Ava was with her Grandma "V" and my good friend Joanie tonight, they were enjoying Ava. She was smiling and talking back it was very cute! Ava is 8 weeks old. She started to smile and talk back 2 weeks ago!

This video was taken the first of Septmeber, Ava loves rockin out with her daddy! Wayne is a drumer and has a band. Nedless to say, they share the same passion for music. She LOVES listening to music with her dad on the computer. They do it every day for at least an hour. she loves Phil Collins. Watch the end of the video when she leans back and looks up at her daddy! It's sooooo freakin cute! I hope you enjoy this one as well!

Back to work

Well, I finished my first week of work. Now I am on my second. It was a hard week for me. I hated leaving my daughter but she is in great hands. My mother is watching her. I couldn't have asked for anyone better and more qualified than her. I know that Ava will learn so much and have tons of fun with my mom. I was worried for a while because we didn't have anyone to watch Ava. Wayne's dad was supposed to but has had to work to keep up on the bills. We all know how the economy is now a days and I know how it is to live paycheck to paycheck barely getting by. My mother had started a new job and lucky for me she didn't like it! She quit so she could watch Ava! I thank God for my mother every day.

The First day back to work I had a meeting before I could even get setteled in! They gave me a 4% raise. I couldn't believe it! leaving Ava was hard but I know that I have to work to be able to provide for her. My mom said Ava had a rough week without me. Ava knew that I wasn't there and was very cranky. She'd call out and cry for no reason. My mom said at one point it sounded like she was crying out "MOM!" Awwwww! I don;t think I've ever felt so good and so bad at the same time before! I hope this week is better for her. I left earlier and got to spend a little bonding time with her before heading off to work. I did it on Friday and now today Monday. Brandon my brother is also there with her in the mornings. he said that Friday she was a perfect angel. I think it was because I spent time with her before I left.

I will post some more pics of Ava this week. She is getting so big!

Ava today.

I know I haven't gotten a chance until now to update this blog. Taking care of Ava is n all day job! I have to confess that I'm not too good the computer and have had trouble posting. I had to call my sister just now, she had to tell me how to add new posts. I had a big blonde moment!

Today Ava is a little grouchy! She received her 6 week shots the other day and she's been a little on edge ever since! She woke up needing a much needed bath so I had to take off her band aids. Ouch!!! She was not happy. So she's had a rough morning.

The past couple months, well 1 month and 19 days, have been so blessed. I can't believe how beautiful Ava is. She gets more and more beautiful as the days go by. Every day she changes. On Sunday my mom was talking to Ava and Ava wanted so badly to talk back! She was moving her lips but nothing would come out! My mother said "Brooke, it won't be long and she will be talking back!" Well I took Ava to see the VanNorman's and as her grandma talked to her Ava talked back! This was only a few days after my mom said she would! It was so cute. She talked back to my grandma Kilbreath the other night as well! It's so awesome to see your child grow and learn. I know that she will be walking and speaking words soon enough. Time seems to fly by when things are so perfect in your life. I never want these times to end. I do however want just as much want to see Ava in 10, 20 even 30 years from now. To see her all grown up and to think back at these times with such joy. I love her so much and never could of imagined mother hood could feel this way. I think I cry every day at the cute new things Ava does. The other day she gave me kisses and kept turning her little head around to give me more. It went on for about 20 minutes. I savored every moment of it!

Updated pics on Ava!

Ava's 1 month pictures! We love all of them. It was so hard to choose which ones we wanted! So we bought a 300.00 package and got the cd of them with it! Now we can all of them! I hope you all like the pictures! We had so much fun. Ava was good the whole time except when she got hungry. She's such a daddy's girl she wanted her dad the whole time! I'm glad that she's in love with her dad. I wouldn't want it any other way! I hope she can grow up to trust and confide in him like I do mine. My dad Kim is the best thing that could of ever happened to me. He taught me so much. I can only hope that Wayne walks in the footsteps of my father as well as his dad's in raising his daughter!

Ava at the hospital 7-22-08

First time blogging

Ok, so I didn't even know that this existed. My sister told me I needed a blog and here it is! I want to let every one know that I will be posting updates about the VanNorman family on my blog. Pictures, exciting new things about Ava, and fun family adventures! I hope you all enjoy!

I wanted to start out by letting everyone know that I gave birth to Ava Elizabeth VanNorman on July 22nd, 2008. My birth story is actually very comical! I was scheduled to have a c-section on July 22nd at 7:30 am. Ava was breech the entire pregnancy. I thought that she must just be directionally challenged like her Mommy but soon realized that she's probably stubborn like her Daddy! The night before my surgery I was very nervous. I had mixed feelings about the surgery and thought about allot of things. I thought about me dying on the operating table and who would take care of my little baby...Also thought about my husband and what would happen to him if I died. Who would take care of him and my home. Blah, blah, blah!! I guess that's what happens when a dram queen gets ready to go under the knife! When I realized that I had God on my side and that I shouldn't be worrying about those things I simply rebuked the thoughts of anxiety and fear out of my mind and trusted that God was in control of my life I was fine! Any way... We had company over the night before Ashley, Gage, Todd, and Grandma and Grandpa VanNorman. They made me feel better about the big day. We ate dinner and chatted for a while. I was ready for bed around 10:00 pm. I took a warm bath and relaxed before I dozed off. I woke up at 11:00 pm with a urgent need to pee. I realized that this was weird because I had just went to the bathroom at 10:00, 1 hour earlier. I made it to the bathroom in time for my water to break all over the floor! It was a gush of fluid! I yelled for Wayne and told him that my water had just broke. He was out of it and tired and said "no honey it didn't you just got out of the bath tub!" I yelled back. yes it did, the floor is all wet and it's still gushing out! He jumped out of bed and came to my rescue finally! The contractions started right away. OUCH! They were at first 7 minutes apart and by the time we made it to the hospital they were only 4 minutes apart and much more intense! I am so glad that Ava let me experience the labor part of her birth. I was feeling a little blue about not being able to experience true labor because of the scheduled c-section.I guess she knew that Mommy really wanted that. When we got to early labor the nurse asked me if I was in labor. I said yes and then she asked me how I knew I said because my water broke at 11:00. ( by this time it was little past 12:00) She then asked me when my due date was I said August 4th but I'm scheduled to have the baby in the morning. She looked at me and grinned and shouted to the Dr. " our 7:30 c-section is here a little early!" It was funny! Everyone laughed and they took into the room to get me all strapped in! They checked me and gave me an ultra sound to make sure the baby hadn't turned and let me know that I will be in surgery in 30 minutes! I was like wow! None of my family was even there yet! I told Wayne to keep trying his parents and to call my sister. Just then my mom and dad came in and not soon after everyone else too! Pastor Dennis came in at the last second and prayed over me and the baby. I felt ready and anxious. They gave me my epidural and got the surgery going! Not soon after I saw my little baby. Well... I wouldn't call her little! She was very swollen and the only thing that came to my mind was she's my chunky monkey! I said this out loud and everyone laughed! She weighed in at 8 lbs 11 oz's. It was so magical seeing her for the first time! I didn't get to bond with her for another 3 hours. I was very sad. I was to doped up to be able to hold her and I stayed in recovery for over an hour. My surgery was the most painful thing I had ever experienced. The reward however was priceless! I couldn't of asked for more. I had the support of my best friend, my husband Wayne who by the way was fantastic! He kept telling me how beautiful I was and how proud of me he was! My little girl.... I coulnd't of asked for anything more beautiful and sweet! She is so pretty and she really is a good a baby! I love her! When we left the hospital a few days later she weighed 8 lbs 1 oz. She lost weight because she wasn't getting enough to eat. I started bottle feeding her that day until my milk came in. All in all this experience was amazing and I know that this is what I born to do.... Be a MOMMY! I love Ava more than life itself and I'm so glad that I have a wonderful husband to help along the way!