Not So By the Book

Last week we reached a new milestone. Ava slept in her crib for the first time at bedtime. I’m sure that leads you to one question- where has she been sleeping up until then? Right in the middle of mommy and daddy- where else would she sleep? I have to admit Justin and I both swore we were never going to let our kids sleep in our bed but that theory and pretty much every other theory we had on how we were going to parent a newborn went out the door the minute she arrived. While I was pregnant I bought this book called The Baby Whisperer and read it cover to cover. I even made Justin read what I had highlighted and would explain to him exactly how everything was going to work. We had a plan and we were going to stick to it. There were many things I said I would never do. I am such a planner and a routine sort of person so naturally I believed I would incorporate that into my parenting style. Boy I had no idea! We have pretty much done the opposite of everything I read and planned for and truth be told I don’t regret it at all. We let her sleep in the bed with us, I pretty much feed her whenever she wants to eat, we don’t have any kind of napping routine and really haven’t even tried to put one in place. The even stranger thing is if either of us has stuck to any sort of routine it has been Justin not me and he is the laid back one at our house that doesn’t require any sort of routine for himself. So one night last week I was so exhausted that he took her after I fed her so I could go to bed early. A couple of hours later I woke up to him getting in the bed but she wasn’t with him. He said he had put her in her crib and she was asleep. I was a little sad at first and part of me wanted to go rescue her from that cold, lonely crib (at least this is how I envisioned it felt to her). He reassured me that she was asleep though and was fine so I refrained and went back to sleep. I woke up about 4am to her fussing a little and practically ran to the crib to get her. After having those hours of sleep without her beside me and realizing how much more deeply I slept and that she was just fine and had actually slept for a longer stretch of time in the crib than she normally would in our bed I realized it was probably better for both of us if she started sleeping in the crib. Of course every night still I am so tempted to just put her in bed with me and we haven’t worked our way up to sleeping apart all night. When she wakes up to eat I just go ahead and bring her into our bed but at least we are taking baby steps. All this being said what I’m really trying to say is that being a new mother has made me realize I don’t know myself as well as I think I do and I am more capable of being a go with the flow person than I thought I was and I actually enjoy that I get to incorporate some of that in my life instead of always being so by the book like I used to be. I also have seen that Justin is more capable of being structured and sticking with a plan than I thought he was. Parenthood has definitely been an opportunity for both of us to grow and develop new traits already and I know this is only the beginning and we will continue to learn more about ourselves over the next 18+ years.

BabyCakes Back in Business & Justin's New Venture

Most of you know we took some time off from the cupcake business so we could just enjoy Ava Kate but we are back in business now so spread the word and keep us in mind for your next birthday party, baby shower or any other event.

Also we wanted to let you all know Justin is working on a new business venture. He has done some photo slideshows for a few different people for weddings, rehearsal dinners, etc over the years and he is really good at it so we decided why not turn this into a business venture. So if you are ever in need of a photo slideshow for a birthday party, shower, wedding, etc keep him in mind. He will be working up pricing and will probably get his own blog started in the next couple of weeks so we will share that information as it becomes available. He also has a few other ideas for the business so stay tuned for more services he might be offering in the future.

Ace In the Hole

I just have to brag on my husband a bit. Justin and his dad are playing in the 4th of July golf tournament at the country club this weekend. Yesterday Ava Kate and I were at the pool swimming with friends while they were playing and I got a text that said Justin had just made a hole in one. It is his first hole in one ever and it was on his first hole of the day and tournament. What a way to start off the weekend! We will have lots of pictures from the weekend I'm sure so I'll blog more later but just couldn't wait to share his exciting news with you all! Happy 4th everyone!

Splish Splash!

The third time was a charm! Susan and Curtis are so sweet to let us use their pool since they just live around the corner so Sunday we decided to try to take Ava Kate swimming again. I had already tried twice before and would barely get her feet in the water and she would be screaming so we weren’t sure what she was going to do. The water was much warmer this time though and she loved it! She had her little legs kicking and was having fun splashing in the water. And of course she looked just precious in her little bubble swimsuit Nana bought her and her straw hat! Needless to say we took a lot of pictures to document her first swimming experience so I just picked some of my favorites to share.

Shower for Kimberly & Griffin

Saturday I got to have a baby shower for Kimberly and sweet baby Griffin who will be making his arrival in about a month. Kimberly has been a special friend since high school. I still remember the many days we would go to my house after school to enjoy some of my mom’s sweet tea and homemade hot sauce while we poured out our hearts to each other about boys, friends and the other high school drama we were involved in. I also remember well the many nights we would go to each other’s house for dinner after we were married and living in the Metroplex and the two of us would leave Justin and Benjie at the house while we would take off on a Target or TJ Maxx excursion. Kimberly played a big role in Ava Kate’s arrival through her friendship and support and prayers in the whole process and also she was in the delivery room with us capturing those first moments on camera for us. She is someone I feel blessed to call my friend and I cannot wait to meet the newest Polnick in August. Griffin got lots of sweet things at the shower and didn’t his mommy look beautiful! Ava Kate got to be there to help celebrate too although she did a lot more sleeping than celebrating in fact after the shower she took a 3 hour nap in her bassinet. She also got to meet Kathryn for the first time, my dear friend and college roommate Kammi's little girl that is about 3 months older than her. We hope they too will be good friends one day!

A Wall of Blessings!

I have been saving one of the walls in the hallway of our home for pictures of our babies. The past few years it has been an empty wall and now it is full of photos of our wonderful blessing! I love to look at it everytime I walk down the hall and in the mornings as I am in my bathroom getting ready. It is yet another reminder of the wonderful gift God has given us and of the journey to get here. Thank you Lord for filling this wall with blessings!

Happy Father’s Day!

Today was a very special day for Justin, his first Father’s Day! While he has only been a father for a short time I can already see Ava Kate is very blessed to have him for her father and I am blessed that he is my husband. I can already see that she is really in love with her daddy. She loves to listen to his voice. She saved her first big giggle for him. He is such a good daddy- so patient, giving and loving. I always knew he would be because of his tender and giving heart. He truly has a servant’s heart and loves to take care of people especially his girls! It is fun to see him in this new role as a father. For Father’s Day Ava Kate gave him this poem with her footprints. I thought it was worth sharing with all the fathers.


A Father’s Role

In this frame you will find
Two small footprints that are one of a kind.
They are here to remind you of the role you play
In the foundation that you lay.
God has given you this great Treasure
Teach her right and share her pleasure.
She learns from you in every way
So be careful of the words you say.
Hold her tight and calm her tears,
Give her praise and ease her fears.
In all these things she feels your love
And learns to trust the Lord above.