Christmas Morning

Ava woke up to find her lil cardboard house set up. It was a tad smaller than we thought it would be. But it serves its purpose. However, she did find herself greeting the dirt devil her grandfather Tibbetts got her almost immediately. I never thought it would be so popular. She opened it on Christmas Eve at Grammy Greats and went all over the whole house with it. The good news is that it makes noise so you know where she is. The bad news is that it makes noise.

She also got a recorder, puzzle and an apron for her kitchen from Santa! Check out her mad skills!



Also, with the snow storm we got a few days earlier, Rich and I can be rest assured we will NEVER lose her in a snowy place. Check it:

Potty

One of the signs for potty training is the ability for kids to take off their own clothes. I happen to think Ava just likes being naked all the time, and knows that we prefer her to keep her clothes on. The only reason I care is #1, potty mess somewhere randomly in the house. This has happened to me on maybe 2 occasions where we get ready for tubby time and shes running around upstairs naked while I get a towel out for her. No big thang. However, recently, during nap time she has been undressing herself. One morning she did wake up and I went to get her and she had undressed herself yet again. She never made a mess...was just jumping up and down naked in her crib. Then it happened. On a Sat afternoon nap, she started crying and i said to Rich, gosh i hope she didn't take her diaper off. Being the great dad Rich is he said, Ill go take care of it. Not 2 minutes later did I hear him say, "Molly.....come here." I climbed the stairs and saw Rich at the changing table with a smile on his face....I looked towards the crib and there they were. Ava went #2 on her sheet. Not that you want to know the details of the situation, but it was NON messy and she didn't get NEAR them which shocks me. I mean, you hear stories about kids playing with that stuff and you find it EVERYWHERE. After talking to her teachers about it, they explained that some kids get totally wigged out by seeing it for the first time. Sound like that happened to Ava. Funny!

So it begins. Ava is quite interested in the potty and using it. She goes with the big kids at school and even went peepee once on the potty! Hila said, "push, Ava!" And she did and low and behold she went peepee!! WOW! Cool. She continues to use the potty at home, but I think its more for effect than actually going peepee. Maybe? 2 days after peeing in the potty, Ava was saying something to me and I was being a bad mom and half listening to her. You know, nodding my head saying yup....uh huh.....and so on. Then i listened again and I said, "you have to go potty?" and she nodded her head yes. So went upstairs to go potty. Ava helps with her pants and diaper and then proceeds to sit on her potty. Now I should mention that our good friend Amanda gave her a lil Elmo that she would not let go of during this whole process.

SO thre she is sitting on her potty, Im encouraging her to push! and then she points to the big potty and says "mommys potty". Of course we all know that this toilet is mommys potty, right? I mean who ELSE uses this potty? So I asked her if she would like to sit on the big girl potty and shes says yes. I move her there and she sits on it for a bit with some helping hands from me. We all know that the toilet seat is about 5 times as big as Ava tushie. Then she says, "Elmo potty". I asked her if Elmo had to go potty and she said yes, so she got off "mommys potty" and put Elmo on her potty. She shut the lid and stood up at the sink to brush her teeth and wash her hands. Meanwhile shes crossing her legs and bending her knees and what not. I asked her if she had to go potty again, and hes said yes. SO i said, alright let sit on the potty! So she did and dropped her toothbrush on the bath mat. Again she pushes and nothing happens. And she says, "toothbrush" and points at it. I said you want that? and she nodded yes and proceeded to get off the potty to pick it up.....just in time to do her business on the bath mat. Missing the toilet by INCHES! Unfortunately for me this #2 was not as 'structured' and 'solid' as the previous one ion her crib. In fact it was gross. But I put on a brave face and picked it up telling Ava she did a great job, and only missed the potty by a little bit. That getting distracted on the potty sometimes happens. And I proceeded to put it on the big girl potty where we flushed and said bye bye to it as it washed away.

We have gone to the potty many times since, but no recent activity. I am sure once her sister gets here, the potty will be sidelined for some time. Its amazing how grown up shes getting!!!

Santa!! Its Santa!

Ava waiting for Santa.

Here comes Santa!!

Today, we joined the Stroms at CBC to see Santa Claus. Not that Ava knows exactly WHO he is, but she can say his name and recognize him, even as he approached CBC on his launch! They had ice cream for the kids, story time and OF COURSE a visit with Santa to let him know what you wanted to see under the tree! We were not sure of how Ava would react to Santa. I mean, he is kinda scary if you don't really KNOW him. All that red and the hairy face. After waiting in a line for a bit, we finally got to see him. I sat next to him and put Ava on my lap. I have to admit, she DID put up a fight and there was some whining with respect to the fact I was sitting next to this fellow. Our camera actually died in the middle of the whole thing, but Rich managed to get a few shots.
Scary Santa


Gigg, Liam, Ava, Mom


Aside from Ava getting acquainted with Santa, we have our tree up and of course have had our first casualty. Not only has Ava been taking the beads off and opening the gifts, shes playing with the glass ball ornaments. She likes to pop off the tops. I was fidgeting with something the n turned around picked up Ava and we danced around f the room to the Christmas Revels, when noticed blood all over her hand! I washed her hand off and she had a teeny cut on her finger that must have come from the glass of the ball or the metal top. Either or, I shouldn't have turned my back on her! She does LOVE the Christmas tree and looks at it often pointing 'kiskis tree'. I have also let her play with our nativity scene. Shes especially enjoys playing with baby Jesus in his bed - 'babee jeeses' she says.

Our Tree this year:

Tis the holiday Season

In the spirit of getting ready for the holiday season, we chopped a tree down this weekend with Rich's family, bought wreaths, hung lights, shopped, ordered Christmas cards and Rich made a lovely beef stew. In the effort to rush this card out I tried to take some shots of Ava that were totally unsuccessful, but worthy of posting to the blog. The funny thing is I didn't even PLAN on her wearing red. The pearls are definitely a nice touch, eh? I cant believe it, but this girl is a girly girl on some occasions...OR whenever a pair of my shoes are present. I love her....shes so silly!

its been TOO long...

I know. I've been so busy at work and just plain ole tired.

So lets see what has happened since our last post. We went to a wedding sans Ava, which was AWESOME! Thanks Lynn, Billy, Max and Anna! They took care of Ava for a a full weekend for our first time away form her ever. Apparently she was awesome. Slept through the night and even slept in one morning! I have to admit Rich and I may have felt some jealousy that we hadn't experienced that combo in quiet some time!

We have also had many visits with the Strom boys. Ava continues to grow bonds with them. They even had tubby time together! I might as well have joined them due to the saturation of water on my clothes.

Including breakfast today at the vic!


We continue to prepare for baby Scans #2 and involve Ava as much as possible. She helped put together the crib and tested it out in its multiple 'put together stages'. If this crib isn't unbreakable, i don't know what is. She was bouncing in it, shaking it and when set on a high level climbing into it. The thing never budged. Its from IKEA too. I have also purchased a bigger baby doll for her. One that actually laughs and crys and says a few things when pressing feet and hands. I will tell you, Ava fell in love with that doll. She had to hold in it the car as soon as we left target. When i would press the cry foot, Ava would come running with a concerned look on her face and hug the baby right away, and say "baby, cry." She LOVES babies. We babysit Wil, our neighbors son and all Ava wanted to do was hold him and hug him. It was so cute. And when I put him on the floor to play with some toys, Ava wanted to sit on his lap. Mind you he was roughly 11 months at the time, but def outweighs Ava. Whenever we leave daycare she HAS to look into the baby rooms. There is even a boy in her class that has a brand new baby brother, that Ava has to visit with whenever hes there. And you know, shes actually pretty good with him. It will be interesting to see how she handles her own sibling. I can only image she take the sharing of mom and dad for a short time. We will see!!

Ava has also become a small TV watcher. She enjoys Blues Clues. Thats about it, but it is at least 10 minutes of time that we can sit quietly together or shell eat her breakfast in her highchair while i make her lunch for the day. Another new phenomena is that she really likes Elmo. I'm not sure how this happened, we have like 2 Elmo books and never watch sesame street. I was shopping at Wilsons and had to get her these cupcakes. So silly.


PREGNANCY UPDATE:
29 weeks

It looks as though I will be getting induced around 39 weeks due to controlling the blood thinner sitch. I'm am 100% OK with that! However, I think she will come before then.Wishful thinking, right? No....I feel as though shes not going to be able to be contained as well as Ava. I seem to have the PUPPP rash, 1% of all pregnancies get it. AWESOME. Its very itchy and uncomfortable.

AHNS Halloween parade

This past Saturday, we went to Avas school for a Halloween parade and trunk trick or treating. We joined the parade for about 5 minutes and then ended up on the playground for the remainder of the time. It was a gorgeous day and quite a scene to be seeing all the kids on the playground in their Halloween costumes! Max Ring joined us and seemed to also enjoy the morning out. He created much dialogue for the parents around as I carried him to and fro. "WOW. And the little lady bug is yours too???" they would say glancing at my swollen belly. HA! NEVER! I should have went with it!

The big Halloween day is coming and we are not sure if we will keep her in her ladybug costume OR give her a 'new look'.

I may as well be posting my belly shots here too for Avas lil sister. The emails are getting tedious. Her sister is roughly, 13.5 inches long and over a pound now. Shes moving constantly and seems to really enjoy cheesy dance music. AWESOME! 25 weeks, 15 to go!

Mac-n-Cheese

Who woulda thunk Ava was an eating machine. I mean how many handfuls of pasta can she get into her mouth at once?! I wasn't sure if she was even chewing.

Wilson Farm & the Snake Regatta

This weekend was a busy one! We had lost of play dough time, Wilson's time and watched dad race in a regatta.
Play dough is play date that Ava and I have at least 3 times a day if IM home all day with her. I cant believe I have not taken any pictures to post them since i have purchase the wondrous play dough. Its AWESOME. It really keeps her focuses and busy,not to mention we can make so many different things. Like jewelry...and animals...you name it! Fun stuff....we are also making a variety of multi colored play dough by mixing them together. Soon they will all be brown. Check her out:

We also went to Wilsons Farms to check out the haunted hayride. Im not sure Ava has as much fun as mom and dad - maybe next year.

We hit the Snake Regatta this am, dad came in second! Not very many shots here...had to keep a GOOD eye on Ava.

Communtiy Rowing move

Check out Ava in action cleaning ergs at the CRI moving party! She even got on an erg for a few strokes!

My first burrito!

I should have known that Ava would have eaten a burrito like a pro! She didn't eat any tinfoil OR anything! She ate everything even though she didn't eat all of it. She made a mess of course, but I was so impressed with her burrito eating champ style! I mean ONE handed even!! Come on!! Joses here we come!

Everyone needs to cook

It happened. I broke down and bought Ava a little kitchen. I blame mark and Nancy. Actually, I thank them for giving me reason for getting it beyond me just wanting to get it for Ava. One of the only things setting me back was that it was pink...and now since we are having girl #2...its fine. Not that it wouldn't have been fine if it as a boy...but you know what I mean. It took Rich ONLY 3 hours to assemble. It may have been worse than something from Ikea!! Thank god he read the directions because it came out fabulous!

Miss Ava played with this kitchen set while half built and then when it was fully built she would NOT stop playing with it. She was making eggs, cleaning dishes, cooking in the microwave...you name it! Even this am she brought her leftover breakfast over to it to cook on the stove. I love it!!

ZOO!!!

Today we went to the Stoneham zoo with the Stroms. We saw bears, jaguars, birds, otters, snakes and SPIDERS! WE also spent some time on the playground and had lunch at the train with multiple yellow jackets. Ava seemed to be into the bears because you could get seemingly close with the glass wall. But as we moved on to the exhibits with more things to climb on and other kids her age running around she got distracted from the animals pretty easily. She called many things kitties and dogs. I can imagine that it must be hard to see a jaguar and not want to call it a kitty!! I've posted the photos form the day on flickr here, and you can see them in the side bar to the right as well.

The picture below of Ava on the train kills me...so was SOOOOO excited and happy. The picture doesn't even really capture HOW excited she was. IT was SO cute!

What IS that?!!

I know I took this picture because this material was all over her face....but I cannot remember for the life of me what it is that she was eating....I want to guess a fudgsicle...but it doesn't quite look like fudgsicle material.

oldies of Ava

These are from my cell phone from WAY back! the one above was when Ava was very fresh and Rich was real tired after running the marathon course the day before!!

What else can we do on a Saturday?

This past Saturday the fam went on a hike at the Blue Hills Reservation with our friends Mark, Nancy and their little girl Ruby. The sad thing is the pics are on my camera, and I can't find it!! So i'll post some later. The two girls seemed to enjoy their backpack rides while we all walked on some trails. Ruby was chatting up a storm and seemed to be trying to have a conversation with Ava, whom was mesmerized by her. Afterwards we headed back to JP to have a bbq and hang. Ava was her usual self, all over the place. Eating rocks and gravel, running on dangerous walls and scaling anything that was scalable. Its making me exhausted again just talking about it. Ruby on the other hand started taking some small cues from Ava but was easily reeled back in by her parents and her own self. I have to say that I think Ruby is one of the only kids Avas ages that I have seen her REALLY engaged with, like a lil buddy. They were laughing together, mimicking each other and just having a good ole time. Until Ava started stealing stuff out of Rubys hands.....like the bubble maker wand.



After the bbq, we headed home for a brief moment and then headed to Charlestown to see the Stroms and the Rings. Ava had a blast getting Liam into trouble with his parents, by showing bad behavior that Liam could copy. Ha ha! One of those moments was sitting on top of the kiddie piano(see below-thanks tashy). Ava is SO serious. Even with that bink. We WILL get a picture without that in her mouth someday. You can tell how innocent and sweet that Liam is, and Ava, what IS she thinking?
IN any event we got her in her jams there and drove home. It was a very busy and eventful day!!! Thanks to all for making it happen!

Avas little sister!

Today we had our 18 week ultrasound. It occurred after the house was ravaged by the 24 hour flu this weekend.

My email:

Just wanted to let you know we had our 18 wk ultrasound today. Everything looks good, but there seemed to be a lot of 'free space' between the little bugs leggies. Meaning they 'think' its a girl. They are pretty honest about never stating its a girl because 10% of the time it comes out a boy.

I think Rich and I would agree that our fav comment of the morning was, "wow, this one is going to keep your hands full!" I would REALLY like to chalk this ones behavior up to the fact ive (and the whole family for that matter) been recovering from the 24 hour flu and not really able to eat anything with exception to the half bagel and gingerale I had going in to the ultrasound. I figured that the gingerale would perk the babe up a bit and Im hoping I was right....because BOY if there is another little Ava...I will be gray before im 40 for sure.

UNREAL! Heres to Ava as a big influence and sister to her lil is on the way! I try to explain to her there is a baby in my belly and she will be a big sister, but she just points to her belly button and and says "belly!". Then seems to almost 75% of the time climb on my belly and sit there bouncing up and down. Is this a prediction of the first few years of their lives together?? YIEEEE!!

let the tantrums begin!

I couldn't resist sharing a sad/mad Ava. I should actaully put some reference behind this moment. Ava was this upset for about 45 minutes. She threw her dinner on the floor without so much as taking a bite and then wanted to go outside. And you can imagine that I wasn't about to go outside and let her play without eating supper. It was a stand I tell you. I should also recall my own mother telling me I had temper tantrums that lasted and hour. After that 60 minute mark, I was a happy camper.

Mommys shoes

Ava has taken a liking to them. And you know, she walks OK in them too! Not sure what it is about these shoes in particular, but she always picks them out of the closet amongst all the other shoes entangled in each other. She then proceeds to set them up and slip into them and clomp around the house. Silly girl.

Thank You

I would like to take a moment to thank you all for supporting us and my family for the sad news of Jason. Its been a very difficult week and if I didnt have this sweet sweet girl here to make everyone smile, including myself it would be so much harder. I know miss Ava did not really have chance to get to know Jason, but think she really does share his love for music. I gave her his maracas tonight and she would NOT let go of them. She shook them a bit and then started holding them by the stems and using them more like ski poles....even climbing the stairs to bed! SHe held them through story time and took them right into the crib. Don't worry I will take then away before I got to bed, but there was just something so special about her having an immediate attachment to them. I know Jason loved her dearly as he kept a picture of her nearby at all times in her tiger suit.

For those of you who missed his obit you can find it here:
Jason B. Tibbetts

Thank you again, you all have been so important during this time. Ill add a pic of Ava and her new maracas later. :)

a twist on goldfish

Check out Avas new hat. I think she was really rather proud to be sporting it! Nice job dad!

What on earth!

I was making Ava a snack or putting away dishes the lights started flickering on and off, so i turned around. Ava was standing in her highchair turning the lights on and off. Let me tell that I did not put her in her highchair. She was quietly playing with her magnets on the fridge. I let her reenact this stunt so I could get it on film. The chair is now out of her line of vision!

unreal.

Will climb anything

Something to talk about

Its been awhile. My apologies. Ava has been sick for a few weeks and so have Rich and I. Not to mention work has been a bit busy. There are no major updates to miss Ava and her development. Just basic things, like scaling the leather chair to sit in the window sill and point out the birds and cars. Not to mention Rich when hes out there. "Dada!Dada! Dadee!!" (which I have on video-just have to upload it) We've been building lots of towers which she loves smacking all over the room. She also enjoys dumping her bucket of toys all over and sitting down assembling the legos or throwing balls at me if im there. Shes dancing a lot more too, esp after a bite of yogurt.

The funny thing is, is that shes REALLY turning into a person that we can interact with. We play hide and seek and chase. We laugh hysterically together and tickle each other...shes just so much fun.

We bought a new bed frame after months of sleeping on the floor. Its pretty high, but it has a lip on it and Ava can get right up there and when she does she starts laughing like she just climbed mount everest. And her laugh is so funny because she always has to start her tongue out and its like a wild mad laugh, not a cutesy 16 month old laugh. Maybe this is a bad sign.

We've been talking about what kind of big sister she will be. I 've seen her interact with multiple infants and she seems to be very gentle and nice. But once this little bugger is sharing attention with mom & dad...who knows how she will respond! I bet she will be great. AS long as she knows the blinky eyes are real!!

Learning to Catch

Ava has been playing quite a bit of catch lately. This past weekend Rich wold bounce our 3$ grocery store swirly ball on the ground to Avas chest so she could essentially catch it. Shes not coordinated enough to be able to do it without the bounce, if you can believe that! We have also been playing with Ava in the chair and we bounce it on the floor and she catches it on her lap and throws it back. Shes getting a really good arm!!

15 month check up

We recently had our 15 month check up. It is amazing to me how Ava REALLY knows where she is once she enters the examining room. I have never had her hold on to me so tight...I could barely get her off me!! It was awful...and the most awful thing about it, is that i was laughing!! Poor Ava! She HATES the stethoscope more than anything...and forget checking the ears..I think Mexico really ruined that experience. But we got to check all her measurements and get her 4 shots! FUN! Currently she weighs 20.25 lbs, 10-20%: head is still 75% : height is 32.5 inches, 95%. So she has grown since 12 months...from 90% to 95%..and lost weight 35% to 10-20%. The doc said it was ok, its just because shes super active.

And surprisingly enough I thought she might be a little behind in her verbal skills and the doc said all she needed was 3 words. Currently she says, momma, dadda&daddy, dog, truck(sounds like dog), bubbles and she can roar like a lion. She calls her bink mama, her milk mimi and knows most of her main body parts. Its kinda crazy how kids pick all of this up. Imagine if I paid attention and actually taught her stuff!

I wish I took a picture of this, but Ava is home sick with me today. She had a fever of 103 yesterday and has a rash all over. Her fever has broke so we went to cool down on this hot day at the reservoir in Arlington. Beforehand Ava was drawing on some paper with red marker....I think she discovered this with her Granpa down the cape...but she started painting herself with her red marker. All over her belly and her neck, face and mouth. Next year for Halloween she can be Carrie. I brought her down the res like that and man we were getting double takes everywhere. Kinda funny. Now shes crashed out on the couch stretched out like a soggy noodle. I cannot believe how big she is...it really just blows my mind.

Firsts

Ava has had many firsts over the course of the last few weeks including on our vacation down the cape at Nan and Grandpas house. They include things such as:

+ first Popsicle
+ first ice cream cone
+ first juice box
+ first motor boat ride
+ first corn on the cob
+ first ride in a convertible(thanks Steve!!)
+ first surf lesson
+ first Soy Butter&jam sandwich
+ first tootsie pop

.....I am sure I've missed something but so much has happened over the course of these few weeks. See the pics below to document some of these major events!

Ava taking drivers seat in Stevies schweet ride.

I really really should have seen this coming....

Ice-cream on a cone....delicious!

I did help Ava with this cob of corn...but she did a good job herself!



Sideways Popsicle shot! annoying i know, but it cracks me up.

Small spaces for small people

This is sort of new, but Ava loves getting to little buckets that are JUST her SIZE!!! Check her out!!

I can use a fork and spoon!!

She insists, and it isn't pretty, but she does a fairly good job. And when she gets frustrated she goes straight for the fingers. And that works just as well....except for applesauce.

Another beautiful day at the beach

Its like a broken record, but we wen to the beach again and Annie took a few shots of us. Thought I would share. I wish I had some updates, but i cant think of any at the moment. We did got to the Arlington Reservoir on Friday with the Strom's which was fun. Elly and her 2 boys, Leo and Tynan met us there too. Ava seemed to be more at their speed. Up and down the beach pushing trucks, stealing shovels, eating sand....running away from me...you name it. It was very difficult t hold a conversation with Natasha!! However, at the beach she was much more interested in hanging out and digging a hole to walking and out of. She was also very interested in seaweed and absolutely obsessed with the seagull flying around. The most mazing thing of the day was the 40 hour nap she took on a towel on the hard sand!!! Under an umbrella of course.