Avas been upgraded

I am not sure if I mentioned in the last blog that Ava has finally moved from the infant room to the toddler 1 room. Just my opinion-but she really should have been moved earlier than she was. I have to say ever since she has moved to that room, shes a joy in the car, shes much more self entertained at home, shes super interactive and communicative with books and pictures...Its like she grew up over night!! Shes so silly.

She can point out lots of body parts, but most of all she loves showing her belly button. She also really loves growling like a lion! ha! So funny and adorable. Some other things we have been doing, LOTS of drawing. She loves it. We use washable markers and we use magnetic boards - sort of like etcha -sketch. Ever since we got her a little table at IKEA she loves to sit there and draw. She initiated it herself. Carried the little magnetic board over there set it on top of the table got on her chair and started drawing. It was unbelievable to see. Like she grew up right in front of me. Some amazing things to me anyways, she can take the caps off her markers, and put them back on. She LOVES trucks. She also enjoys toting a pho-white patent leather purse around the house. So fashionable already.

Some recent discovery beyond the above. The dirty stuff. Nostrils. Boy does she loves exploring those. Everyday this week I've walked in on her exploring those guys with her finger jammed as far as it could go. Not to mention shes got a bit of a runny nose. ewe. She also enjoys messing with the toilet. If we are upstairs and its quiet I now know what shes doing. Shes lifting the toilet seat and playing with the toilet water. Not only playing with it but sampling it. NASTY. It gets better. She can reach the window sill now and took down my 100$ plus sonicare toothbrush(gift from the dear miss Annie). This toothbrush has a handy cover on it. When i walked in on her she was scooping out water in the bowl with my cover and smiling with the expression of LOOK AT ME MOM!!! The good news is that it was flushed, the bad news is that i think she dipped my toothbrush in it. Yuck!!

I've also started the timeouts with her. Which actually surprisingly she does ok. She really sits still. But shes still biting and scratching me.....hmmm....

I had a moment the other night where she was sleeping and I was just looking at her and she was so peaceful and cherub like I almost started crying. Its so amazing to be a part of this little girls life we both feel so blessed to have her in ours. I hope I'm not the mom dropping her off at college balling and smothering her with kisses telling her how its so hard to let my baby go!! haha!

Ava School pics

I've been meaning to post these. I finally scanned them. They crack me right up!

Sunday afternoon on Singing Beach

I think this girl will be spending MANY a day on the beach this summer. After Rich and i each got our workouts in Sunday morning and relaxed in the side yard sipping water with Kim we headed out to Manchester to hit the beach with Annie and Garreth. Ava was in HEAVEN!! She stole other kids toys, played in their little pools and even stole a giant football from a mom on the beach. Im wondering when the 'cuteness' factor will wear thin. See more beach photos on our flickr account here: Ava Singing Beach There are also some shots of Ava playing at her easel that the Stroms got her for her birthday.

Growing into a mom

Today was a busy Friday per usual. After a horrendous night of sleep (brought Ava into bed at 2.30) we got up at 7.30 as Rich was leaving for work. Did our normal routine with breakfast and then went to the park for a walk, dog watching and swinging. We bumped into some friends and did some turtle and frog watching as well.

We were then off to see some friend on the North Shore for lunch. I picked Suzanne up at Mullen and we headed off to Alices house to have lunch. Let em tell you first her little one Lucy is the cutest thing EVER! Shes so sweet and calm....though, I feel like every baby is calm compared to Ava. HA! It was fantastic. Super baby friendly dog and LOTS of grass to run around on. There were also horsies for Ava to see!! It gets better...Fred, Alices husband, busted out kiddie pools! As soon as the water was in...Ava was in! She played and played in that thing. I need one. :) She swatted Lucy a few times....not too bad...she did give kisses goodbye to Lucy. Very cute.

After dropping Suzanne off we followed her in to say hello to a few friends and then headed out. Now, those of you who know miss Ava know she LOVES being outside. Even on rainy days she stands at the door and crys. So as soon as we got home out came the stroller.

And this is the moment I summed myself up. The Arlington mom on her day off, walking down the street with her child in her orange phil and teds. Not only was I walking dow thw street but I was walking to Wild Child to get a friend a gift. Since they were out of the gift I decided to buy Ava a pair of shoes. None of the ones in our stash fit her right now. So here I am, suburban mom with my 300+ stroller buying my 14 month old daughter 36 dollar shoes. Ava did throw a tantrum on the floor while trying them on.....after she flipped out when she saw the metal shoe sizer. You would have thought it was the ear checker doo dad at the drs office!

Stunned by this purchase...yes its only 36 bucks...but they are infant shoes to last about maybe 4 months or so...I headed to Starbucks to get myself a venti chai latte.

This is who I am, the mom walking home in the suburban city with my expensive stroller, expensive toddler shoes in the basket below and sipping a latte...maybe even chatting on my phone. I never thought I would be her, but I am...and let me tell you I will do this all over again next Friday!

Who is Ava

We all know who Ava is, but here are a few factoids. She loves her mom and dad. The whole post about wearing my jewelry is funny only because she really would prefer a hammer or a screwdriver in her hand, I think. I was putting some batteries in something today and she took the screwdriver when I was done and tried to unscrew the same item and when she was done moved on to others. Whether there was a screw or not. She also really enjoys mowing the lawn. We went o our friend Kims yesterday with her mower. Their lawn was totally over grown until Ava took the mower too it. NICE JOB! The she was on to other things like the fish pond, eating rocks, grass, climbing the mulch and watching the birds. She also got some face time with Grace (the lab). BOY did she LOVE that!!

I am mid stream now as Ava was crying at the bottom of the stairs....even though i was in the living room writing on this blog. SO of course I got up and I must have startled her when i appeared as she started screaming. I came to the rescue at the same time as I scooped her up and she nestled her face into my neck. Now that, is what being a mom is all about.

Anyhooo...besides her interested in tools...I think I have previously mentioned her interest in electronics. She loves all cords esp her baby monitor cord. She plugs it in and unplugs it over and over again and finds new places to plug it in...such as her leap frog table. Speaking of which when she plays with that she dances all over the place. Its just about the silliest thing I have ever seen her do. It cracks me up every time!!

I am a bit tired as Ava has been slightly sick and dealing with a horrendous diaper rash that just wont go away. Shes on prescription powder and triple paste. Poor thing. No more wipes, only water and washcloths.

lil Diva

I had to post this picture. Ava has really been into my necklaces lately. Its usually when I get home from work and shes got her jammies on that she wants to try them on and walk around with them. It cracks me up!

Also, whenever we need to hit the grocery store for quick pick ups, we take Ava down in her car. She honks the horn the whole way or when people in passing say...'beep beep!'. One thing to note about this car: while pushing down the street its the same exact sound of the beloved bigwheel.....very LOUD. The neighbors must hate us. haha!

Fun with friends

Last weekend the Stroms stopped by to enjoy some sliced pepperoni and the Cs game. Ava and Liam hung out and played....ok together. Liam was a gem as usual and well Ava was a little....overwhelming? You know he NEEDS to have anything that Liam has, even if it means ripping it out of his hands...which she did and often. She then progressed to 'interacting' with him. Interacting in the style of using her hand to touch him without understanding how hard she was doing this. I think she was playing...i think. Rich and i blame daycare...survival of the fittest, you know. In any event Liam began enjoying watching Ava from the comfort of his father and mothers lap. And in the event that they may have been on the floor together and Ava started to move his way...Liam may have started to whimper a little bit reaching his hands into the air saying 'dadda!dadda!'.

Thats our girl. I cant wait until shes 13.....Lord help us all.