Babbling Baby

I have been trying to post this video for about two weeks now and this time I was finally successful! It is a video of Ava babbling and squirming about. Hope it brings a smile to your face!

Pumpkins at the Arboretum

On our second big family field trip we went to see the pumpkins at the Dallas Arboretum. It was the first gorgeous day in a long time so we wanted to take advantage of the nice weather and Mikey's last weekday off. I go to the Arboretum every year with my first graders but this was the first time for us to go as a family. I have to say I actually enjoyed being there this time and I appreciated the beauty of it so much more than I had before. The pumpkins that lined all the walkways and the huge pumpkin patch was the best part of our visit! We got some great pictures of our little punkin in the pumpkins! (grandparents, we will be posting all of them to shutterfly and we will send them to you soon. I know you will want some for your own)

One of my friends recently described Ava's fluffy hair perfectly when she said it looks like a dandelion. Mikey's hair was just like this as a baby.

Wearing her pumpkin shirt mommy made and the pretty cross necklace that her friend Evey gave her. Thanks to Brinley too for giving us this pretty brown bow and striped socks!

She put her arm on the pumpkin herself. She loved sitting in the grass surrounded by all these big orange things.

Storytime

Ava's love for books has already started. We always read to her before nap time and bed time and she is very involved in storytime. She stares intently at the pictures and loves to help turn the pages. My favorite part is when Mikey reads to her and begins each book by saying in his soft librarian voice "Good morning (or Good evening), welcome to this edition of storytime with Daddy. Today we will be reading ______ written by _____". Oh it is so funny. I laugh everytime. We have noticed that some children's books dont have an author, or at least it isnt visible, so he will search the front and back of the book trying to find the correct information before he begins reading. Very thorough storyteller!

She's already reading!

Our favorite board book author is Sandra Boynton

I had to include this picture. We went for an early morning walk recently and it was one of those misty and breezy mornings. When we were finished with our walk I went to look at her and her hair was sticking straight up! I was laughing and she thought that was pretty funny.

A day I'll never forget

October 13th is a very special day on our calendar. It marks 9 years since Mikey and I's first date in Waco (wow, we've known each other a long time) and 6 years since he asked me to be his wife. I sure do love this guy.

Flashbacks to our engagement night October 13, 2003

Another special memory from October 13, 2008 is when we heard the news "It's a girl!". I will never forget the moment when we saw our precious baby moving all about on the sonogram and hearing the doctor tell us we were having a girl. Watching her sonogram video over again brings tears of joy to my eyes. All the memories from that moment come flooding back to me and now when I watch the sonogram I see the baby on the screen as the Ava we know and love. I am reminded just how truly blessed we are to have this little one in our lives.

Here is the post that I wrote after hearing the news and the sonogram video! "It's a Girl"

I love having a girl that I can dress up in lots of pink and put leg warmers on (my new favorite girl item, aka Baby Legs)!!! I just want to squeeze those cute legs!

And, in honor of "It's a girl day" we are eating pink cupcakes (for awhile aparently)

State Fair of Texas

Mikey has some time off before he starts his new job so the State Fair was the first of our "family field trips" while he is home with us. This was the first year for us to go to the fair and we were so happy to share this first with Ava. Granny Jean, Konnie, and Matt also joined us so it was a family affair! They have been going to the fair since they were kids so we enjoyed having our own personal tour guides. The weather was a little gloomy and cool but it actually wasn't that bad. It only rained on us a little towards the end of our visit and we just took shelter and ate funnel cake! Ava did great while we were there. I usually get stressed when we do big things like this with her because she will not nap in her stroller and when she is tired the party is over. There was so much to see that even though she was getting a little tired she managed to hold out until the car ride home. Good memories were made on our first trip to the State Fair!

First stop was to meet Big Tex and get a family picture with him.

And then of course we had to try the famous Fletcher's Corny Dogs! Ava was dressed appropriately. She wanted a taste but we told her next year. There has been so much hype about these corn dogs that I didn't think they would meet my expectations but....they were fabulous!

The family- Mikey, Ava, Granny Jean, Konnie, Matt, Me

We are a family of goof balls and my Uncle Matt is the biggest of them all! This is his cotton candy mustache.

Walkin to see the animals

We started off with the small animals like the kitty.

It was a good time for the baby bejorn because we were about to go see the bigger animals at the petting zoo where strollers weren't allowed.

Lovin riding up front!

Ava meets the llama

I think the goats were the family favorite. I only like the baby goats though. My dad had goats, named after my sister and I(???), and they were horrible!

The zebra wanted to eat Granny's basket

Ava meets the ....what is that thing called, an alpaca or is that a llama too? The sign said it spits and this is how close they came to it. Safe!

Ava and I will be making our second trip to the fair next week when we go with friends. More corny dogs and animals to come!

Recent projects

Since we were out and about a lot on Saturday we decided to have a lazy day on Sunday. I was getting antsy and needed something to keep me busy during Ava's naps. What better thing to do than crafts! I still laugh at myself because a year ago I WAS NOT a crafter. I never had the time when I was working and I just didn't have any direction. Now thanks to my crafty friends who have introduced me to their hobby I am hooked!

Project #1- Star onesie for my girl

Project #2- decorative pumpkin

I saw these in a Martha Stewart magazine. The white pumpkin was pretty on its own but I jazzed it up with some leaves.

Project #3- corn dog onesie just in time for the State Fair!

(this one I actually just did after Ava went to bed) I got the idea from Rebekah who made one similar for Henry last year. We are going to a "mommy and me" fair day with my friends soon and we talked about all making these together for the kiddos so they could wear them at the fair and match. Sorry girls, couldn't wait any longer. We are going to the fair with family this Wednesday so I wanted to have it ready. I am ready for Amy's tutu tutorial!

We're a perfect pair

One of my favorite songs from Ava's Jewel Lullaby cd has those words in it and every time I hear it I think of Ava and I. It is such a sweet song and I'd like to think that Ava and I make the perfect pair. I hate to be away from my little angel for too long and it seems that she doesn't like to be away from me either. Saturday was a busy day of running errands while Ava stayed home with Dad. I was in and out all day but never really got to play or interact with Ava as much as I normally do. When I returned home from one of my last outings I was greeted at the door by my sweet baby, husband, and doggy all waiting at the door for me. The instant Ava saw me she started to smile and kick her legs and when I grabbed her in my arms she just beamed even more and was kicking her legs so hard with excitement. It was the best feeling ever to get that kind of reaction from her. Normally we are joined at the hip but today was just one of those days that I took advantage of the opportunity to get out alone. It's amazing how much quicker my errands go and how much lighter I feel not having to carry her or the heavy diaper bag around! Seeing Ava's reaction as I came home almost brought tears to my eyes. Cheesy I know, but it totally confirmend how much she loves me even though she can't tell me.

Mikey has been so good at taking pictures of Ava and I recently so here are a few from this week.

This was when I came home from my errands on Saturday. Thankfully the camera was nearby, as it always is, to snap a picture of the two of us beaming with happiness. We missed each other!

I think I already have a princess in the making. She loves holding this wand. I actually think she forgets she is holding it sometimes because it is in that tight grip of hers.

Mommy and her princess

One of the few times I get to really snuggle with her anymore is when she falls asleep after I nurse her for the last time.

First time wearing jeans! They look cute on her but they sure don't look comfortable for a baby.

I found Macy laying outside Ava's door while she was napping. I think she is starting to warm up to her "sister".

Playdate at Christy's

This week we headed to Ft. Worth for a playdate at The Overstreet's house. Christy and Kara were excellent hostesses. It was great to hang out with such sweet friends that I don't see nearly enough! Kara was very nice and let Ava sit in her high chair for lunch. She even went over to her and held her hand.

Ava is always that child who never looks at the camera but instead likes to look at her friends around her. It seems she always wants what she can't have...here it is Henry's curly hair. He loves it can't you tell?!

and then it was Kara's cheerios...

and Brinley's bow. Sorry Brin! You were a good sport!

They're gonna be great friends

What's a playdate without a group shot of the kiddos

Christy got the bow grab on video, haha.