2008 {a year in review}

We've been incredibly blessed in 2008. It's been quite the year watching our little munch grow into a beautiful little girl. From rolling to sitting to eating solids to walking and so much more---it's been an amazing ride and we can't wait to see what 2009 has in store for us!

Wishing you all a very happy and healthy new year!

There are just too many milestones & memories to put in one post,

but here is a small glimpse at the previous year:

[each title is a clickable link to bring you to that month]

January

back to work, 1st ER trip & rolling for the first time!


February

happy birthday, mama, time for solids & baptized


March

yum---solids! sitting up & 1st ear infection


April

finger foods, kisses & tons of giggles


May

happy birthday, dada, 1st swim, 1st tooth, waving, signing & pulling up


June

crawling, cruising, family vacation, clapping,


July

1st zoo trip, no more bottles, new earrings, loving the walker


August

1st steps! talking up a storm, 1st Cape trip


September

trip to Boston, walking everywhere, mama graduates, more signing


October

THE BIG ONE! talking & signing & running like crazy,
2 years of marriage ♥ loves those babies


November
more signing & words, fingerplays,

December
loves to clean up, following directions more, learning more body parts & animal sounds

art time

Ava was feeling very creative today! Here's a sampling of her artwork today. [The last two are titled Temper Tantrum because Mom won't let me draw on the carpet/tv/walls/me]

Baby Grace ♥

I figured I should do a post about Ava & her baby grace since she just adores her. Ava's great nana started her off with an American Girl Bitty Baby for Ava's 1st Christmas last year. We waited awhile to take it out because I was worried Ava would ruin it. At first it was a little big---almost too big for Ava to carry around [and Grace got quite the beating] but soon Ava totally fell in love and they are the cutest pair!

Great nana gave Ava the high chair/table for Ava's 1st birthday. Ava wanted no part in letting baby Grace sit in it. If Ava couldn't sit in it [and boy did she try!] then no one could sit in it! However, now she is much more willing to feed her babies in their high chair.

This Christmas, great nana got Ava the crib. Ava loves it! She's just a tad too short but that doesn't stop her from playing with it for hours. She loves putting the dolls in, covering them and then waking them up. Ava also got different outfits from my mom and mother-in-law. They are adorable and Ava loves trying to get them undressed and redressed. Ava is very particular about what outfit is on baby Grace---and if she changes her mind then Grace changes her clothes :)
Now Ava is all about her babies. She has a few more [baby Lola and baby Julia Goulia---named by uncle mike] Ava got her doll stroller for her birthday & has so much fun with it. It's so adorable how she plays with her babies. I've written before how much she mimics caring for the babies. It's simply the cutest thing watching her put her babies in the stroller, feed them their bottles and then burp them and put them to bed. Everything has to be just right and she is not happy if you try to mess up her plans! Now baby Grace goes everywhere with her. I swear she has a mild panic attack if she can't find her for a minute!

We don't bring baby Grace to school but, thankfully, Ava hasn't noticed that we leave her behind just yet! Although they aren't her true babies, Ava is very protective of her babies at school too. Today she carried them around in a white basket that looked like a small crib and tried feeding her baby crayons. It is so great watching Ava's imagination grow every time she plays with her babies. I can't wait to see what other adventures Ava has w. baby Grace!

going for a walk

hang on baby Grace!

checking on them

covering them up

a little short

cuties

outside time

weekend updates!

We had a nice relaxing weekend after all the Christmas festivities. We did a few returns and got Ava some new pieces for her kitchen. She fries up a mean serving of peas and eggs---yum! Saturday night, Steven and I went out on a date :) It was nice not having to worry about cutting up someone's food or picking up crayons & just having a night out with just the two of us. Of course we were thrilled to get home to Ava. Sunday was so warm---almost all 2 feet of snow melted! We spent almost all morning outside going on a walk, playing and taking down the Christmas stuff. Ava had to bring baby Grace for a walk in the wagon and then gave her a push around in her stroller. She had so much fun running around the yard but did not like it when she fell down and got her hands dirty. She would look at her hands and hold them out to us to clean---such a girl!

We spent a lot of time playing with all her new toys, playing mama to her babies and making yummy meals for us. Ava also signed "book" and "hot" this weekend! We've been working on an adapted version of "hot" when we talk about the stove or food. Today when nana had her coffee, Ava did the sign! Such a smarty :) We've been working on getting Ava to clean up one thing before moving on the next. She does pretty well when we help and make a game of it. Gotta love the clean up song! She's also been big into helping throw things away and bringing her empty plate to the sink. If she spills her container with fishies or cheerios, she'll say "uh oh" and pick each one up and put them back in. She's so funny when she wants to eat she'll get a bib, go to the highchair and sign "eat please" and when she wants to go out, she'll grab her hat and coat and sign "please". Today, Ava even got her hat on all by herself! It's amazing all the new things she does and I love all the communication!

Ava showing baby Grace how to play with the blocks

we put Ava on clean up duty with her dust pan

working hard!

taking a break to cook [she loves this kitchen!]

a little down time w. elmo---she loves elmo

enjoying the beautiful weather! gotta love crazy new england weather

ok, let's go here

no ducks on the Charles today :(

baby grace's turn!

what? no one will play soccer with me [I have a cute video of her
running and kicking the ball---future soccer star!]

a look back---

I packed up all Ava's clothes that she has outgrown to make room for her new clothes today. It makes me so sad every time---how does she grow up so fast? I remember thinking how itty bitty her clothes seemed and now they seem so big. So I, of course, had to look at last year's Christmas pictures---here they are compared to this year's.

always time to sleep! 2007

2008

ready to party!

Christmas pjs w. mama