Ava goes to St. Louis

Over Labor Day weekend we went on a quick trip to St. Louis, Missouri, to visit my sister and her family. It was Ava's first vacation and airplane ride! It was a weekend full of lots of firsts for Ava, including meeting her aunt, uncle and cousins. My sister (Jessica) and her husband (Brandon) have a three year old son (Cameron) and another baby boy who was born just about a month after Ava (Everett). This was our first time meeting Everett as well. Ava did really well on the airplane rides. When she started to get a little fussy I just fed her and, well, eating fixes everything for our little girl.

While in St. Louis we visited the Botanical Gardens, where their Japanese Festival was going on, the Zoo, and Ted Drewe's, which is famous for its frozen custard and is a popular tourist stop. We also spent a lot of time just relaxing at Jess and Brandon's house. It's a little complicated to go anywhere when you have four adults and three car seats. Any outing required two cars and that wasn't always possible since Brandon did have to work. Cameron got to spend a lot of time with his Uncle Tim while the moms took care of the babies. And Tim was a very good sport and played a lot with Cameron.

What was also fun was that we finally got to give Cameron (and Everett) a rocking horse made by Uncle Tim. Tim worked really hard in the four weeks before our trip and built a rocking horse for our nephews. He shipped it to St. Louis in a couple big pieces before we left and then finished assembling it once we were there. Cameron seemed to like it and hopefully Everett will one day, too.

Here is a selection of pictures from our trip:

Ava on the airplane right after landing in St. Louis. She wasn't too happy to have been woken up from her nap.

Cousins Ava and Everett doing some tummy time together. They were close to the same length, but Ava had quite a bit of weight on Everett. Ava was 10 weeks old and Everett was 6.

Cameron decided he needed a little tummy time, too.

Cameron riding his new rocking horse. When he first saw it he asked me what it was. I said, "It's a rocking horse that Uncle Tim made for you and Everett." He replied in a quiet voice, "Please I ride it?" :)

Here we are at the zoo! Ava experienced her first penguin exhibit. She may have been asleep in the stroller, but at least she was there.

Cameron and Brandon at the zoo.

No matter where she is, Ava loves to stand!

I got to see my good friend Erin while we were there! She lives in St. Louis and came over for dinner one night. It was fun to have her meet Ava.

Daddy time.

Tim with his hands full.

On our last full day there we went to Brandon's parents' house to hang out by their pool for a bit. This is Ava relaxing by the pool.

Such a big girl!

Relaxing with Mom by the pool.

At the Botanical Gardens.

Everett slept through most of the Botanical Gardens tour and Ava cried. :) She was pretty hungry.

Who is that guy in the background? I don't remember his name, but he's the one responsible for the Botanical Gardens.

Plants are awesome!

Ava at 6 Weeks

Ava is six weeks old today! That seems like a milestone. And what new things is she doing, you ask? Well, she has several new tricks. In about the last week and a half we've noticed her beginning to see objects in front of her, including toys and her mobile. She now enjoys watching them, especially if they're moving! Her bouncy seat has a little bar that goes over the top with some things that hang down for her to look at. We've begun using that and it is good for entertaining her for a while. She likes to watch the toys move. When they move she wiggles, which makes them move more, which makes her even happier and more wiggly! It's pretty cute. She can also follow an object with her eyes for a little ways, if you hold it in front of her and move it to the side. She can hold a rattle or smallish object if you help put it in her hand. There's a video below of her shaking a rattle (not so much on purpose, but still fun). She can hold her head up like it's her job and loves to do so. Her little neck is pretty strong. There's video below from almost two weeks ago of her doing that, so she's even better now! What else? One of Tim's favorite tricks is helping her stand up on her legs in his lap and then balancing her while she "stands". She can hold her own weight pretty well. Unfortunately, this trick only works if she's mad. :) And the best of all: she's smiling! She's still a little stingy with her smiles, but when she gives them they're adorable! And I captured the elusive smile today! I figured it would be months before I got any smiles on camera, but she gave me several good ones this afternoon. There are pictures below. And she definitely smiled back at me this afternoon when I smiled at her and said "hi!". So fun to see a response!
In recent events we had dinner with Grandpa Clint last night. He was in town on his way to Sturgis. Ava slept through it all, of course, but I'm sure she was glad to "see" him.
Ava and I went for a walk today with Jenn, Breyton and Mara. Breyton is almost two and a half and Mara is about 12 weeks old. Ava and Mara may not know it yet, but they're going to be best friends (at least if Jenn and I have anything to say about it!).
Ava and I only have one more week at home, so we're going to try to make the best of it! Soon she'll be experiencing all kinds of new things when she's at "school". I keep telling her about how neat it will be to watch all the other babies and learn from them. Hopefully she likes it!

I think she's going to love it when she can sit up on her own.

Aren't I cute?

Look at me! I'm holding a rattle AND smiling!

Look at that beautiful smile!

Sparkly little eyes.


Check out these videos. They're probably only exciting if it's your baby, but . . . well, I think they're cute!

Happy Anniversary!

Four years ago today Team Kelleher was created. It's hard to believe it has been that long, and yet, at the same time, it's hard to remember what life was like before we were married. Much has happened in those four years and our lives have seen some pretty big changes. In January 2006 we were engaged, in August 2006 we were married, in April 2007 I started a new job, in May 2007 Tim graduated college, in July 2008 we bought a house, and we've seen several huge changes already in 2010. While all four years have been wonderful, it is the last fifteen months or so that have really made me wonder what I would do without my partner in life and all the messiness that goes with it. From our miscarriage in May 2009 to the death of our parents in April and May of 2010 and of course the birth of our daughter in June, life has definitely required a team effort. I am grateful for all of these things because I know that we are stronger now because of them. And I am so thankful to have my loving husband by my side as I look ahead and consider what else life might bring. I'm so glad that the Lord brought us together. I'm so glad you asked me to marry you, Tim. I'm so glad to be where we are today. I love you, husband!

Happy Happy Joy Joy

It has been nearly a month since Ava entered our world and life is good. Little Miss has her moments, but she's a good baby and we are really enjoying having her here. She's quite the trooper and has been out and about with us many times now. She's good at sleeping through meetings and events, which is quite convenient for us. She even went grocery shopping with me this week and had her first trip to the Foothills Mall today. What fun. She continues to be healthy and happy. We're struggling a little with her daytime naps (she mostly just doesn't sleep through them) but I'll take that any day considering how well she sleeps at night. It's wonderful to get to spend so much time with her; it will be hard to go back to work, although I suspect that a part of me will be ready, too. It's like the old days of being in school: at the beginning of summer you wanted to never have to go to school again, but by the end of summer you couldn't wait to get back. At least I know she'll be close by and in the best of care. That helps a lot.

In other news, Tim and I have a new nephew! My sister, Jessica, and her husband, Brandon, had their second child just yesterday, the 21st. Little Everett Anthony Sather was born at just about 4pm their time and is a healthy baby boy, weighing in at 7lbs. 13oz., with a length of 20.5in. Both he and mommy are doing great! I can't wait to hear what big brother Cameron thinks of him (he thought his little brother's name should be Spiderman). Tim and I have just bought tickets this week to go out and visit all of them over Labor Day. Ava will get to meet her cousins! I'm slightly fearful about flying with an infant, but figure it's probably easier at 2 months than at 12 months.

Tim has just started another job at work, which is kind of exciting. He'll be working next on a jail renovation in Denver. He'll still be working on the project from the office in Longmont, so he doesn't have to commute down there every day, thankfully. Many of his co-workers will not have work (they will still be employed-but with little to do) come September, so we are praying that FCI is able to find more projects.

I've attached some more pictures, including one of Ava's first visit from Grandpa Clint. He and Great Grandma Garnie (GGG) came up for a bit to see us last Saturday.



Here she is having some "back time" on her "playgym". She now can/will lay on her back happily for quite a while, which makes her much easier to entertain.


Awwww . . .



Grandpa Clint!




Tummy time.

Her first nap in her crib! She's been napping in there for quite a while now, although we have yet to attempt to put her there through the night.

Someday she'll choose her own clothing but for now . . . mommy wins.

She may be scheming . . . or just pooping.

2 weeks?!

2 weeks old already?! My how time does fly. Little Ava is doing great, though! At her appointment with the pediatrician last Wednesday she was up to 7 lbs. 10 oz. and had grown an inch in length! We can tell that her little face is filling out. She's still pretty itty bitty, though. It seems we're getting things somewhat figured out. She's such a good little baby. Other than struggling with an upset tummy off and on over the last couple days (she's learning to love gas drops!) she really is rarely fussy. She's been sleeping pretty well at night (for a baby, that is). We're working on having a bit of a routine/schedule and that seems to be helping her. She at least is beginning to understand when we want her to sleep and falling asleep better on her own. And some nights she only wakes up to be fed once (that is, if you count her 5:30am feeding as morning, which we early-risers do!). All in all, it's been a wonderful two weeks, even if it has been a little challenging at times. Nana and Papa Ernie left yesterday, so now the dust is beginning to settle and we're excited to be able to establish our routine as a family and return to "normal"--the new normal, that is.
Here are a few more pictures!


The car seat works its sleepy magic.


Ready to go to Old Town for some lunch and shopping with Nana and Papa Ernie.

Burrito Baby all wrapped in her little flour tortilla! :)

It's a little tricky to get good pictures of her because she's such a little squiggle butt.

Baby knows how to groove.

The cats seems to think that every surface that Ava sits in/lays on is meant for them, too. Especially Elsie. I couldn't keep her out of the bouncy seat one morning!

I have to admit, it's pretty fun to dress her up! Here she is in one of her designer onesies (DKNY). :)

Introducing . . . Ava Marie, Our Ray of Light in an Otherwise Dark Year

She's here! Little Miss Ava finally decided to quit pretending she was coming and actually make her arrival on Friday, June 25th at 4:48pm. She weighed in at 7 lbs. 3 oz. and was 19 and 3/4 in. long. Her delivery was a little long and arduous, but she came safely and we couldn't ask for more. She's a beautiful, healthy little girl and is such a joy to us! It's been fun (and challenging) getting to know her. We still have so much to learn! Grandpa Kelleher, Gigi and Uncle Toby were the first to meet her in the hospital. This week Nana and Papa Ernie are visiting from Montana. You can be sure she's been getting lots of attention. And she's experienced many firsts in the last couple days with Nana and Papa Ernie: first restaurant experience, first time to church, first Sam's Club experience and first walk in her stroller.
Here are a bunch of pictures, but once again I seem unable to upload them in the right order, so they're a little bit backwards. Cute nonetheless! So without further ado, here she is!

She loves to be swaddled at night, but this is usually how she ends up after a while.

Sometimes Nana makes me yawn. :)

Dancing with Nana after doing dishes. It all began with a little Bruce Springsteen.

You're lucky if you get a hold of her when Nana's around.

I usually only burp when Mommy doesn't have the burp rag.

Meeting Nana! I wore my polka dot dress for the occasion.

I'm awake!

Tootsies

A little tummy time on the quilt that Grandma Chrisann made for me.

Sleepiness directly follows eating.

Hanging in my bouncy seat.

Little Peanut in a big world.

First ride in my car seat, leaving the hospital.

Ready to go home.

Daddy looks ready to go home, too.

I'm not so sure about this clothes thing.

Snuggle time with Daddy.

Uncle Toby!

Just moved to our new room after leaving the Birthing Center.

My hat is a little big.

First family photo!

She's a girl and she's healthy!