My baby is a MONTH!

        

Its so cliché, but I feel like Ava has been a part of our little family forever. Oh, sure, I remember life before she was born, but it’s like remembering a movie I saw a “million” years ago. Ava is so completely integrated into our every day existence, it’s like she’s been here all along and she fits PERFECTLY. There isn’t anything in this world that could be better than having her in our life.

Ava is a very laid back baby, so that makes things just that much better. It doesn’t take much to make her happy. If she’s crying, just pick her up and she’s happy again. Even when she’s hungry, she knows that once she’s picked up, the food is coming soon. (Of course, if you try to take advantage of this and pick her up, then try to unload the dishwasher or do laundry one-handed, she reminds you that she needs to eat…and she will remind you LOUDLY).

At one month, Ava:

• Wears mostly size 0-3 clothes. She still fits in all of her newborn outfits, but she is outgrowing some of her newborn jammies
• Ava is still in newborn diapers…but sadly we are almost out and we have a TON of size ones so we are going to try to switch and see how she does…HOPEFULLY she wont have any escaping poo..Her poor butt and thighs aren’t that “Full” so poop tends to leak out more often than not.
• Loves being swaddled at night and sleeps in the bassinet in our room. She usually sleeps a good stretch of 3-4 hours to start, then wakes up every 2-3 hours after that. If I could only learn to go to bed as soon as she falls asleep, I’d be golden.
• Occasionally naps in the bassinet, but also sleeps in the car seat, swing, or while being held/worn (her favorite). We try to balance taking advantage of all the extra snuggles and getting her used to napping alone.
• Has yet to sleep in her crib or her room… One day!

What’s life like:

Daily Routine:

Granted we are still learning and everyday is typically DIFFERENT then the days before these are ROUGH estimates:

·          8pm- 11 am: Sleep time with wakes about every 2-4 hours for diaper changes and feed... you are great about sticking with this routine at night!

        Usually will fall asleep by 10:30 pm after an hour of snuggles with mom and dad in bed…wakes up around 2am, sometimes 4am~( It’s an amazing feeling when she wakes up at 4am..I feel like I have slept for YEARS). She then wakes up around 7-8 when dad is getting ready for work. Ava and I get up, make dad lunch, eat breakfast and she sleeps until about 11am.

·         11am-8 pm: Oh boy. This is just walking around holding you and keeping you happy. Sometimes mommy is able to eat, sometimes not... but you my dear are ALWAYS a happy baby, because mommy never lets you cry. She gives in to you so easily! How could I not, have you seen your adorable little face?! I TRY to do laundry, clean the house, BLOG, catch up with friends, coffee dates, go on walks...there is never a dull moment during the day. Ava loves being active and going out, thank goodness she is so good!

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FEED: You continue to eat about every 2-4 hours at night and sometimes 1-2 hours during the day... definitely a growing baby!

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Weight: (no Official new weight to report, Dr. Appointment at 2 months) I was curious to see ROUGHLY how much she weighed so I weighed myself without her and then weighed myself holding her and the scale read 10.3 pounds J

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Length: (no new length to report) But I know that she is definitely getting longer and longer every day

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·         Diaper Size:

·         Newborns, and I thought I was going to go ahead and put you in size 1's after the newborns ran out, but I have a feeling we will be buying more newborns because of your small little bottom!

·         Clothes Size:

·         Newborns still, surprisingly. But 0-3 months fit great as well!

·         Hair Color:

·         At birth:  darkish

·         4 weeks: lightening and thinning out on the top! Still quite thick in back

·         Eye color:

·         At birth: Very blue

·         4 weeks: lightening but hard to say what they will change to. Justin says they may be getting more brownish.

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·         Funniest moment : Ava I swear everyday you make me and dad CRACK up for one reason or another. Its hard to PIN point the FUNNIEST moment but I will say one that tops the charts (though not funny at the moment) is when you taught us ALL a VERY IMPORTANT LESSON. 

*We were on a road trip when we decided to make a pit stop for people to use the restroom. You were sound asleep in your car seat and cute as could be..Grandpa Kautz decided it would be a good idea to Check you, he asked me if i smelt something a little off, I didn't think so but thought maybe I should lift your tush up just to see..well to my surprise your cute onsie was NOW a whole new shade..POOP EVERYWHERE and I mean EVERYWHERE. I immediately grabbed you and whisked you away and asked Nana to grab your bag and meet me in bathroom. I held you away from my body because you were soaked...people probably thought I was crazy. LUCKILY the bathroom had a nice changing table conveniently by the toilet so I could chuck all 70 wipes I used into toilet as I bathed you with wipes...I HATE that onsies have to go over your head..there was just so much poop..and what made everything wose was that A. You were screaming bloody murder...B. this wasn't a quick clean up, C. We didn't pack enough "extra clothes". Thank goodness there was a carters outlet across the street, Nana bought you three cute outfits

So lessons we learned:

*Always check a diaper, even if you do not smell something

*ALWAYS have 3 outfit changes...including socks, mittens

**Put a burp rag under tush of car seat for easy cleanup and an extra layer so you don't have to clean car seat and have it be damp for when she needs to sit in it right after.

*Pack extra clothes for mom and dad

*Always be near a CARTERS :) 

*Have a TON of wipes and a TON of diapers..we also now have emergency bags in both cars too, with outfits, diapers and wipes.

·         Milestone:  You are constantly staring at everything around you. The lights. The fans (WOW you love FANS). The walls. You name it; you are just taking it all in. You are more alert, throughout the whole day. Your head control is unbelievable; I can't wait for the day that you will be able to hold your own head. You babble all the time, it is so cute. You can tell mommy's and daddy's voices... sometimes at when you get fussy daddy and I start talking to you, and you become dead silent... as though you are just listening to us... it is adorable, I love it! You are able to sit better, supported obviously...

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Your favorite toy: Still the swing, you are great about it “most of the time”... however when I TRY to get stuff done, or I have something I HAVE TO do (like god forbid try to go to the bathroom, or shower). OH NO, the world is coming to an end and the waterworks begin! So yeah.... needless to say I enjoy it while I can.

·         Ava is also starting TUMMY time and beginning to LOVE her play mat (for VERY small increments of time)

·         Anyone need like a million pacifiers? Because we have tons! But Ava is only using ONE type...we had three and are down to two, and at this moment only have ONE, so we must keep a very close eye on it. She doesn’t LOVE the Paci but defiantly uses it for comfort when she is fighting sleep.

·         First Month Firsts:

·           First car ride/road trips

·         First well baby visit

·         First smile in your sleep

·         First photoshoot

·         First real bath

·         First coo and ahh

·         First explosion, one of many

·         First hotel stay

·         First play dates

·         First trip to the mall

And lots more…
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Well this blog is WAY longer than I thought it would be…but she is sleeping so I thought I would take advantage of her nap and get this done while I can. I hope everyone enjoys reading about Ava. I am doing this blog for all our family and friends who cannot be here to see Ava everyday so they can feel like they can see each and every milestone of her life. Sadly, I am done doing Weekly posts; I will still do weekly pictures because I swear she changes every day. I will blog throughout the month but not do a FULL update until the month is up! Thanks for everyone who reads the blog. I would love to hear your thoughts/comments.