Friday, October 22, 2010

My Beautiful Birthday Girl!!

Friday was Ava's birthday and this is how we spent it.

I have been trying to upload these photos all week but the blogger server kept bombing out.  They did some maintenance on it the other day but today is the first day it has worked for me.  I can't believe this was already a week ago.

She wanted a cookie for breakfast so look what she got :)
 I so should have tackled the kitchen set before nap time Friday


 It turned out awesome though so it was worth it.  It's really sturdy and she can grow into it since its HUGE.
 Being Silly
 Trying to attack the flash




 Excuse my horrid appearance.  These were her birthtime shots and it had been a long day.  In fact we were in the middle of making the cake pops when I wrangled Ava and Daddy for the pics. 

 Her card from her GrandDad.  It had minnie singing Happy Birthday when you opened it.  She sat there for forever opening and closing it and smiling. 

I'm working on the post for her actual party now.  It will probably take a while since we have a bunch of photos.  I still can't get over how awesome her party was.  Last year's party was exhausting but this year it was just loads of fun.  She enjoyed every part of it and so did we.  I actually can't wait to start planning next years.  Parties are so fun and I love planning all the little details.  Although next year she may want more say so.  This year she just picked the theme and I got to decide the rest. 









Monday, October 18, 2010

Happy Birthday Ava Rose

Friday marked two years since Ava changed our lives.  Ava brought Aaron and I even closer because now we have a common goal and work even better together as we raise our daughter.  Here is a little flashback of how our beautiful Rose has blossomed.

Newborn...8.5Ibs 20inches born at 8:11pm on 10/15/08
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First official family portrait
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6mnths

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Which reminds me of a time when my freezer was filled with my "stash" of breastmilk and homemade baby food purees
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I really really miss making baby food.
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Taking farm fresh local strawberries
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and making them look......
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like this!
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Ahhh...still one of my fav baby and Daddy photos.
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1 year



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18 mnths

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This reminds me of the song Stand by me for some reason
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2 years

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I just can't believe how fast it all goes by.  Everyday is a new gift.

My life lately..

Consists of a hard balance between being Mom and being a student.  I still take pictures and videos but the blog has suffered.  This semester has me very busy with a TON of homework and projects outside of just my in school hours.  By the second week of school I found myself being a very VERY grumpy and not so nice Mommy.  I was stressed and felt like I would never get caught up.  I had to make a decision about my priorities and figure out exactly how to create a balance.  I decided that each week I would get at least one day a week where I would do NO homework.  This not only gives me a break but also gives Ava the attention and quality time she deserves.  I also made a decision to stay up a few extra hours at night to work on homework while Ava sleeps.  This does mean I am more tired during the week but on my no homework day I let myself nap with Ava and that seems to help.  It's much easier accomplishing and finishing my homework when I'm not being tugged at by a little blond munchkin saying Mom, come and sit.  I mean really how can you say no to that. 


I've learned that you can't have everything and do everything at the same time. Oprah Winfrey

Next to love, balance is the most important thing. John Wooden 

"Life is like riding a bicycle.
To keep your balance you must keep moving."
Albert Einstein
 




  

Friday, September 24, 2010

Friday Woes

Today we took Ava to the fair.  It was an experience but not quite the experience I had envisioned.  It was unbelievably hot and it was bordering very close to nap time.  She didn't like the idea of a pony ride which led to tears, which lead to eating soggy cotton candy from tear covered hands, which led to only one ride because it was clear she wasn't in the right mood but we had to do at least one ride.  The highlights were that she really liked seeing all of the animals up close and that she did enjoy the carousel ride. 

Did I mention I also took my camera but forgot my memory card so we have no pictures.  That she only slept for a short time on the way home and got no real nap.  That because of that she was super fussy and cranky the rest of the day. 

Ahhh, such is life I suppose.  You make memories with your children and try to provide fun experiences.  I guess they don't always turn out as planned though.  With a toddler I figure we never really know until we get there.  Last weekend we did apple picking and she loved it.  It could have very easily went the other way around. 

Since I didn't take my camera to the fair here are some from this evening.  Some times I just don't know where my little baby went.

Look at those long lean legs...where did those fat chubby short legs go


She looks too old...I don't like it one bit


I think I may have to go cry now


and this look...this is the look of a 13 year old Ava who finds me annoying.  Not an almost two year old Ava..she can't find me annoying can she?!?!


Well at least she still thinks I'm funny


Really, I mean really, when did she get this big. 

Thought I forgot didn't ya

Well I didn't...I just haven't sat down to post and I've been trying to work on a post of the videos but each one takes so long to load.  I should have it done sometime this weekend. 

So I last posted Tuesday so I owe you a few photos.

WED- So on the advice of a few of my friends from my online mom group I went and bought these.  They are single dose packets of benadryl.  They only come in the dosage for older children but it's much easier to tote around than an extra bottle of the stuff.  I just won't give her the whole thing but it will be nice to be able to stash a few of these and always have them on me. 


Thur- I had been meaning to photograph this little doll for a while now.  Aaron did a job at the McCormick plant and bought this for Ava while he was there.  There is something so special about gifts bought for little girls by their Fathers.  I can remember everything down to the little happy meal toys my Dad use to bring me when he drove for SnapOn.   Let's see if I can recall some that really stick out in my memory...the snap-on radio that looked like a tool box, complete with a Michael Jackson tape (really wish I still had that), the umbrella he woke me up to give me back when I was in third grade (I even remember thinking "o, no I must be in trouble" at first), the deer skin purse with bone beads and rock a wolf had peed on from Canada (still have those), the little stuffed moose from another hunting trip (still have that too), a beautiful porcelain guardian angel (tragically that was broken) and I mourned that darn thing too, an awesome blue electric scooter (still have but unfortunately I don't have the key), a really cool cooler/grill that we use to use all the time at the track (still have but we are boring and don't go anywhere anymore), a set of tiny baby dolls the year I was sick (still have those), an awesome hamper filled with goodies when I moved out (still have everything that wasn't perishable/used), a palm pilot back when they were the latest and greatest, and then mix in a bunch of random gift cards and things just because he had them.  Point that I am trying to make is that things like this really do mean a lot and really are remembered.  I can't say that Ava being so young will remember this doll in particular but I will and I will tell her about it one day. 


O and Mom, I also remember the countless trips to the mall just because, paying to get my hair done to make me feel good (many times), my first pair of diamond ear rings for my thirteenth birthday, my pearl ring for my sixteenth birthday, NYC, Greenbrier, and of course the grocery shopping and all that other tedious necessity stuff that someone had to do.  I could go on and on because I do have a really odd ability to remember things from even a very young age but it's late and I have another post to do. 

Wait...but while we are here and I'm talking about gifts from my parents let's go there.  Thanks for the 1987 Chrysler LaBaron...my first car.  I know it was bought because my Dad thought it was cool because it was a convertible and my Mom most likely liked the price tag but really lets face it, that thing wasn't at the top of my list for first cars...haha.  I will say this, the car kept me from speeding because anything over 65mph and the car would shake violently.  It also taught me to always keep my tank full because well, the gas gauge didn't work.  Most importantly it taught me to appreciate my next car that I actually contributed too.  Ironically I also missed that car when I moved on from it.  I think the day I began to appreciate it was the first day I drove another car.  I don't appreciate it leaving me on the side of the road twice but I appreciate the lesson.  It served it's purpose and if I had it all to do over again I wouldn't change it.