Simply Sara

One of the best features of our new home is the playroom. This room probably was intended to be a formal living room, but since we have no need for an unused room filled with pretty furniture, we turned it into the playroom. The house I lived in until the 4th grade had a garage that was converted into a playroom. My sisters and I loved playing Barbies, Ping-pong, the piano and overall fun in this room. I'm so happy that Lucas has his own space to be a kid in. Grandma, Aunt Amy and Alyssa drove up for a quick visit early in the week. Ava spent most of the time in Grandma's arms and as you can see, she was quite happy. Looking a little mischevious. Our Sweet Pea will be 4 weeks old tomorrow!

It's hard for me to believe that Ava has been in our lives for the past 3 1/2 weeks. Sometimes it feels like she's always been a part of our family while other times her "newness" overwhelms me. If I tried to describe Ava the first word that comes to mind is strong. Since we first found out that we were expecting, the Lord has told me to pray that Ava would be strong. I spent 9 months curious to see how that quality would be played out in her life. So far we see evidence of strength in the way she holds up her head to look at us and pushes with her legs. When I prop her up on a pillow during tummy time, Ava will stiffen her legs and push until she tumbles forward and rolls off of the pillow. She's a warrior. I have no doubt that we are going to see strength in this little girl throughout her life. I would say my Ava is a snuggler too. She loves to be held. In fact, she's lying in my arms right now, snuggled close to my heart. (Ignore the typos, as my range of ...

We've been spending lots of time outside when the weather allows it. Our new house has a huge yard compared to our previous home. With Tropical storm Fay sending strong winds our way, Lucas and I spent some time watching the tall pine trees behind our house sway and dance. Lucas found a great spot to kick back and watch the "towers".

I should be sleeping right now. What is it the books always say, "mommy should sleep when baby is sleeping"? Those books clearly weren't written for Mommy's of more than one child! Or for Mommys who need a moment to savor some quiet, alone time - a commodity rarely seen these days. Over the past few days, something strange and new has been welling up inside of me, causing me to dive head first into the new reality of our life with two children. While my dear husband continues to carry the burden of handyman/landscaper/painter/hard laborer at our old house, I am carefully testing this new and terrifying life. While I'm not sure how to correctly answer the question, "how do I cook dinner, breastfeed my newborn, and play with my 3 year old at the same time?", I somehow figured out how to do it tonight. (Solution - start preparing dinner, stop to nurse, let 3 year old watch t.v., put swing in kitchen, let 3 year old entertain baby while scrounging around t...

Lucas started preschool this past Friday! We attended orientation while he spent time getting to know his new teachers and classmates! We are all super excited about Lucas starting preschool - he calls it college - two mornings a week. It is going to be a great outlet for him and a nice break for me! Our sleeping beauty. We stayed pretty busy this week. I decided to get out into the real world a bit with a trip to Target and the grocery store. The kids did really great - Ava slept in her carseat while Lucas sat in the back of the cart. It would have been a near perfect outing except for the mobs of back to school Clemson students everywhere. I melt everytime I see Ava's deep blue eyes! I think she is starting to look like her Daddy a little bit. My dear friend Kathryn sent me these amazing, delicate pink and green hydrangeas! Aren't the amazing!! Thanks dear friend!

in the craziness that was yesterday, I didn't get a chance to let the world know that it was my sweetheart's birthday. We celebrated with some pancakes and bacon, lunch at Mama Penn's, and dinner with Matt's family. So I guess we ate our way through the day. So Happy (late) Birthday Matt!!! I love you so much!

Matt's grandmother came over to meet her second "great- grand". It was a very special moment. Ava was six days old at the time of this photo - again, I'm just keeping it real.

So I think it's time to write out Ava's birth story - not so much for your sake, but to cement the experience in my mine. The mind has a way of blocking out events connected with great pain, so I want to write it out before the details get fuzzy. Oh wait, let me get my notebook where I chronicled each moment. (Don't make fun of me - I'm not a total nerd!) Things really got started on July 28 at my 38 week prenatal visit. At this point, I was miserable and ready to have our baby girl. We were thrilled to hear that I was 3-4 centimeters dilated and 80% effaced. We kicked our moving plans into overdrive and with a big push from family and friends, spent our first night at our new home on Tuesday the 29th. Now it was time to watch and wait. Every night my body would start contractions, keeping us tied to the clock, anxious to see if any patterns were present. And every night we would go to sleep, disappointed as the contractions weakened and faded. By Friday, I was beyond e...

Everyone in my house is still asleep and it's 9:47 a.m. Everyone - Matt, Lucas and Ava - even the dog is conked out. I would be too except it's been 7 hours since Ava's last feeding and a certain part of my body won't let me relax any longer. Oh wait - I think I hear our girl now. Praise Jesus for a wonderful night of sleep!

We took our first walk the other night around our neighborhood. Our new home is located in a quiet area in town, full of older homes and mostly retirees. It is quite peaceful here. After nine days at home, I was ready for a brief outing into the "real world". Since Lucas has been begging to go to the "train store" for a week now, we loaded up the diaper bag and headed there for a scoop of yumminess. As you can see, Ava was quite relaxed in the new enviornment. Apparently Mommy was the only nervous one. Our big boy asked for blue and pink icecream with sprinkles (when did he become so opinionated?) but couldn't resist a few bites of my rocky road.

Lucas asks to hold Ava about once or twice a day. We captured a great moment in the picture of Lucas and Ava with their Mimi and Poppy! Oh my it's Ava's first bath at home! As you can see, she didn't like it very much, but it did wake her up before her next feeding! I'm just keeping it real here - exhaustion, no makeup and a ponytail! At least I'm not wearing my pajamas! Grandma - my mom- stayed with us during Ava's first week at home. When it was time for her to go, I begged for her to stay another week! Thank Momma for loving us so graciously!

I love this picture! After Ava Grace arrived, Matt went out to the waiting room and brought Lucas in with the grandparents close behind. Lucas walked up to my bed and asked if he could sit with me. He then asked to hold Ava! Wow, I was blown away by his courage! Uncle Andy, Aunt Stephie and Suzanne joined us soon after! What a great moment!

Ava loves sleeping on her side. At night we swaddle her so she can't move at all, but for naps we often find her like this. Speaking of sleeping, Ava gave us a 5 1/2 hour stretch of sleep last night - praise Jesus! We're having some trouble with the breastfeeding, but as I type a Le Leche leader is headed over to my house armed with advice. I'm praying we'll get this problem solved today! Lucas loves checking on Ava. He stands on the edge of her crib and helps me wake her up! Look at our sweet girl!

We brought Ava home on Tuesday at noon. She wore the dress that I came home in! Isn't she just so beautiful!!!

Welcome to the world sweet little one! We are SO glad you're here! Resting in the nursery. Ava had to spend about 4 hours in the nursery under a warming light to regulate her body temperture. It dropped shortly after delivery to 95.6 degrees due to the quickness of her birth. She came out in 5-7 minutes of pushing! Daddy is so proud of his little girl! We were so tired at this point! My contractions started at 3:30 Sunday a.m. I was scheduled for an induction at 7, but arrived at the hospital at 5a.m. After my contractions weakend, Dr. Duniho broke my water at 9 and hard labor started at 1 p.m. Ava was born at 4:21. Our two precious children! Lucas asked to hold Ava (and does several times a day). He is adjusting even better than we had expected!

After being without the internet in our new home, we finally are online! Many of you have already heard, but in case you're still eagerly waiting, I won't keep you in suspense any longer. Our little girl is named Ava Grace Alexander! She has captured our hearts and we are totally smitten! We got home from the hospital on Tuesday around lunchtime. It has been an exhausting, wonderful, blissful, and blurry week so far. Ava is dainty, feminine, fiesty when hungry, sleepy, a great breastfeeder, and beautiful! Her skin is perfect (seriously, people can't commenting on her complection), her head is perfectly round, and she has no jaundice. Lucas is curious and tenderhearted with Ava. He asks to hold her a couple times a day and gives her kisses. I want so much to write more about our week, but frankly my eyelids are drooping and it's almost time to feed Ava again. Please continue to pray for us; those of you with babies know how hard this time is. Also, please pray for me and...

Our precious and amazing daughter arrived yesterday at 4:21 p.m! Weighing in at 7 pounds 8 ounces and measuring 20 1/4 inches, she is everything that we dreamed of and more!!! The labor and delivery were grueling (I went natural - augh!!!), but we both made it through safe and with zero complications! I'll be writing her birth story very soon to share with you. In fact, this afternoon I will be posting photos and (hopefully) will be revealing her name, so get ready for it!!!! Thank you for your prayers and encouragement - I felt every one of them! I hope to find the exact words to express just how deep and great I felt God's presence yesterday in that labor and delivery room. He carried me in His arms through every contraction, spoke truth to my soul, and supplied the strength to bring baby girl into this world. Praise Him!