Deep Conversations with Ava

Today driving home from school Ava and I had a priceless conversation....
Ava: One day I am going to be a mommy.
Me: Oh that's wonderful, you will be a great mommy.
A: How does the baby get in your belly anyway?
Me: God puts it there.
Ava then starts giggling to herself in her carseat - I can tell that she is thinking about something.
Me: What's so funny
Ava: Well Mommy God is so high up there (she is talking about Heaven), how does he get that baby in there all the way down here.. (she is starting to stump me here
Me: When Mommies and Daddies are wanting to have a baby, they pray to God and hope that one day he will answer their prayers and put a baby in the mommies belly.
(This is followed by even more laughing..)
A: Well mommy that is really silly because God is to high up there, I don't know how he gets down here to get that baby in there.

Well then I was laughing, and to be quite honest I did not know how to answer her question. I think three is a little too young for the real answer to the question...so we just left it at that. I got lucky this time that she did not continue to ask more question on the topic. It seems like everyday she is asking harder and harder questions, and of course there have been lots about babies lately! What is a mom to do. If anybody has any wisdom I need all the help I can get! One thing I do know is the God made little three year old minds too smart - but so darn cute! Oh how I wish I could remember all these priceless conversations forever!!!

St. Patties and First Outing

Last Friday Reece and I took Ava to her dance class. It was the babes first outing, she slept the whole time! I am happy to report though that we were all clean, dressed, and at Ava's 10:00 class ON TIME - and I didn't even forget her dance shoes!!!! I know yall are all so impressed - but that is a major feat with a one week old! You forget how long it takes to get out of the house with a newborn - get Ava dressed and hair fixed, me showered, dressed, make up on, etc, Reece a clean diaper and dressed - and then you think it's time to go - but wait - I have to feed the baby first! So what seems like hours later we can finally leave. So, I was proud of myself that we got there on time!
The green pictures are Ava and our good friends Mallory and Natalie after her St. Patty's day party at school. So cute to see three girls in green - no pink! Also, notice we don't have a single picture of them all sitting up and looking at the camera.

This is the Life...

I mean seriously, is this the life or what. Babies don't realize how good they have it! It is such a shame we can't remember life when it was this good - sleeping all the time, always being cuddled, and cozy, comfy things to sleep and lay on. I know Reece won't remember these days, but she is definitely enjoying them. She is always so content, and all about some sleep!

Family of Four

Here are the girls in their big sister/little sister shirts all dressed up with no place to go - but home! This was when we were leaving the hospital. You know the girls had to look good for the 3 minute car ride home! It was a sweet moment for me though to get my two girls ready.
We are just loving our new family of four. Ava is such a great big sister with almost too much love to give! So far Reece is a great eater and sleeper. She is very content all the time. We feel very lucky and blessed for that - and just praying that this is her temperament and the good eating and sleeping part won't change. I am just amazed at God's goodness when I look at our family. He has blessed us immensely - and we are so grateful to him. Like I have said before - to God be the glory great things he has done.

She's Here...

Reece Elizabeth

6 lbs 11 oz 20 in

March 4, 2009 11:50 p.m.

Our sweet little girl was born Wednesday night. She looks just like Ava only with strawberry blonde hair - just like my moms! It is so pretty - we hope it stays. I know I look terrible in the picture - but that was after natural child birth - so I am just glad I am alive to tell about it. When Reece was ready to come, she was ready to come. I labor fast, and this time was extremely fast - so there was no time for an epidural. I started having contractions at 10, got to the hospital at 10:45, and Reece was here at 11:50! Everything in under two hours. We are all doing great - and loving our family of four!!

Grilling in a SNUGGIE!!!!!

I am laughing so hard while I post this... Tonight Steven grilled dinner for us and it was a little chilly outside. So I opened the door for Ava to go out with him and this is what I found ....


Steven was grilling in the Snuggie!!! I hope the neighbors happened to be looking out of their windows so they could get a good laugh as well. On a serious note, if you are needing some comic relief at your house you should get a Snuggie. It has provided hours of entertainment lately. They are very handy and comfortable, I so should have come up with the idea first. It's perfect for someone who is due to have a baby any day!
I have to confess the one we have is my moms - she let us borrow it. Here is the funniest part, she brought it over this afternoon and I had it on, and then Ava walked in the room and no lying she said - "Mommy your wearing a snuggie - I saw it on TV." We all started laughing so hard. It was priceless. So does anybody else think my child watches too much TV......

Disclaimer - I have been a bad blogger!

Well I have done it again - I have neglected my blog for quite some time and am now playing catch up! To those who have reminded me many times - it has not been craft night at our house for two months. I have posted several posts this evening so you have will have to scroll down to see all of them. (everything down to craft night is new) I know most of you all don't care, but this is for the Grandparents and Ava. I felt the need to document the last few months of her life as a single child! I am now two weeks from my due date and was told by our doctor that "you could have this baby any day now." Ava was almost two weeks early - so I am just waiting for something to happen! As of Monday, I was 2.5 cm and 60% effaced - so we will see.
Since Christmas was have been in "prepare for baby mode." Ava's big girl room and the nursery are both finished!!! Thank you peaches for sewing and sewing and sewing. Both rooms looks so good - I am really pleased how they turned out! All we need now is a baby! Baby clothes are washed, folded, put away, car seat ready to go, etc, etc, etc. I am so scared to have two kids - but so excited to start this next journey. I am sure it will entail a lot of help from family and prayer! Ava is so excited she can hardly stand it. She has affectionately named her sister Gloria - after the hippo on Madagascar! Pretty funny!

Chillin' with Daddy

I thought these pictures were too cute not to post. This is just a typical night at the Bertram house. If I had to guess they were probably watching golf, Laker basketball, or something that Steven was really enjoying like Max and Ruby or Olivia - Ava's two favorite cartoons of the moment!

Watch Out Rachel Zoe

This is funny - Tonight we had a small family and friends baby shower and of course Ava had to be there. Well today when I put Ava down for her nap I laid out what I wanted her to wear to the shower - it was a darling little smocked dress, tights, and shoes. After she woke up I went in her room and she had laid out a new outfit on top of the smocked dress. This is how our conversation went...
Me - Ava what are these clothes?
Ava - Weeeellll, that is what I picked our to wear to the baby shower.
Me - oh okay - well I thought you could wear this pretty dress (holding up the smocked dress)
Ava - Well (all sentences start with well right now), Mom what I picked out is much better - my big sister shirt, tutu, I got my tights for my pants, and my new pink shoes with diamonds on them. It's all fancy wancy.
Me - well okay - you win

It was quite funny - but I must say I was proud of her. She put together a fun outfit - that for the most part matched. I had no argument for the "fancy wancy" comment. For over a year now Ava has had a definite opinion on what she wears, and this is one battle I choose not to fight. I could tell she felt very pretty in her ensemble!!

Of course once we got to the shower, I took a few pictures of her and then forgot to have someone take them throughout the shower - I know most of your aren't surprised. But we had a great time and new baby got some fabulous gifts. Thank you to everybody who came.

Christmas Morning

I know this post if about two months late - but we did celebrate Christmas at our house this year. We hopped from house to house on both Christmas day and Christmas Eve covering both of our families, but made it a priority to be at our house Christmas morning.
This was the first year Ava knew what was going which made everything more fun for all. Santa must have gotten her letter because she got her beloved Princess Kitchen and a nice stack of homework in a fabulous hot pink desk - as well as a few other million things. It was really sweet though because Ava was very thankful for everything. Two months later I can honestly say she is still playing with her Christmas toys; and I can also honestly say she is already telling me what she wants next year! She's not spoiled or anything.
It is so funny having a toddler at Christmas time - We made it a point to try and teach Ava the true meaning of Christmas and why we celebrate it when we do. I bought all kinds of books, family devotionals, and talked about Baby Jesus and the Christmas Story as much as I could. I know she knows the story, but hopefully one day it will mean a lot to her. God has been so good to our family and blessed us in so many ways - I give him the glory for such a wonderful Christmas season and 2008 at our home this year. To God be the Glory Great Things he has Done!!!