The Big Event!

I was induced. So the day began like any other. David and I joke about how funny it was to drive to the hospital pain-free and while having normal conversation and once we got to the hospital how we just casually walked in with all of our luggage and told the receptionist we are supposed to have our baby today. Not exactly what I had pictured in my mind of how the day I gave birth would begin.

Excited about meeting my girl!

After the epidural. Very happy!

I labored for 2 1/2 hours without an epidural and my nurse had told me that the contractions that I was experiencing were "mild" according to the monitor. At that time I decided that I did not want to know what strong contractions felt like! I was very pleased with that decision. We then welcomed the family back in and visited until it was time to deliver. It was great. The only sad thing was that I was not allowed anything to drink. I wanted water so badly. And my nurse, David and my mom knew that very well.

Our nurse was so great.

Soon to be Nana for the 4th time.

Visiting during labor, thank goodness for the epidural. Would have been a much different situation if I had not had one.

Ava Catherine Hanson.
Born at 7:47 PM. Weighing 8 lbs 3 oz. Length 20 3/4 inches.

The nurses working on Ava

Ava holding her Daddy's finger

Her very proud Daddy 

That is me way down below all of the blankets

I was sadly unable to hold her for a few hours after the delivery due to some complications after delivery. But everyone was really sweet and would hold her to where I was able to see her and be near her.

Our sweet family members who waited to get to meet Miss Ava

The shirt David wore in the delivery. Those are Ava's foot prints.

The rest of our hospital stay was great. We had good nurses and food. We had lots of excited people come visit to get to meet our girl.

David adoring his girl

Sweet snuggles

Classic Ava with her fist by her face

Nana with Ava

Grandmother JoAnn and Aunt Jayne meeting Ava

Kim and Ava

The hospital food was actually very good

Ava's first test. Her hearing screen. Passed with flying colors.

Getting ready to go home.

First family pic!

Beautiful Girl!

"Where are we going NOW???"

On our way out.

Home Sweet Home

Buddy Meeting Ava

Motherhood

As a surprise, two Saturdays ago, David took me to see a musical called Motherhood. It was a cute play and it was so fun to get dressed up and go out. He wanted to go on a final fun date before our baby came and he thought there was not a more appropriate thing we could do than to see a play about the adventure we were about to embark upon. I have such an awesome hubby who likes to do sweet things for me.

The Playbill 

At our home after our great date night

The Nursery

Ava's room has been a work in progress since we bought our home in August. Two weekends ago we finally finished her room and now we feel ready for her to come. We cannot wait to hold our Little Girl!

The birdhouses that we painted! I really like the way they turned out.

I cannot wait to rock her in the chair and put her to sleep in her bed.

Baby Showers!

In the beginning of September we had the first shower to celebrate our Ava. It was our church shower and we feel so blessed to be apart of this community of believers. Such sweet friendships are developing with the ladies at Grace.

The cake was beautiful and DELICIOUS!

Chatting with the hostesses

Such cute things for little girls!

At the end of September we had our second shower in Fort Worth. It was so fun to be surrounded with our friends and family members to celebrate our baby. We are so thankful and blown away by all our friends and family who made the trip to Fort Worth from various places. We love all of you!

Sweet hostesses

Mingling

About to begin opening presents

The afghan my mom made. I'm excited to wrap her up in it!

The stroller and car seat! Much needed.

Temi and Stu drove up from Waco. They are such good friends to us!

Big Brother

Summer Fun

This was a crazy summer of unknowns. God taught us so much throughout this time. We really learned to trust Him and He took care of all our needs. We are blessed. Here are some pictures of the summer fun.

Time with friends when we got back from Indo

We ate at the Cheesecake Factory with David's family and the waitress overheard us talking about Miss Ava and brought us a Congratulatory Cheesecake! It was so yummy.

Hanging out at the guest house where we lived for a month and a half.

Yes... He is crazy!

Our 4 year anniversary celebration

At Kirk and Sarah's wedding

The BIG Move

We got back from Indonesia at the beginning of May and did not know what plans God had in store for us. In June we heard from one of the churches that we were excited about and they offered David the position as the youth pastor. We prayed about it and David accepted the position of youth pastor at Grace Community Church in Plano, TX.

Celebration with my sweet family

Throughout a crazy process of looking for houses we found a place we are excited to call home. We closed on August 10th.

Enjoying our home the day we closed.

David taking the for sale sign out!

Our home!

We spent the next week and a half cleaning and painting and getting the house ready to move into. My family came over on Saturday to help us unpack and get things in order.

Unpacking boxes!

Taking a break to play with Drew

All the boys moving furniture.

So thankful for everyone who helped us during the painting and unpacking process. We could not have done it without you! All the boxes are now unpacked and we just have some decorating to do. Our house is feeling like a home!