Ava Noel

Introducing Ava Noel

Born Dec. 28th 2011 at 6:07pm

8lbs., 20 inches

Our 4th daughter.  We are so blessed.

Behold, the swollen, over-ripe state of a woman so ready to get this baby out that she will do anything, even allow her husband to take pictures of her looking like this.  I was going to take before and after photos of my belly, but I think what would be more impressive is a before and after photo of my nose.  Holy honkers!

So I'm not really into posting the whole birthing story for the world to see.  For me, it's something intimate and personal.  But I will say that I was really happy with the way everything went.  It was a physically, emotionally, and spiritually intense experience I will never forget.  I was so glad to have Joel by my side coaching me through it.  

He was amazing and my love for him grew 10 fold during those moments of intense labor with him helping me through it. 

 My brother Erin

 Again, I know I should have more pride than to post pictures of myself like this, but I cannot get over how swollen my face is!  Joel took a series of different pictures trying to get a pretty one of me, and it was just not happening.  We were laughing so hard, which I'm sure did not help with the swelling.  ha,ha,ha,ha,ha!

Joel's Dad, Grandpa Larry

Joel's sister Glenda.  

They were in town for Lisa Beth's wedding, so we were lucky enough for Ava to meet them before they headed back to Indiana.

Matt and Glenda's kids

WesLee, Jacob, Faith, and Preston

Cousin Lacey and Ava

 This picture cracks me up!  When we were getting ready to leave the hospital, I decided to order lunch (one last meal brought to me at the touch of a button) and feed Ava before we left.  I purposely ordered a big lunch so both Joel and I could eat.  While I was feeding Ava in a chair in the corner, I told Joel to go ahead and eat, and then he could hold her while I ate.  The way the room is situated the only place to sit down and eat is in the bed.  I just couldn't help laughing about how bad it would look if a nurse came in and saw my husband lounging in my bed, eating my lunch, watching a movie, while I sat in the corner tending to the baby.

Ha,ha!  

Another attempt to get a pretty picture of me and Ava.....

nope, nose is still the size of Texas.

We stopped by my parent's house on the way home from the hospital to pick up the girls.  My mom was so wonderful to watch them for us, and stay the night to help out the first week.

Shae is so proud to be a Big Sister.

JoLynn and Ava

Our little Ava doll.

Christmas 2011

Christmas was wonderful this year!  

The Wagenman family party was hosted by Ryan and Lucinda and it was so fun, as always!  We ate amazingly good food, made gingerbread houses, the kids acted out the nativity, we did the present passing game, and visited.  

JoLynn and cutie pie Maximus

 Setting the stage for the Nativity

 Crazy cousins

 Uncle Ryan

The Merrell family party was a few days later on Christmas Eve.  

We ate more amazingly good food, acted out the Nativity, Hailey and JoLynn played their piano Christmas songs, we exchanged gifts, and laughed a lot.

Mom and Dad

 

Me and Benney Bob                                    JoLynn and "Baby Jesus"

This is my older brother Erin.  He is awesome. 

 Cindy gifted him with a nutcracker look-a-like.  

It was hilarious!

Tyler, Savannah, and Shae

We all draw names every year and make home-made gifts for that person.  My dad made this pick-nic bench for Cindy's family and it was definitely the highlight of the night.  I am a little jealous.

Christmas day was perfect.  We woke up, took our time opening presents and eating breakfast, played with all the new toys, got ready and went to church,  skyped with my little brother Blake who is serving a mission in N. Carolina, visited cousins and family at Grandma Anne's house, and went to see the Temple lights.

New Christmas jammies

I saw this shirt at the store and busted up laughing.  It's a man's shirt, but was too funny too pass up.  It went perfect with my huge "bowl full of jelly" belly.

JoLynn with her new Razor

Shae got Princess Celestia the pony.  I have no idea what this is from, but she fell in love with it at the store and was convinced that Santa was going to bring it to her.  The Big Man delivered.

Hailey got legos and a pillow pet.
This girl is a gem!  Every Christmas morning she is the first to wake up and go peek under the tree.  I couldn't sleep so I got up around 5:30am and when I got to the stair case Hailey was coming up stairs with a load of presents in her arms.  I asked her what she was doing and she said she was bringing them to JoLynn to see what she got.  I told her to wait until she woke up, and we both went downstairs together.  While we were waiting for the others to wake up we had some hot chocolate and sat and looked at the tree bursting with presents and talked.  It was so sweet to sit with her in the light of a quiet Christmas morning.  I love me some Hailey!

When Joel put on this new jacket, Hailey and JoLynn said, 

"Oh Dad, you look just like Justin Beiber!"

I have not stopped laughing at that! ha,ha,ha,ha,ha!

Joel finally joined the 21st century and got a phone.

I got a dock for my ipod and a ton of other things (Santa spoiled me this year) including the lovely broach and ear rings from Hailey and JoLynn :).  Sweet girls.

ps. please disregard my pregnant nose.  I was 3 days away from giving birth and my face was SO swollen!

Mesa Temple lights

Shae Bird

I always look forward to unloading pictures from my camera and ipod because there are always some surprise self portraits.  Check out these gems of Shae.  These crack me up!

I hope she never loses her wild hair, fluffy cheeks, and juicy lips.

Hailey

Hailey's school had a drawing contest for their school Christmas performance.  The winner got to have their art work published as the front of the program.  Hailey won runner up and they blew her drawing up into poster size and recognized her at flag ceremony.  This picture doesn't do her drawing justice, it was pretty cute!

  

The school also had a poetry contest and the winner for each grade got to recite their poem at the Christmas performance.  Hailey won first place for 3rd grade.  She was really nervous about getting up in front of all those people to recite her poem, but she did amazing and spoke every word clearly and confidently and with lots of expression.  I was super proud of her!

Cabin Trip Dec. 2011

At the beginning of December we went up to Prescott to play in the snow for a few days.  It was so fun and so beautiful!  Everything was covered in a beautiful blanket of soft fluffy glitter.  Hailey and JoLynn kept saying it was like being in a winter wonderland... something we don't get a whole lot of in Queen Creek.

 Joel and the girls spent most of the time sledding, and I spent most of the time taking pictures.  I was 37 weeks pregnant at the time, so sledding wasn't exactly sounding enjoyable.

 Catching snowflakes

Beautiful Hailey

 "I heart snow!"

 More sledding

 There is the cutest little candle shop "in town" that has become a tradition for us to stop by whenever we go up to the cabin.  They have a candle dipping table that the girls think is amazing.  You get to pick from a variety of candle molds and then dip away!

 Shae dipped a cat

 Hailey dipped a Christmas ornament

JoLynn dipped a roadrunner.

Good times.