Ava is 8 weeks old today! I can hardly believe how fast time is going. Maybe it's because every day seems to blur into the next due to lack of sleep...? I think I must be getting used to not sleeping because I actually feel okay these days. In the beginning I was exhausted all the time but now I don't seem to notice it so much.
I think we're getting better at figuring her out now, she has different cries for different reasons and has even started smiling at us :) She tends to have a fussy period in the evening around 7pm which can be pretty frustrating because it seems to always line up with dinner and it either ends up not being made, or not being eaten.
On Friday she had her 8 week check up and she was 11lbs 3oz, 59cm long, and 29cm around her head. Apparently she's tall for her age which isn't too surprising considering her dad is 6'4".
I started a youtube channel for Ava so people who don't get to see her often can watch videos of her whenever they want. This is the link for anyone who wants to go see:
http://www.youtube.com/user/avalouball
I'll put some on here too whenever I get a chance. At the moment she takes up about 99% of my time and the other 1% is spent frantically doing laundry, showering, and trying to eat.
Anyway, I'm going to try and update this more often. I just need to find the time really! :P
29/08/2009
04/08/2009
1 Month Old
Well Ava is 1 month old today! I can't believe it. It's incredible how fast the time has gone already and it's crazy how much she's grown too. When she was weighed 9 days ago she was up to 8lbs 11oz so she's probably nearing 10lbs by now!
We're starting to see a pattern with her sleeping now, so I'm trying to get it settled into a routine where she's awake in the evening and goes to sleep at the same time as us. It's been tricky but last night it sort of worked. Also I was told if I give her a bottle of formula before bed she'll sleep longer, so I did and she slept from 12 until 4!
She's sleeping on the couch next to me right now, her little bum is sticking up in the air :) Hopefully she'll wake up within the next hour (by 1pm), then be awake until 4 and sleep from 4 to 7, then awake until 10:30 or 11. This is the pattern I'm trying to get her into.
Baby's first jeans :)
Daddy feeding Ava in the park
Ava and her first bottle of wine
Baby had too much to drink :)
Those are just a few of the zillions of baby photo's we've taken this past month. We're lucky to even have them. Our house was broken into last week and they stole both our laptops, our video camera and Graham's sister's iPod. It looked like they dropped the camera on their way out the window because it was sitting on the couch and I had left it on the table by my computer.
We think I might have disturbed them because I had got up with Ava at 5:30 to change her and feed her and when I was in the baby's room I remember hearing something fall on the floor but I thought it was maybe Graham knocking his cell phone off the bedside table or something. We realised afterward that it was probably the sound of the iPod falling on the floor when they picked up Graham's laptop. The iPod had been plugged into it.
It was pretty scarey to think about afterward. Especially because I very nearly walked right into them. When I got up with the baby I was so thirsty I was about to go down to the kitchen to get some water before changing her, but she was being so fussy I decided to sort her out first.
When I did go downstairs half an hour later I remember walking past the couch and noticing my laptop wasn't there anymore. At the time I thought it was a little strange, but I was really tired and didn't think too hard about it. I figured maybe Graham had moved it before coming up to bed or something.
It's really heartbreaking to think that I've just lost hundreds of photo's and videos of the last year and a half. I know some people keep saying you shouldn't put your pictures on the internet because then they're out there for everyone, but I have to say I'm glad that I did. Otherwise I would have nothing left.
I've decided to back up my new computer once a month in case something like this ever happens again. It really, really sucks :(
Thankfully no one was hurt at least. It could have turned out a lot worse if the robber was violent and I had bumped into him.
Anyway, lesson learned: Don't leave window's open - even if you are home, and it's the size of a shoe box. Some freak will figure out how to get in!
We're starting to see a pattern with her sleeping now, so I'm trying to get it settled into a routine where she's awake in the evening and goes to sleep at the same time as us. It's been tricky but last night it sort of worked. Also I was told if I give her a bottle of formula before bed she'll sleep longer, so I did and she slept from 12 until 4!
She's sleeping on the couch next to me right now, her little bum is sticking up in the air :) Hopefully she'll wake up within the next hour (by 1pm), then be awake until 4 and sleep from 4 to 7, then awake until 10:30 or 11. This is the pattern I'm trying to get her into.
Baby's first jeans :)
Daddy feeding Ava in the park
Ava and her first bottle of wine
Baby had too much to drink :)
Those are just a few of the zillions of baby photo's we've taken this past month. We're lucky to even have them. Our house was broken into last week and they stole both our laptops, our video camera and Graham's sister's iPod. It looked like they dropped the camera on their way out the window because it was sitting on the couch and I had left it on the table by my computer.We think I might have disturbed them because I had got up with Ava at 5:30 to change her and feed her and when I was in the baby's room I remember hearing something fall on the floor but I thought it was maybe Graham knocking his cell phone off the bedside table or something. We realised afterward that it was probably the sound of the iPod falling on the floor when they picked up Graham's laptop. The iPod had been plugged into it.
It was pretty scarey to think about afterward. Especially because I very nearly walked right into them. When I got up with the baby I was so thirsty I was about to go down to the kitchen to get some water before changing her, but she was being so fussy I decided to sort her out first.
When I did go downstairs half an hour later I remember walking past the couch and noticing my laptop wasn't there anymore. At the time I thought it was a little strange, but I was really tired and didn't think too hard about it. I figured maybe Graham had moved it before coming up to bed or something.
It's really heartbreaking to think that I've just lost hundreds of photo's and videos of the last year and a half. I know some people keep saying you shouldn't put your pictures on the internet because then they're out there for everyone, but I have to say I'm glad that I did. Otherwise I would have nothing left.
I've decided to back up my new computer once a month in case something like this ever happens again. It really, really sucks :(
Thankfully no one was hurt at least. It could have turned out a lot worse if the robber was violent and I had bumped into him.
Anyway, lesson learned: Don't leave window's open - even if you are home, and it's the size of a shoe box. Some freak will figure out how to get in!
18/07/2009
Ava Louise Ball
I know this is a bit over due but we welcomed Ava Louise Ball into the world on Saturday the 4th of July at 9:21am weighing 7lbs and 6oz.
The delivery was a little bit of a nightmare... but she's here safe and sound now and that's what matters. :)
I started having really mild contractions on Tuesday the 30th late at night and figured that it meant baby was going to be here by Wedneday but unfortunately it just continued much the same throughout Wednesday and Thursday. By early Friday (1am) they were stronger and we decided to go to the hospital to find out what was going on. They said I was 2cm and sent me home where I'd be more comfortable because it was going to be a while before anything happened.
We ended up going back to the hospital around 6pm and they said I was 5cm and I should stick around because Baby was on her way.
After that it really started to get painful. By around 10 I was in agony and decided to take an epidural. Unfortunately they couldn't give me one for another hour and a half so they offered some pethadine which didn't seem to do anything for the pain but sent me off to la-la land and I really don't remember much that happened between then and the morning.
I do remember that the epidural didn't work completely though and I could still feel pain on the right side so they had to come in and do a second one which thankfully worked.
Unfortunately when it came time to push, the baby got stuck because she had her head facing up rather than her chin being tucked into her chest. They then took us into the opperating room where they tried to use the suction cup thing but it popped right off her head so they had to do an emergency c-section.
Since then I've just been recovering and trying to look after Ava. Graham was home most of the first week but he's been very busy this last week and hasn't been home much during the day. We've had his sister Jenni and mom here for the first week and the past week my parent have been here. It's been nice having the help, especially when it comes to making meals and changing the baby's diaper. My stomach is still quite sore so it's not very easy to move around the house yet. Hopefully soon though.
The delivery was a little bit of a nightmare... but she's here safe and sound now and that's what matters. :)I started having really mild contractions on Tuesday the 30th late at night and figured that it meant baby was going to be here by Wedneday but unfortunately it just continued much the same throughout Wednesday and Thursday. By early Friday (1am) they were stronger and we decided to go to the hospital to find out what was going on. They said I was 2cm and sent me home where I'd be more comfortable because it was going to be a while before anything happened.
We ended up going back to the hospital around 6pm and they said I was 5cm and I should stick around because Baby was on her way.
After that it really started to get painful. By around 10 I was in agony and decided to take an epidural. Unfortunately they couldn't give me one for another hour and a half so they offered some pethadine which didn't seem to do anything for the pain but sent me off to la-la land and I really don't remember much that happened between then and the morning.
I do remember that the epidural didn't work completely though and I could still feel pain on the right side so they had to come in and do a second one which thankfully worked.
Unfortunately when it came time to push, the baby got stuck because she had her head facing up rather than her chin being tucked into her chest. They then took us into the opperating room where they tried to use the suction cup thing but it popped right off her head so they had to do an emergency c-section.
Since then I've just been recovering and trying to look after Ava. Graham was home most of the first week but he's been very busy this last week and hasn't been home much during the day. We've had his sister Jenni and mom here for the first week and the past week my parent have been here. It's been nice having the help, especially when it comes to making meals and changing the baby's diaper. My stomach is still quite sore so it's not very easy to move around the house yet. Hopefully soon though.
27/06/2009
39 weeks down - 1 TO GO!
Erica had her baby! He was born June 25th at 6:21 pm and weighed 6lbs 3oz. Graham and I went to visit them in the hospital yesterday and he is so cute! So tiny! They named him Skylar Jackson Goncalves. It was kind of a strange coincidence that they gave him the middle name Jackson when he was born on the same day Michael Jackson died. Another weird thing was that apparently the guy who gave her the epidural's name was Michael Jackson. Maybe Skylar will be a little singer or dancer one day.
Poor Erica had a bit of a traumatic delivery though. She texted me at about 8:00am on Thursday saying she was having contractions and then texted me later saying her water broke so she was on her way to the hospital. I didn't hear from her again until the next morning when I asked if the baby had arrived yet and she said "Yes. Very tired. Will call later." I decided to leave her alone for a while so she could get some sleep and spend some time with the baby. Her husband phoned me later in the day and told me that she'd had a bit of a scare before the delivery because the baby's heart rate had dropped from 150something to 60 so they hooked her up to an induction drip to try and encourage the baby along. Somewhere along the line it was decided they needed to do an emergency c-section so she was rushed in for that and they delivered the baby a few minute later. Unfortunately during the process they knicked her bladder some how and now she has to be hooked up to a catheder for the next 10 days. Not fun.
When we went in to see them last night she could hardly move because of the pain from the c-section. They said she should be feeling better within a week though. It's sad because she can hardly hold the baby and she's struggling to feed him now too. He doesn't seem too interested in food either but I've heard that some babies are like that when they're born and others can't wait to eat.
He is really, really cute though and it was great to be able to meet him when he was just 24 hours old. :) I wish I'd remembered to take pictures!
As for me, nothing seems to be happening yet. I went a little bit crazy on Wednesday and painted the living room while Graham was at work. I think I might have been nesting. The colour that was in there has always annoyed me but for some reason on Wednesday I just couldn't take it anymore and I had a strange burst of energy so I went to the hardware store and bought a bucket of paint, came home and did the entire room myself. Graham was very surprised when he got home Thursday morning. I think it looks much better now and I'm very happy with it. Unfortunately it has me wanting to paint the rest of the house but I don't think I can take on a job that big at the moment.
It's very hot out today so of course my hands and feet have puffed up again. I really can't wait until they stop doing that. Baby is due in one week today which is kind of exciting :) I hope she's not late!
Poor Erica had a bit of a traumatic delivery though. She texted me at about 8:00am on Thursday saying she was having contractions and then texted me later saying her water broke so she was on her way to the hospital. I didn't hear from her again until the next morning when I asked if the baby had arrived yet and she said "Yes. Very tired. Will call later." I decided to leave her alone for a while so she could get some sleep and spend some time with the baby. Her husband phoned me later in the day and told me that she'd had a bit of a scare before the delivery because the baby's heart rate had dropped from 150something to 60 so they hooked her up to an induction drip to try and encourage the baby along. Somewhere along the line it was decided they needed to do an emergency c-section so she was rushed in for that and they delivered the baby a few minute later. Unfortunately during the process they knicked her bladder some how and now she has to be hooked up to a catheder for the next 10 days. Not fun.
When we went in to see them last night she could hardly move because of the pain from the c-section. They said she should be feeling better within a week though. It's sad because she can hardly hold the baby and she's struggling to feed him now too. He doesn't seem too interested in food either but I've heard that some babies are like that when they're born and others can't wait to eat.
He is really, really cute though and it was great to be able to meet him when he was just 24 hours old. :) I wish I'd remembered to take pictures!
As for me, nothing seems to be happening yet. I went a little bit crazy on Wednesday and painted the living room while Graham was at work. I think I might have been nesting. The colour that was in there has always annoyed me but for some reason on Wednesday I just couldn't take it anymore and I had a strange burst of energy so I went to the hardware store and bought a bucket of paint, came home and did the entire room myself. Graham was very surprised when he got home Thursday morning. I think it looks much better now and I'm very happy with it. Unfortunately it has me wanting to paint the rest of the house but I don't think I can take on a job that big at the moment.
It's very hot out today so of course my hands and feet have puffed up again. I really can't wait until they stop doing that. Baby is due in one week today which is kind of exciting :) I hope she's not late!
24/06/2009
10 days to go!
I'm finally down to the last 10 days! :) Although I am aware that it still might be up to an additional 14 days after the due date before she's actually here... but I'm trying not to think about that.
I had my 38 week checkup yesterday and everything seems to be fine. I showed the midwife my puffy hands and feet and because everything else is normal (blood pressure and pee sample) she said it was perfectly fine. She even said that considering how far along I am, they don't look too bad. That made me feel a bit better.
Baby's heart rate was good, and every time she wiggled it would speed up, which is also normal apparently.
Unfortunately she said that although the baby's head is down, she's not really engaged. I guess that means she is a little bit, but not as much as she could be. Graham and I are going out and about today so I'll try and make sure I walk as much as possible to see if that helps.
Still haven't had any signs of baby's arrival yet so I have no idea how much longer it's going to be. Erica is due today and she's had a couple of signs so she might be having her baby very soon! :)
I had my 38 week checkup yesterday and everything seems to be fine. I showed the midwife my puffy hands and feet and because everything else is normal (blood pressure and pee sample) she said it was perfectly fine. She even said that considering how far along I am, they don't look too bad. That made me feel a bit better.
Baby's heart rate was good, and every time she wiggled it would speed up, which is also normal apparently.
Unfortunately she said that although the baby's head is down, she's not really engaged. I guess that means she is a little bit, but not as much as she could be. Graham and I are going out and about today so I'll try and make sure I walk as much as possible to see if that helps.
Still haven't had any signs of baby's arrival yet so I have no idea how much longer it's going to be. Erica is due today and she's had a couple of signs so she might be having her baby very soon! :)
19/06/2009
341 hours until Baby's due
15 days to go!!
I am definitely ready for this baby to come out. I'm not sure I can wait another two weeks! I feel like a whale. Or a pig actually. My hands and feet keep getting puffy and they look like hooves :( I hope that goes away once the baby is born.
Aside from the swelling in my hands and feet, nothing has changed. I haven't had any signs of labour at all yet.
I did have a huge panic attack in the middle of the night on Tuesday though. I woke up with stomach pains which made me freak out because it either meant I was having the baby, or I had eaten something I shouldn't have at the BBQ earlier that night. Turns out it was some dodgy food at the BBQ.
Who thinks this baby will be here before her due date?
I am definitely ready for this baby to come out. I'm not sure I can wait another two weeks! I feel like a whale. Or a pig actually. My hands and feet keep getting puffy and they look like hooves :( I hope that goes away once the baby is born.
Aside from the swelling in my hands and feet, nothing has changed. I haven't had any signs of labour at all yet.
I did have a huge panic attack in the middle of the night on Tuesday though. I woke up with stomach pains which made me freak out because it either meant I was having the baby, or I had eaten something I shouldn't have at the BBQ earlier that night. Turns out it was some dodgy food at the BBQ.
Who thinks this baby will be here before her due date?
10/06/2009
24 days to go!
I decided to put up another picture of Fat Becky so here I am at about 36 and a half weeks. As of this Saturday the baby will be considered full term so she can come any time after that as far as I'm concerned!
I went to a pregnancy yoga class last night with Erica (she's due in 2 weeks.) It was harder than I thought it was going to be! All that bending and crouching can't be good for the baby but I guess it's fine if it's yoga specific to pregnancy. I'm not sure if I'm going to go back next week yet. I guess if Erica hasn't had her baby and is going to go I will but if she's not able to be there I don't really want to go by myself.
Anyway, I'm feeling pretty good today, not too heavy which is nice. I think the baby must be in a good position. I went to my 36 week checkup yesterday and everything seems fine. My hands are a little puffy but not severely. There was a student midwife there too and she measured my tummy. When she said '33cm' I almost had a heart attack. I was like "What?! How did I shrink a centimeter in 2 weeks??" So the main midwife came over and remeasured me and it was fine, I'm at 36cm, where I should be. The baby's head is engaged apparently, and they think she's on the left. I honestly don't know how they can tell what position the baby is in. I can't even figure out what it is that keeps jabbing me in the side. I think it might be an elbow, it feels quite hard sometimes.
Well, I've got a pile of wooden pieces on the floor in front of me that will supposedly turn into a rocking stand for the moses basket once I assemble it, so I think I'll get started on that now.
Wish me luck!
I went to a pregnancy yoga class last night with Erica (she's due in 2 weeks.) It was harder than I thought it was going to be! All that bending and crouching can't be good for the baby but I guess it's fine if it's yoga specific to pregnancy. I'm not sure if I'm going to go back next week yet. I guess if Erica hasn't had her baby and is going to go I will but if she's not able to be there I don't really want to go by myself.
Anyway, I'm feeling pretty good today, not too heavy which is nice. I think the baby must be in a good position. I went to my 36 week checkup yesterday and everything seems fine. My hands are a little puffy but not severely. There was a student midwife there too and she measured my tummy. When she said '33cm' I almost had a heart attack. I was like "What?! How did I shrink a centimeter in 2 weeks??" So the main midwife came over and remeasured me and it was fine, I'm at 36cm, where I should be. The baby's head is engaged apparently, and they think she's on the left. I honestly don't know how they can tell what position the baby is in. I can't even figure out what it is that keeps jabbing me in the side. I think it might be an elbow, it feels quite hard sometimes.
Well, I've got a pile of wooden pieces on the floor in front of me that will supposedly turn into a rocking stand for the moses basket once I assemble it, so I think I'll get started on that now.
Wish me luck!
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