Dejan's First Birthday As A Dad

It wasn't big, but we had a little party for Dejan yesterday for his 37 Birthday. Ava and I got all dressed up, we set the table, opened a bottle of wine, and put out his favorite cake, Carrot Cake w/ cream cheese frosting (which I made all from scratch...YUMMY). It's funny the things you will do once you have a kid. I guess everything just seems more fun!

My birthday present was a little embarrassing, but he did need new socks...I told you! We will go to a movie tomorrow night BY OURSELVES as the rest of his present. Nonno and Nonna will be babysitting this time. HA HA HA HA Goodluck!

Happy Birthday to the greatest Husband and Dad a girl could ask for! We love you Dejan/Daddy!

A little laugh...

Just wanted to say I can hardly stand it when Ava laughs! It is a silly laugh and probably only half a laugh, but it is about the cutest thing I have heard in a long time. I am still sticking out the eating "real" food thing, but I think she has more fun blowing it all over my face then actually eating it.

She gets her first babysitter tonight...I am so nervous to leave her with someone other than family, but we will have to get her used to it if we ever want a life. My mom and dad always had babysitters and we loved it, so I am sure even though this may be a little hard I really think she is going to love Kista. Kista is top notch when it comes to kids...plus she could save her life if necessary (that's my first criteria when it comes to babysitters - ha ha).

Finally...after Nick played the piano for her, she seems to want to play too.

BYE BYE "W"

Ava has no idea what is going on today, but someday I will show her the video of her watching the news with me while we excitedly await the outcome of today’s election! I keep getting the goose bumps every time I think about what could happen today. I don't think I have ever been so nervous and excited about an election before and can hardly stand to wait. I know God has no say in this election, but I still pray this country gets a chance to elect Obama into Office so we can pull ourselves together and bring this beautiful FREE country back! I will be chanting all day...OBAMA...OBAMA...OBAMA...OBAMA!

P.S. Ava started eating cereal, and I think she really is enjoying herself!

AAAHHHH...

I pulled out the last of my summer flowers today, after the first freeze of the season, and watched our HUGE Ginkgo Tree drop all its leaves in a matter of hours. The leaves left quite a pile in the back yard, but were so much fun to walk through. Those fresh leaves were like a gentle reminder of summer and a jolt to the memory of last winter!! It started out just like this...hence the AAAHHHH! Luckily it did warm up today and Ava and I enjoyed some time outside in a leaf pile. She tried eating the leaves; I spent the whole time keeping them out of her mouth. It still was fun to watch her explore her way around the leaves...come on, she did look at each of them intently before shoving them in her mouth.

Lucky for me, I will have this face greeting me every morning during the long winter months. I'm thinking she will bring a lot of sunshine and a lot more movement then this house has seen in 6 years!

A beautiful Sunday

I'm a little behind here, but this week has been exhausting...

Ava's baptism was last Sunday and it was a perfect day. She was so good during the entire event and I think maybe she felt her families & God's love all around her. I had a hard time paying attention...I didn't sleep but four hours the night before, I hardly ate any breakfast during the mess confusion of everyone coming in and out and getting ready, and Nick, bless his heart, kept me & Ava entertained throughout the entire Mass (mostly showing me how his pinkie finger was double jointed-lol I'm always laughing for days about Nick). Ava quickly zonked out after she was baptized with her baptismal candle in hand (or "sword" as Nick called it...this was in theme with him and Harris calling Ava SUPERBABY in her baptismal cape).

Dejan and I have disagreements about religion, but this day was about Ava and I think both of us felt something very special that day. I finally felt my emotions surface when Dejan grabbed and held my hand while Father blessed all three of us. God really did bless us with Ava and sometimes we forget that!

So after our fabulous brunch, an annoying Football game by those darn Bears (losing in the last few seconds--You know, I really need to reevaluate all these teams I cheer for) cleaning house after everyone was gone, & finally catching up on our sleep, two days later Ava gets sick for the first time. She is starting to get better today and I guess we made it through the first of many sick nights!

Until next time...

What a beautiful day!

I hate the upcoming cold weather, but I have to say, days like this are breath taking. The sky is as blue as I have seen it in a long time, the smell of drying leaves and grass remind me of being a little kid and running around our old neighborhood on Broadway, and my walks with Ava are even better now that I get to show her all the beautiful colored leaves falling around us.

Fall has always made me feel nostalgic and this year is no different, maybe even more so because we have Ava who gets to experience all of this for the first time and we get to help her create memories. I also always wish my family was closer so I could go knock on one of their doors and spend the afternoon together. Happy Fall!

Motherhood

You know, if you had seen me after I had Ava (those of you who did know) you would have thought I was throwing in the towel and giving up. I had NO idea what I was in for the entire time I was pregnant...still wondering why my sister's didn't tell me!! lol Dejan and I waited 6 years for Ava and I went around the entire 9 months in la-la land; I am going to be the BEST mom, I have always been so good with kids, Dejan and I are going to be so happy, things are going to be just perfect...BLAH BLAH BLAH...REALITY CHECK!! After Ava came, I had a melt down every day for about 1 month, second month it was every other day. In my defense Ava cried a lot in the beginning...she had stomach issues and I wasn't producing enough milk so she was just plain hungry, AND DON'T MESS WITH HER IF SHE'S HUNGRY! Third month...CLICK, OH MY GOD, this little girl is mine and I LOVE HER.

I thought this moment would never come. There is this perception all mothers fall in love with their child immediately, so when that didn't happen to me I was crushed. Blame it on the c-section, blame it on not being able to nurse, blame it on selfishness, I'm not for sure why it didn't happen, but when it did, it was the most incredible feeling. Mind you, both my sisters walked me through this the entire time, my mom spent an entire week with us cooking and helping me get some sleep, and god bless my husband for saying the right thing at the right time for the first time in the 13 years I have known him...that has since changed, but I'll take what I can get! :-) AND, Kristin not only were you there when I found out I was pregnant (I'll never forget that day in the YMCA locker room, it is etched in my memory forever) but you were the only friend who didn't ditch me during the worst days. I appreciate all of you more than you know!

I guess I just thought it was important for me to remember the emotional journey Ava and I have made, and with her being 5 months on Sunday I think she is the best person I have ever gotten to know! I love you Ava!