Dear Ava,
Happy 2 years old sweet girl! Wow, I can hardly believe it! Time sure does fly when you are in love. I have flashbacks to when you turned 1 and you were still so little. Over the past year you have turned into a little girl and you continue to melt my heart everyday. :)
Here are some things you have been up to in your last month of being a 1 year old:
*You are 35 1/2 inches tall (90%)
*You weigh 26 1/4 lbs. (25-50%)
*Your head size is 19 1/2 inches (90-95%)
*You know some of your shapes (circle, square, triangle, star, heart) and some of your colors (brown, black, red, pink, blue, green). It's amazing how much your little brain is absorbing each day!
*You have started talking in short sentences now. Your daddy's favorite is "You're funny Dadda". You say that one quite often. You also always point out when someone is being silly. The other day some little boys were playing by you and you said "silly boys". Another funny thing you said this month that made us smile is when mommy asked you what daddy was, boy or girl, you said "man". haha. I had no idea you knew what a man was! Oh, and one more! I saw you chatting on your cell phone the other day and you were saying, with your head leaned to the side of course, "yeah, yeah, yeah...I know!". I guess you have heard mommy say that many times before when talking on the phone???? You are always making us laugh silly girl!
*You understand the word "me" and anytime you see a picture of yourself you either say "Ava Woo Woo" (the nickname Brinley has affectionately given you) or you point to yourself and say "me".
*You have excellent manners and have been saying please and thank you all on your own. Makes me proud!
*Some of your favorite things to do at home this month have been pushing your baby around in the stroller while you wear your princess shoes, pushing your favorite collectibles around in your shopping cart, playing/eating snack/doing your business underneath the kitchen table, playing in the sandbox, watching "Fissy Movie" aka Finding Nemo, and coloring in mommy's lap while she checks email.
And occasionally during this time you draw tattoos on your hands as well. I sometimes draw a smiley face on your hand when you obey, as a reminder that I am proud of you ,and you drew one on your hand all by yourself. Not too bad!
Pushing your stroller around wearing your heels.
Rather than playing with your favorite toys you often times will hord them all (or other random things you find in the house) and put them in your shopping cart and just push them around. I guess you always know where to find them when you want them!*You definitely still like to test the waters with things and you occassionally have a tantrum but nothing like you did last month. I have learned that natural consequences are much more effective with you than time out. You seem to respond pretty well to it, although mommy is sometimes sad too when we have to leave the park or come in from outside because you didn't obey.
*You understand the word "tomorrow" and often times if you get upset about something, like having to get out of the sandbox or saying bye to Brinley, I can just say we will play in the sandbox tomorrow or we will see Brinley tomorrow (whom we see almost everyday anyway) and you calm down pretty quickly.
*You have enjoyed being outside more this month now that the weather is warming up. We have been going to lots of parks, playing in the backyard, and eating dinner outside on the patio. You are so happy being outside. I love to see your face light up when we step outside and I just smile listening to all your happy chatter.
Playing in the sandbox with your best bud, Brinley.
*We have been spending a lot of time with Amy and Brinley this past month. Now that we joined the YMCA with them we seem them just about every day. If we aren't with them at the Y, we are going to Bible Study together, eating frozen yogurt at Tappy's, or going to library storytime with them. Now anytime we go somewhere you always ask "Brinley, too?". You love Brinley and I am pretty sure the feeling is mutual. I hope yall will always be best friends.
Ava, you are everything to me and your daddy and I could not be more proud to be your parents. You have filled our hearts with such joy over the past 2 years that you have been in our life. We are constantly looking at you in amazement at the sweet, smart, silly, and beautiful little girl that you have become. There are days where I still can't believe that you are mine. You and your daddy make me so truly happy. There aren't enough hugs, kisses, and I love you's to truly express the way I feel about you. You are my precious gift and I will always strive my best to be the best mommy to you that I can be. You deserve it and more! Happy Birthday Ava Marie!
