Oh My - How you have grown!

Ava- you have GROWN. Grown in size and personality.

I am amazed. You have grown out of all but 3 pairs of shoes overnight. Your shirts, pajamas, dresses, shorts, pants - everything! It's amazing. You are so proud too that you have grown. You expect me to measure you at least every other day. I have to admit that I may fudge sometimes just so I don't have to see that sad face.
You are excited to "get bigger". Excited to do adult things. You want to work at a Smoothie place and be a smoothie girl because "smoothies make people happy". Or you want to be a weather girl.
You want to be married. You are obsessed with being married and a wedding dress. One day you actually became upset because you "don't know what to do as a wife". (That one kind of caught me off guard)

You are a quirky funny little girl.

You make faces and pose like this and will say "I look awesome".

You have a "friend" named Miko. Miko is a boy/girl with Purple and Pink hair with Black and White eyes. He lives in the sky and works at a gym. You and Miko are friends. Sometimes you are married, but most of the time you are just friends. Miko has a "honey" or daughter named 'Treebranch' and Miko's mom is Alison. Miko's sister is 'Aver'
If there is anything that you haven't done or tried with us, you have done it with Miko and sometimes "Miko takes you in your sleep to his house in the sky, but then brings you back to bed". Thank you Miko.

Too Long....

It's been entirely too long since I last posted an entry.

Too many things have changed. Too many things have happened. Where do I even begin?

My last post was February 25th 2014. That was almost a year ago. A YEAR ago???!!! How did a year slip through my fingers? Uugh.

Ok. Here we go.

Hazel's birthday we discovered that you were going to be a cousin again, Aunt Katie was going to have another baby. A few weeks later, we found out that you were going to have TWO baby cousins!!! A couple of weeks later and we found out you were going to have TWO BOY cousins!!! Such amazing, shocking and wonderful news.

Mommy and Daddy turned 41.

We had a Haidle Family Reunion in Gatlinburg, TN over the summer. 2 weeks. It was a pretty amazing trip.

You started school again- PK3- again- Mrs. Land- again. You keep telling me and Mrs. Land that next year you will go visit PK4 but will then come back to your "classroom". I think it will be quite the adjustment for both of us next year when we don't go to what is comfortable, what is "home".

We went to Disney on your 4th Birthday.

Your cousins, Woody and Harlan, were born on October 3rd. Cutest little things on the planet. We all fell instantly in love with them.

You got a bike for Christmas. You learned to ride your bike in one day.



I can't even begin to document the hundreds of ways that you have changed in the past 11 months. You are NOT a baby anymore maybe not even a toddler, you are a little girl, borderline "kid". I find that somedays I feel a twinge of panic in my gut when I go to lift you up and your feet are at my knees or you when you get your own cup of milk, or use sarcasm in a very appropriate way.
I'm not ready for you to grow up. I'm really not.
I make a very distinct point to truly engage myself in each moment of your life. No matter how much I REALLY don't want to pretend play "Princess and Honey", I do. I pretend. I pretend to be Snow White and Cinderella's honey(the baby of the family) and Big sister while you are the Mommmy and Daddy and you go out on a date. It's worth every second when I see that excited joy come across your face when I say "I'll play with you". Cause one day- you won't want me to play Princess with you.

I tell you that I don't want you to grow or get older and you reply that you have to turn 5 and then you will stop growing. I want to keep hearing those adorable songs you make up as you are just doing random things, that I can't quite ever figure out what you are saying.

I am so thankful for your loving heart and your intensely kind soul.

"That man that lives berry, berry far away...."

A couple of days ago you asked me if I knew the name of "that man who makes people small, big."
Apparently he is a man that lives "bery, bery far away" and can make small people big and big people small. He has two handles - one small one (to make small people big) and one big one (to make big people small). Each day you elaborate on the story a bit more. Today you told me that he lives very very far away down that street.....all the way down that street. And that you know he speaks but you have never head his voice.

I have tried to figure out where this idea came from but you offer no information there. You asked Grandma what his name was. She said "Henry" and you seemed fine with that name.

You are very interested in "getting big." You desperately want to grow up but as far as I am concerned you are growing up fast enough. My dad used to always tell me " Don't wish away your life, time goes by fast enough on it's own with out you having to wish it away."
Amen to that Grandpa! He is a wise man, my dad. Maybe I should ask Grandpa if he knows the Man that can make small people big.

Things to Remember

I DON'T WANT YOU TO EVER LOOSE SIGHT OF WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO YOU.

Be Kind. Be understanding - Seek to understand. There is always a missing part to someone's puzzle that you can't always see.

NEVER and I mean NEVER rely on a man or anyone else for your happiness or ability to survive.

*****TRUST YOUR HEART. It will never lead you down the wrong path. It may lead you down a more difficult path but never the wrong path.

DON'T BE AFRAID TO FAIL. It will only make you stronger.

*****Learn from your mistakes.

LAUGH EVERY SINGLE DAY! SMILE AT STRANGERS.


*****Love unconditionally. Love with your whole heart.

LOVE YOURSELF.

*****Travel. Experience new things. Step out of your comfort zone.

HAVE GRIT. Make your actions speak for you.

****ALWAYS be grateful for what you have. There will always be people around you that have more than you and there will always be people who have less than you.

KNOW THAT YOU ARE LOVED. That there is nothing that you could ever do or say that will ever change that.

****You will get more from people if you are honest and upfront with them and you will get more out of life you never have to carry the guilt of lies in your heart.


Ava, you already are a strong spirit. You are determined and need things to be your way. I pray that you keep this but that you also keep the compassion that is in your heart. That you work hard for all that you want in life but take the time to enjoy all the beauty that surrounds you. Don't expect things to "just happen" , MAKE THINGS HAPPEN, because life happens with or without your input so make your life amazing. Fill your days with all the things that warm your heart. It doesn't have to be extraordinary, it can be simple and ordinary.

My life is simple and ordinary but you, my sweet, are extraordinary. Thank you for every little smile and hug. Thank you for every single moment. You have changed my life, you have changed your daddy's life (a child does that), but I had NO IDEA just how awesome it would be.

You are 3 going on 17..

Sometimes I feel like I have 2 teenage girls in the house....the only difference is the actual teenager listens to me and responds the FIRST time I ask her to do something, not the 15th time like you Miss Sassy pants Ava.

You are as sweet as you can be but you have a switch and when you decide to flip that switch...watch out world.
Anyway....You are 3 years and 4 months old. You weigh about 28 lbs...according to the Publix scale that you LOVE to get on each time we go.
~You refuse to let me brush you hair, put it up or in barrettes so I am the mom with the cute little girl who has a ratty mop on her head. I have been talking about cutting your hair and you say you are "ok" with it. With that said, we are going to have a "beauty parlor day" and you are getting a hair cut, mani/pedi and your makeup done.

~You are a puzzle maniac these days. At any given time you will have 3 floor puzzles going at the same time.

~You call your daddy "The Queen". It makes me laugh every time. And par for the course..I am ALWAYS Mother Gothel. It's my hair... (yea, sure it is)

~You daily tell me what kind of lunch you choose, it's either "home lunch" or "school lunch". If it is on a white paper "school" plate though, you will eat it. The power of suggestion is amazing.

~You miss Hazel and Grandma and always ask if they are going to come pick you up or if we are going over there. You now want to go to Aunt Katie's and have a campfire and you are always making Uncle Dave a birthday cake. Uncle Will is now your brother and almost everyday on the calendar has been Uncle Scott's birthday.

~Blue and Green are your most favorite colors. Blue has been your favorite color since the beginning but now green is a close second.

~ You can count to 10 in spanish. Bueno!

~It is VERY IMPORTANT to you that you are able to do things your way. You can get very frustrated if you feel that you are not being heard or listened to. That is when you scream and tell us "NO! Listen to my words!!!"
You will then catch yourself and realize that you are screaming and will try to calm down and then say "May you listen to my words now?"
So stinking sweet.

~When you want to ask a question, it always starts with "May"...very polite. "May you read this to me?"



~Bed time is still a bit of a chore (for Mommy and Daddy) I usually fall asleep with you...not the greatest thing but I just love the quite sweet moments of bedtime. I'm just being selfish....

~You have been to two movies in the Theater: Monster's University and Frozen (you are sleeping the Princess Anna in the picture above) You did so well in both of them.

~ You can entertain yourself for hours now by pretending that you are your teacher, Mrs. Land, and anything and everything that you can find are your friends at school. Soap and Shampoo bottles in the shower, stuffed animals, stickers, markers, beads, etc. Each time it's a different scenario that you act out from school. We always say our "Thanks" before we eat dinner.
You need to be the Door holder whenever we go anywhere and the line leader. (i think it is safe to say that you love school)

You brighten my day each and everyday Ava.

A New Year - 2014

The beginning of the new year always brings a sense of renewal and rejuvenation. I normally don't make a New Year's resolution. I could say, I'm gonna exercise, eat healthy, etc. etc. etc yet, I know enough about myself to know that it would only be an empty promise to myself. I am notorious for being plagued with a chronic case of "no follow through". My intentions are always on point. My plans are made with a sincere heart and my ideas are grand and imaginative, I just sometimes am more talk than action.
Having a child has truly brought this shortcoming to the forefront of my mind. So for this year, I am making a New Years Resolution :

Take action on the ideas and plans that I make and if I don't think that I can, don't promise it.(to myself or anyone)

I hope that I am held accountable by those I love and know. I intend for this year to be productive and rewarding. I hope to challenge myself and my comfort zone.
I always want to do everything and say yes to everything but reality shows - you just can't do everything all at once.

I want to set an example for Ava- if you say you are going to do something then you had better do it. If you make plans with someone then you had better keep those plans.
So If I want to set that example for Ava.. I had better become that person.

I love my life with the child in it. With this beautiful, strong, independent child with the most tender heart. I don't have the ability to give her all the finer things in life but I do have the ability to provide her with the tools to make her life great. To give her love beyond measure, support for eternity and courage to always be true to her heart. I can teach her to be kind when others are unkind and to always speak the truth. I want her to always see the beauty in people and the wonders that this world has to offer.

I have grand dreams for you Ava and I will do everything in my power to make your dreams come true.

The words of a 3 year old.

Oh. The things we say these days Ava.

"Stop, stop, Listen to my words"

"May, Excuse me, I have a conversation" Or "May I, I have a question"

you say "What's your problem?" and "Awww, man"

"That sounds like a good idea"

When you get frustrated at someone because they are telling you to stop doing something (that you shouldn't be doing) You yell "NO, NOT EVER. NEVER!" and then you go "aaarghgh" under your breath and walk away.

Then you say things like, "don't you know I love you" and "you are my favorite friend" And "when people have problems I give them hugs to make them happy"

You want me to rub your back at night before you go to sleep.
And read you two books. Then you like to read the book to Mommy. YOu like to fall asleep with your night light on.

Stories. Oh man! Do you love to tell stories. And you expect everyone else to tell a story too. "what's your story about Mommy?"


You love to help with ANYTHING. Feed the birds, load the dishwasher, walk Daisy, sweep, what ever anyone is doing...you want to help.

You are very independent and want to do everything yourself.


I'm so proud of you and amazed of the purity that is a child's out look on life. You are a blessing. I love you forever and Ava, you are my most favorite friend ever.

Pictures....

You love school Ava. Even though you don't look like it in this picture, you do love to go to school.

Your sister is 15 soon to be 16 and you adore her.

Hanging out with Grampa reading some books.

Your mommy and Daddy having fun at the beach.

Your Mommy and Aunt Katie taking self portraits...

FIRST SLEEPOVER WITH HAZEL AT YOUR HOUSE!!

We've had a lot of fun these past months with you little Ava.

Ava's first Sleep Over

Ava,
FINALLY, you have the ability to have your very first sleep over. It is the sweetest thing ever.
We weren't sure how Hazel would react once it was time to go to bed...but to my delight, she was SO excited to sleep in her new bed! Grampa bought a mattress for the trundle bed in Ava's room, i bought her a cozy pink blanket with hearts all over it, we had pizza and cookies. PERFECT!

It is the cutest thing to peek in and see both of them in Ava's room.
I LOVE THIS.

Hazel has NEVER spent the night with out her mom and dad in someone else's house...and Katie and Dave have never spent the night in their house without Hazel. It's a big night for us all.

Good times. Good times.

One Day

Let's see...
What did we do today? What did the family do today?

Woke up at 6 am. Got ready for work. Got you ready for school. Made your lunch and made you a blueberry waffle for breakfast with a "soosie" (smoothie)
Daddy took Drew to school. (She is a sophomore now)
Daddy's car is being repaired so when Daddy got home he took us to school.

You LOVE school and you LOVE to see your friends. You like to hang your lunch box on the right side of your two pronged hook and your backpack on the left side. You always talk about your friends, Easton, Kota and Annabella.

After your "school day" is over at 3:00, I come pick you up and we go back to the office. You are always very well behaved while we wait until it is time for me to go home.

Today Daddy picked us up from school. ON our walk to the parking lot we saw two lizards and a bunny. You tried to catch them all but they kept running away from you. Much to your dismay.

We then went to Starbuck's (mommy wanted a coffee) It's my weakness....
We went and got daddy's car, then you and I went to go pick up Drew. She wants to go on a cruise with one of her friends for her friend's 16th birthday. hmmph.
Scary.

Anyhoo....we came home, had dinner, you slammed your toes in the front door (so sad!) daddy did some side work, we watched a movie then went to bed. 8:00 p.m.
Perfect.

That is pretty much a typical day. It is nothing extravagant. Nothing amazing but it is my wonderful life and I am thankful for every normal minute of it.

FAIL

Yep. I'm failing as a blogger. Failing to keep up to date on all the little things that are happening too quickly.
Sadly too much time has passed since my last entry to try and chronicle everything that has happened in detail, so let's just take from where we are.

And where are we? Well, it's August. The end of August at that. It's embarrassing, the last entry was in OCTOBER!!! Gaads...we've done so much, you've changed so much Ava.
We've gone to Disney World, Key West, Busch Gardens, Mommy and Daddy turned 40, we got a new house, you sleep in a big girl bed, and
YOU STARTED SCHOOL!!!

Let me say that again. YOU. STARTED. SCHOOL. (Pre-K 3)
It is the sweetest and most endearing thing to watch you walk up to school smiling ear to ear and a light in your eyes. It makes my heart proud. You LOVE school. LOVE. There are 11 kids in your class, 7 of them stay all day like you. I'm so sad in a way because a stage in your life has ended. You are no longer a baby, you will no longer spend the majority of your time with your family. I am excited for what this new chapter will bring and the joy it will bring you but a part of my heart is sad to turn the page and close this chapter forever. I am so thankful that you were able to stay home with me and Grandma this long. I think it provided you with a strong sense of self and gave you the chance to develop your tender and loving nature. You are such a sweet and loving child Ava.
Mrs. Land, Mrs. Koplik and Miss O'Conner take very good care of you. It is a relief that so far you have been very mindful and respectful. And it seems that you have a boyfriend...Easton. His mommy teaches Pre-K 4. I guess he told his daddy that he met a new friend, her name is Ava and she is a girl, she is my girlfriend. :)
Then he looked at a picture of you and said "she's mine" Ha!


Anyway, how do I even describe you these days? You are doing EVERYTHING. Grampa got you a big girl bed for your birthday, so napping and going to bed are pretty easy these days. I think the first night was harder on me than it was for you. I've gotten so used to you being two feet away from me and now it feels like you are on the other side of the earth.

You color in the lines. You love to sing. You make up your own stories and you LOVE to tell people your stories and then have them tell you a story. And this is at any time of the day. You still love to read stories at night before bed. You love to get "cozy" now with your blanket.
We take showers now instead of baths.
Your appetite is not as strong as it used to be but that is ok.
In school you "love to go on the playground,and sing and do your exercises with that boy who is Soooo strong" (Coach Dodge)

You yell "Mommy!" and come running into my arms when you see me. The days of "scary mommy" are gone. And let me tell you, I am FINE with that. It melts my heart when I see your face light up when you see me. Melts.

Another big milestone...We moved.
Halleluja.
Finally we all have our own spaces. Our own rooms. It is so peaceful in my mind now. We live in Poinciana... a 5 minute stroll to Katie's. It's perfect. The only member of the family who has not settled in very well is Daisy. She has not quite accepted this as her home. I think she really misses her old house, the smells and sounds of her old neighborhood and most of all, Patricia and Bob. She hates our new back yard. It's so strange. She only walks the perimeter. She refuses to walk around in the middle of the yard. With my imagination, it kinda makes me nervous...Just remind me NOT to put a pool in our back yard.
I'm just sayin'.

Anyway. I can't think of all the things that I need to think of to document. I'm so very tired so I will write another day, and I will post pictures too.

Until the morrow',


I LOVE YOU AVA.

What is going on 40?

I STARTED THIS MONTHS AGO.....I CAN'T SEEM TO FINISH IT SO I'LL JUST POST IT.....WHY BLOG IF YOU DON'T POST?


40. Hello. Nice to meet you.

I'm not too sure how I became 40. I think I've calculated incorrectly. Math has never been my strength.
I don't feel like I'm 40.When I tell people my age it sounds so strange to say Fourty.

"yea, I'm Fourty. Yep. No, I'm not lying. Why would I lie about 40? That's silly. Oh, what? You were 7 when I graduated high school? Good for you...."

That is just strange to me.

Anyhoo...THings happen when you 'get up there' in age. Some not so great, some pretty great....

My skin is wierd. Different. Lotion? Yes, I put lotion on my skin all day long.
Lotion. Vitamin E oil. Olive Oil. Vaseline. I even rub old coffee grounds on my arms to exfloliate and soften yet the skin is still....wrinkly. I guess that is the word I'm trying to avoid.
Wrinkled. And not the kind of sun baked wrinkle but the kind of wrinkle that says...I don't want to be taut anymore. I want to sag a little....I wanna just take it easy for a bit.
My mom always said it would happen. That I would start to notice a change in the elasticity and texture of my skin. That I would start to get the "turkey neck"
I don't want the "turkey neck". 40 year olds don't have "turkey necks"
End of story.

My eyesight.
WHAT?!
YES! My freaking eyesight is "going". I need to use readers. I don't because I don't want to admit that my cuticles are blurry and that if Ava puts her cute little face close to mine she is blurry.
But yes...soon I will need to invest in a snazzy pair of readers.

Flexibility. It apparently goes away if you don't stretch.

Patience: I have WAY more patience now than I ever had. Way. More. Bushels and bushels of patients.

How the days blur together!

Too many days have passed since I last wrote. It was in October. OCTOBER?!
How do I even explain how much you have learned, all the things you have seen and done?
So many things have changed Ava...you change so quickly. Who pressed Fast Forward?

We have entered the Terrible Two with a vengance. However, you aren't really terrible. You are actually very sweet and you love love to snuggle and "get cozy" but MAN! You can be one defiant little angel.
Your attitude somedays puts Drew's to shame....And THAT can make for a very long evening.
A. Very. Long. Evening.

But then you come up and put my face in your tiny little hand, give me a look that MELTS my heart and say "it's okay, mommy. I love you" Then you give me a kiss on my cheeck.
Then, I die. At that point I don't even remember you screaming "NO! GO AWAY!" and kicking me repeatedly. It is just a distant memory. So what if my shins are on fire. Big deal. And why address the issue that she says "it's okay" rather than "I'm sorry"?
It will just take away from that precious moment.
Another crusher is when you will come up to me, put your arm around my shoulder, press your cheek to mine and say "My best friend"
uuugh. It is pure joy.


Let's see...what is new with us these days?

Mommy works full time at The Community School of Naples. I now have a 'normal' job. I love it and it makes me happy everyday I go but I sure do miss our full days together. Not to mention the fact I was able to actually get stuff done.
I don't know how so many mom's and dad's do it.
It's hard to work all day and then come home and have dinner ready at a normal time if ever. Ask my husband...it has yet to happen at our household. And cleaning? HA!

okay. Good one.

Anyway...Drew is on the cheerleading team again this year and is LOVING it. She is a true FLorida girl. She wears sweatshirts when it is 80 degrees out. She loves anything typical of Florida: going to the beach, surfing (when we get "waves" here in the Gulf), boating, fishing, snorkling,sunbathing and recently she has discovered the joy of Paddleboarding. You actually love to cruise around on a paddle board with daddy too. You just lay there and enjoy the ride!

We are determined to buy a house this year so you can have your very own room and so Mommy and Daddy can have their very own room too! You ask me everyday when I get home from work if I "got your room yet" Sigh. Insert dagger and twist.

As far as what is new with yo....
I don't even know where to begin with you and all that you can do now. It AMAZES me and astonishes me daily. You are the light of my eye little Ava.
You are full on potty trained and can even put your own underware on. You love to tell stories now. It 's the cutest thing to listen to you make up a story. It's usually about Rapunzel, Cinderella, Mommy Dinosaur or a monster. Or all of them together.

Instead of saying "excuse me" when you want to talk to someone you say (with you hand up) "stop talking, stop. My turn to talk"
It's really cute but we have to remind you to speak kindly.We have to remind you to do that quite a bit these days.
Time out's stopped working with you when you started giving yourself time out's.

You LOVE LOVE to swim. You are full on into books now. I've been WAITING for you to get the book fever. Finally.
I love to watch you "read".

You still don't like your feet covered up when you sleep. You still love cereal and have it for dinner often.
Grandma watches you and Hazel everyday. You and Hazel have a very special and sweet relationship. I hope it stays strong forever.
You both have learned to work out your "problems" yourself and and learned a great love of sharing.

Turrible Two's here we come!

You are two.
You are testing Mommy's limits. You like to see just how far you can go before a time out is issued. Just let me tell you, you don't get very far.
You scream alot these days.

A lot. But that is ok. It comes with the territory right? Do I get frustrated sometimes and wish for Calgon to take me away?

Yes. But again...it comes with the territory.

Today at MyGym one of the other mom's said "she is the smallest bulldozer I have ever seen."

That is SOOOO you Ava, you have no fear and you just plow right through what ever is in your way. You have from day 1. This mom meant well because she gets the biggest kick out of you. Every one does.

You like to walk on your tippy-toes. You HATE having your feet covered when you sleep.

Halloween is tomorrow and I think we will be Trick-or-Treating costumeless. We bought a Minnie Mouse dress for you to wear and for 3 weeks we have been trying to get it on you. You want NOTHING to do with it.

N.O.T.H.I.N.G.

You scream like crazy. And you say "no,no,no,no" to any other kind of costume we point out. Oh well...We didn't even buy pumpkins this year so I guess not dressing up goes right along with our lack of enthusiasm this year. We went to the Pumpkin Patch and took pictures...just didn't buy anything. Next year.

Each day you say your names for everyone in your family...Tatie? Seal? MaMa? Papa? Dewy? Daaay?(uncle Dave)
You want to go see everyone. And ever since Drew had her birthday bowling party you ask about Dewy's Party.
We are working on the names of your family who don't live here. We look at their pictures on the fridge and practice their names.

You still have your own funny little way of talking but it is getting easier to figure out what you want and you are figuring out how to say more and more words.
But some of them are just funny.
"Fwee,Fwee" is 'wash, wash'...and 'brush brush' (for washing hands and brushing teeth)
wee wee is "movie"
kookoo is cookie.
you put a y at the end of a lot of words....

flowy = flower
disaury = dinosaur
showy = shower

You are starting to put two words together. You like to buckle the top part of your car seat so you say "i do"
You will come up to daddy or me and say "i find daddy" "i find mommy"
When we leave the house you say bye to Daisy, pat her on the head and say "good girl"
When I tried to put on your Halloween costume you said "no minnie" Over and over and over.

It's just amazing to watch you learn. You make me so proud each and every single day and so very thankful.
Life is brighter with you in it sweetness.

16 days

In 16 days you will be 2.
TWO.
This is more amazing to me than you turning one. You are so much more of a person now. You truly are not a baby anymore.

I remember being so excited for you to get to this point. To the point where you walk, run, talk, laugh and know what it means to give hugs. But now that you are here, I find myself missing the baby.

It's true what they say...cherish EVERY moment because before you know it, it's gone.

You swing on the big girl swing.
Your favorite movie is Ice Age 3 with the dinasaurs (di-saury)
You can count to 10. You don't do it all the time and you sometimes skip numbers but you try so hard.
You are learning your letters. You know what "B" and "O" look like. We are working on our colors. Everything seems to be Blue.

I think your are entering the Terrible Two a few weeks early. You are starting to become VERY stubborn at times. I think we have our hands full with you my sweet!

You still LOVE MyGym. LOVE! Miss Christy is your favorite. You smile so big when you see her and she can actually get you to sit still. That is an accomplishment!

You are trying so very hard to talk. I feel so bad sometimes because I don't know what you are trying to say. I know it frustrates you too. I have a feeling one day you are just going to start talking in full sentences. You are a vocal child and it makes me laugh everyday.

You love your family. You have found your names for us all...

Daddy
Ma- You call Grandma and me "Ma!"
Dewy - Drew
Pa- Grampa
Tatie - Aunt Katie
Seal - Hazel
Dayye - Uncle Dave

Hazel loves that you call her "Seal". She thinks it's silly. Cutness!

You are very loved sweet Ava and you make my days FABULOUS!
Amazing!
NOthing can really describe how wonderful you have made my life!
I love you!!!

21 & 22 and look at you...

Well my sweet Ava you are growing into a vibrate funny little girl. You don't know the meaning of 'relax'.
Unless you are in the pool. With your swimmies on you will float on your back just relaxing.

Otherwise, you are full speed ahead. You are starting to say a few more words but it takes us a minute to figure out what you are trying to say. Your daddy seems to be pretty good and deciphering your lingo. You are very smart and understand EXACTLY what we are saying.

You love cereal. I think you would eat it for breakfast, lunch and dinner if I let you.

You have learned how to "jump" into the pool by yourself. However, we need to work on the whole "One, Two, Three....jump!" thing. You like to just run right in the pool. I'm glad you are fearless but at times it does make my heart skip a beat.

At the 4th of July parade you had your very first lollipop...actually you had 4.

But strangely, you haven't had one since. I've given them to you but all you do is lick it once and then you loose interest. And I am FINE with that!

You love your sister.
You. LOVE. your sister. You call her "DEWWWWW".

And she takes such good care of you.

You are a happy child and you bring so much joy to all of us.

20 months and counting.

My sweet little Ava,




Life couldn't be any more fun. Everyday is a challenge, a chance for you and I both to learn something new.
You learn how to put the pieces of a puzzel back in the right spot and I learn the true meaning of patience. I want to put the pieces back for you but that isn't teaching you anything now is it?
And when I say "challenge" I mean that in the best possible way. You help me learn about myself and the virtues in life that make us good moral people.

Patience. Love. Laughter. Acceptance and forgivness.

If I scold you, you pucker your lower lip and let out the sweetest little 'coo' and then come over to give me a hug. I tell you mamma is not mad and that I love you to the moon and back. It makes me realize that I need to watch how I speak to you, watch the tone of my voice. If you are about to spill a bowl of cereal, I don't need to loudly say to you "no, no, no, no" and come running over with panic in my face. It's milk. It's not kryptonite.
You little babies take everything in the literal sense. I realized that you thought you were in trouble, that you had done something wrong. It made me stop and think about how I react.
And not just to you but to everything and everyone in life.
Some things just aren't worth getting all worked up over. Most things aren't. Life is meant to be enjoyed. Life is not here to stress us out.
I may just over react sometimes. Maybe.

You make me laugh almost every single second. I am totally that mom that thinks every single little thing you do is amazing or hysterical.

You laugh at yourself when you burp or toot.

You are constant motion. Constant.
You sleep 8 hours a night. You wake up between 5:30 and 6am. YAAAAWN!
You will take a good 3 hour nap during the day. That is a very welcome change.

Books and Puzzels are your new favorite thing.

You are amazing Ava. You are a true gift and a blessing. You make me a better person. Being a parent is the most magnificent job I have ever had the priviledge of doing.

Throw up in my eyelashes

Ava,
You threw up in my face last night.
It was awful in more ways than one. The look on your face almost broke my heart.
I'm not sure what caused the projectile vomit but you seem fine today. You seemed fine last night.
We had your 18 month checkup up appoitment today. Doctor Dudley didn't seem too concerned about your direct hit to my retina (you didn't and still don't have any other symptoms of being sick).
You weigh 22.4 lbs. and you are 33 inches tall. That puts you in the tall skinny category.
I'm happy that you are your normal active self. Laughing and into everything.
I know this is only the first of many barf-o-rama episodes but I felt I should document the very first one.

Growing up so fast

It's May, it's warm and you are 19 months. What's new with you these days Ava? You have downsized back to a size 3 diaper. I'm guessing your upward growth spurt has caused your thunder thighs to slim out. You grew up but not out! So now you swim in size 4 diapers. You still eat pretty good but your appetite has gone down a little. You are as active as ever. Running, climbing, running, climbing. You are still the loudest child around. Maybe your dad and I talk to loud so you think that being loud is just the normal thing to do. Hmmph.. Maybe I'll start paying attention to that.

You hate to have your feet covered up...you always kick the blanket off your feet and socks will stay on for about 5 minutes. Being outside is still your favorite place to be and if there is some body of water around....whether it be a bucket of water, a puddle, the beach, a pool, the hose, the sprinkler, you are in HOG HEAVEN! We went over to our good friends, The Wasmer's, for Mother's Day and after about 2 hours of being in the pool I had to take you out kicking and screaming. A few hours later you were playing in the rain and having the time of your life! My little water baby!

You said Mommy. You said Mommy on Mother's Day. You saying Mommy on Mother's Day made your Mommy cry on Mother's Day. You haven't said it since but I don't care. Speaking of talking....you still talk all day long in your own little language, however you do say: Dog, Ball, Cereal, Bubbles, Daddy, 'Mommy'!!!!!, Book, 'I got it', 'I see it', Thank you, wow, woouuw,woouuw, (meow, meow). You eat cereal and milk with a spoon ...adorable. Your daddy takes you to feed the ducks which you think is the bees knees. You go to the beach and play. He'll take you to Toy's-R- Us strictly for your entertainment. You LOVE to run around and play with everything. Your entire face lights up when you see your daddy and it warms my heart.

Each and every day I am blessed to have you in my life.