5 Years Ago....

I married the love of my life! Mikey, thank you for the most amazing five years of marriage. You are my best friend and I love that we are going through this journey together. You are the kindest, most loving, and thoughtful person I know. Now we are parents and seeing you with our beautiful daughter makes me fall in love with you all over again. I couldn't have planned out my life any better if I tried. You have brought me so much happiness and I look forward to the next 50+ years together. Happy Anniversary Sweetie! I love you!

On June 26, 2004 you became my husband

On March 20, 2009 you became Ava's daddy

What a beautiful life!

Another awesome recipe!

Here is another goodie that I made this week. It is Shells with Cripsy Pancetta and Spinach. We had left over pancetta and cream from the chicken scaloppini we made last week so I found this recipe that also uses them. All the reviews said it was wonderful and I agree!! It was DELICIOUS and very easy! In fact I was able to multitask by making sure Ava was happy AND prepare the meal. Who would have thought little ol' me would enjoy cooking?! Thanks to the food network, which is my new addiction, and a little more time on my hands I have found a new hobby!

Click here for the recipe

I am anxious to make this recipe again but try and make it a little healthier next time. I'll do some experiementing and let you know how it is.

I have to give a random shout out to all my fellow So You Think You Can Dance fans!! Are you not loving this season?! I have a few favorites already but can't remember their names.

It's the Ava Show

We have taken several videos of Ava over the past two weeks that I wanted to share. I actually have a couple more that I will add at another time. The first one is one that I took of Ava today when she was being miss chatter box! A-D-O-R-A-B-L-E!!! She is going to hate me one day because you can also hear her tooting in the video! Ha! This week I have really noticed her talking more, moving her arms and legs more freely, and sitting with better head control when I prop her up or sit her on my lap. Her physical therapy is working! The last video was taken a couple of weeks ago and she looks so much bigger in the first one. She is growing and changing so quickly. I have to take lots of pictures and videos so I don't miss a thing!

3 months old!

Ava - 3 months old

See my ruffles


I am in love with these shoes that Paige Reynolds gave Ava


Flirting with the camera during tummy time





Brianna giving Ava a bottle! Woohoo!

Where has the time gone? It blows my mind that my baby girl is already 3 months old! Since she entered our lives on March 20th she has brought us so much happiness. I couldn't imagine life without her. I know that God put me on this earth to be her mom and I can't think of any greater gift than my sweet Ava Marie. I am reminded everytime I look into her beautiful eyes just how blessed I really am. I love you my Ava. Happy 3 months old!

Here is an update on our little one:

Eating: She continues to eat very well. She picked up nursing right away and has become a very efficient eater. Our feedings usually only take about 15 minutes and then she is done! She is actually a little too good at nursing because she hasn't been taking a bottle very easily. Within the past few days however she has done a little better. We tried out a third bottle, the playtex drop ins, and she seems to prefer the nipples on those bottles than others. I had to get her a slow drip one because the one that came with the bottle was flowing too fast for her. She still doesn't take a full bottle but she is at least sucking better on it and taking a few ounces before she gives up and wants me. Aunt Brianna has had the most success with giving her a bottle. :) Go Bri!

Sleep: Ava is one of the best night time sleepers I know! We put her to sleep around 7:30 or 8 every night and she doesn't wake till about 6 or 6:30 (although the last two nights she has woken up at 2:30 sucking her fists. She is either starting to teethe or going through a growth spurt). She falls asleep on her own within about 10 minutes of us putting her down. She still is sleeping in her swing at night but we are in the process of making the slow transition to the crib. As of a week ago she has been taking about 1-2 naps a day in her crib! This is a huge step for us! Putting her to sleep in her crib takes a lot more effort than putting her to sleep in her swing but it is worth it. She doesn't go down without a fight so we do lots of shushing and patting and sometimes bouncing first before she falls asleep in her crib. When she is tired she lets you know it! This is when she is the most fussy. She prefers to be bounced with her head over our shoulder but even that doesn't always soothe her. It blows my mind how she can put herself to sleep SO easily at night yet she cant during the day (even if she takes naps in her familiar swing). I am so thankful though that she is sleeping as well as she is at night. I will take that any day! This napping thing just gives us something to work on.

Activities: Ava's favorite things right now are smiling and cooing at people and toys. She also loves to be outside whether we are walking around the block or sitting outside on the porch. Recently we have tried out the Baby Bejorn and she loves that too. I feel like a kangaroo everytime I use it! She is getting so heavy so the Baby Bejorn has helped a lot. Another new interest is watching tv. She loves to stare at the screen and it keeps her entertained for a long time. I don't want her to get too used to it but for now it's ok. She is in her exploring phase. She has started her physical therapy through ECI and Lakina (her physical therapist) is now coming once a week. On her first session she cried a lot and didn't like being messed with. This week she came back for her second visit and Ava did MUCH better. The PT came in the morning, which is Ava's best time of day, and Ava was so cooperative and happy the entire time. The PT showed me some infant massages I can do with her to loosen her up. Lucky Ava gets some nice massages out of the deal. So far she seems to like them.

Mood: For the most part Ava is a happy baby. She is happiest in the morning when she first wakes up. When I go to her swing and see that cute little dimply grin it instantly brightens my day. I can't wait to scoop her up and kiss those cute cheeks! When late afternoon and evening rolls around her mood is quite different. This is when she really gets tired and when she is tired she gets very upset. At times like this the only thing that works is holding her upright and bouncing her. She can be very stubborn when she is sleepy! This is why an early bedtime is a must for her. I think she has my temperment. Happy and easy going UNTIL we are tired and cranky because we need our rest!

Development: Ava still loves to put her fists in her mouth. She smiles all the time and I am anxious for her to start giggling. Even with her torticollis she tracks things very well. She can turn her head to either side but still has difficulty tilting her head to the left. When she is upright her head still tilts to the right but I have noticed a little improvement as she has gotten older and we have started her therapy. I can't wait for the day that she can hold her head straight. She will clutch onto our fingers but isnt quite ready to reach for things yet. She is liking tummy time more and more now that she has better head control. She tolerates about 5 minutes now compared to 30 seconds! Her favorite tummy time is on our tummies! It's so cute to see her lift her head, look you in the eyes, and give you a quick smile.

Thanks Mom and Bri for coming to stay with us. Yall were such a big help and we enjoyed your company very much. We are sad to see you leave. :( See you soon for camping!

Cooking and Crafts

Since Bri and my mom arrived we have been busy making crafts and trying out new recipes. I showed Bri how to make appliqued onesies and we even tried it on some plain white bibs. These are the ones that Bri has made. They turned out pretty darn cute if you ask me! We plan on making some decoupaged clipboards and pencil cans next!

Here is a link to one of the recipes we made this week. It is Paula Deen's Chicken Scaloppini. We already had most of the ingredients so we thought it would be a good one to try and plus all the reviews on food network were awesome. Notice the picture below. I wanted to take a picture of it so Mikey and my mom ran with the idea and put it on a new clean platter (this is actually what is left after all 4 of us ate) and put flowers and candles around it. They were proud of their display!


Click here for the recipe!

*You know Paula loves herself some butter so we only used 2 sticks instead of 4 and it still tasted yummy.

Center of atttention

My mom and youngest sister Brianna came in town this past week to spend some time with us now that school is out. Ava is loving being the center of attention! I am too actually! Having them here has been such big help for me. I always have people to hold her and play with her so I can get things done around the house. I have given Brianna the job of picking out Ava's clothes for the day, including her pj's. She has been Ava's personal stylist! I always find the outfit of the day lying on the changing table in the morning. :) She even makes sure that the diaper bag is always stocked and ready to go. I have found lots of pacifiers (which Ava still doesn't like but Bri is trying), extra diapers, blankets, burp cloths, outfits....you name it, Bri has made sure that Ava has it if she needs it! She is such a good little Aunt and loves Ava so much. Brianna has always been such a nurturing little girl. She takes care of everyone around her. Mikey was taking a nap the other day and she got a blanket and covered him up AND she was even brave enough to massage his feet!! I got the same special treatment and it felt awesome! Here are some pictures taken from this week. They are staying with us for another week, woohoo, so I am sure there will be more pictures taken of their visit!

Smiling at Aunt Bri

Bath time! This time I had an extra pair of hands!

Normally Ava cries when we wrap her in her towel after bathtime, she knows the fun is over and it is cold, so Kay Kay put her towel in the dryer to warm it up before wrapping her in it. She was much happier!

Look alikes

Brianna combing Ava's hair

Look at those eye lashes! She at least got that from her mommy.

Bedtime story with Bri (told you she was a big help!)

My mom and Bri offered to babysit so that we could go out on our FIRST DATE NIGHT!! After Ava was asleep we went to dinner at Macaroni Grill. We were only gone for about an hour and half at the most but it felt like we were gone for 3! It was nice to not have to inhale my food and worry about a crying baby. I had a wonderful dinner with my sweet hubby! Thanks Kay Kay and Bri.

Cute sleeper

Mommy and her sweetie pie

My other sweetie pie needed some attention too. I know I talk a lot about Macy needing attention but she has really been such a good dog since Ava has been born. She is so sweet with her and just follows us around from room to room. She was always the center of attention before Ava so I know it must be hard on her. We try our best to make sure she is included.

Mikey's Grandpa and my mom at lunch. Gigi drove through Dallas again to drop off Grandpa and Aunt Karen at the train station to head back to NY. We met them downtown for lunch before they headed back. Gigi spent the night with us and we enjoyed yummy fajitas and margaritas made by Chef Mikey!

Brianna, Gigi, and Ava at lunch. This was the "calm before the storm". Ava was ready to go about 10 minutes after being at the restaurant.

Mikey's Aunt Patty made these cute booties and bonnet for Ava. She looked ADORABLE in them and I think she liked how soft and warm they were. She was instantly all smiles when we put them on her!

Little snow bunny! Who says you can't wear a warm bonnet and booties when it is 102 degrees outside?!

Hosting our 1st Play Date

Ava and I hosted our first play date at our house on Monday. Jenny was in town and wanted to see everyone so it was the perfect opportunity to have everyone over. There were 7 mommies (including Amy!) and 7 kids and we all had a great time! We were so happy that Amy was able to stop by too even though she was being induced Tuesday. It is now Wednesday and Baby Brinley was welcomed into the world at 7:30 this morning!!!! Congratulations Rocky and Amy! What an amazing adventure you have now begun!

Amy (holding the monitor because Ava was napping), Rebekah and Henry, Christy and Rebekah, Megan and Luke, and Kara

Vaune, Ava, and Luke. He just loves that girl!



Henry eating lunch

Kara trying to get into Ava's swing, hahaha

Me, Amy, Christy, and Ava

Sleeping Bekah

Tana came over that evening to meet Bekah. Vaune and Luke came back to hang out too!

Ok, so Jenny and Bekah gave Ava this dress that matches Bekah's so we had to do a photo shoot with the girls. Hilarious!! Here they are just chillin in thier boppys. They have no clue what they are in for!

We decided they would look much cuter sharing the same boppy. Bekah wanted to snuggle with her friend.

Close up! Aren't they cute?

Check out thier interlocking arms! Almost like they are about to hold hands.

The girls going on an afternoon walk

Thanks for coming to visit Zack, Jenny, and Bekah! We always love it when you come and stay with us! We can't wait to visit yall in Houston and see the new place!

Ava Talks

Over the past two weeks Ava has been talking a ton! She started cooing about a month ago but she has really discovered her voice recently and loves to make continuous noise. It is so cute! It makes my day everytime she does it.

Other updates, the physical therapist is going to start her weekly visits starting this week. That should be interesting to see how much Ava will tolerate.

This week we had some more very special visitors! Ava's Great Grandpa and Great Aunt Karen traveled all the way from New York (by train!) to meet her and visit some family. Gigi picked them up at the train stop here in Dallas so we got to see her again too! They "Ava-sitted" as I went up to my school on Thursday to say goodbye to my students since it was the last day of school. Before I left I promised them I would go up to visit and bring pictures of Ava. They were excited to see me and I was excited to see them. I think they were sad to find out that I wasn't coming back to Mohawk to teach. I am sure Ava and I will go to visit all our friends. I went back on Friday to tie up some loose ends and pack up a few things in my room. I brought Ava with me and she was such a good girl. She smiled and talked to all the ladies and I had many babysitters on hand so I could get some things done and not worry about her.

In the sunlight her hair looks blonde. How much does she look like her daddy in this picture?

This is where she sits and waits while I take my shower

Staring at her Great Grandpa

Great Aunt Karen and Gigi admiring baby girl

Gigi telling Ava secrets

We try and read a book to Ava before going to sleep. She actually looks at the pictures which is so stinkin cute!

Mikey took the CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) exam on Saturday so we baked him a cake to celebrate him being done. He put in so many hours of studying and worked so hard!

Mmmmm


Here are some cute videos of her talking.

Weekend Update

We had lots going on this weekend as usual but had lots of fun! I took several pictures of what we were up to.

Aunt Alli came over to visit and we went to the pool. Yes, I went AGAIN! So fun!

Daddy and Macy took the "poop snake" out to the trash. That's what we call the long bag of dirty diapers from the diaper genie. It always makes me laugh when I see Mikey dragging it to the trash and Macy right behind him.

We had Supper Club at Vaune and Ryan's house on Saturday night. Luke was so sweet to Ava. He just wanted to touch her. Ava was a good sport and just stared back at him with a smile.

At supper club the girls made CRAFTS!!! Yes, we are so cool! We really had a lot of fun! Vaune showed Tana and I how to make this adorable appliqued onesies. I made the bird onesie and most of the star onesie at Vaune's. I was so excited to make another that I went to Joanne's on Sunday to get all my supplies. I finished the stitching on the star and I made the "a" onesie. I already have a few others in mind that I want to make for friends.

Here she is modeling her new onesie

I couldn't leave my furry baby out so I cut up an old t-shirt and made her a bandana out of it. Sorry Mom, your mother's day shirt that I always wore now belongs to the dog.