Welcome Ava Patricia Worst

Ava Patricia Worst

Born September 25, 2010

7 lbs 15 oz

21 inches

My Overdue Pumpkin

Baby Blue and I have made it all the way up the fruit scale to a mini pumpkin. Sadly, the fruit analogies stop at 40 weeks even though my pregnancy continues. I am somewhat amused that the baby is being compared to a pumpkin since it is Fall now and pumpkins are everywhere from grocery stores to magazine covers to front porches. Just thinking about this makes me want a nice slice of pumpkin pie and a pumpkin spice latte (texting Mike now). But more than anything, I want to SEE and HOLD my little pumpkin:)

Being past our due date was in some ways a relief. We received more calls, emails, texts than I think I've ever received leading up to that day. I don't know if I have ever been this popular, or will ever be again. Though we appreciate the support (really), it is nice that the pressure of a date has passed. I felt as though I was already the parent making excuses for my child..."I don't know why Blue was late, but I'm sure it won't happen again. I am so sorry!" On the other hand, I felt like the protective mother wanting to say, "Leave my baby alone! Blue will come when good and ready!" But as we know, this baby has a mind of its own, and so we are somewhat used to these games...I don't know where this baby gets it from? :)

My mood goes from excited in the morning, as it could be THE day, to disappointed at night that it was so not THE day. I fall asleep praying for painful contractions...and wake up annoyed that I slept pain free. I find myself going to bed later each night and waking up earlier each morning. If this continues, I will eventually become nocturnal...only taking naps during the day. At first I would try to avoid the nap hoping I'd sleep better the next night, but according to my baby websites I was advised to sleep when I can...soon, this will be the new normal.

I could for sure tell you stories from these past few days that would certainly entertain. They are stories filled with tears, child like temper tantrums (Mike, not me, of course :), wishfully imagining contractions, jumping and dancing around the house in a desperate attempt to get the baby moving, ignoring phone calls (which by the way results in more phone calls), throwing out new baby names to Mike at midnight when I can't sleep, and so much more...but for now I'm trying to practice what is called "positive self talk". So here I go...

Despite the impatience, this baby is coming and much sooner than I probably know. The moment I hold him or her I will forget about the few extra days, or even the 9 months before. In my heart, I only want a safe delivery and healthy baby and if that means today or a few more than I will be okay with that. As much as I like to think I'm in control, God is the one who created this child and the one I want to sustain this child. And at this point, God is the only one who knows the gender, due date, size, and name...so if you have a question direct it upwards!

Because we are overdue, I had two non-stress tests and one ultrasound. No, we did not find out the gender...we made it this far didn't we?? But what we did get to see was our baby at 40 weeks. It was the most amazing image, so unlike the one we saw at 20 weeks. This baby had chubby cheeks, the sweetest button nose, pouty lips, and was blinking in and out of sleep. I told Mike I thought it had my nose...to which he replied, "I think it has my face." I don't know exactly what that means, but Mike laughed when I responded, "So, you are claiming the whole face?!" Having Mike around to keep things light, when a million thoughts can keep you feeling weighed down, is such a blessing. He is just as excited and anxious...and of course was hoping not to be at work this week. Soon enough the three of us will be home together.

Not knowing the gender it has been hard for me to imagine this child with us, what it would look like and what our life might be together. But seeing this chubby cheek baby made my heart melt and it may have taken me 40 weeks, but when I once couldn't imagine life with it, I now can't picture life without it. Whenever you are ready baby blueberry...

Baby Belly

30 Weeks

40 Weeks

The Final Trimester...

Like the first trimester, the third has a lot more to report on than the friendly, easy going second. Unlike the first though, the third seems to be busy with planning and preparing. It feels like I could include more snapshots, but I've limited it to this short novel on baby Worst's final pregnancy frontier...

Week 28: The beginning of the final trimester started this week. I still feel good, and the high of the second trimester is still lingering and sweet!

Week 29: As soon to be responsible parents, we decided to come up with and try a new budget. We successfully came up with a plan, but trying it out was easier said than done. I think the reality of the baby budget will come after the 70 diapers a week, sitter costs, and those stink'n cute baby clothes that are too hard to resist!

Week 30: This week I began having doctor visits every other week...and since I love hearing baby's heart beat it was an exciting change! I also started having some lower back pain, and found relief at the chiropractor office.

Week 31: Mike participated in and completed his first triathlon. Soon after we began focusing on the last leg of this pregnancy.

Week 32: Mike and I took a Babymoon to Frankfort, MI. It was in celebration of our five year anniversary. We were so happy to have this time to get away from the chaos and enjoy some time together.

Week 33: Apparently this Michigan summer set record breaking temperatures, and as a result my ankle swelling became permanent. I believe it was around this time that I completely gave up wearing regular shoes, and wore the same two pairs of flip flops the remainder of the pregnancy. The swelling was not partial to my ankles alone, and as my hands swelled to man like proportions I also said goodbye to my wedding rings.

Week 34: This week I was spoiled with two showers. I followed all the advice and sterilized, washed, and put away all the goodies. Mike and I started having "family time"...this pretty much consisted of trying to feel the baby move, going over names, and trying to picture what life would soon be like.

Week 35: Our last pre-baby vacation was with my family at Maumee State Park in Ohio. My family had teased us that we should find out where the hospital in Toledo was just in case baby came early...it did not, but we made up baby's first bed before we left on the slight chance we were coming home with a baby.

Week 36: Mike finished the baby dresser this week, and I quickly began filling it up. I started my first week back at Calvin College, not as a student this time, but as an MSW intern. And to add to this week's already busy schedule, Mike and I took an infant CPR and birthing class. We both left the birthing class with a sort of deer in the headlights look. I'm pretty sure I walked away saying, "I don't want to do that."

37 weeks

Week 37: Nesting begins (aka. crazily running around your house doing anything and everything you think would be important to baby's arrival). Our nesting included the usual cleaning and doing laundry, but we also added...

1. Had new outlets put in the baby's room and our room to allow for more baby stuff to be plugged in...night lights, monitors, humidifiers...I guess families in the 1920's didn't have all these items because the bedrooms in our home have one outlet for all your plugging needs.

2. Clean and organized the garage.

3. Fancied up the car seat and installed it in our car. Thank goodness for U-tube which gave us a nice video on how to install it correctly.


4. Had new windows installed in our home...we are hoping for better insulation since our baby class recommended having your heat set at 75 degrees in the winter! Seriously?? Our house was at 65 last year...68 for our lucky guests.

5. Emailed my parents directions to hospital

6. Packed the hospital bags. Mike also packed his bag, and has already placed all the gear in the car. Every once in awhile Mike's nesting kicks in, and I find myself sitting on the couch watching him run around packing or cleaning and it just makes me smile :)



Week 38: This was my last week at work, and we celebrated what I like to call my "early retirement" with some classy sparkling grape juice. I also found out at my Dr. apt that I was not dilated..and while this can mean nothing I felt a little disappointed to hear nothing was progressing. I now randomly contact Mike with messages like..."My water broke" or "Things are happening"...he does not find this amusing, but it sure does entertain me:)

38.5 weeks

Week 39: Hello cool, fall weather and goodbye a good deal of swelling. This week's Dr. apt report was the same as the last...not dilated. I decided I needed to help things along, and began vigorously walking and eating spicy foods. "Vigorous" may not be the best word to describe the hurried waddle I attempt when Mike and I walk, but it sure feels that way. As for the food, Mike and I have ordered hot pepperoni pizza, spicy Thai noodles, and jalapeno stuffed stromboli. While this may work to help your digestion, it does not seem to move a baby out of your belly.

Week 40: I thought I might not make it to this point, but here I am two days away from September 15th and trying to sum up all that has happened these past few months. It's increasingly hard to fall asleep, and we have had more dreams of baby Worst (both Mike and I have had a dream that we had a little baby boy). We are still tossing around the final baby names, trying to stay on top of the house (just in case), and keeping plans close to home.

Soon the excitement we felt about being pregnant will be a replaced with the excitement of having our baby here with us, to see and hold and love! God has given us just what we needed each step of the way. Now we wait. We pray for a safe delivery, a healthy baby, and a blessed start to our family.

Made with Love

Friends of ours from Ohio found a do it yourself website that gives you plans for building your own furniture. They built their own baby dresser/changing table, and we decided to take up the challenge ourselves. The site www.ana-white.com/ gives you the plans and you do the rest.

I am always offering ideas to Mike...trips, projects, plans. When he hears me say..."I have an idea", I'm pretty sure he hears "I have work for you to do". And this time that was true, but he still took me up on it! I'm so thankful he did...

We bought all the material from Lowes...

The site pointed out, "This is not a beginner project". So we called on our family expert, and Papa Worst was a huge help! With the materials, plans, and expert carpenter we (by we I mean Mike and his dad) were ready to build!

It felt like forever, but it was exciting to get to the point where we could prime and paint!

Putting on the finishing touches!

Pottery barn baskets...thanks Aunt Jenny!

Ready to be filled with baby clothes!

And not to be left out, Mike also re-painted this rocker we bought from Craigs List. Oddly enough, the rocker belonged to an extended cousin of Mike's and so it's basically a family heirloom:)

Ready to go! I had this Field of Dreams notion that, "If you build it, it will come"...the baby, however, is apparently not on the same page.

This is the best picture I can offer of the baby's room. A small space makes it difficult to take pictures. You can see it's fairly neutral...and I'm looking forward to adding PINK or BLUE in the weeks to come!

Thank you Mike for all your hard work. Every time I look at the dresser I think of the time you spent making it for our baby. You will be a wonderful daddy...I am so thankful to be on this journey of parenthood with you.

Michigan Friends Baby Shower!

The hosts and my friends...Lacey and Lora.

You can't help but feel blessed when someone takes the time to throw you a shower...and they put in all the sweet little touches that lets you know they know you and love you! Each and every shower has made me feel this way, and I'm so thankful baby Worst is coming into a world with them in it!

The party game planner....Michelle.

This picture will serve to forever remind me of one funny baby shower game. I can't even begin to explain...but if you were there you will find yourself smiling whenever you look at this picture:)

Not only a fun game, but you also get to take candy home with you.

Skor = Conception, Life Savers = Epidural...

I love that at showers the guest of honor gets a prize when the game is over...even if they were not the winner. I'm pretty sure this coupon translates into a free night of sitting:)

Every shower I've been amazed at the creativity, and pleased with the yummy food. Lacey made a fabulous meal followed by Michelle's from scratch, pink lemonade, pound cake cupcakes....um, yes, so good!

Back Row: Lacey, Andrea, Pam, and Lora

Front Row: Angie (Austin), Janelle (Roslynne), Kelly (Paul), Susan (expecting!), Judy, Michelle (Zoe)

I love these girls!

Youngest to oldest... Baby Worst, Paul, Roslynne, Zoe, and Austin :)

Our baby has friends before it's even born....so popular.

Lora and Lacey made me this creative keepsake...

I'm due Sept 15th...my guess is the 18th and Mike's is the 13th. Any other takers? We will name the baby after the winner...provided your name is on our approved list:)

Possible baby Worst names....we are not sharing the names we like but I will say that there is a correct first name and middle name (though not together) for both a girl and a boy on this list. Impressive guessing!

It seems there are quite a few new baby girls popping up in my circle, though overwhelmingly I've had people guess "boy" for baby Worst. We are so ready to find out!

Michigan Family Baby Shower!

My wonderful and creative party planners and my sister's in law...
Cindy and Amy!

The girls were so thoughtful and must know me so well....cheesecake (cupcake style)...

...and cookie cake!

....and then there was the pumpkin, bunny-bear cookie cake.

Cindy arrived to pick up a "cute, gender neutral, pastel" cookie cake but wasn't sure what to say when she was handed this brightly colored one. Don't worry, team Worst got this one for free and the much cuter ducky cake pictured above instead. Plus we got to eat TWO cookie cakes:)

Tasty bubble bath punch

Beautiful flowers and Amy's creative party favors- baby jars decorated and filled with baby candies.

The party! Grandma VA, Aunt Kathy, Cuz Maria, Marti, Becky, Holly, Sue, Cindy, Rose, Cuz Alison, and Amy...Aunt Traci was taking the picture:)

Game 1: How quickly can Amanda change a dirty diaper and clothe baby in a button up sleeper?

Answer: 1 min 50 sec

Thanks for the confidence Lor...and the 8 minutes just in case Aunt Christie!

I was seriously nervous...somehow my ability to do this would be a future predictor of my parenting skills.

Thankfully baby (or scary toddler doll from the 80's) was cooperative:)


Game 2: Draw your best baby...on a paper plate...and on your head. I don't know who comes up with these games, but gents you are missing out!

I love how serious Alison's face is...however, it was Maria (in white) that won with her sketch of chubby baby "Ga Ga".

Grandma VA made us this sweet cross stitch blanket! I just love homemade gifts from those you love and who love you right back:)

The cousins (VA side): Alison, Cindy, Maria, Me, Amy

Worst...party of three.