1st dentist visit

My baby girl went to the dentist for the first time yesterday. She doesn't  have many milestones these days so I made sure to bring my camera to document the event.

I actually made an appointment for her over 6 months ago but when the day of her appointment rolled around I realized we hadn't added her to our dental insurance yet! Oops! I cancelled and rescheduled once she was added and yesterday was the big day! We talked about what they were going to do and she watched a video on the dentist's website about what to expect on her first visit. She couldn't have been more excited.

Dr. Train is a pediactric dentist so the waiting room was full of fun stuff to play on like this horse and carriage. 

Ahh, she is getting so big! I was so proud of how brave and go with the flow she was. She hopped right in this blue chair and waited patiently for the hygenist. 

She wore these cool pink sunglasses so the bright light wouldn't bother her eyes. Her hygenist, Janie, was explaining to her what she was going to do. 

I didn't prepare her for the teeth scraping. :O I HATE that part of going to the dentist. She didn't flinch or seem to bothered by it though. Tough girl. 

The suction straw was another fun surprise. Once she got the hang of it I think she thought it was pretty cool. 

Little brother was a quiet observer even though we woke him up mid nap and he wasn't feeling very well. 

I think the hardest part of all was staying still while she had that uncomfortable plastic in her mouth during her xrays. (Seriously, can't they make those things any more comfortable?!) No surprise, she was a champ and they were impressed she was able to keep everything in place and get good x rays on the 1st try. 

I didn't get a picture of her dentist, Dr. Train, but she was super sweet. Ava liked her and the experience so much she told me when we got home that she wanted to be a dentist. I support that!

Ms. Janie and Ava

The dentist showed me her xrays before we left and said that it looked like one of her permanent teeth (that you can see below the gums on the xray) looks like it might come in crooked and that she might be an early candidate for braces. :/ It might straighten out as it comes through but we will just have to keep an eye on it. She does have at least 2-3 years before she loses any teeth though. 

Christmas Festivities

I think I might actually be caught up after this post....I think. 

We decided last year that Christmas day would be spent in our own home. We love visiting family for the holidays but it is important for us to start making family traditions of our own, in our home. 

One of the traditions is of course, decorating the Christmas tree. We had the tree up a few days before Thanksgiving but because we got new floors installed a few weeks before Christmas we didn't actually decorate the tree till a few days before Christmas. 

We made two trips to the Gaylord Texan this year. The first was just the four of us to see all the pretty decorations and the second was with Papa and Gramielle to go to the Ice Exhibit. 

Ava is such a good helper these days. My two little elves assembled Connor's tool bench from Aunt Lisa one evening. 

Ava and I made sugar cookies on Christmas Eve

And Ava and Daddy were in charge of the cookie decorating

We went to the Christmas Eve service at church.

 (this is our attempt at a family picture with camera propped on the bar)

Christmas day was quiet but special none the less. The kids enjoyed opening their presents and seeing what Santa brought them.

Alli and Greg came over later that morning to spend the day with us

(Alli's dog loooves to give kisses. I don't think Connor appreciated a lick in the ear though.)

Connor got a cool guitar with lights and sounds. 

We were so excited to see snow on Christmas! It snowed on Ava's first Christmas and now we can say it did on Connor's too!

Ava and Daddy were anxious to make a snow man. It was so windy and the snow was pelting her in the face so I don't think she enjoyed it as much as thought she would. (picture taken from front window)

Enjoying a peaceful Christmas afternoon by the tree with her new toys. 

My sweet Mimi cross stitched Connor and Mikey's stocking this year. Now we have a complete set for our mantle. Thank you Mimi! We will treasure them always. 

Papa, Gramielle, and Uncle Lance came to visit a few days after Christmas. Uncle Lance got her a DVD she had been wanting to see for so long...Ice Age. I think we have seen it about 30 times now. No lie.

P & G also got the kids an inflatable bounce house for the backyard! It was a big hit for Ava and I know it will be for future playdates with friends! 

Gramielle and Ava made "christmas mice" as a special treat. Yum yum!

About to see the Madagascar Ice Exhibit!!

You may remember we did this last year with Papa and Gramielle so we thought it would be fun to do it again this year, especially since it was Madagascar, a Munchie favorite! I'm not gonna lie though. It is a little too cold for me to really enjoy it, and you can tell by the look on her face that it might have been for Ava too, but we made another fun memory. 

We went down the ice slide! 

Gramielle pushed Connor around the Gaylord while we went to the exhibit but Papa came with us.

Papa and Connor playing dress up. 

Ava and Gramielle drinking hot chocolate

Collecting sticks while Papa and Daddy took down Christmas lights. 

These pictures are out of order but here she is with her new apron and the Christmas mice that she made with Gramielle.

And here is the new bounce house!! Super fun! 

10 months old

Happy 10 months old, Connor! What a fun month it has been. We celebrated your first Christmas and very soon we will be celebrating your 1st Birthday! Here are a few other things you have been up to this month:

*Within a couple of days of your 9 month post (where I claimed you were a picky eater) you started eating more finger foods and you haven't slowed down one bit! You will eat just about anything we cut up and put on your plate. Picky eater to GREAT eater!

*You are babbling more and you now say "ma ma ma". Not sure if you are really saying momma but it warms my heart. I have even heard you say "aba" but still not sure if you are trying to say Ava or not.

*You try to sign all done when you are finished eating.

*You are standing alone a lot longer now and you LOVE to walk around the entire house with your walker toy. I bet you will be taking your first steps in another month or so.

*You are so mobile, it is hard to keep up with you. I follow you around everywhere just to make sure that you dont fall and hit your head on the hard floor. I wish I could put a helmet on you!

*Your favorite toys are anything with lights and sound, especially your walker and toy vacuum.

*You have outgrown your infant carrier so now you are in sissy's old carseat rear facing. I don't think you like it as much (you don't sleep as often in the car now) but you will get used to it.

*This month you have been slighty more grumpy than usual but I am pretty sure it is because you are getting more teeth and because you don't want to be confined in a carseat or highchair for long periods of time.

*You will now let me read a book to you before naps and bedtime whereas before all you wanted to do was  grab them and put them in your mouth.

 I love the back of your furry little head!

 Your daddy gets to hold you for about 5 minutes when he gets home before you are ready for bed. You are always so sleepy by 5 pm...still!

 You are always on the go with your walker! You remind me of an old man the way you shuffle around with it. :)

 I'm so thankful that you are such a good eater now! You will pretty much eat anything I put on your plate.

I love you my sweet boy!! Here's to another fun two months before your big day!!

xoxo, Mommy