Looking back (updated montage)

Ava will be one year old on Saturday March 20th. I seriously can't believe it has already been a year since I first met my baby girl. I have been thinking a lot about this past year and looking back at old photos to remind me of my precious times with her. Since I started making her monthly slideshows when she was 4 months old I put together a slideshow of the early days/months with Ava from birth till 3 months. Enjoy and stay tuned for Ava's 12 month post!

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Coming Soon

Hang in there with me blog readers. This week has been extremely busy with visitors and preparing for Ava's party next Saturday. I will have an update on things soon.

In the meantime, please pray for pretty weather next Saturday as her party is at the park and there are isolated showers expected. :( Dont know what I would do with so many people in our little house. Oh boy!

These shoes are made for walkin'

The Burkharts so generously gave Ava a pair of white leather keds for her birthday, which were super cute, but she was about to outgrow them so I went to Stride Rite today to exchange them for a size 4 (her foot measured 3 1/2) only to find out that size 3 is the biggest size that style comes in. ??? At first I was dissapointed but then when I came across these hot pink patent leather shoes with a flower (I can't resist flowers) I was instantly happy again. Bonus is they are the ones that squeak when she walks!!!! She is the cutest thing walking in her sassy new shoes! The squeaker might need to be removed after awhile but for now I am enjoying listening to her squeak around the house.



Here are some videos of her walking around the house in her new shoes, her sweet big sister Macy, and swinging at the park.

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Ava and Bekah

This weekend the three of us went to Round Rock so that I could c0-host a baby shower for Cassie. The shower went really well, thanks to the help of Joe (Cassie's sister) and Jenny, and Cassie was glowing. Jenny took pictures of the shower so I dont have any to show but I did manage to get some of the boppsey twins Ava and Bekah. The dads babysat the girls while Jenny and I were hosting the shower. Poor little Alex was sick so he couldn't join the girls.

I bought these dresses for the girls so that they would match. Jenny and I needed a current twinkie picture of the girls. They have changed so much since the first time Jenny and I played dress up with the girls. One thing that hasnt changed is how much they look like their daddies. I mean that picture might as well be Zack and Mikey in a dress age 11 months!

Cassie gave the girls some early birthday presents like these fun push toys from Ikea that make tons of noise. Thanks Aunt Cassie and Uncle Travis! ;)

(oh, time for matching bows)

The Isaacsons also gave the girls a touch and feel book about puppies since they each have one of their own at home.

Ava and Bekah played Mr. Potato Head

Poor girls. They can kick their mommies later for this one.

Ava, Me, Jenny, and Bekah

This picture also brings me back to the very first one of us and girls.

I think Bekah is the only one looking normal in this picture. Poised and beautiful as always!

Look what I can do!

Walk!!

Ava has been taking steps for awhile now but had never really walked across the room till this week! Each day that passes she is getting better and better. She walks most of the time until she falls on her bottom and then she crawls the rest of the way. I love watching her toddle around with her arms straight out in front of her. Sometimes she gets going so fast that she starts going sideways. Very funny! She always has the biggest smile on her face as she is walking towards you. She is pretty proud of herself and we are too!! I am so amazed at how determined and brave this little girl is.

More big news is one of her top teeth finally came in this week!!! I have been waiting months for those little suckers. She got her bottom teeth in September so the top teeth waited a long time to come in. I kept thinking they were always right around the corner but 5 months later the first one finally appeared. She had a runny nose for about a week with no other symptoms or fever so I am sure it was all because her teeth were coming in. She didnt sleep well the night before her tooth came in so it all makes sense now.

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Cheerleading

This weekend my mom and Bri came in town for Bri's cheerleading competition. Ava and I, along with my Aunt Konnie, met my mom and Alli at the competition to watch Bri perform. She was cute as can be cheering, with facial expressions and all, and quite the little dancer (she was front and center during her teams dance portion of the routine). This was my first time to watch Bri perform and she did awesome. I am so proud of my lil sis!

I mean, how cute is she?

Alli, Konnie, Ava, Brianna, Me

Ava liked Bri's sparkly eyeshadow.

11 months old

My precious little girl is 11 months old today! I seriously can't believe it. She is one month away from turning a year old and the past 11 months have flown by way too fast. Every morning we play quietly in her room before naptime and I just sit back with tear filled eyes and watch her in wonder and amazement. I ask myself every day, is this beautiful happy baby really mine? She is growing up so quickly and this past month I have noticed the light bulb really going off in that head of hers. She has shown me more this month that she understands what I am saying to her. She acts so much like a toddler already and her adorable personality has really come to life this month.

Here are a few other things I want to remember:

*She points to everything now. The first thing she does when I pick her up from her crib is she points to the light or out her door.

*She has a fascination with lights. She loves to point to light fixtures or lamps and we have taught her on and off by flipping the light switches up and down. It is a fun game for her.

*I swear she has tried to say Macy. She loves to look for her after her nap and she says "may may" on occasion. Much different than "ma ma".

*The new love of her life is Elmo. We have several Elmo books that she always wants us to read over and over and so I found a little Elmo doll at the store for her and she carries it around a lot. I put on Sesame Street every once in awhile and her face lights up when Elmo comes on the screen. I have heard her say a couple of times "mo mo" too.


*She continues to be such a good eater. She eats a ton!!! The other day I was shocked when she ate a whole sweet potato and some fruit. I gave her fishsticks for the first time the other day and she seemed to like them.

*She has become such a snuggler this month. Before nap time she just hugs my neck and lets me hold her. I love it! Her daddy loves it too. One day I came home from running errands and found these two snuggled together in her glider. She fell asleep on him and he didnt want to put her down.

*We have completely darkened her room and it seems to be helping her napping. Yay!

*We have started going to a music class on Wednesday mornings with the other mommies and babies from our playgroup. I dont think Ava enjoys it as much as some of the other babies because all she wants to do is roam around and do her own thing. Forget about sitting still in mom's lap! We still enjoy going because it gets us out of the house and we get to spend more time with our friends.

*Ava is soooo close to walking. She is taking more and more steps on her own but isnt quite a walker yet. :)

*We went to the dr. yesterday because she has had a runny nose and I wanted to get her in before the weekend to make sure she doesn't have any infections. Turns out she just has a cold. She did get weighed while we were there and she now weighs a little over 18 pounds.

*We just purchased a bigger carseat for her that we will be switching over to soon. Bye bye to the infant carrier. :(

Happy 11 months old my sweet sweet Ava Marie!! I am so very proud of the little girl you are becoming. I wish I could keep you tiny forever but I know this next stage will be a fun one for both of us. I love you more than you will EVER know!

(if you can't see the slideshow below then click the refresh button. sometimes that happens to me)

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com