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.