Momma needs some love too! I had Steven take some pictures of us since I'm the one always behind the lens. Ava has been going through some major separation anxiety lately which is hard. It is a great feeling being the center of her world [how snobby does that sound?]. I'm trying to soak it up since I'm sure I'll be accused of ruining her life once she is a teenager. But poor Ava acts like her world is crashing down when I walk more than 2 feet away from her or if she can't see me. Big, fat tears rolling down her cheeks, screaming, looking around frantically for me---the whole nine yards. Once I come back and pick her up she holds on so tightly and burries her face in my neck. It breaks my heart but just reminds me that I'm her mom and can do nothing wrong in her eyes---atleast for a few more years.
Ava's kisses---aka slobber bath but I love them
the way we love before anyone ever disappoints us, hurts our feelings,
or breaks our heart is a beautiful thing...
Happy Birthday, Dada! [well tomorrow but close enough!] Thank you for being an amazing husband & father! Ava & I love you very much. xoxo
Here are some pics from this weekend of Ava & dada reading the paper.
taking a break for some photo action
trying to get the sports page back---nice try
ok, seriously he needs the sports page
and guess who still has it? dada is a softy!
Ava in dada's baseball hat
p.s. you are OLD :) haha love you
Woo hoo object permanence---Ava loves playing peek-a-boo. She now knows to pull the blanket off her head or ours to find us. It is too cute.
Here is a quick video of Ava in her jumper---she just loves it now! She, of course, is a lot more active when the camera isn't on her but you get the idea.
I'm knocking on wood as I write this but Ava seems back to normal! It is so nice having a talkative, laughing, happy baby back :) So if we could all just stay healthy that would be great---here's hoping!
We celebrated Ava's 1/2 birthday with 1/2 a cake today. [Ignore the crappy frosting job---it was the best I could do with a sick baby] Here are a few quick pictures:
mmmm
testing out the frosting
Saving some for later, Ava?
Happy 1/2 birthday, bubbs---we love you!! xoxo
P.S. where are all the comments? I'd love to hear from Ava's "fans" :)
One of my favorite books to read to Ava is Guess How Much I Love You. It is the sweetest book and I adore the last line so I was so excited when I found this sign! I can't wait to hang it in her room.
Here is a quick video of Ava chatting. I took it on our new laptop so not high quality :)
Six months already! Ava is so active and her personality is really coming out. She is quite the social butterfly and makes sure everyone around her notices her and says hi. She loves attention and then plays shy by putting her head in my shoulder and peeking back up. She is just full of laughter and smiles and is in to everything! We've been working on sign language and although she doesn't sign back yet we can tell she is starting to recognize some of the signs [mainly mealtime ones!]. And watch out for those kisses---Ava now grabs our faces and gives great big drooly open mouth kisses. We've given her some finger foods, mostly pancakes, puffs and bananas which she loves. Ava has also mastered taking out her binky and putting it back in. So she'll take it out to yell and chat then pop it back in when she's done---she is too funny. Likes: her lovies, being outside, walks, chatting, food, painting, splashing in the tub. Dislikes: putting socks and shoes on, waiting, not having mommy or daddy's full attention [She is still so great! We are very lucky and can't wait to see what this month brings!]
enjoying some pancakes
Of course I jinxed myself with saying that I couldn't believe we haven't gotten the stomach bug yet. So it is only natural that Ava left school on Tuesday vomiting. So for 2 days she was a vomiting, poopy mess. The poor thing---she tried to be as happy as she could but the stomach bug is just not something you can be happy with. So Thursday we were off to the doctor since she was really lethargic in the morning. Although she wasn't too dehydrated [thank God!] we were threatened with forcing her to drink or it was off to the ER for an IV. So I had to force Pedialyte down her throat with a syringe until she started drinking. [Side note: I informed Ava that if we did have to go to the ER then we would be spending her shopping money on the trip to the hospital---funny how she started drinking after that!] Finally Thurday night she really started chugging the Pedialyte down---which then made her pee through her diaper, through our blanket and on our couch but we are just glad she is peeing [who would ever think we'd be glad our daughter peed on our couch?] Little by little she is getting better---the poor thing has turned into a fussy, clingy mess but I can tell her tummy still hurts :( It completly sucks when you can't do anything to help them. Please send good wishes for a speedy recovery!
I couldn't resist posting these pictures---she's too adorable! [yes I'm slightly biased!]
The weather has been so beautiful this week! Ava & I spent some time outside today soaking up the sun [well she was protected under her hat & SPF 50 sunscreen] I just love the smell of baby sunscreen---it just reminds me of summer. Here are some pictures from today:
every girl needs a big sun hat
Here are some pictures of Ava playing w. her gumball machine. She's figured out how to hit the lever to make the balls come out. It is so great to see her face & of course loves when we clap for her!
giggles, grins & good times!
Ava's kisses---aka slobber bath but I love them
the way we love before anyone ever disappoints us, hurts our feelings, 
