Some of Ava's newest obsessions (Video link)

Ava, like most children, is a sponge and picks up all of her tricks either from reading or real-world experiences.

The other day she was eyeing this box she has that holds some little board books, and it has pictures on it. She then came over to me and starting making this noise, repeatedly.

Let's see if I can type it out......"Ssssshom......Ssssshom.......Ssssshom" and would clap her hands together rather hard.

She kept looking at me like I should know what she was talking about. I was clueless. So I went over to the box and had her point to what she was saying and she pointed to the crocodile! She was saying "Chomp, Chomp, Chomp" and using her arms and hands to chomp down. We had only done this through reading. Add this to her array of animal sounds! Unfortunately I haven't gotten it on video yet, as you can see in the following link, but there are some others to show you.

http://s71.photobucket.com/albums/i146/mnallen79/?action=view&current=Videoanimalsounds-1.flv

Also, she is obsessed with singing "Row, row, row your boat" and will say "Woh, woh, woh" and start rocking back and forth until you sing it over and over again. Also, "The Itsy Bitsy Spider" is a favorite and she will do hand motions to represent the spider. So. Cute.

Lastly, thanks to Daddy, she LOVES this video on You Tube. We've been watching videos of animals or babies and decided to look for some "kid-type" stuff also. We searched the Wiggles and Daddy found this song. She loves it when we do the dance too! (And I must admit that I kinda like it!)

http://youtube.com/watch?v=t8Y8ARIdAuU

Easter pics (a little late)

We had a great time celebrating Easter with Gigi and Poppy ("papa", as Ava now calls him). Of course we had the annual Easter Egg Hunt w/ and w/out Ava, as that is one of our favorite pasttimes.

Ava caught on to finding the easter eggs pretty well. After Ryan and I rearranged them a bit from Gigi and Poppy's hiding places, they were a little too hard. We had to make them obvious and in plain view. She would find one and take it back to her basket. She had fun doing that, but only for a little while until something more exciting caught her attention, lol.

Here is the fam first thing on Easter morning.

It's an egg, an egg I say!!

Got it!

Put it in the basket. There!
Mommy trying to let Ava taste her first Peep!

And she was having nothing of it! Good girl!


All dressed up.

Outside, on the crisp Easter Day.

Ava new trick, putting her arms out when she doesn't know something or when you ask her a question. "Ava, where is the Easter Egg?"

What a difference a year makes

Here is Ava last Easter, 2007And here she is this year, right before Easter, 2008

Picnic in the Park

Well, it wasn't so much of a park, as a grassy knoll with wide open spaces for Ava to literally run all over the place. She had a blast. Mommy and daddy were worn out!

Spring weather is here!

I know that Spring isn't technically here yet, but the weather here would prove otherwise. We have had such beautiful days mixed w/ rainy days which indicates it's SPRING time! Not to mention, Easter is this weekend. I thought I would share some outdoor pics w/ you.

Birthday Party was a Success!

We had so much fun at her First Birthday party! Ava just knew she was the center of attention and loved it, until we all sang Happy Birthday to her. She just gave that look, like what are these weirdos doing? We had all our family and Ava's friends from music and playgroup were able to come and that was great!

She LOVES Music Class

Not only was Ava giddy from all the excitement of it being her birthday, she was having a "ball" in music class this week! It was our season finale, we've been going since she was 4 months old, and we start again in a few weeks. I highly recommend a program similar to this one, http://www.heartsongmusictogether.com/

She loves Ms. Carey and the guitar

Obviously, she's not a big fan of sitting in my lap, or being near me for that matter, as there is so much to see and do! Here she is "dancing" on center stage.
Can you see her in there rolling around in the balls?

Having a "ball"!

Happy 1st Birthday My Sweet!

It's finally here! Ava's FIRST Birthday! It has flown by, but in a lot of ways, it seems like she has been in our lives forever. It's hard to remember life before Ava, as she is our world now.

Happy Birthday my love!

A Few of My Favorite Baby Things

From our first year:

Ava's first belly laugh - I will never forget the sweet sound

After bathtime - the smell of sweet, clean baby

Awaiting daddy's arrival home from work everyday - if you want to know what pure, sheer excitement looks like, that's what I'll always remember

Of course, the first time Ava said "mama" - melts my heart

First steps - the look of determination in Ava's eyes. I have a feeling we are going to see that look A LOT

The look on your face as Ava would come running into our arms

The way in which Ava wants and needs to learn about everything around her and her ability to retain it. I was blown away at how much of a little sponge she is. It hands-down is the most amazing thing I've seen in her.

Our days together, being able to stay at home and being the most fulfilled I've ever been. I'm so fortunate (Thank you Ryan!)

Reaching my goal with breastfeeding - knowing I've provided Ava with such valuable nurishment is rewarding

Open-mouth kisses - especially when they are spontaneous and given for no apparent reason, only she knows why she gives them

Footed jammies - OMG, she looks so cute in these!

A letter to my Daughter on the Eve of your 1st Birthday

My Sweet Ava,

I'm blown away right now at the thought of my baby girl turning ONE year old tomorrow. I'm going to try to express a few of my emotions, but there are so many. For one, I'm ecstatic that we've (you, me and daddy) have made it through a whole year together. Trust me, for awhile there, time seemed to be going by so slowly. I now know that it was due to sleep deprivation and insecurities on my behalf that those first few months were so hard. But, oh, what I'd give now to do it all over again and not change a single thing. Nope, I wouldn't and do you know why? I wouldn't have the same baby that I have right now. Perfection. Ava, you are the most perfect and beautiful child that anyone could ever ask for.

Just watching you grow and change allows us to get a sneak peek into what you're personality is going to be like (or for the most part--already is) and we love the person that you are and will become. You are so inquisitive and thoughtful, silly and sly, smart and sassy, stubborn and loving. A perfect recipe for a well-rounded girl.

On this Eve of your birthday, I also find myself sad. Sad that I no longer have a baby that I can cuddle and rock, feed and burp. But realistically, you cannot stay a baby forever. My sadness turns to joy when I think about how much you've grown and how proud I am of you. Daddy and I are so proud to call you our baby girl.

I wish you nothing but happiness on your first birthday. I love you so much! Thank you for being you! Happy Birthday, Ava!

With all the love I have,

Mommy