The Belly...

All I need is a shaved head...

I had to include this picture because I found out I was pregnant with Ava, two weeks prior to my two week trip to China. I planned to visit my friend Kim Dallas since she and her family relocated to Chueng Du for Jonny's work not knowing that pregnancy would throw my plans for "whooping it up in China" out the window! Needless to say, my anticipation for "exotic" cuisine didn't sit well with my morning (all day) sickness! There wasn't a grill cheese sandwich the entire country! I had to take a picture of this Budha on one of our day trips around Chung Du since I knew if was only a matter of time I would look very similar!

Homecoming

Ava loves to sleep with her arms overhead, all sprawled out and we can't resist taking her picture! People asked me how tired I was the first few weeks and honestly, I didn't really want to sleep. Wes and I joked that instead of Post-Partum Depression, we had Post-Partum Elation! Wes and I are a pretty good team and since he does most of the cooking (he's a much better cook than I), and we've managed to find organized chaos working to establish a peaceful life for Ava so far!

Ava's first bath was so cute! She loved the feel of the water and was very wide-eyed everytime the water ran over her skin. Hopefully she'll like the water like me and her Aunt Katie and become a great swimmer. She's bound to have a few "swim genes" in the mix!

Delivery room pics

I finally get to meet the little girl I've been in love with 9 (10) months!

Wes and Ava's first picture together! I'm not sure which one has the bigger "Deer in the headlights" look!

Four generations on Wes's side

Mother's Day at the Titcomb home was Ava's first outing at 9 days old! As you can see, both Wes and I haven't quite figured out how to hold her for pictures yet!

Wes with his mother, Alyson Titcomb, and Grandmother, Lee Shields. We all swear Ava was smiling at all the attention she got from the family even though all our books say it isn't possible! We'll have to remember that there was a time when Wes and I fought over who got to change her diaper.

Three men and a baby... Wes with his father, Ed Titcomb, and Grandfather, Howard Shields.

Mel & Ava

This is our good friend, Melissa Keppel visiting Ava the day she was born. Melissa found out she was pregnant one week after me with a due date two weeks after mine. She's the one that convinced me the pregnancy test was NOT broken. She delivered Gabrielle Keppel, her second child, a few hours after this picture was taken! We're pretty sure Ava & Gabe will be getting married someday!

Here's a close-up of Ava's cute little face! I was a little apprehensive about unwrapping Ava that first day and 'inspecting' my baby and Melissa just unwrapped her for me and said "why not, she's your Baby! Let's check out her cute little body!" I'll never forget the feeling of unwrapping my little bundled baby that I've waited to meet for so long!

Weighing in

Ava made her grand entrance early Friday, May 4th at 1:39 am. We met many nurses while in labor and joked about which nurse would "make the magic happen". This is Ava's first photo just after she was born and had her first bath. We were amazed at how much thick black hair she had and how dark her skin was. She looked exactly like Wes so I'm sure the name "Little Miss Wes" will stick.

Ava meets G Ma & G Pa

G Ma & G Pa Fougeron arrived from Nebraska on Wednesday while I was in labor since I was ABSOLUTELY SURE I would deliver that night. I had been in labor already for about 12 hours, but Ava wasn't born for another 48 hours! This was my parents first opportunity to really meet and hold Ava. It took the three of us to dress her up for her first picture at the hospital! She was so tiny and the only outfit that fit her (besides the hospital shirt) had about 20 snaps. Ava was photogenic from the start.

They're actually going to let me take her home from the hospital after they saw the three of us change her outfit?????

We loved you at "Hello!"

Hello friends and family near and far! We hope you enjoy Ava's website and visit often- she changes and grows faster than we can update her blog!

After what felt like a week of labor, Ava Sophia Titcomb arrived Friday, May 4th, 2007 at 1:39 am. She weighed 7lbs. 8.5 oz. and was 20 1/2 inches long. Wes & I were completely exhausted, but so ecstatic she was healthy and born without any complications! I know we both were overwhelmed with emotion and so happy to finally meet little miss Ava!

My parents flew in from Nebraska for Ava's birth and Wes's Mom & Sister were there at the hospital as well. This picture is when Ava is just a few hours old.