’s entrusted with about her allergy and training them how to use epipens. Oh Ava is going to just love me, I can already hear my persistent voice “Do you have your pen? Check the ingredients!” as she is trying to leave the house for school or a date (AHHHH, for that d-word) But even then I will have to come back to the Lord’s promise for my child and I know he will happily supply me with the peace I need as a mother.

Baby Joy Avery has arrived!!

This sweet little baby girl just stole my heart last night when we met her for the first time!  Some of our dearest friends had their first baby this Wednesday.  Congratulations to Trey and Julee, we are SO THRILLED for you !!!  I just HAD to share these sweet pictures of this little angel!

Isn’t she just a doll?  We love you Joy!

Happy Mother’s Day!

Ditty, Gina, and Ava on Mother’s Day!

It is still a dream come true to have my parents so close and be able to celebrate special days together!! You think we’ve done a good job making my mom a proud Texan?!

I felt so blessed on Mother’s Day…..I sure do LOVE my mom, baby girl, and Momma Rowe!!

I just had to post this great picture of Karo with her girls, Hayden Kate, Ava, and Emmy. Yes it is a Christmas picture but the Mother’s Day post wouldn’t be complete without a Karo picture too!

Ava loves her K-Bob!

Look who came to visit!

We’ve had such a fun spring with our family in town!!  A few weeks ago Aunt Mary and Uncle Tom drove from Indy to spend some time with us!  We had lots of catching up and chatting over yummy BBQ and Aunt Mary just loved Central Market.  This was my first trip to Central Market and I can’t believe what I’ve missed all these years! We fished at the Rowe boat on a beautiful Texas evening. (Thanks Rowe parents for letting us enjoy the boat!!)  We had a fish fry one night from the catch that Dad and Uncle Tom brought back from lake Buchanan.. it was delicious!  The Talbots came for an evening of visiting too.  I love having family in Austin! It was a wonderful week and we so enjoyed having Aunt Mary and Uncle Tom here!! (As you can see we are to the age where Ava looking at the camera is rare. ha!)

Cousins!  Maggie, Brian, Joe, and Ava.  Ava was quite intrigued by their silliness!

Ava in some of her new play clothes from Aunt Mary and Uncle Tom.  She is fascinated with fish and loves the little fish on this shirt. (We were playing bunnies when I took this picture… she hops around the house whispering “hop, hop, hop.”

Baby Girl is 19 months old!

Here are some of our silly pictures!

This face means trouble!