You're two today

Dear Ava,

"i love you through and through... i love your top side. i love your bottom side. i love your inside and outside. i love your happy side, your sad side, your silly side, your mad side.

i love your fingers and toes, your ears and nose. i love your hair and eyes, your giggles and cries.

i love you running and walking, silent and talking, i love you through and through... yesterday, today and tomorrow too."



Today is a special day for me and you. Two years ago today, you took your first breath and my world became yours to conquer. You became mine and I became yours.

Today, you are two. Today, you will blow out your candle and enjoy your birthday cake.  You will laugh & play.  You will open your presents and say "wow!" because you love them.  You will kiss your di-da and your daddy because you love them too.  You will throw a fit because something wasn't just right (and that's what two year olds do) then you will come to me for a hug and all will be right in your world & mine. You will crawl into my lap and be still for a moment. You will discover something new and smile. Today, you will be you.  You are two.

Today, I will sit back & watch. I will stare at you in pure amazment and joy. I will breathe in your sweet breath and be your mommy. I will think back on the past two years of wonderful memories and I will cry, laugh, sigh and smile. 

But no matter how many years go by, you are still mine and I am yours.  I love you, Ava. 

Mommy

Wordless Wednesday

One year.

'You are so precious to me,
sweet as can be, baby of mine.'

 ~ Dumbo

Dear Ava,

My sweet girl, it is so hard to believe that one year ago today you graced the world with your beautiful blues eyes and dirty blonde hair.  Your birth was a whirlwind and went so quickly, who knew that the year to follow would be to. The moment I heard your sweet voice, I knew my world was perfect.  You were perfect.  I watched you sleep on my chest, as there was no other place you wanted to be, You were so tiny, your breath so soft and sweet. You were mine, as I was yours.

As each day has passed, I am amazed at how beautiful you are. Your personality and smile light up the room & my heart.   You are soo smart & stubborn & independent.  I love how your eyes light up when your Daddy comes home & how he has to hug you before doing anything else.  I love the way you giggle at Zoe when she does silly things. You have such a wonderful giggle.  You aren't walking just yet, but if you get a hold of someones hand, you will walk up a storm.  You and your sister are two peas in a pod.  I hope that you two grow to be best friends.  You talk alot, but your favorite thing to do is mimic people when the laugh.  You are laughter fills my heart with joy. 

Every night before I lay you in your bed, I look at you sleeping on my chest, not soo tiny anymore, but your breath still so soft and sweet.  I remember back to the night you were born and I smile.  I smile at you and I thank God for giving me you.  You are mine, as I am yours.

Happy 1st Birthday Ava!

Love,

Momma

top 5 things I love

1. I love how Zoe starts to studder when she gets is excited about a story she's dying to tell me.
2. I love how Ava opens her mouth SUPER wide with excitment when she sees someone/something she loves.
3. I love how my husbands eye lashes are long enough to touch his glasses when he blinks.
4. I love having coffee dates with my 4 year and making plans for future dates.
5. I love how cupcakes/cakes smell.

Hey Everyone!! What’s going on?! Have you been enjoying these beautiful Texas weekends?

We are doing well, thank you for asking! I can gladly say that everyone in my household is healthy and happy!! In the past 2 months, we have had a sinus infection, strep throat (twice), an upper respiratory infection and TERRIBLE allergies. All of which have resulted in 4 trips to the doctor, not including Ava’s 6mth well child, 3 antibiotics, 2 decongestants, 3 cranky girls, 4 goopy & gunky & watery eyes, 4 missed days of school/work and one big disinfecting cleaning session.

Ok, where to start with the catch up…

Ava turned 6 and 7 months old!!!  She is 16lbs and 27 1/3 inches tall. She has learned to hold her own bottle and sit unassisted!!! She eats baby food three times a day. She loves the taste of cinnamon rolls, cheetos (Thanks to Daddy!) and ice cream. She loves to cuddle and give kisses. She still doesn't sleep through the night. She has the biggest wide mouth smile, it’s contagious! She loves her sister, she loves to grab her face & her hair & keep her really close. Don’t worry Zoe doesn’t mind it to much!  She still doesn't have any teeth, though she's been teething for months. Ava has also started splashing BIG time in the bath tub. She loves when mommy gets the water good & warm then she starts thrashing around like a crazy child!!! Ava has recently discovered her ‘Around We Go’ and LOVES to growl at the Lion! It’s truly too funny. She is such a joy! I <3 her!

Zoe is four going on 13…(notice no exclaimation points)  She is growing in to such a little lady and it makes me sad. :( My Baby is a big girl. She is smart & funny. She asks some of the best questions and when you answer she has another question ready about the answer. She is ready to start school, she tells me all the time about how she wants to be an ‘after-schooler.’ She can count to ten in spanigh. She can add any numbers under ten. She is SASSY and can get an attitude with the best of them. She is learning about listening and doing what you’re told when you’re told. She is beautiful outside and in.  She recently CUT HER OWN HAIR which resulted in a major hair cut! She has started playing soccer again this year. She is really good, when she plays. This year mommy and daddy are coaching so it’s harder for her to share our attention. But she’s doing good.  I love my little lady.

(not the best pic, sorry)

Nick is busy with work, both places are picking up.  I think he is really enjoying being able to coach Zoe's soccer team.  He's soo good with kids.  & Zoe loves the extra time with Daddy.

I am busy as usual!  Celebrated my 28th birthday in April.  I coach Zoe's games on Saturdays, which is alot of fun!  The kids are great.  I am staying busy with work and the girls.  I am making a Jimmy Buffet Cake this month & will be doing a bridal shower cake this summer, which I'm super excited about!!  Other than that, everything is status quo. 

I hope to update more regularly but we will see how that goes...:)

Take Care,

Stefanie

Seven months old!

Half a year old

Ava is 4 months old!!!

Ava turned four months old! She has hit some major milestones just this week. She found her outside voice and loves to use it @ 2am. She has rolled over from tummy to back, TWICE!! She has eaten rice cereal a handful of times and LOVES IT! She has mastered tummy time. She loves to look at everything. She discovered her feet, and they are now her two best friends. She is growing so fast, sometimes I wish I could freeze time to keep her my little baby.

Tummy Time = Success

Ava really can hold her head up.. She doesn't just lay flat on her face. She's such a big girl!

Two Months...

One Month Old

Ladies and Gentlemen: The Wade Family proudly presents our newest addition…. Ava Cloee Wade!!!

Ava graced us with her presence on Monday, September 21, 2009 at 7:25 pm. She weighed 7lbs 7oz and is 20.5 inches long.

It feels like the past week has been a big blur! Sunday night, I remember telling Nick that I was so ready to just have my baby here and she could come whenever she wanted. I sat on the couch talking to Ava in my belly, I told her that she didn’t have to wait any more and she is more than welcome to join our world whenever she was ready, but no pressure. Little did I know it would be the next day!! So here’s how it all happened… Monday morning at around 3:30am I was abruptly awakened by contractions that I had never before. (I didn’t feel any of this with Zoe because my water broke and I had an epidural) I tried so hard not to wake Nick up, but I couldn’t help but grab his hand with every contraction I had… They weren’t consistent and very random. I tried to lay in bed and tough it out but I just couldn’t lay there and wait for a contraction to happen… So I took a shower and decided I would google a bit about contractions and early labor. (It had been 4 years since I had this class so I needed a refresher as to what was going on) So I started timing the contractions, 18 mins, 3 mins, 20 mins, 16 mins…. And so on. I finally was able to relax and sleep for a few hours, then 6 am rolled around and I wanted so badly to stay home however my replacement/trainee was scheduled to start training and I couldn’t just call in on her first day of training. (I could have, but didn’t) So off to work I go… I had contractions all day, but still nothing consistent. I called the dr. and he said to keep timing and if they get 5-10 mins apart then go to hospital…. Well, they steadily got stronger but were not consistent. I trained (half assed due to contractions) all day, but when 4:30 rolled around and the contractions were 12-16 mins apart, I had to get home… I called Nick and told him what was going on and that I was going home to get Zoe and would continue to time them out and if they get worse or closer together, we would be going to the hospital. (My mom was headed to the house just incase we had to go) So I get Zoe at daycare at 5:25pm and get home, at this point they were coming more frequently, I wasn’t able to time them as I was busy getting her and trying to get her situated. We got home, I got Zoe settled in, I took a shower to try to relax but at this point the contractions were 5 mins or so apart and We NEEDED to go. (My mom showed up while I was in the shower and loaded up everything and Zoe) So my mom called Nick and told him it was time to meet us at the hospital and we were off…

Quick Side Note: Zoe was a great support the whole time, she kept saying ‘It’s ok mommy, we are going to the hospital and you will be better’, I truly have the best kid ever!!

We got to the hospital at 6:18pm, I was triaged and checked in (thank goodness for pre-registration) I was dilated to 6cm when we got there…Nick showed up seconds after we did. They got me all hooked up and in an L&D room, checked me again and I was 7 cm. I asked for an epidural but when they checked my to make sure I could still get one, I was already to 8cm…. To late!! No Epidural for me!! I had contemplated going without medicine with this one, but that quickly went out the window. Apparently, Ava and my body didn’t feel the same way!! I didn’t think I was strong enough to do it, I have no tolerance for pain. I’m a Wuss!! But I somehow did it and I felt it all, and oddly enough the labor pain wasn’t the worst part, the contractions were! I yelled and screamed so loud that everyone could hear me in the waiting room (I was the only one delivering) and Zoe was terrified because her mommy was in pain. My water still hadn’t broken at this point and they were waiting to make sure my doctor and everything was set up in the room to break it because it would go so fast afterwards… So everything is ready, and my doctor breaks my water and my body told me to push, however the doctor told me to breathe through them, WHAT?!? Breathe through them? How? Why? I want to push!!! I couldn’t breathe through the contractions, I NEEDED to Push!! So I did and within 5-6 good pushes Ava made her debut!!! They laid her on my chest, She cried and whimpered! And nothing else mattered, the pain went away and it was just me and my new baby girl. She was perfect, all cheesy, bloody and oddly colored. She was mine and I was hers. Ava Cloee had stolen half of my heart within second of being born. (Zoe has the other half) Everything after that was pretty textbook. I had to have two stitches, they cleaned me up and cleaned her up. Surprisingly enough, I felt really good for just giving birth!

Nick and I decided that Zoe would be the first person to hold her. She was so excited to see her and to make sure that mommy was ok. The minute Nick and Zoe sat on that couch and Zoe saw her new best friend, I knew I was in for trouble. Zoe fell in love with her new baby sister, just as mommy had. Then everyone else (My Dad, Suzanne, Matt, Shane, Grandma Sharon, Grandma Ruth and Aunt Sandy) came in and saw our little one. Zoe immediately came over to me, got in bed and asked if I was ok? She said that I scared her cause she could hear me crying and she didn’t want me to be sad! (I truly love her) I reassured her that I was much better now that both of my girls were here with me and that I loved her very much! Ava had to be whisked away to the nursery for her first bath and all that fun stuff, so her entourage followed after her. Nick and Zoe escorted her down the hall and watched to make sure that little sister was ok. The nurse helped me get situated and moved to my postpartum room and I got some quiet time before everyone came back. I am a mommy of two! I gave birth without meds!!! I have a beautiful new baby girl!

So fast forward to now… We are home and everyone is happy! Zoe is all about kissing and hugging her little sister! Nick and I are in awe of our beautiful children. Nick has been really helping out with all the around the house stuff and keeping Zoe occupied, so I can tend to Ava. But I’m trying to give him some Ava time and get my own time with Zoe too. I know we are only on day 3, but so far so good!!

I feel like Ava’s birth was a whirlwind event, but I wouldn’t change it for anything in the world. She is so calm and chill, for now. She hardly cries, she loves to cuddle up at my neck. So far she is very low maintainence, but we are only on day 3!!

I will try to keep everyone posted on how we are doing and the adventures of Zoe and Ava over the next 6 weeks. (Zoe is staying home with me while on maternity leave) Until then, I hope everyone has a great week!!!

Take Care,
Stefanie

We welcome with love...

What's going on?!

It's been a while since I post somethings, so how about an UPDATE!

Zoe is growing like a weed! She's completely out of 2T clothes now, her 2T jeans are highwaters! She's getting excited about her upcoming birthday and that she will be 3! She has learned that her birthday is in October and she is going to be 3. So Cute! Zoe has been potty trained since she was two, but we have still had night time wetting. Well, this week we decided that we would try again (after many failed attempts and wet sheets) on the night time potty training and I have to say we are doing pretty good. We stop giving her drinks after dinner time and make her go potty before bed. She's been getting up on her own around 3:30am to go potty, and has been dry since Sunday! I hope we can keep this up, I really don't want to buy anymore pull ups!

I have a cute story: Monday, on the way home from picking up Zoe from daycare, Zoe randomly says "and to the pupublic, for which its hands; one nation, under God, indevibible; with libaty and justice for AAALLL!!" I looked in my rear view and said "What did you just say?!?" "The Pledge of allebance, Momma" I immediately asked her to do it again, and she did!! My daughter is a genius! Or is this normal for a 3 year old?! She knows the Pledge of Allegiance!!! I'm sooo proud of her.

Nick is doing good! He's busy, busy, busy both at the Harley shop and the Tattoo shop. He is meeting all kinds of cool people. We recently went to the drag races in Ennis with some friends. He was in heaven. He has gone to the races the past few years with friends, but this year I went also. It's really cool! Of course to start out, I was like "It's just some cars going down a track" But it is far more than just that. It really was alot of fun! Isaiah and Lyla went with us. We all had a good time!

I am doing well also. I'm busy trying to get Zoe's birthday plans taken care of, which is stressful. What can you do at a 3 year old princess party, that everyone will like? What food should we serve? I'll figure it out, eventually. I am still at UTSW in transplant and I just recently start working with my Uncle Jeff and brother Matt on the weekends. It's hard to not hang out with Zoe, but she gets to hang with her Opppa & Zam (my Dad and Stepmom) so that makes it a little easier. She understands that work is something that has to be done. I am having my wisdom teeth taken out in November. I'm kind anxious and nervous about it. Yes, I know it's a month away but those of you that know me, know that I'm a worrier!

My family is doing good. My Mom and Stepdad are going to New York on Saturday, they will be gone for a week. I hope they have a good time! My Dad and Stepmom are doing good. They are busy with work and my little bro, Matthew's life. (you know, Sports, work, girls) My Brother, Jason is still in Iraq. I haven't heard from him in a while. But he sent my mom and dad a funny video he made. You can tell that his experiences over there haven't changed the comedian inside him.

He's a nut!

Well, that's all I have for now. I hope everyone has a good week!

Always,

Stefanie

SAVE THE DATE!

Airhogs!

Did you know that Grand Prairie now has a minor league baseball team? Well, they do. The Grand Prairie Airhogs. I know, The Airhogs?! What kind of name is that? But it is G.P., did you expect anything less?

Well, We went on 8/5/08 to see them play the Pensicola Penguins. Nicks family was in town, so we had a good size group. (Nick, Me, Isaiah, Zoe, Grammy Hammie (my grandma), Grandma Lyla (Nicks mom), Nathan and JD (our nephews)) Before the game we had the traditional baseball meal; Hamburgers, hotdogs, chips and PIE! (Thanks to Grammy Hammie, it was good!) After dinner, we all piled into my car and headed to the stadium. Zoe was soo excited to see the game. The tickets were cheap and the seats were good. I don't think there is a bad seat in the stadium. It wasn't a full house or too hot, so that was good! The game was good and the Airhogs WON. They are number 2 in the Southern Division, the Fort Worth Cats are number 1. Here are some pictures from the game, of the stadium and such.

Look how beautiful the day was!

These are my two favorite pictures.

See the rainbow? and my pretty little girl?

Both sooooo beautiful!

I hope everyone has a great week. I will post another soon!

Stefanie

Summer Days

So yesterday I was in the mddle of cooking dinner, Taco/Tostadas/Nacho Night! When I noticed the house had suddenly fallen silent. My house hasn't been this silent in 3 years!!! So, I checked the whole house & Nick, Isaiah and Zoe were nowhere to be found. Then I noticed the front door was open, (which I should have noticed sooner, as I had to walk by it to get to the rest of the house, but that's besides the point) Those little stinkers snuck out and decided to ride bikes with out me!!! So you know what I did?!? I got my camera and shot a few pics of them in action:

This is the standard Isaiah face for pictures... But Look how big he is!

Zoe got this bike for her b-day last year and couldn't ride it without help... But look at her now...

Then Nick had to get in on the riding action and do tricks for the kids...

She's prissy even when it's 100 degrees....
Just wanted to share a little bit of our summer.

Have a great weekend!

Stefanie