AVA PEARL // THE EARLY DAYS

Before time totally slips away from me I want to document these early days of Ava's life here on the blog.  Most of these were all from her first few days.  It's so hard to believe it's already been 6 weeks!  It really does fly by.  I'm trying to soak in all of her changes everyday.  She is just getting cuter and cuter by the day.  These first moments were so special.  Since we rushed off to the hospital last minute, our house was left a bloody wreck, but our second midwife stayed behind and cleaned our whole house.  We came home to a freshly made bed with clean sheets and I remember how magical it felt.  I slipped into bed with my new little baby and nursed her with the most blissed out peaceful feeling ever.  That first hour home was pure magic.  There was just a feeling I had never felt before in our home.  And it was only about that long, that we were home alone just the three of us before my Nanna & Aunt arrived to stay with us that night. 

That whole first week felt like James and I got a fresh new lease on marriage.  All the beautiful feelings surrounding us made everything feel brand new again.  James did SO much around the house and taking care of me, including encapsulating my placenta.  He was the best help.  It was so sweet to see my nanna + aunt & james parents hold our baby.  Bittersweet to not have my parents around, but I feel like I'm doing pretty good with that.  I cried almost everyday tears of the biggest joy I had ever felt in my life.  Overwhelming hot tears of love.  That is something I had never done in my life.  It was truly an experience. 

It's so amazing how our bodies give us the energy we need in a time like this, when your baby is so dependent on you but you are purely exhausted from days of labor.  I was so afraid I would just pass out and not wake up to take care of her, but that was not the case at all.  Every little peep I heard through my sleep.  Instincts totally took over.  I was also surprised how natural mothering seemed to come for me.  After years of being afraid, I am no longer afraid.

I'll be back over the next few weeks with more of the journey...  Oh and look at her little cheeks in the picture of her in the car seat coming home from the hospital!!!!!!!

View fullsize

40 WEEK PORTRAIT

Even though it's been 3 weeks already since I had my little babe, I didn't want to forget documenting my last maternity portraits here.  This was one day after I hit 40 weeks, just 3 days before her arrival.  This evening was when my labor started with contractions all night throughout my sleep.  At this point, my brother was genuinely concerned about me getting any bigger, ha ha!  It's kind of sweet knowing how worried he was about me.  Being only 5' 2" tall, I was all belly, but I was measuring right on the mark along with my weeks.  In the end I gained about 45 pounds, and still have about 25 pounds to shed before I'm back to my normal.  It's definitely odd being so in between.  Most of my clothes still don't fit me, and dressing for breastfeeding is even harder than dressing a 40 week bump.  But I know it's just all part of the process, and my sweet little Ava Pearl is so worth it all. 

I have yet to find the time to sit down and write out my birth story, but I know it will happen as it should.  My time is definitely very limited now, as anyone who is a new mother knows.  I have so many things I want to share, but will just have to be patient with the process and let each day unfold as it will.  So until next time, xo...

AVA PEARL, LITTLE MOON

I have been trying to get this post up for over a week now, ha ha!  We welcomed out sweet baby girl into the world on July 3rd at 9:13 am.  Her arrival took quite a while to complete and was full of hard, crazy labor.  I will share our story a little more later, but we ended up being transported to the hospital, but I was still able to deliver her naturally without the help of drugs or medical assistance.  She was 7 pounds, 14 ounces.  She took to nursing almost immediately after being placed on me and has been a pro at it since.  We have been in extreme baby bliss fever since.  She is the sweetest little thing.  Calm natured and a total mama's girl.  She has the cutest round cheeks and the most beautiful eyes.  She loves to have her hands up by her head and is constantly moving her fingers in the funniest of ways.  She loves to look at a feather mobile, twinkle lights and her moon pillow, and really loves music. 

These were from her first day in the hospital.  I'm so glad James thought to grab my camera as we were all of a sudden throwing things in bags for the hospital.  We didn't take alot of photos b/c we were absolutely exhausted after not sleeping for 2+ days, but I adore these few I took the morning we woke up after it all. 

Two days after she was born, when we were back at home, our midwife came for a check up for me and babe.  I had to get several stitches, so the first week + was pretty rough getting around, but I'm happy to report that they are healing very well and I'm feeling so much better.  We just had our 10 check up with the midwife on Thursday and Ava is already back up and beyond her birth weight at 8 pounds 4 ounces. 

The first week at home we had family come and go.  James parents, my Nanna and Aunt Lisa, Aunt Sheri, my brother and nephew.  It was so sweet to watch them all fall in love with her. 

I'm so in love with this photo of her tiny feet in her daddies arms.  Nothing sexier.

I'll be back with a million more photos, until then, follow me on instagram, that is where the baby party is at. @lauramazurek

38 WEEK PORTRAIT

Well life got a little hectic the past two weeks and I'm just now getting my 38 week portraits up here and I'm 2 days shy of 40 weeks!  This was my first shoot on the new deck.  I really wanted to test out the lighting out there so I decided to do a full shoot for this weeks portraits instead of my usual window/belly shots.  I LOVE the lighting on the porch!  I know there will be many many more photos taken in this space.  It's slowly coming together but will most likely be a month or so after Ava is born that is will get finished since I'll need some good down time after her birth. 

We have been nesting and preparing for birth for what seems like forever.  I have set up my birth space where the tub will go with affirmations and things from my blessingway.  We have stocked our fridge, of course she will decide to be another week or so and well have to do it all over again.  Ive been trying to keep up with light house work each day so it doesn't get out of hand.  James is off work for a while so he has been a huge help in this department.  I can't wait to see this little baby in his arms.  OMG it's going to be so precious. 

Now for a million photos of my big ol' belly + bed head.  In case your wondering, the kimono was from Lulu's a few seasons ago, the bralette is from Of A Muse, a local shop in Boerne. Go grab one if your local, they are the prettiest!!!!!!