Monday, March 16, 2009
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Ava's 2nd Birthday Party
Her cupcake cake. We just added the animals.
Ava and mommy with Mimi
The whole crew of toddlers
Ava deciding that now would be a good time to pose with her "silly face"
Monday, March 9, 2009
She's got....
Thursday, March 5, 2009
A day in the life of a TWO-year-old!
Ssssssstttttrrrrreeeeetttttccccchhhhhhh! Waking up to mommy and daddy singing.
I loved celebrating your birthday and making you feel so special, Ava, because you are! We had a fun-filled day and you are just my sweet little angel face!
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
A letter to Ava on your 2nd Birthday
Your second year of life has flown by, something of which seems to describe you perfectly....flying. You are so busy with everything going on around you, flying from one thing to the next that our days are always filled.
There is nothing like watching my daughter learn and grow right before my eyes. We are so lucky to spend the time together that we do. I will always, always treasure it because in no time, you'll be flying to and from other things in your life and I won't always be there to see ::tear::.
Some of your interests during your second year include:
-shapes: you love to sort, name, point, draw (cirlces), etc. Everything about shapes you love.
-counting: you showed an interest in counting very early and love to count objects. You also are starting to count in Spanish.
-animals: you love reading, seeing, touching, talking, telling stories all about animals. You knew animal sounds before you could even talk. We had an Old McDonald (or EIO, as you call it) birthday party for your 2nd birthday because you love animals so much.
-food: always was an interest and continues to remain an interest. YUM!
-music: when you hear music, your little body doesn't stay still. You love to dance and sing along as well.
-pretending: you love to pretend to cook, clean, put on make-up, have teaparties, etc. You are so clever when it comes to make-believe that I often find myself amazed at what you're doing.
During the days, we do things like go to the park, music class, gymnastics, picnics, playgroup, the bookstore, chik-fil-a, the duck pond, and the pet store. We are such buddies and best friends!
There is nothing like hearing you say something for the first time that you weren't just repeating. Of course you've heard us say these things, but when you said them to me, in context, without any prompting, I melted.
Some of my favorite sayings of yours include:
1. "Go for it, sister!"
2. "Let's talk."
3. "How's it goin?"
4. "Let's Hang Out."
5. "What doin?"
6. "I love (nuv) you"
My favorite things about this year:
1. Learning to talk, especially in sentences.
2. Having a tea party with you, daddy, and your animal friends.
3. Watching you shake your booty.
4. Taking bubble baths.
5. When you give random hugs and kisses.
6. Your jumping that is non-stop.
Oh, how much we've gone through together. You are just amazing, amazing Ava. I look forward to all the years and all the firsts that we still have to go through together.
Happy 2nd Birthday!!
I love you,
Mommy
Monday, March 2, 2009
My Tummy Girl

A sudy, wudsy bubble girl,
A teeter-totter toddling girl,
An "I can do it!" waddling girl,
A wrapped-in-cotton-swaddling girl,
Whose diapers started to unfurl.
Once there was a feeding girl...
While-mom-and-dad-were-reading girl,
A nice-big-spoonful-munching girl,
A drippy, milky, crunching girl,
Who stirred her breakfast with a swirl.
Once there was a running girl...
An in-the-rain-and-sunning girl,
A racing -through-the-thickets girl,
A chasing-bugs-and-crickets girl,
Who loved to dash and dart and whirl. 
Once there was a swinging girl...
A try-to-reach-the-rooftops girl,
A love-to-feel-the-raindrops girl,
Whose [short blonde] hair would spring and curl.
Once there was a dancing girl...
A stomping, bomping, prancing girl,
As-far-as-she-could-see-top girl,
A lovely-place-for-snacking girl,
A nothing-here-is-lacking girl,
Who made the branches bend and curl.
Who-always-kept-us-guessing girl,
A-fancy-hat-and-sundress girl,
A flashing, dashing, fun-dress girl,
Whose face was just like a precious pearl.

Soon you'll be my older girl,
A taller-than-my-shoulder girl,
An "I can do it!" older girl,
A bigger, braver, bolder girl.
...You'll always be my tummy girl.