Your First Easter

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter Everyone!
It is your first Easter, sweet baby and you look so cute in your little dress! Daddy was sick so he could not hold you. He was so sad but loved taking pictures of you!

Playing with mom

Ava Kate's Photoshoot

Ava Kate's photoshoot with Auntie Jill - Jill Cooper Photography. She was a trooper and enjoyed sleeping through most of her session! More pictures to come.

Welcome, Baby Girl!

Ava Kate Jennings

born March 25th, 2010 at 11:57 a.m.

6 pounds 11 ounces 20 and 3/4 inches long
welcomed with love by Jeff and Jessica

You were 6 days past your due date, but after making us wait, you sure came fast when you were ready! At 2:30 a.m. I woke up with stronger contractions than I had ever had. At 3:00 a.m. I decided to eat a little something and realized that I may not be going back to sleep for a while. The contractions were coming about 4-5 an hour, and I thought this might be it. At 6:00 a.m. your Dad woke up, and I told him about the contractions. But then the contractions seemed to stop. I was thinking that we were headed for another day without you. I got ready and headed to Panera with your Dad - Mommy had to have a bagel. After sharing some breakfast with your Dad the contractions started coming fast. We headed home and then they started getting much stronger. After about an hour, I knew we needed to head to the hospital. The doctor said to come into the office, and as we headed to St. Mary's I knew we were close. We were rushed to labor and delivery after the doctor checked to see I was 8 cm dilated, and in less than an hour in labor and delivery you were born! What an incredible blessing you are to us! We are so thankful to God for the gift you are and the many answered prayers.

We named you Ava Kate. Ava means Life and Kate means Purity. My hope is that you embrace your authentic, true self in Christ and discover the true treasure that you are. You have been given gifts and talents that are unique to you, and I pray that you will experience fulfillment and peace in knowing how loved you are.

We are so overwhelmed with love for you.

Mom and Dad and Ava Kate at the hospital
We love you so much Ava Kate!

1st Day of Spring

You and me on the day you are due
~March 19th, 2010~

Still hanging out together, cozy and comfortable

You are so cute baby girl!!!

About to head to Cary Town with Dad and Grama...

Welcome to Spring and 40 Weeks

Welcome to spring time little girl! You are one day past your due date today, on the first day of spring. We are waiting anxiously for your arrival and very excited to meet you. Your grama is here and she is making us dinners and helping me so much. We went to the doctor yesterday and I am 1/2 cm dilated at this point. So there is a little sunshine peaking through. Your heart beat is great and everything else looks good too. If you don't come by next Tuesday, we will be in for an ultrasound to see how you are growing. If you are late at all, the doctors just want to be safe and sure you are okay in there! And if you don't come by Tuesday, your mom, dad and grama will be excited to see you on the ultrasound.
We went for a walk in Cary Town last night. It was a beautiful night. The air was so light and the flowers were blooming. It is the perfect time for you to be born and before I know it, you will be here! I love you! Love - your mommy

Any moment now

Girls Weekend
We had so much fun all together last weekend, precious little one. Your mom and her sisters laughed all weekend. Aunt Jill and Aunt Jen were so much help and we accomplished so much. All of your clothes, blankets, sheets and bedding are washed and ready for you. Jill took tons of pictures and we put together your dresser too. You were able to meet your cousin, Gabe and enjoy lots of laughs! You will meet him again soon once you both are born.
Your new bedding is just perfect and now all we need is you to come, but don't rush! I am taking one day at a time and just enjoying the last moments of being pregnant with you! You may come tomorrow or perhaps it will be a couple more weeks. I am trying to take one moment at a time so that I don't miss a thing. You are precious and I am praying that God fills you with his love and fullness as he watches over you each moment. I am so excited to meet you and see your face for the first time. I love you baby girl! Love - mommy

Side By Side

Your new dresser and the dress your great great grandmother made your grandmother.
You will wear it too for your dedication.

Shhh! I am practicing for when you will be sleeping!

Cute Little Outfit
It will be cuter when you are in it!

Little Lambs...

My first stuffed animal was a little lamb and yours will be too.

More sister pictures...

That is you, sweet little girl.

Jessica and Jennifer
Baby Girl Jennings and Gabe

Jess and Jill
and of course, you too baby girl

Pregnant, Seriously Pregnant
...great pictures Aunt Jilly Bean!

26 Days and Counting Down

36 Weeks and Nursery Updates
Sweet Little One,
We are getting so close and it is amazing how things are coming together. I did a few more things on your nursery this weekend - I really hope you like pink! I also had a girls night where we talked about birth stories and shared lots of good food. It was such a wonderful bonding night with my sweet friends - they are all very excited to meet you. We started packing for the hospital, little one, just in case you come early. You are at 36 weeks and I am counting down every day. Your Aunt Jill and Aunt Jennifer are coming next weekend to visit us and you will get to hang out with Gabe for the first time (your cousin - who will be born around May 15th or so). It will be such a fun girls weekend and Aunt Jilly Bean, will take tons of pictures of Aunt Jennifer and me pregnant! Some day you will see them and see how fun and crazy your mom and aunties are when they are together. We always have such a good time! One day you will be able to join in on girls weekends in a more interactive way. But for now, you are safe, warm and still growing so that you can make a healthy appearance, Lord willing, in the next four weeks or so. Your dad is just so excited to meet you and can hardly wait.

You continue to move around and are very active. You had your first hiccups a few nights ago. It was really cute. The doctor says that you are head down and have dropped some. This is a good thing in terms of your position for birth. The doctor says that everything still looks good and your heart rate is steady. It is hard to say how much you will weigh at this point but you should be between 6-7 pounds. Well, here are a few more pictures of your nursery. It will be waiting for you. Just a few more things to do and we will be done with the room. I love you so much and can't wait to see you, hold you and kiss those precious feet that have been kicking me for all these months. Your dad and I are going to wait until we see your face before we give you a name. I am praying that God gives your dad and me the same name so that it will be an easy decision! Love you sweet baby, your mom

A place to rock you to sleep...

34 Weeks and Our Snow Day Baby Shower

A Perfect Snow Day Baby Shower
Sweet Baby, this shower was for you! We had such a great time.
So many people love you so much already!
I can't wait for you to meet them all!
Here is all the snow that we had that day.
February 6th, 2010

Our sweet hostesses, Katie and Sara made everything so beautiful in pink!
We are so blessed to have such great friends.

Everything looking Precious in PinkI loved the cake...it was delicious and beautiful!Thank you everyone for being there and all the thoughtful, sweet gifts!

Playing Games
Opening Presents

All those wonderful things are for you, precious little one!
Thank you everyone for a beautiful
and very special day!