Month One

Dear Ava,                                                              10/29/14

Wow! Your personality is already starting to show. And can we say "diva"?! Your daddy and I now call you things like "sass-a-frass" "sassy-pot" "sassy pants" "sassy baby" and "diva". You have quite the temper! You are also very particular. You do not like people to get in your space (especially when you're in your car seat). You do not like to be touched when you're sleeping-- not at all! Mommy tried to wipe spit bubbles from your face once and you had a fit.

Speaking of fits, you have those quite often now! You are very good at throwing fits. Everyone notices and comments on how well you do! They're even impressed when your lips turn blue.

Mommy is still doing a lot of learning! We've mastered giving you a bath and since your belly button fell off within the first two weeks, we haven't had to be as careful. Changing your diaper is easier, in that I'm more comfortable (and quicker) with it, but you on the other hand do not like it. It's also easier to change your clothes, but again, you're not a fan!

You have been lifting your head and neck pretty much since day 1, so by week 4 your muscles are even stronger. You were also focusing in on things within the first week. You like to follow high contrast images with your eyes. You are also intrigued by the blinds!

You had a growth spurt around 2 weeks which was miserable for your daddy and I.

Around 3 weeks you started taking a bottle and I also introduced formula. You seemed to sleep better and be happier overall once I could see how much you were eating and made sure your belly was getting full! You also slept through the night 6.5 hours this week after we gave you formula. You have started liking your swing this week. Before, you wanted nothing to do with it. And while you are high maintenance, you will sit in it for a few minutes without crying. I left you for the first time this week so that I could have my teeth cleaned. I cried on the way to the dentist, but you were fine!

At 4 weeks, you've started making noises and faces when I talk to you. Some of them are really funny! You also went to the chiropractor this week and you did really well. You liked being held upside down! I left you for the second time this week to go out to dinner with your daddy. This time was a little easier, but it still felt like something was missing!

You are very alert and will fight sleep. You seem like you're scared you will miss out on something, but I promise all mommy wants to do once you fall asleep is get some sleep myself! Sometimes you keep yourself up for so long that you are over stimulated and that makes falling asleep even harder for you! Those days are rough...

You are on somewhat of a schedule. You usually sleep in 4 and 6 hour increments at night. You eat about 4 oz every 3(ish) hours.

You do not like to be strapped into your car seat, but once we started riding in the car, you usually fall asleep.

Your tiny fingers are so long! Everyone says you could be a piano player, an artist or a ballerina. I say you can be whatever you want to be!

You were Cinderella for Halloween.

When you were born, you looked like mommy, then you started to look more like daddy, but now I think you are starting to look more like me again. Honestly, you're a good mix of both! Everyone says you look just like your daddy, but they haven't seen my baby pictures. You really do look a lot like me too!

At your one month check up you weighed 9 lbs 14 oz and you are 24 in long! I think you are going to be tall. Maybe you will want to play basketball or run track. Whatever you do, I know you'll be great at it!

I wouldn't consider you to be an "easy" baby, but I don't really know what qualifies as easy or difficult.

I do love you more than words and I am loving watching you learn and grow every single day.

Love,
Mommy