Counting to 10

Ava has learned to count to 10, well, sort of. It's totally assisted and not actual counting of objects, but she likes to say the numbers. You can really hear 2, 3, 5, 6, and 8. It's a game we play in the car and I got it on video.

I don't know how I'm going to ever get her on video again. All she wants to do is get behind the screen and watch what is going on, so once again, this is more of an audio video.

A Friday Girl's Trip to Chick-Fil-A

Mommy: "Ava, do you want to go to Chick-Fil-A for a Fun Friday lunch?"

Ava: ::nodding head yes:: "bawk, bawk, bawk"

Mommy: "Oh, you must have heard chicken in there, good job!" ::secretly hoping she is not associating a real chicken w/ the chicken that we eat::

Meanwhile, Mommy and Ava are sitting down at their table enjoying some nuggets and fruit.

Mommy: "Ava, would you like some more chicken?"

Ava: ::nods head yes:: "bawk, bawk, bawk" ::signs please::

Mommy: ::giggles to herself as she realizes Ava's just practicing the sound for chicken when she here's the word, no correlation.....yet:: "There you go".

Cranky Baby

This is what happens when naps are cut short. Note the spray painted, glitter, heart leotard worn by Ava in this picture. We had been to gymnastics. If you know me at all, you know that this particular piece is NOT my taste, but when they are on clearance (gee, wonder why?) for $3.00 and that is the only size and only leotard that fits a 16 month-old, you have to get it. We also purchased a Disney fairy princess leotard as well. Again, so not my style or preference. But my toddler needed a leotard for gymnastics b/c everyone else has one. Ryan wouldn't let her be the only kid not wearing one. I guess I agree.

A Future Sorority Girl?

I had to share this pic of my best friend's little girl, Katelin, who will be 3 in October. She is already posing like a little sorority girl, something her mom and I have down pat!

For the Love of Music

We've been going to music now for a year, since Ava was 4 months old.

I can't tell you how much Ava enjoys and benefits f/ music. Also, she's made some friends for life.

Playing with bouncy balls
Thinking about strumming the guitar
Ava with her lovely music teacher, Ms. Vanessa
Ava doing her own thing and wanting those balls to come out again. She just looks like such a little girl in this picture, telling us all about it.

10 things I love about my 15-month old

I'm borrowing this from a blog I read, spunkytoes.blogpot.com, and I thought it was a good way to chronicle what Ava is doing right now. Afterall, that is why I write a blog, to "log" about our lives.

So.....

1. I love how she dances whenever she hears music. And I mean, this girl can DANCE. If you know her daddy, this comes as no surprise.

2. I love the way she looks for affirmation when she does something successfully. It is a grand celebration when she stacks blocks or pats the kitty "gentle".

3. I love how she loves the water. Setting up the pool outside or going to swim playdates, she is always the first one in and the child splashing around and being silly.

4. I love how she waves her hand over her nose when we say "Shooo weee, stinky".

5. I love how she uses her "special night-night toy", the torquoise blue seahorse w/ a glowing tummy, to soothe herself to sleep.

6. I love how she reinacts her falls to show us exactly what happened and to make sure we see how traumatic it was for her by saying over and over again "Oh no, are you okay?"

7. I love how she signs "please" for everything she wants instead of signing "more".

8. I love her Fran Drescher laugh that is so contagious it makes a perfect stranger stop dead in their tracks and laugh along.

9. I still love to watch her sleep and snuggle and suck on her blankie.

10. I love the way she says "hop" for anything that is hot w/ such a serious face and blows on it.

(11.) I can't help it, I thought of another. I love the way she pretends to eat her food that she has been "cooking" and stirring. Then, she shares it with each of her friends: Elmo, the baby, the kitty, whoever is around. To let us know how good it is, she makes a slurping noise while they eat followed by an "mmmmm".

To the best daddy in the world!

Happy (belated) Father's Day!

You are so compassionate, animated, loyal, silly, and loving. All things that Ava will always treasure and appreciate.

Thank you for being such a great Daddy!

Here is our day at Gattiland

Riding the carousel = FUN!Daddy teaching Ava how to Dance, Dance Revolution!

The Queen and her Throne

I made a purchase yesterday that made me a little sad. I bought Ava's first big girl potty. I'm so not ready for this.

I DO NOT want to start the potty-training process, and most likely, I won't yet. But, I had to play into her curiousities about the potty. She has been going to it when we talk about going "pee pee" and "poo poo". She is kind of obsessed w/ our toilet.

So, I decided to take the first step and just get her the potty to get used to it and feel a sense of ownership for the potty. Last night, when daddy came home, we made a big production about "Ava's new potty" and showed it to her. She took it all apart and put things in it for awhile. According to what I've read, that is just fine. We want her to just get acclimated to it and feel comfortable with it. She even helped me decorate it with stickers. She loves having the kitty cats watch over her. Who wouldn't??? Weird.

We have no intention of starting potty training just out of pure laziness. I don't mind diapers and I don't want to have to deal with accidents and having to pull over to find a bathroom just yet. The child is only 15 months old. Whew!

Kiddie Acres

We had our playdate today at a place called Kiddie Acres and Ava had SO. MUCH. FUN.

This place has miniature sized rides like a ferris wheel, boats, a carousel, a choo-choo train, cars, pony rides, etc. She LOVED it! It was not very crowded and great b/c we could get on the rides with our children, obviously.

Looking at the ponies w/ her friend, C.

A random little girl who wouldn't leave Ava alone, being so sweet and rubbing her back.

What a big girl on the pony!

The water boats

Steering the car

Really having to think about the carousel
A Self-Portrait on the Choo-Choo Train

Learning colors

We had a REALLY hot day, okay 25 days (plural) in a row of 90+ degree heat, so you would think that water play would be great outside. Nope. Still too hot by late afternoon. So we brought the outdoors in! I filled three buckets of water and used food coloring to make green, red and yellow water. Ava loved splashing around and learning her colors at the same time. Boy, we had quite a mess though.

Look at that wild woman hair!

It is with great JOY that I announce....

the arrival of my newest niece, Emery Margaret.

She was born on June 7 at 12:12 a.m. weighing 8 lbs. 3 oz. and 20.5 inches long. She's gorgeous and is a great combination of both my sister and my brother-in-law!

Congratulations to Jill, Spencer, and Abigail!
Daddy and his girlsThe whole family Grandma admiring her 4th granddaughter.

Great Quote

I saw this on a blog that I love to look at, tutusandturtles.blogspot.com

I added the blog's link to my favorites over there on the side, but anyway, here is the quote.

Show me and I forget.
Teach me and I remember.
Involve me and I learn.

-Benjamin Franklin

I just love this because it not only takes me back to my days in the classroom, but it reminds me that I am also my daughter's teacher, everyday.

"A"

Here is a video of Ava saying the letter "A".

I finally got in on video, rather it's more audio since she won't let me take a video w/out her seeing the screen. So that means she's not ON camera but you can hear her say the letter "A" behind the camera.

Btw, the letter "A" became her obsession in her bedroom. Since we have about a bazillion things that say "AVA" she noticed one day and pointed to an "A" and said "Dat?" and from there she has been obsessed.

Fun in the Sprinkler

Ava is so brave, much more than I expected her to be, and she literally dives right in! She loved running up to the sprinkler and getting drenched and then running away from it. She didn't quite figure out that it was following her. Here are some pics from our Sunday in the Sprinkler.

Why NOT to give a toddler a yummy treat....

like a chocolate covered pretzel.

It will unleash....

a

tantrum

for

more.

Ooops!

Someone's in the Kitchen with Ava

Grandma Laurie bought Ava her first play kitchen for her first birthday this year. We decided to wait to get it out until she knew what it was and would be interested in it.

So after watching her pretend to cook, stir, wipe, stack and sort, we knew it was time to get it out.

She. Loves. It!

Thanks Grandma!!

Here are some pics of her in "Ava's Kitchen". She knows what it is when we ask her where Ava's kitchen is. Also, I think the sink is her favorite. She'll pretend to wash her hands and wash her fruits and vegetables in it for minutes at a time (yes, I said minutes because that is a LONG time in toddler time).

The kitchen is adorable and I'm so excited to use it for years to come.

Opening up the oven to see what's cookin'. Putting her "dish" in the oven to set.One last stir.And tasting it. "Mmmmm" she proclaims!

Mission: Toy Organization

I was so tired of having toys all over the house that were:

1. missing parts

2. not played with

3. not in good condition.

So, after buying Ava a few play kitchen items (to get ready for her play kitchen to be set up...I'm so excited, but that's another post!) I decided I was NOT going to bring in more toys for my child until I get some other toys OUT!


We came home and gathered all the toys in the living room. It was chaos, as you will see. Fortunately, I had a little helper that rediscovered many old toys and slung them around everywhere. No, but she did really well during this.

It took about 1.5 hours and 2 huge rubbermaid bins later, and we cleared out probably 2/3 of her old toys. It was such a great feeling! We found pieces and parts to toys and finally made them complete again.


Now, I just hope we can keep up w/ the organization.

BEFORE, w/ all the toys
My little helper just HAD to put her tutu on to assist me.
AFTER, over by the fireplace. Hey, I'm not claiming to be clutter free, but as you can see she has some BIG toys that need a home somewhere. Btw, those ramps from Parents are the best thing ever!
Over to the side. Previously we had 2 tubs and about 4 different containers.

AFTER, the entire living room that we now have back.....sort of.

Our First Swim

Ava LOVES the water, so we decided we needed to take her in a real pool! At Gigi and Poppy's house, Ava, Daddy and I (not so much, I forgot my suit, but I sat on the edge) went for a dip. She was all smiles. Just relaxing in her element.
Daddy, you are so funny!
Let me try.

Tired little monkey

In her car seat.