Friday, October 21, 2011

Random

I miss the days of when Ava wants to cuddle all the time. These are now rare moments that I treasure forever.
Pippi Long Stockings


Ava loves bubbles. She tries hard to say it.



Look at those cute chubby cheeks and chubby belly!! I loove it. I could munch on her cheeks all day.

This child has some mad bed hair.

I want to wear these shoes with this outfit mommy
Mommy and baby girl
Sleepy baby during mommy's run

Pumpkin Farm Oct 8

We went to our first pumpkin farm escapade to Lineberger Maple Springs Farm. It was a cute little family owned place that sold pumpkins, had hayrides, a playground for kids, and a little corn maze.

Long gone are the days where Ava will sit for pictures and smile.  We have to chase her everywhere now and may get a glimpse of her sweet face.

I want this green pumpkin daddy

Family pic by the big pumpkin

She would not sit on my lap or on the pumpkin!

Daddy please. Don't hug me in public.

Looking at everything else but mommy and the camera

This big orange pumpkin scares me


Don't go far mommy


I don't have one of these at home!
I love to play with other kids!
I want a dump truck for Christmas
Hurry daddy you're going to slow.

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

First Haircut

Ava had her first haircut on Sept 8, 2011 by Brandy Bostic Hannon.  I was expecting the worse behavior out of her simple because she does not like to sit still at all.  Charlie went first so that she could see daddy getting his haircut.

It took some persuasion for Charlie to agree that Ava was in need of a haircut. He loves long hair and of course did not want any of it cut off. He agreed to a trim.

Cheese!


She played with a comb to keep her distracted
Good work Brandy!

Monday, October 10, 2011

It's been too long

The title says it all. Ava is now 13 months. A whole year has passed and so much has changed. It seems that I can't ever catch up with life and I'm always running behind. Hence the lack of posts on the blog.  Being a mother is by far the hardest thing I've ever done in my life.  Some of my friends make it look so easy. I definitely do not.

Ava is the best and most wonderful gift from God. But she has been a challenge.  For the most part of her 1st year, Ava has not slept through the night. In fact, she still does not routinely sleep through the night.  For those who have not experienced lack of sleep..it's something that changes who you are.  For the first 3-5 months of Ava's life, I walked around like a zombie. As if I was floating through life but not really connected. I was sad, emotional, but then I would look at her and she would take my breath away because she was so beautiful and so angelic. 

12 months of pictures is extremely too much at one time so I will post some of my favorites. These are in no particular order. Enjoy.


Hungry baby


Christmas at Grandma Michelle's


Practicing the sippy cup

Day after Christmas - First Snow

Sleeping beauty on the beach

Ava's first beach trip in November 2010 - 3 months old

She loves her daddy

What a cupcake!

Christmas Day with "Raffe" - Mommy had to work on Christmas Day so dad took lots of pictures and sent to mommy's phone.
Family pic on mommy's 28th birthday
This girl is gorgeous







At 13 months

Motor skills:
  • Ava started walking on her own on Aug 27, Saturday - the night of her birthday party.  We actually caught it on video!! She was so proud of herself. She was trying to clap and walk at the same time.  The best part was that a lot of the family was still there to see this great mileston.  The funny thing is the next day she wanted nothing to do with walking.  I was ok with that. I'm going to try and really let Ava do her thing at her own time and pace. 
  • Ava tries to kick the ball and also tries to throw the ball. Most of the time it ends up going behind her
  • Ava loves to go up and down steps. She could do that all day!
  • She does the cutest little dance. She bends her knees then bobs up and down while clapping her hands.
Vocabulary
  • Mommy - she calls me this, but usually calls me daddy
  • Daddy - she knows Charlie is daddy for sure
  • Baby - Ava knowingly calls little babies "baby" and she also calls her baby dolls "baby". But she also calls all dogs "baby". She cracks me up.
  • Ba - for ball. when she sees a beach ball or any kind of ball she'll point and say "ba"
  • mimi - she calls her blanket mimi - NO idea where that came from.
  • Bubble - for bubbles
  • She tries to say banana
  • Ba-ba for her sippy cup

 Commands
  • Ava knows "NO" but usually doesn't follow it. Sometimes when I say no really sternly, she will start to cry as if I've hurt her little feelings.
  • Ava knows to go get things like her shoes, her bubble sticks, her bat, her ball, baby, mimi, ba-ba (sippy cup).
I can't think of all the things that Ava does that amaze me each day. I know all toddler are doing the same things she is doing. It's hard for me to realize that she's no longer a baby and is a toddler now. A little person - and I can't wait to see the person that she'll become to be.