Favorite.

I just can't resist her cheek chub.

The trip.

I have quickly been reminded that I am no longer in charge of my life. Ava pretty much runs the show when it comes to me planning anything. I now have to try to make plans around her schedule. When she naps, eats... etc. 

Last weekend my mom invited the girls and I out for lunch and a little shopping at the mall. I figured since we were meeting around 11 , that I could just feed her before leaving the house and she would have her usual mid-afternoon nap in her stroller. Seemed simple enough. WRONG.

Why would she want to nap so I could enjoy a little retail therapy? Why would she want to sleep and allow me to have a nice and peaceful lunch? Of course she didn't.

I find it funny at how when I first started breastfeeding that I was so afraid of nursing in public. I was worried what others would think, if they would stare or even possibly confront me. Interesting how a screaming and pissed off baby will quickly change things. I went from worrying to not giving a crap - in seconds. Instead my mood was more like: go ahead, say something. I. DARE. YOU. So there I was. prancing around the mall with a baby hooked to my boob. And, even though I did it discreetly, people do love to gawk. (and yes, they got the stink-eye right back.)

I spent the majority of the trip either feeding her, or holding and bouncing her while she screamed bloody murder. (This was especially awesome while trying to swipe my debit card numerous times while a new cashier was being trained.) Normally, I have all the patience in the world for that, but not on this day.

So, needless to say - our first long shopping outing was kind of a disaster. I have high hopes that the next one will be better, but I'm prepared that most likely I will have similar ones in the near future.

Ahhh, babies. Aren't they just full of fun? Ha!

Old.

That feeling you feel when you are sitting outside the dressing room at what used to be your favorite store while your daughter tries on clothes.

The outcast.

I have this feeling that Bentlee feels like he has been somewhat replaced since Ava arrived. He quickly went from being spoiled and loved on by me all the time, to me constantly telling him to settle down, or to go lay on his bed. I've tried my best to still give him a lot of attention, but lets face it - he's a dog, and I have a baby now who keeps me more than occupied.

He loves her though. Anytime she is crying, he nervously tries to lick her. Anytime she is napping in her room, he is laying outside her door. The other morning he even stole my spot in bed beside her and cuddled up to her for more than an hour. He is also known to stop her swing constantly by standing in front of it while trying to get to her. It drives me insane. Especially, when she is seconds from sleep and is then suddenly jolted awake. (I smack his butt every time, but he still does it.) Ha!

I do think it took him awhile to figure out exactly 'what she was' though. The first week was interesting. He didn't really know what to do with her. But, now, I think he has it figured out.

I think he knows that this little mini-human is here to stay, and I think he is okay with that.

As a mama of three.

I have never been a huge fan of change. I like to have a schedule and am comfortable with a normal daily routine. I knew that adding to the family would put a temporary kink into things (and may I just say, it has) but things around the Frakes house are starting to get back to a 'new' normal.

Having three. Well, it's a huge blessing. Last night I was cuddled on the couch with Ava in my arms, Layton at my feet and Kaylee on the floor with Bentlee right beside her. I had this rush of pride come over me and I couldn't help but think that I have the best kids ever.

Now, obviously I am not always in a sentimental mood like that. Most days I am running around like a chicken with my head cut off trying to juggle all things kid related. I have tried my hardest to not let having a baby become an excuse to not do all the things that we did before she got here, and I think I have done pretty well at it. We still spend our summer days out and about, hitting the pool, doing the park thing, and hanging at Becca's. Football starts soon, so that will be a huge commitment on top of Kaylee and her training. But, that's just our life right now, so I will take it as it comes.

It's amazing to me at how much life does change with a baby though, but also at how quickly it has just become the way things are. I am starting to get sort of a system down and because of that am learning how to get more things done, without stressing so much. The big kids are a huge help. Anytime I need a baby holder, I have one. Although, I only have about 5 minutes until they are ready to give her back. I am super tired still, but have a feeling that will just be the way it is for years, literally. So, I'm getting used to it and lately? I pretty much amaze myself.

Who knew that I was capable of taking a 3 minute shower and able to get dressed in just under 2. Who knew that cleaning an entire house, unloading a dishwasher, sweeping floors, folding laundry, and scrubbing toilets would be so manageable while having an infant in a front pack. Or, that fixing dinner with a baby in a bouncy chair on the table next to you, could actually result in some of the best  'conversation' ever. Who knew that I was actually skilled enough to change a diaper with my eyes completely closed (this usually happens at about 3 in the morning when it is almost impossible for me to keep them open.) Who knew that bouncing a baby to sleep, while editing pictures, while talking on the phone, and while eating lunch was even possible? Not this girl. But, I am quickly discovering these new found skills more and more everyday and honestly, I wouldn't trade this crazy chaos for anything in this entire world.

Our little fighter.

For the last few years, we have been trying to find a fit for Kaylee in the sports category.

She has tried dance, soccer, swimming and she has liked some of them but they haven't been the one thing that she just has to do - the one thing that she just has the heart for.

Kaylee has always been our little scrapper and for awhile now she has been drawn to the whole "cage fighting" sport. [yes, I about had a heart attack when she asked if she could try it.] Lee and I went around and around. But, I agreed to at least do my research.

We found out that she can't do the actual 'get in a cage and get your ass kicked' sport until she is 16. However, we were advised by a coach to let her make that decision on her own when she is 18. (He didn't have to tell me twice.)

For now, we found some classes that she can take to learn the sport. So she is doing brazilian jiu jitsu, and muay thai - which in english form, pretty much means wrestling and kick boxing.  Not only does she absolutely love it, she is good at it. She was even asked by her coach to join his MMA fighting team and is training to compete in her first competition in September. (Don't worry, we have been reassured that at this age, she won't get hurt.) They compete against each other using certain moves and holds that she learns in class. Whoever taps out first, loses. 

We are so proud of how hard she has been working to learn everything in such a short amount of time. She has practice four times a week and just watching the warm-ups make me exhausted. I never knew she had so much fight in her. 

When this girl is determined, she gets it done.

I love that about her.

The 2 month old.

-- She had her well-check earlier this week and weighed in at a healthy 10 lbs 8 oz. Yep, she is chunking up nicely. Unfortunately, she had to have her shots on this day as well. I am known to be a total wreck during this process (it breaks my heart) so Becca came with me and offered to be the 'bad guy' while comforting her through it and then handing her to me so I would be known as the 'rescuer.' Ha. What are best friends for - right? (Although, I'm pretty sure it was just as hard on her, as it was me.) Afterwards, Ava had a rough night. Poor little lady. The next morning though she was back to her happy little self.

-- Speaking of her being almost 11 lbs, I had to go through her clothes already and get rid of the stuff that no longer fit her. Sad day.

-- It seems like every day she gets a little more vocal. She talks her 'baby babble' to you, but only when you talk to her. Her most talkative time is when she is being changed.

-- Her personality is also coming out more and more. She is a good baby, very smiley and happy - for the most part. But, she is a bit spoiled (shocker, I know.) So, I have been letting her cry more. It's the times when I know she is fine, like when she is fed, and dry. The times when I am trying to fold a load of laundry or load the dishwasher and she would just prefer to be held. She is somewhat stubborn already (reminds me so much of Kaylee as a baby, sigh.) and a certain type of cry is a great indicator of when she is just royally pissed at me. The other day she was literally throwing a fit, because I put her down. I said to Lee: "You hear that? That is total 'tude already." He just gave me this look and nodded his head like he was saying 'yep, we are screwed.'

-- Her sleep schedule has been getting better, not that she was ever a horrible sleeper - from the very beginning she has went in 2-4 hour stretches, but in the last week, she has slept a full 7 hours for me twice. It has been wonderful. It's been nice to already have her on a night routine that seems to be working. I bathe her, feed her, and then put her to bed in her crib. The last 3 nights she has slept in it all night without coming to bed with me in the early morning.

-- She's an active baby. Holy crap, the girl likes to move. She is already showing signs of rolling over from her back to tummy - doing the frantic rocking from side to side. The doctor made sure that I knew not to leave her unattended at all now. She loves to push with her legs, and she will 'stand up' for a good 5 minutes on our laps just looking around and taking it all in. I put her in the jumparoo the other night while I was fixing dinner. I had to put a step stool underneath (since she can't touch the floor) but she bounced in it for almost 20 minutes. Even this morning when she woke up, I noticed that she had somehow scooted herself from the middle of her crib, all the way to the left side. Crazy. Becca keeps teasing that she will be my early crawler and walker. I'm starting to wonder if she might be right.


-- She loves the mirror. I have little ones set up by her changing table and she will almost carry on an entire conversation with herself. It's adorable.


-- Colic strikes us in the evenings, every night. Boy, it SUCKS. Her pediatrician gave me a few things to try but told me to just hang in there and that 4 months is normally the 'magic number' of when it normally stops. Sheesh, I hope she is right. Some nights, I feel like I am going to go insane.  

Tummy-time.

Don't let the picture fool you, she really does like it.

Reactions.

Ava is starting to respond to us, and I enjoy it so much.
I love the newborn stage and yes, I will miss it but I absolutely love that she is starting to react to us more.
She is full of excitement in the mornings and she will spend a good 20 to 30 minutes just smiling at us when she first wakes up.

In the middle of the night at around 3 o' clock I woke to her usual it's-time-to-feed-me-lady scream, but as soon as I was hovering over her crib, she just stopped and gave me the biggest grin.

I have also noticed her trying to find her voice more as well. She is even starting to coo and every once and awhile she will even manage to get a high pitched squeal out (which normally freaks out the dog.)

Yep, this little girl is pretty much full of awesome.