Soccer Update

So after months and months of telling us she didn't want to play soccer after her first season this past fall, Ava did decide that she actually did want to play again. So we signed her up for the spring season and what a difference a season makes! She is out on the field participating, wiggling her way in the mix of girls, to get the ball, and dribbling toward the goal.

Oh to see the boost of confidence, it's just what she needed. She loved it when coach was giving her high fives, she kept saying, "I won!"

And of course it wouldn't be near as cute if I didn't report that she made her first goal.....in the opposing team's net...classic!

We just cheered for her and didn't say anything, just "yay, you made a goal!". However, she knew it was the wrong one and started crying. So sad. I assured her that it didn't matter, no one knows. We also found it funny that she knew it was the wrong goal. It happens every game, but most little ones don't seem to notice. Not Ava. Lol.

Happy 9 Months Griffin!

This chronological milestone is always important, as he's been a part of our lives now for as long as he was in utero. It's just absolutely amazing how much they grow, day by day. Literally, every day is something new.

I just can't get over the snuggles this little guy affords me with. Each night, we rock for a little bit and it never fails, he rests his head on my chest or nestled in my arms, without a fight. Oh....swoon!

Some updates....

Stats:Height: 28.5 inches (57%)
Weight: 19 lbs. 14 oz. (38%)
Head Circ: 18 inches (62%)

Received HIB (2nd)

Teeth:2 bottom teeth
4 top teeth

Eating:
More and more table foods. The pincer grasp is developing quite nicely and he is becoming an expert at picking up the moist, slimy or squishy foods such as banana, avocado, sweet potatoes, etc.

Still eating some purees I whip up if I don't think he can handle it in solid form (i.e. apples with walnuts).

He is going to give me some trouble with veggies (particularly green), but I'm just going to keep offering.

Diapers: We are almost 100% cloth diped now. I found one that works at night, but still using disposables at night. We'll also use disposables if we are going to be out all day. He is having 1-2 poopies each day.

Sleeping:
We've come a long way in this department. I weaned the 10:00ish feeding, which wasn't difficult at all. He'll wake at about 1-3ish in the morning and is finally able to put himself back to sleep (with a little fussing for him and turning down the monitor for us). He usually wakes around 5:00ish in the morning to eat for the day and will go back down until 7:30am.

Griff is great about just hanging out in his crib in the mornings and when he wakes from nap. No fussing, just hanging out.

He is usually ASLEEP for the night by 6:30 pm. His own doing.

My loves:

I love that he waves "hi" and "bye-bye"

I love that when he sees Boo, our cat, he says, "Bbbbbbb"

I love that he signs "milk", "more" and he almost gets "all done"

I love his flirtatiousness! We can't go anywhere where he doesn't have someone ogle all over him and HE LOVES IT! Eats it UP!

I love his admiration for Ava. Each month I think I say this, but he'll just stare at her forever in the car and smile.

I love that he is starting to point. He is so proud of himself! He knows what to do when we ask him if he'll point to something.

I love his clap. He is actually making a noise and will also do this "on command", lol.

I love his hair. Oh is little old man hair is getting longer and lighter. The hair over his ears really shows off his receding hair line. Daddy is a big fan of that! Ha!

I love that his first word was "dada", melt me! We are getting close to "mama", as I've heard it when he's crying for me.

I just love this little guy and could not ask for anything else. So happy. So healthy!

A Trip to the Zoo

And, oh my, what a gorgeous day to hang out with the fam at the zoo. Ava had an absolute blast! Just so animated and so into all the exhibits and animals. Although, she was the MOST excited about seeing a squirrel.

A squirrel.

At the zoo.

LMAO.

Just looking through these pictures, as it's been a few weeks, has me grinning ear to ear. She is just so full of life and exudes personality!

And my Griffin. My baby Griffin. Had a great time seeing the animals, but most of all, watching Ava. He did so wonderfully and just enjoyed the sun and experience.

A few captions to add. I was instructed to take Ava's picture in the "bamboo forest". As we walked by it, she said, "Where are the panda bears?" I asked her if she saw a sign for them and she said, "No, but this is what they eat, so they must be around here somewhere."

In another picture, Ava is doing her best elephant impression. With all her might, requiring going up on tippy-toes.

Dread

Today Ava told me three dreaded words.

I know where she got them.

Finding Nemo.

I kept reminding myself that it was not a good idea to let her see that part.

But, she said them.

We were at the mall.

She didn't get what she wanted.

I.

Hate.

You.

And I did what I didn't want to do.

I took it personally.

My eyes filled.

I gently took her to the side.

Explained how hurtful those words are.

My feelings were hurt.

Her eyes filled too.

She apologized.

And meant it.

But still.

It hurt.

Broccoli and Potatoes

Hmm, What's this?


Digesting......


I'll take some more, please!

Watching through the Window

I can't keep my eyes off my Sis! Oh, how I love her so!

Play Together

::{Happy Valentine's Day}::

What a LOVELY day!

Griffin said his first word, "Dada", clear as day this morning when he first saw Daddy. He waved, as well.

However, Ava said her first ugly word this morning when she didn't want to get up to go to school...."I hate Valentine's Day". Speaking in 3, almost 4, year old, this means that I'm grumpy and I don't want to get up. But, I could NOT believe she said Hate! I explained that that word was not very nice and a very strong word to use. Needless to say, she had a blast at school exchanging Valentines with her friends!

Her Valentine this year. I found it on this blog:



Some decor that Ava made while on our snow lock down.

First Baby Signs

Excuse the directionality of the last video....clueless!

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Quite possibly the cutest artwork yet

I found Ava hard at work on her new magnetic chalkboard wall.

Ice Day Special!

This is what I was instructed to write on her chalk board. Quite a long restaurant title, maybe she's on to something. And check out these prices! Great deal!

February Snow Days

Out of school for the week.

Ice.

Then Snow.

Stir Crazy.

Cabin Fever.

Get Creative.

Memories Made.

Top Teefies

The Statue of Liberty

"Mom, take a picture of me. I'm the Statue of Liberty."

Watch out, here he comes!

It all starts with a determined look and then BAM!, Griffin is right there wanting what Sissy has. Ava has been pretty good about being patient, but we'll see how long that lasts. Ha!

Early Spring?

Let's hope so! Eeeek, I saw negative degree temperatures for you guys up there in Tulsa....brrrr!




updated 2/2/2011 6:44:04 AM ET

PUNXSUTAWNEY, Pa. — The world's most famous groundhog predicted an early spring Wednesday, but wasn't willing to go out on a limb to forecast whether the nearby Pittsburgh Steelers will win Sunday's Super Bowl.

Punxsutawney Phil emerged just after dawn on Groundhog Day to make his 125th annual weather forecast in front of a smaller-than-usual crowd who braved muddy, icy conditions to hear his handlers reveal that he had not seen his shadow.

Including Wednesday's forecast, Phil has seen his shadow 98 times and hasn't seen it just 16 times since 1887, according to the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club's Inner Circle, which runs the event. There are no records for the remaining years, though the group has never failed to issue a forecast.

Two years ago, Phil's forecast also acknowledged the Pittsburgh Steelers' Super Bowl XLIII win the night before. This year, Sunday's game was mentioned in the forecast but no winner was predicted between the Steelers and the Green Bay Packers, who meet in Dallas for Super Bowl XLV.