10 minute rule

Chris and I decided to a new house rule called the "10 minute rule". The 10 minute rule applies to the person who is putting Ava to sleep and passing her off to the other parent. If the individual who is putting Ava to sleep passes her off and she wakes up within 10 minutes...they have to take her back and keep her until she is good and asleep!

This photo was taken during Chris's turn for putting Ava to sleep. He is feeling confident she is asleep, while asking me...IS she asleep? He gives me a thumbs up...hoping I will return the thumbs up...indicating a safe pass off!

PS...he indeed was successful ;-)

Lunch with the big girls

My friend Tonda was in town on business from Chicago. It is always great to get together with the girls (Heather (not pictured), Tonda and Emily) for chat and chow! Ava came with me this time...since my life now exists with her in it. I have to say I was a little intimidated to take her with me not knowing the outcome, but she was fabulous and on her best behavior! She was such a lady at our girls lunch.

And...we happened to know the couple sitting next to us with their (on the verge of) two years old little boy who entertained us quite a bit while he threw a fit throughout their entire lunch. I wonder if that is what we have that to look forward to...hmmmmm. Until then...sleepy, quite baby during lunch with the girls is just right!

AND...while the girls were doing the girl thing...Ava's daddy was out with the guys riding his mountain bike for the first time since Ava was born! Go daddy, go!

One week old birthday celebration!

Chris and I agreed that we would celebrate Ava's one week, one month and annual birthday's after that. We celebrated her one week birthday the afternoon of September 11th. We had a chocolate brownie (homemade by our friend Rich Mitchell), pink candle, sang to her and made birthday wishes for her. We really enjoyed ourselves...and Ava slept through the entire celebration ;-)

Big girl bath...

Ava's umbilical cord fell off after only eight days! YES! We saved it...for some reason...but the main point I am trying to make is that it meant that she could take a big girl bath! We thought that we would create an environment that we ourselves would appreciate so we brought out the candles...rubber ducky, organic baby oil and soft bath towel. Well...she had very little appreciation of any of this and screamed the entire time...only to exhaust herself and get a good nap with her mommy on the couch.

Ava makes three!

We have been adjusting to this baby! Life is different around the Hajdu house...that is definite and life is so much better with this little girl in our lives than we ever thought. Chris and I continuously stare at Ava and tell each other how beautiful she is...but in the first days of her life all we could do is compliment each other on what a perfect baby we made. It was pretty funny and conceited, but I believe typical of new parents. We have been blessed. This baby is beyond our expectations and wishes for each other and our little family.

We had a beautiful birth experience. Seriously! Birthing this baby was more natural than the breast-feeding experience has been. Chris was an amazing birth coach and the staff at Seton Medical Center were fabulous!

My OBGYN, Dr. Binford, delivered our baby and when Ava made her appearance to the world, one of the HCS staff members said, "You have a butter ball!"

Kate, my youngest sister was in the delivery room and caught every moment on film. We have some beautiful photos to show Ava one day of her being delivered.

Introducing.... Ava Elizabeth Hajdu

name: Ava Elizabeth Hajdu
born: @12:44 pm, Thursday, September 4th, 2008
weight: 8lbs, 0 oz.
length: 19.5 inches

We are so pleased to be home with our sweet angel. The wait was long and the journey arduous, but it was totally worth it.

Snug as a bug in a rug...

We just returned from the doctor's office where they monitored the baby's heart beat, determined whether or not I am having contractions and how the baby is reacting to them. Not one contraction to date and this baby has both a consistent heart beat and is moving consistently. Which means...she is both happy, healthy...as well as content on living where she currently is.

This baby's mommy (me!) on the other hand was admittedly disappointed to tears when the doctor said, "You are 1 cm (last week I was 1/2 cm) dilated and no effacement." In layman's terms...our baby isn't coming anytime soon.

The doctor suggested we either wait six more days and check again or induce labor and hope that my body responds favorably for a vaginal delivery. The doctor also believes that I have an "unfavorable cervix" and will possibly end up having to be induced next week anyway - that I am not going to progress enough over the next six days (even by 41 weeks) to go through the natural delivery process.

SO...we decided to induce. We check into the hospital Wednesday, September 3 at 7:00 PM. They will administer medicine at that time to help my cervix soften and then give me medicine the next (Thursday) morning to help my cervix dilate. By Thursday night our baby will officially be a little Texan and will have a name!

WOW...really? I looked at Chris in the doctor's office and said "Okay...this is what we have been waiting for, right?" Somehow, it feels unreal, scary and exciting...all at the same time.

Send prayers our way. We can't wait to update you on our little girl's arrival.

Love, Amy

Labor Day

So much for Labor Day...this baby's official due date. Our little girl has decided to let her potential September 1st birthday and coming out (no pun intended) party day come and go.

Tomorrow, we officially begin charging rent!

I have a 3:15 PM doctor's appointment on Tuesday, September 2nd and we hope for progress! We are so ready to meet and care for this baby!