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.