Newborn Favorites

I can't believe my sweet baby girl is already almost one month old!! Where oh where has the time gone? Of course, the days are all blurring together as I sleep in 2-3 hour increments and daytime is no longer distinguished from night! Wouldn't have it any other way ;) ...(okay maybe a few extra hours would be nice)

Anyway, I figured I would keep this blog going with monthly Ava updates and of course random ramblings/posts along the way :) These past few weeks have been so much more amazing than I EVER could have imagined. It has been so fun learning all about Ava and figuring out all of her likes/dislikes. I figured I would do a post on all of our newborn favorites that have helped us survive this past month! 

Fisher Price Rock n Play

We originally purchased a Co-Sleeper

that attached to the side of our bed

for Ava to sleep in but she really does not like sleeping

on a flat surface ( will be working on that one, so transition to crib isn't so difficult) 

so this is the perfect thing for her to feel cozy and snuggled up in! I put

it next to our bed, turn the white noise app on my phone and dangle

my arm down and rock her to sleep! works like a charm! ( most nights ;) )

Prince Lionheart Wipes Warmer

Originally we thought a wipes warmer was not

a necessity and another gimmick. We quickly changed our tune

 when baby girl would pee all over us every time

 a cold wipe hit her! This thing has made

diaper changes so much easier/ nicer! especially in the middle 

of the night!  

4 Moms Mamaroo

This thing has been a lifesaver during the day

especially when I'm alone and need a five min break

to scarf a pb&j and check Facebook ;-) 

She loves it!

Dr Browns Bottles

We haven't really tried any other brands

but these are the ones that were recommended

by a lot of my girlfriends and we love them! Ava has no problem

going back and forth between breastfeeding and the bottle!

I originally wasn't going to start pumping for awhile but 

that changed when Chris was feeling left out and wanted to feed her. Also Ava

wanted to nurse for 2 hours straight in the middle of the night! sorry chick! 

she pounds a bottle and passes right out. 

Boppy Pillow

this has been one of my favorites so far! it makes

breastfeeding and positioning baby so much more comfortable!

32 oz Water Bottle

I am so bad about keeping up with drinking

enough water.. so a cute, LARGE water bottle

was essential for me to make it happen.

seriously- wherever I am this thing is with me.

breastfeeding makes you SO thirsty and Chris is so

wonderful and always makes sure mine is filled with

water and ice :) Love that boy!

Changing Pad Liners- lots of them!!

so nice for messy diaper changes so you 

don't have to change the entire cover each time! This

is another thing I didn't think about until after Ava

was born.

PUJ Tub

For the first two weeks (or until umbilical cord falls off)

you can only give sponge baths, which Ava absolutely hated!

After she lost her umbilical cord we were able to use this tub and

she LOVED it! it is so soft, fits/forms to any sink and is so easy to

hang and store! Although when she gets a little bigger we will have to 

purchase a bigger tub but for now she is so tiny this works perfect!

See- Ava loves her PUJ Tub ;)

Johnson's Honey Apple Baby Wash

The best smelling baby soap

to go with bath time! nothing better then a good

smellin babe ;)

Pj's that ZIP, NOT button!

seriously, who would have thought? not us!

until its 2 am and your screwing with buttons

and a screaming newborn...err no thanks. 

So there you have it :) A few of our most favorite newborn items that we love. Stay tuned for a one month Ava update within the next week!

Welcome To The World, Baby Ava!

We are so excited to announce the birth of our sweet baby girl Ava Elizabeth Matteson. She was born Monday, September 29th at 8:19 a.m weighing 9lb 8.oz, 21 inches long, and a FULL head of the most beautiful black hair you've ever seen. It has been the most amazing week spending every minute with my sweet baby girl and just staring at her and snuggling and showing her off to all of our family and friends. I seriously could not be more in love with anything or anyone and I am so lucky God chose me to be this little girls Mama! Here is a little bit of our week in pictures!!

Chris and I right before leaving for the hospital!

Our last picture together as a family of 2!

Pulling into the hospital at 6 am! This is where the flood

of emotions hit. When I walk out of here

it will be with my baby girl !!

In the recovery room getting prepped for surgery!

One last bump pic ;) 

In OR ready to go! I think this was

right after my spinal block and just before

I puked all over myself.. and Chris ;) my

blood pressure dropped due to spinal which 

caused me to get sick. They gave me some nausea

 and blood pressure meds in my IV 

and I was immediately feeling better.

Chris looking sexy in scrubs ;)

She's here! Chris was able to get pictures and

meet our sweet girl while I was getting stitched up.

At this time she was having some troubles

keeping her O2 levels stable and needed

to be on some oxygen so she had to be sent to 

the NICU. This is when I lost it.. I was so

out of it and didn't know what was going on

or if she was okay. Worst feeling ever. 

I was able to get to see her right before

she got taken to the NICU. I gave her

as many kisses as I could and told her I loved

her so much. This was the best/most

frightening moment of my entire life.

Chris was able to go to the NICU to be with

her while I had to wait for my spinal to wear

off before I could get out of bed and into a wheelchair

to get down there. This sucked and I was so upset. 

He kept me updated with pictures and updates from Doctors 

in the meantime. 

7 hours later, when the spinal wore

off and I was able to get out of bed

and into a wheelchair, I was finally able to

get to the NICU to see her and hold her

for the very first time. Here is where I lost it

again. The amount of love I felt for this girl

was indescribable and I never ever wanted to put her

down. 

Ava had to be observed for the night in NICU

to make sure her oxygen was stabilized and

to finish some fluids/antibiotics. Spending the night

in the hospital without her in our room was

awful. Chris and I were up at 4 am and went down

and spent the day with her. I got to nurse for the first 

time and baby girl was a champ! 

so glad that after 24 hours she latched right on!

At 7pm the next evening Ava finally got the all

clear and was able to come stay with us in our room!

So thankful for Ava's amazing nurse "Nan" in the NICU

who made it her personal mission to get her back to us

by the end of her shift. 

Daddy snuggling his baby girl. I love watching

him with her and seeing how much he loves her. 

My heart melts watching them snuggle and watching

him kiss her and talk to her. 

I never knew how much I loved him until I saw

how much he loved her. The saying is true!

Thursday afternoon- Ready to go home!

Thursday morning 6am-Chris had the car

packed and was ready to bust out of that place!!

haha!

Thursday evening- Uncle Dan and Aunt Nicki

arrived from Maryland to spend the weekend with us!

We were super lazy and just snuggled baby girl

and relaxed the entire time. It was nice to have

extra helping hands those first few days home

and to just spend time with them!

Uncle Dan with Ava. He was so cute with her!

Aunt Nicki sent me to my room to nap while she

babysat Ava and had a little photoshoot ;) 

Miss Ava fresh and clean after her first

spongebath! It only took all 4 of us to

get it done! Little one does NOT like being

naked or cold and hated the entire thing :( 

poor honey. Note the perfectly combed hair. 

Daddy loves combing that hair!

Grandma Lisa came to stay from Sun-Weds

and was such a big help cleaning,cooking

and helping with baby girl. She even spoiled her

and went on a shopping spree at Carters

after Ava's first Pediatrician appt on Monday!

Little miss had her newborn pictures yesterday

and I could not be more obsessed with how

they turned out!! she slept the entire time

and even smiled for a few pics! she did so good

and I cant stop staring at these pictures. 

There is a lot more pics but I was able to get

a few sneak peeks last night :)

We were not expecting to be in any pictures, and

almost said no but I am so glad they forced us 

to get a few family shots! I am obsessed with this

and can't wait to get it on a canvas to hang !

I can't handle the cuteness. 

It seriously has been the best week of my entire life. Never did I think I could love this much or be this obsessed with something in my entire life. It has been so fun learning and figuring out everything Ava likes and doesn't like. She loves to eat, and when she does she always has to hold my finger or hold her hands to get comfortable, she loves sleeping with her arm by her head just like her mama, hates diaper changes and being cold ( we invested in a wipes warmer today, hopefully that helps!), loves sleeping and snuggling on your chest, and has the cutest farts I've ever heard. Seriously, I never thought a fart could be cute until I had a baby. I am crazy-mom obsessed with everything she does. Her crinkly face when she sneezes, her arms flying in the air when she startles, her crooked smiles when she is sleeping.... and the smell of her head is like a drug. I can't wait to watch this little one grow, and become a little person..yet I want her to stay this small forever!! Thank you everyone for the well wishes, congratulations, cards/gifts, meals and help this past week. We are so thankful to everyone for helping us as new/exhausted parents. Tonight we are officially on our own, wish us luck!! ;)