One Years Old!

I still cant believe this was a year ago... Averi weighing in at a mere 7lbs 2 oz and 20 inches long!

Now she is 22lbs and 30inches long putting her in the 60Th percentile for weight and the 80Th for height! She is developing right on track and her doctor told me yesterday she was one of his prettiest patients, I know he probably says that to all the Mamas but I have to agree with him.... she is pretty cute!

Fav photo friday... ME

Ive missed a few fav photo Fridays lately but am trying to make up for it this week! Here I am fourteen weeks pregnant with our second little blessing! I know I look a little worn out in these pics but what can I say I have a one year old to chase and I'm expecting a second baby... we can't wait to meet you whoever you are!

Averi is one years old!

I can not believe my BABY is ONE YEARS OLD... what a tremendous joy it has been to have her in our lives. To watch her grow, to watch her sweet and wild personality develop and to have the opportunity to love someone in such an amazing and different way as you do your child!
I can't believe it has been a year since I was rushed to the hospital at thirty eight weeks and three days after struggling for a couple weeks to maintain a high blood sugar level and fighting constant dizzy spells and finally passing out... we were sure since I was not dialated at all they would send us home to wait it out at least until we got to week forty. But since Averi was fine size wise and was head down they began the induction process that night. It started with cervadil in order to "ripen" my cervix, which caused me to have some slight contractions and little sleep through the night at no avail because by 4 am I was still not dialated. Then the pitocin began and the contractions came on STRONG and FAST!!! They encouraged me to get to at least three centimeters before I had my water broke or an epidural... so a little over twelve hours later I had finally reached 3cms and I was exhausted, the fact that they told me it could be the next morning before we met our sweet girl did not help! So my water was broke and an epidural quickly followed. I had about two and a half hours of relief before the epidural wore off and I felt every contraction and every ounce of effort to push, that's right it took me twelve hours to get to twelve cms and two and a half to get to ten!! I began to push after my nurse was called back from her break and my doctor was called from home (no one expected her to come that night, in fact because of my slow progress they kept assuming I would end up with a csection)... thank goodness the guy came in and upped my epidural shortly after I began to push because I was terrified! forty seven minutes later Averi Noe'l Yates arrived with a gorgeous black eye from hitting my pelvic bone! We didn't even notice her flaws, in fact all I coud say was "she is so pretty, she is perfect... Kevin don't you think she is beautiful?" In fact I still look at her today and think the same thoughts!
The last year has flown by... we adjusted quickly and smoothly to a family of three and Kevin and I have thoroughly enjoyed being parents! We are blessed with a gorgeous daughter who LOVES to give you "lovins" which involves a sweet hug and kiss right on the mouth!
Averi has made some milestones this month... she is up to three teeth... she is has mastered "mama", "dada", and "bye bye" as well as waving, blowing kisses and we are working on the high five! She is sweet and wild always making us laugh but is also as stubborn as they come... in fact she can throw a fit like a pro, a problem we are quickly trying to get under control!
We were privileged to still hold Averi's first of two first birthday parties last Sunday in TN despite Kevin's dad being in the hospital (Kevin's dad insisted we still have it!) we were surrounded by sweet family and friends who adore Av and are always loving on our family! She was given many wonderful gifts and thoroughly enjoyed her very own cake, the minute we sat it in front of her she literally picked it up and put her face straight in it... so cute!
Kevin also had the honor of preaching at his parents church that morning which was the biggest crowd he has preached to. Not to brag but I thought he did extremely well and afterwards I was told several childhood stories of my sweet husband from the older women in the church as well as many compliments on his message! I am so proud of Kevin and how much he is growing and developing as a minister... I am truly blessed!

Kevs dad

Kevin's dad began having minor chest pains on Thursday night he was thinking it was just bad indigestion... he was restless through the night and in the morning my mother in law found him on the living room floor, he did not remember how he got there. Kevin's parents went in to see his doctor and found out he had had a heart attack throughout the night.
Of course he was sent straight to the hospital. We headed down as soon as we could on Friday and spent the weekend in and out of the hospital for visits. Kevin's dad had triple bypass on Monday and as I understand it where the actual heart attack was on his heart was the best spot for a heart attack in the long run, of course that doesn't mean it isn't very serious and that a lot of damage to his heart was not done. We stayed until Tuesday and got in one last visit before we headed home, when we saw him he was of course uncomfortable but in a good mood and very talkative.
Last we heard he is having trouble maintaining as high of a blood pressure level as needed on his own so they have him on an IV drip to help keep it up, when they can take him off that drip and his blood pressure remain at a good level he will be allowed to move to his own room, he is still currently in cardiac intensive care.
Please join us in Praising the Lord for Mike being alive today! He is a wonderful father/ father in law and an amazing Papa to Averi and Addison, we truly do not know what we would do without him! Also join us in praying for a quick and smooth recovery for him that he will come out of this healthier and stronger then before! Also please pray for Kevin's mom as she makes the many trips back and forth to the hospital, that God will give her strength, encouragement and help her avoid feeling exhaustion! We love you both "Nana" and "Papa" and wish we could be there helping more, our prayers are with you!

Easter

Our Easter was extra special as we celebrated that our Lord is RISEN, it means even more to both Kevin and I this year because we recognize that we not only have the gift of salvation but Averi can have that gift as well, it also spurs us on to pray harder she and our second child will come to know him at a young age!!! What a HUGE responsibility we have as parents to constantly point our children on towards their maker!!!
Averi had been sick Friday but did not run a fever Saturday and over all seemed to be feeling much better, Sunday came and she seemed a little stuffy but not bad enough to keep us from church! So we dressed her in the GORGEOUS Strasbourg gown her great granny Yates bought for her, and can I just say she looked like a perfect angel in it, so sweet! We went to church and then headed to my moms for the afternoon.
My mom made a lovely lunch, well her oven didn't turn on so the ham didn't cook so we had to grab KFC but the sides and desserts she made were delicious (Thanks mom!). My mom and Dad were of course there and my brother and his sweet girlfriend Lauren as well as our friends Lindsay and Shawn and our friend Sarah! Over all it was a very fun day we enjoyed the company and enjoyed reflecting on what our savior did for us!
By late afternoon averi was obviously feeling worse, we headed home and our whole household was asleep by 830... Av woke up the next day sick again and threw up that evening in the van with just daddy to clean it up, poor Kevin, he doesn't do well with puke! Av is much better now!
Averi received several great gifts for her first Easter... she is always so spoiled! She received a pool/sandbox from Nana and Papa Yates, a new outfit from Meemom and Pop Pop Buchwald, A new book and two pairs of PJ's from mommy and daddy and her gorgeous Easter dress and a bunny as big as Averi from Granny Yates, and an Easter basket with some candy and toys from the Alveys (a family I babysit for)!!! I even got a little Easter surprise... Kevin bought me a people magazine, and two new books... he is SO good to me!

Averi in her Easter dress!

I filled up averi's new pool/ sand box with warm water and while it was warm outside I let averi and emma play in it! they looked so cute and enjoyed it!

av blowing kisses

I LOVE this sweet baby girl!

Av and daddy

Av is quick when she gets the chance at at the stairs.... she loves when daddy chases her!

one sick baby!

we woke up this morning to quite the surprise... averi was running a fever of 102.6 and had vomited all over her bed and herself during the night... she was a mess... poor baby! After calling her pediatrician he said to bring her in, of course they said it is just a bug and to let it run its course. Told me to watch for signs of dehydration, give her Tylenol and try to get her to DRINK!!!! She has done nothing but sleep all cozy on my chest all day and when she has been awake i have been battling her to drink something- needless to say she is less then interested! I did manage to get one full sippy cup down her the last few hours before bed and several ice cubes... she threw up again this evening but it was only a small amount, nothing like what I found this morning! I am about to head to work so Kevin is on major dad duties tonight- I'm praying she sleeps soundly and feels better in the morning- nothing breaks my heart more then knowing she is sick, especially when I can't be here to hold her!

BABY YATES #2 update!

Tomorrow we will be TWELVE weeks pregnant with baby number two, this pregnancy has flown by compared to my pregnancy with Averi! I have struggled with severely worrying about having a miscarriage throughout this first trimester, more so then I ever did with Averi, and despite being told and telling myself to trust God with this life growing within me I continued to worry! Much to my relief my midwife found a strong, healthy heartbeat today... needless to say all of my anxiety and worry came to a head and I balled upon hearing that sweet sound!After more sickness and nausea then I thought I could bear I am finally feeling better and looking forward to the rest of this pregnancy!
PRAISE the LORD for a healthy pregnancy... join us in continuing to pray for this life within me that it will grow and strive til its birthday and also join us in praying for those who have lost babies or suffered with infertility- I pray this is a pain I never experience but I also pray it is a pain I can be sensitive and supportive to.

Twelve weeks pregnant with number two... we can not wait to meet you sweet baby!

Branson

Kevin and I went with our good friends Lindsay and Shawn to Branson MO for a couples get away! The boys spent most of their time fishing while Lindsay and I visited museums (including a titanic museum which was by far one of the most incredible museum I've ever been to!), and of course shopped! We did convince the boys to take an "old time photo" with us and even went to the famous Lambert's throw the roll cafe...it was delicious great country food and plenty of rolls being launched! The portions were huge, my meal was literally served on a skillet! We had so much fun with our sweet friends and Averi had a blast in TN being spoiled by Nana, Papa and Auntie K.... thank you again for babysitting guys!

Meeting baby Lillie

Last week Kevin, Averi and I headed over to our friends home to meet their new addition... Lillie Ava Laughlin. She was so tiny and perfect, a mere 5lbs 14 oz! We brought along some KFC and enjoyed dinner with friends while Averi got to know their son Isaiah as they played on the floor together... Averi got pretty jealous while I was holding Lillie, she isn't going to know what to think when baby number two comes!