What goes up, Must come down

Now that she is sitting up, that's all she ever wants to do in her crib. So much so, that yesterday I found her sleeping in her sitting position, just hunched over. Check it out!

There is something new everyday now

Like my sister said, once they hit 5 months, they literally do something new and change so much every week. It's like a lightbulb goes off and Ava is radiating light! I went in today to check on her during her morning nap and this is what I found. To those who might not know what the big deal is, the baby is sitting up!! That is a huge milestone to go from laying down to sitting up unassisted. I thought it might have been a fluke (how, I don't know), but came in to check on her during the afternoon nap and found the same thing. She was so proud of herself, as was her mommy.

Our 1st attempt at rice cereal

We were so sad to watch our baby girl make the chewing motions of eating while watching us chow down. So we decided enough's enough and start her on rice cereal a week before she turns 6 months. She was so obviously ready.

I tell ya, this girl will eat anything (she does get something from her mommy!) It shouldn't have shocked me b/c this is also the baby that surprises the nurses by gulping down any live vaccine that is put into her mouth, they usually have problems with the babies taking it. Not Ava!

Anyway, she did so good. She sat up in her Bumbo, with her bib on, and ate away. We had so much fun taking turns feeding her. She kept wanting more and more (note the picture of her literally licking the bowl). I can't wait for fruits and veggies. I already started making and freezing some food: sweet potatoes and apples....YUM and so easy!

Video of our Rocker, as promised

Yesterday I posted that we would try to get her rocking on all fours on video. Mission completed. It is so flippin cute. It's a long video and we are trying everything to get her to get up. I guess it worked. Enjoy. (Oh, again, just click on the picture to see the video).

One more video and I'm through for the night

I just sit a watch Ava sometimes and she continues to amaze me. Here is a video of her "playing" the tamborine. Watch as she drops it, reaches and picks it up, then sits herself back up. She is growing and learning everyday.

Again, another random pic, totally unrelated to the tamborine, but so cute!!

Say Mama....

Okay, so she was just saying it to get me to be quiet and be picked up, but I heard her first "mmmm" sound this week. See for yourself.

Note: This photo was too funny not to share. She gets so frustrated and makes this face. Just click on the pic to see the video clip though totally unrelated.

We had a big day!

So we are just laying on the floor in the office when Ava all of a sudden decides to get up on all fours and starts rocking! We had been waiting for this, but didn't expect it so suddenly. She had been toying with the idea of doing it for a few weeks now, but something clicked today and she realized that she could do something more than just push up with her arms. She only did it for a few seconds though. Now she is back to scooting backwards when she really wants to go forward and just ends up getting frustrated. Boy, this caged tiger is ready to be let loose! EEK! I got it on video once with the regular camcorder but she wouldn't do it again with for the digital camera (the only one I know how to put video on here with), so we will try again tomorrow.

This is so funny!

Ava is starring in her own video (courtesy of Shutterfly):

Fall Fashion Trends 2007: Babies in Chicken Suits

It is a tad early to be thinking about Halloween, yes. But when you have an irresistible and squeezable 5 and 1/2 month-old, you just can't wait for Halloween. When I saw this costume, I knew my cool chick had to have it. Just look at that face.

Enough said.

5 months old and READING?

Gotcha! No, but really, Ava is loving her book with real-life baby pictures in it. She is starting to notice mouths. She will grab peoples mouths while they hold her, anyone really, she doesn't care.

With this book I noticed that she was diligently touching the baby's mouth and opening her own mouth and for the most part I got it on camera. Mommy kept pushing for more body parts, but she was having none of it. Click on the picture to see the video. This is one of my fav's.

Trendy Tadpole

Having looked at numerous baby clothing websites,
I have found a lot of cute onesies and such. There is one site
in particular that caught my attention. It's called
trendytadpole.com, they have THE cutest, most trendiest baby
and toddler clothing. I have to have "Buddha Belly" for my
buddha baby. Also, love the BYOB = CUTE!!

"To the World You Might Be One Person....."

"But To One Person, You Just Might Be the World!!"



Ava just cracks up at anything her daddy does. She loves to watch him doing jumping jacks or any silly antic that he has up his sleeve. Here is a video of them "talking to each other".

(Click on the picture to see the video.)

Our 1st Graduation

Ava has graduated from her first class....MusicTogether! As previously mentioned, Ava and I have been attending a 6 week summer music class called HeartSong MusicTogether. This week was our final class, so sad. Good news is that we will be taking the class again this fall and it is 12 weeks!

I can't say enough wonderful things about this program. They are so child-centered and warm and loving, that I have enjoyed every week there. Carey Youngblood, our instructor, is the best. She makes each and every child (and parent for that matter) feel welcomed, special, and one-of-a-kind. Her voice is amazing and the music that accompanies her is great.

Her we are amongst the infant graduates!

Grumpy Old Man

I don't know if it is teething or what, but cute little Ava has a new face......that of an old man!! For the past several days she is acting like something is going on in her mouth and will clench her gums and lips together and she is the spitting image of an old man. It cracks us up!! All the signs point to teething

- drooling

- sucking on hands

- putting anything and everything in her mouth

- and now this

I still am yet to see or feel swollen gums, and the above symptoms are just what babies do at this age, so who knows???

Looking for something to post about....

I am so proud of myself for starting a blog that I have to write about something, so here it goes. Ava got her first big girl tutu yesterday. Her aunt Jill picked it up at BabyStyle because we had been eyeing it for months. The only problem was that I can't afford retail prices, especially at BabyStyle, who can?? However, it was on clearance and an additional 30% off (bargain shopping runs in our blood, thanks mom!) It is a size 18-month, so it won't fit for awhile. Still, I can't wait to see her prance around in it. Even better, her cousin Abigail got a matching one so the photo opps will be endless.

That's all.

Belly Laugh!!

We got her first REAL belly laugh on video. Although this happened about a month ago, I wanted to post it for all to see.

We were just sitting around with our naked jay-bird, when I decided to let Ava "eat her feet." She thought it was the funniest thing she had ever done! Here is the video clip.

http://tinyurl.com/ysmktm


WARNING: The laugh is highly contagious!

A Musical Prodigy

Ava and I have been attending a music class, Heartsong Music Together, once a week. Although I was skeptical at first.....would a 4 month old really benefit from this?? I had to wonder if I would get my money's worth?

Incredibly, she has enjoyed this class more than I could have imagined. She is fascinated by the rhythms of the guitar and drums, she loves to hear and watch the signs of tone, and now she recalls the songs that we sing with a big smile. Her latest "trick" is mimicking the sounds I make with my mouth and tapping my hand over hers. I cannot describe it, but you'll know what I am talking about when you see it....

http://tinyurl.com/24yz6r

Just wait, when I post again, she will have written her own composition.

We've got a roller!

After many attempts at mastering rolling from tummy to back and back again, Ava finally did it. She had been rolling from tummy to back for a few weeks and now she has got both down. I know, I know.....she IS a genious!

Introducing....

Ava Alexandra
March 4, 2007
7 lbs.
19 inches

Welcome to the world precious baby girl!

Introducing......US!

I'm going to start a blog! I'm going to start a blog! I'm going to start a blog!

Can you tell I'm excited?

I would love to have a way for family and friends to keep up with us, especially now that we have a our new baby girl on the way, and what better way than to blog about all her special moments!

A little about us....

Ryan and I met 9 years ago at the University of Oklahoma, through a mutual friend. We became an official couple about a month later and have been together ever since.

He proposed to me in January 2003 and we became married on June 5, 2004.

We traveled to many places together....

The Bahamas

And to Mexico (3 times), our favorite quick get-away.

New York City

AlaskaBut, of all those journeys, we are about to embark on our most rewarding and challenging journey yet.....

PARENTHOOD!

STAY TUNED!