Looking back on 2009

Okay so its now a New Year, 2010, and its amazing to look back on the past 12 months. It was 12-30-08 when we found we were expecting a baby and it was New Years Eve when we shared the news with others. We started off last year with so much excitement and anticipation. What would we have, what we name it, when would we have it, etc, etc. We first got to see an ultrasound that showed a little bitty "pea" in my belly and from there, we watched her grow. We were blessed with her arrival on 9-3-09, after a very blessed and healthy pregnancy, I was also blessed with not a bad labor and an easy delivery. Ava RayAnn Overton came into our world and it has been a wonderful Journey every since. We've loved her first smile, her first sounds, her first laugh, watching her go from completely dependent to almost sitting on her own, to almost doubling in size and the way she takes in everything around her and attempts to figure out this crazy world. She has been amazing. 2009 will forever be remembered as the year that changed our lives FOREVER!!
Also, in 2009, Jeremy and I celebrated our 1 yr wedding anniversary. We went and spent the wkend at the Opryland Hotel and had an Amazing experience. That place will blow your mind and, considering I was 8 months pregnant, it made for a PERFECT anniversary get a way. Especially the fact that we got one night free and a free meal at a 4 star restaurant while we were there =)
On March 30, 2009, we said good-bye to a dear friend, Dustin Belcher, when a tragic car wreck took him away. I will never forget the moment I heard the words, " he didn't make it" and how I felt. It was so unbelievable that Dustin, so full of life, could be gone. He left behind two beautiful baby girls and family and friends who forever cherish the memories. It was tough to say good-bye but we all had no choice but to continue to move forward. Although Dustin isn't here to go forward with us in person, he is definately with us in memory.
The summer of 2009 was a good one. The heat didnt' get me down, eventhough I was pregnant, and Jeremy and I got soo much done outside here at the home. We landscaped, bought new patio furniture, dug a fish pond, built a lil waterfall, had a sidewalk, patio and carport pored and really made some changes. Yes, we have plenty more to do but its definately a start. We spent some time away from home shortly after Ava was born since Jeremy was working out of town. He loaded up his girls and took us with him. We shared a few weeks together in a lil cottage just outside of Somerset. We did what we had to do to keep our family together.
We hosted our first Thanksgiving here at the house and cooked our first traditional Thanksgiving dinner. Turkey, ham, dressing, sweet potatoe casserole, etc. Jeremy n I figured it all out together and it all turned out GREAT!! We had the family over which also included my aunt and uncle from Owensboro, who we hadn't seen since my Grandmother passed away Sept of '08. We had a great time and enjoyed starting traditions that we hope to continue.
Of course, through out the first 9 months of 2009, I was learning all the joys of being pregnant and experiencing some of the non joys of being pregnant as well. My belly grew, my emotions were crazy, my back ached and I couldnt' seem to ever get enough sleep. I went from weighing 125 to 160 and my feet would sometimes hurt. It was all to be expected though and through it all, I complained VERY little. I took it all in stride and enjoyed the experience. After all, I had a baby growing inside of me. It was a VERY small price to pay for the gift that we got from it. In the last 3 months of 2009, I have been experiencing all the joys of being a mommy. Along with all the responsibilities and the sacrifices that also go along with it. Its not always an easy task but the PROs definately outway the CONs.
Good-bye to 2009 and hello to 2010. May God continue to Bless each and everyone of you. Remember to count your blessings, you may be suprised how many you come up with. Each new day is an adventure and each new year is a gift. We are never promised tomorrow but Today is a guarantee. Live each day to its fullest and treat life as the precious gift that it is!!!!!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So much to be Thankful for

THIS IS WHAT I'M THANKFUL FOR...

FAMILY = Love, Joy and Happiness

SMILES FROM MY BABY GIRL

Well the Thanksgiving holiday is almost here and this year, more than any other year, we have so much to be thankful for. God has blessed us with an amazing baby girl and I know that is not something that we should take for granted. Ava RayAnn is absolutely Perfect in every way and she has brought so much joy to our lives. She is Amazing and I give thanks every day for her. Jeremy n I have always shared so much happiness together and she just adds to that. We know that we are blessed to have the marriage that we have and a Beautiful Baby girl to be the icing on our cake. Life is good and Today, Tomorrow and Always I will cherish our little Family and the love that we share!!

Back to work

AND THIS IS WHAT I LOOKED FORWARD TO SEEING EACH AND EVERY DAY!!!!

So I made it through my first week back to work and it was actually not as bad as I thought. I made my share of phone calls just to see what she was doing but didnt shed a tear. Mom is keeping her 4 days a wk and my cousin is keeping her on Wednesdays. I know she is in good hands and that helps...A LOT!!! I do miss her like crazy and by the end of the day, I am more than ready to see those cute lil cheeks, beautiful lips and sweet blue eyes. Jeremy picks her up from mom's everyday and then he meets me on his way to work and my way home so I get to see her ASAP every day and he gets to spend some time with her as well. She is certainly growing like crazy and is smiling and "talking" now. I have to say...She's just absolutely PERFECT and I am still amazed that she is ours. God is GREAT and she reminds me of that every single day!!

Seems like only yesterday...

Two generations of BFFs!!

So my baby girl will be 7 wks old this Thursday and it absolutely blows my mind that time has passed so quickly. It truly seems like only yesterday when we were in the hospital welcoming her into this world. Now, she has grown sooo much and has this little personality that she is developing everyday. She is grinning and frowning and is just absolutely adorable. Honestly, I cant get enough of her. I have spent pretty much every minute with her since she was born with the exception of about 20hrs total and eventhough it is definately over whelming at times, I really dont want it any other way. We have learned how to get out of the house and go places with a new baby. Its an experience and you learn new things each and every time but we manage. I refuse to think of her as a disability and dont see any reason why we cant do what we want to do. It has truly been amazing. Next Monday I am going back to work and I AM NOT LOOKING FORWARD to it!! Well, its actually a bit bitter sweet I guess. I am ready to go back to work but I really wish I could take her with me. That would be ideal. However, its not an option, so I must figure out a way to manage. I am sure it will tough but time will make it better.

Deana Jo n Brandon had their baby girl, Jenna Brooke, last Tuesday and she is a lil doll. It was amazing to see Ava next to her and really see how much she had grown. Congrats to them. I know that Ava n Jenna will have MANY, MANY memories to make over the yrs and Deana Jo n I will have tons of fun watching these two baby girls grow into lil ladies! The guys, however, would probably prefer they stay baby girls. HAHA. I am sure they will get into plenty of trouble together over the yrs but I just hope they always realize what the important things are in life and that they will always keep God first when making their decisions. I look forward to watching each of them grow and to see what they become.

Temporary Resort Living

So Jeremy was working out of town in Burnside, which is right outside of Somerset. He had a lil cottage up there in a resort on Lake Cumberland and we decided that Ava n I would go with him so that he could go back to work and still see his girls. It was nice to be there with him and pretty peaceful as well. Ava n I spent our days being lazy mostly except when we went for our walks. Turns out she loves to be outside!! I was thankful for some pretty weather so we could get out and enjoy it. We are now back home and glad to be here but the time away wasn't so bad either. Here are a few pics from our stay.

Daddy napping with his baby girl after a hard day at work

I love this look...Even though it does make her look soo much like her daddy!

The 1st two weeks

After her 1st bath (which she did not enjoy)

Big bright eyes

So we've made it through the first two weeks of being mommy n daddy and, though at times it can be abit overwhelming, all n all it has been amazing! I am currently typing this w/ one hand as I hold my sweet Ava in the other arm. I look down at her and see that beautiful face with a perfect complection and hardly a blemish and wonder how in the world we created such a beautiful child. We have spent the majority of the past 2 wks just looking at her in aww of her perfectness. Of course, we r partial but to us, she is perfect. Not one thing would I change about her...Right down to her pretty RED hair!! She is definately our everything now and no longer is it just Jeremy n I. We now have this precious baby girl who counts on us to ensure she is getting everything she needs. When she crys we go through the list...Is it time to eat, is she hungry, cold, hot, dirty, etc, etc. Once we have gone through all the options, we sometimes just have to accept thatt sometimes she is gonna fuss and be unhappy and we may not be able to make it all better. That is probably one of the toughest things; not being able to fix EVERYTHING. Its much harder on Jeremy than me. It breaks his heart when his little girl cries and he cant fix it. I certainly dont enjoy it either but I understand that its just the way it is sometimes. Inevitably the tears will dry up and she will be okay!!

It has been an adventurous first two weeks and there are so many things that we have learned about newborns. Some of them including that all those strange noises they make that make you think they are choking, or that they cant breath are completely normal. Another being that they really aren't as fragile as you would think and that no matter how hard you try to keep them from it, they are going to scratch their face with those finger nails. (The mittens dont stay on and Socks work much better!) As our journey continues as mommy n daddy, I look forward to the road that we will be traveling and all the sites we will see along the way!!

Our Sweet Baby Girl

Introducing Ava RayAnn Overton

Born September 3, 2009 2:50 pm

7lb 11oz, 21 in long

Here are a few pictures to share with you our VERY SPECIAL DAY

Our Precious Baby Girl

Mommy n Ava

Our 1st family Portrait


On Thursday September 3, 2009 at 2:50pm, Jeremy n I were blessed with the most amazing gift God could have given us. A little baby girl who couldn't have been more perfect. Everything went wonderfully during labor and delivery and baby Ava is Great. We are loving every minute of being mommy n daddy and getting the hang of things as we go. There is so much that this has taught us already and so much more to come. We know that we have been truly blessed and thank God each and every day for all that he has given us!!