12 month stats and weaning

I forgot to post Ava's 12 month stats so here they are.

Length: 29 3/4 inches long (75%)

Weight: 18 lbs. 13 1/2 ounces (10-25%) Dr. Pam wasn't worried about this.

Head size: 18 1/4 inches (75-90%)

She got three shots while we there but did fine with them. Dr. Pam said she is doing amazing and that although she is 12 months she acts like she is 15 months. I believe it!! No temper tantrums or anything like that yet but she sure is all over the place, communicating with us more and more through signing and pointing, and eating like a champ!


This past Tuesday Ava and I started the weaning process. I say we because this is definitely a team effort and something that her and I are both somewhat sad to be saying goodbye to. As with everything else she has picked up on it pretty quickly and I am soo proud of her! We dropped the second feeding of the day first (11 o'clock) and gave it about 4 days before we dropped the third (3 o'clock). At first she didn't like the cow's milk, probably because it was ice cold, but by Saturday she was drinking an entire sippy cup full and wanting more. I learned after a few days that she preferred the milk warm. Initially I was nervous that she wasn't going to drink that much in one sitting since she normally just sips water from her sippy cup but when I left Mikey home alone with her during her second feeding she downed the whole thing. From then on out she has done really well. Another thing that I have done that has seemed to help is I position her highchair so that she can see the TV and I put on her favorite DVD. I give her her milk and she zones out while watching it and drinks almost all of her milk while I am getting her food ready. We dropped the third feeding of the day on Saturday too so now I am down to just nursing her in the morning and evening. We are both adjusting very well. I plan on hanging on to at least her last feeding for awhile longer. Not quite ready to be completely done with nursing yet. Very bittersweet time!

First sip of milk

The face says it all. "Mom, what is this?"

Ever since I have started weaning Ava she has been signing that she wants to eat now and she will walk over to highchair and either pat the seat or try and climb in it herself like she is trying to do here. Such a smartie!!! These little moments are so amazing to me. She must be hungrier now that she is not getting a full nursing session and then eating a ton of food afterwards.

Butterflies

My sweet mom and mother in law ordered about two dozen painted lady butterflies to be released at Ava's party (at the park). They arrived in a little box on Friday night but because it was frigid outside and the party was moved indoors we werent able to release them until later. Aparently if it is cooler than 63 degrees outside they wont fly. Don't think they would have done too well in 32 degree weather!

This is what the house looked like on Sunday morning after snow fell on the evening of her party.

Bizarre!!

My Aunt Lisa and Mimi gave Ava a butterfly habitat (and a card to order more catepillars later and watch them change into butterflies) so we put all the butterflies that Kay Kay and Gigi ordered in it so that Ava could enjoy them for a few days till it warmed up for us to release them.

They were hanging from our kitchen chandelier for a few days.

It reminded me of when I taught 2nd grade and we watched the catepillars change into butterflies. I forgot however that they shoot out red stuff, blood maybe???, once they try and fly for the first time. Gross! (and I saw them trying to mate! so appetizing watching all this go on while eating at the kitchen table. )

Going outside to release the butterflies!! Look at my big girl just walking right out the front door like she has been doing this for years!

They didnt all fly out as quickly as I expected.

One of them landed on Ava's hand!

And two landed on Dad's shirt

(Macy move your big head!)

There wasn't the audience we were expecting at the butterfly release but it was a fun family activity. Thanks Kay Kay and Gigi!

1st Birthday Party

Ava's party was a very memorable one to say the least! My original plan was to have Ava's butterfly party at the park but aparently mother nature had other plans. Because of the cold temperatures we had to move her party indoors. Never in my wildest dreams when I was planning her party some 3 months ago would I have thought that it would snow on her birthday (first day of Spring too!). We made the best of it and squeezed about 60 people, about 17 of those being kids/babies, in our little house to celebrate Ava's day (now you know why I planned it at the park!). It was definitely not the ideal situation and we were all cramped for sure but having so many friends and family there made it incredibly special. Ava was perfect the entire party and didnt seem bothered by all the people at all. She loved her cake and stayed put for us to open almost all of her presents. She didn't get to play with her other friends like I was hoping she would have time to do but at least her friends got to play with each other. We converted the study into a temporary playroom with all of Ava's toys, books, her new table we bought her, and her pink car. Thank you to all who came to her party and stuck it out with us. Her 1st birthday party makes for a great story!


I had several people taking pictures for me so there are a TON! This is only a fourth of them but I wanted to make sure to capture a few of the special moments for Ava's book I am making her from all of my posts.


I meant to take some pictures of all the food and decorations I made before the party started but that didnt happen so some things arent pictured.

Ava's smash cake that Aunt Kassandra made

Flower arrangement and party favors in entry way



Cupcakes and butterfly shaped pb&j sandwiches for the kids (adults had chicken salad sandwiches)

All her month pictures taken with her bear

Flower arrangements for the table

Amy punched out the letters and circles for the birthday banner using her Cricut machine and I strung them all together on the mantle.

The birthday girl in her wings and tutu!! (wings didnt stay on long but thats ok)

Ava and Ryan (Sara's little boy)

The guests starting to arrive! Here is Ava with Luke, Brinley, and Ryan

These two have become our best buds

Miss Leakhena showed up for a little while to wish Ava a happy birthday

Mom and her girls (minus Bri who was playing with the babies). Alli was a great photographer at the party and my mom did a great job at greeting all the guests and making sure they had what they needed since I was tied up most of the party.

Dad and his girls. He drove all the way from South of San Antonio to be at Ava's party. Very short visit but so thankful he was there.

Ellie, Katie, Luke, and Bri coloring at Ava's new table we bought her for her birthday. Just waiting for the chairs to come in stock. Love Ikea! I can't wait for all the fun crafts we can do at this table and it even has shelves for craft supplies!!!

Some of the moms and babies (with dads) from our playgroup. Sara, my dear friend from Mohawk, and her husband and baby Ryan were there too.

Singing Happy Birthday. She didn't know what to think about all those people singing and staring at her.

Blowing out the candle before she touched it

Hmm, what is this?

Digging her fingers in. I put some icing in her mouth for her to get a taste.

And after that she was feeding herself. Yum yum!!

This is fun!!!!

Family picture

Feeding Daddy

and Mommy

and Brinley!! :)

Get ya some girl! She loved it and I thought it was precious!

Opening gifts (Aunt Alli gave her an Elmo puppet. We love Elmo in this house)

She was much more into opening gifts this time around as compared to Christmas

She even wanted to read the cards ;)

The girl got a TON of clothes but this one, from Leakhena, I think is her favorite because the second she took it out of the bag she took off with it in the other room to show it off.

The family stayed put in the living room. I wouldn't want to give up my seat either! They were hard to come by.

Ava got a flower headband and Macy had one from last year so now they are twins.

Check out my new shopping cart!

This is at the end of the day and she was still as happy as can be. She must have known it was her special day!

11th month slideshow

Sorry if these are annoying. The grandparents love them and I can't keep up with photo albums so I am going to put them all on a DVD.

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Happy Birthday Ava!

Dear Ava,

A year ago today you came into our lives and changed our world completely. The first time I held you and kissed your beautiful face is a moment I will never ever forget. I had finally met my precious little girl and was holding her in my arms, something I have waited my whole life for. Carrying around my baby dolls as a little girl was all in preparation for YOU. I cannot believe that you are already a year old and turning into a little girl. This past year with you has been one of the happiest years of my life and not a day has gone by where I haven't thanked God for you. I still can't believe that you are mine. I have enjoyed experiencing all your "firsts" with you and even though you won't remember them, which is crazy to me, I will hold those memories very close to my heart. Lucky for you you have a mommy who is obsessed with documenting all of them for you! You have taught me so many things this year. You have taught me how to be selfless, patient, prayerful, appreciative, playful, and because of how much I love you,my sweet daughter, I now have a glimpse of how much my Heavenly Father must really love me. I pray that as you grow up that you will always feel that same love and that you will always remember how special you are. I promise to always love you, guide you, hold your hand, and be the mommy that you need me to be. You and I are a perfect pair my sweet angel. I am sad that you are no longer a baby but I look forward to experiencing with you all the new and exciting things you have ahead for you as you blossom into a little girl. Ava Marie, I love you more than words can ever say. Happy Birthday!!
Love,
Mommy




Ok, now that I have tears streaming down my face here are the highlights from this past month.

*Ava has become such good little walker. She no longer holds her hands out beside her or above her head for balance and she can travel FAST! She loves to go from room to room and I am constantly following her around.

*She has found an attatchment to a blankie. Just when I was telling a friend that I might have to force her to adopt something as a "comfort blanket", mostly to help her sleep better when away from home, she rediscovered this taggy blanket that my friend Chelsea made her. She loves to carry it around and sleep with it. So darn cute! (Thanks Chels! Might need to get you to make us another one for backup!)

Carrying her blankie and chasing Macy

*As you will see in one of the videos on her slideshow she now loves to hitch rides on Macy's back. She grabs on to that long hair of hers and then Macy takes off dragging Ava a foot or so. I wish Ava wouldn't always grab for her tail end. Yuck!

*Ava's torticollis has improved so much thanks to our dear sweet Leakhena. She still shows signs of it when she is tired but for the most part she can hold her head pretty straight which is so different from the earlier days. Leakhena thinks that she will be able to be released from ECI (therapy) no later than May. It will be bittersweet...

Ava and Leakhena


*Ava has been taking much better naps this month! They are getting better and better which is such an answer to prayers. Two things that I believe have really made a difference are darkening her room completely and the new sound machine that we recently got her that sounds like a fan and blocks out almost all noise. Wish we would have tried these things sooner! I think she might slowly be transitioning into one longer nap in the afternoon because her morning nap has been a lot later than normal.


*Now that Ava can walk she loves to move the chairs and stand underneath the kitchen table. I see some fort/tent building in the near future! Can't wait!

Going under the table (with blankie alongside)


*Another fun spot to play is in Macy's water bowl. I knew the day was coming soon when she would discover the greatness of splashing around in Macy's water. We now have to keep the water bowl outside.

*Ava is getting her 4th tooth. It has just barely broken the skin. This explains all the drooling, runny nose, and waking up in the middle of the night that has been happening lately. Poor thing.


If you click on the picture and look closely you can see one of her top teeth. It's the best picture I could get.

*Ava loves feeding daddy her food now and I can officially say that she hates green beans. Last time I tried to give them to her she took a bite, made a nasty face, squished the rest in her fingers, and then very slyly dropped them over the side of the highchair to Macy so we wouldn't notice.

*She has started signing "milk", "eat", and "more" and she loves to point to things, mostly to things that she recognizes. She also babbles a lot more than before as if she is having a conversation with you. I love how expressive she is becoming and that she can now somewhat communicate with me. She understands so much of what we say and I feel like I can talk to her like she is a big girl rather than just a baby.

Look mommy and daddy!

(The car is her fun birthday present from Papa and Gramielle. She LOVES it)

Hugs and Kisses to you on your birthday from your Mommy and Daddy!! We love you!!

(12 month slideshow is in the works and coming soon! Been just a little busy this last week ;)