Ava takes a risk!

For those of you not on Facebook...AVA WALKED...FIVE DIFFERENT TIMES!!!! Here's a couple vidoes we were able to capture...with all the thanks to our favorite neighbor Chirs Johnson. This all happened on Thursday, March 26. I was complaining how bored we both had been that day and Ava decided to spice the end of the day up...way to go Ava!

Tequila Baby!

This is where motherhood has lead me! Don't judge, just understand... drink in one hand, baby in the other, it's how we get through the day! :-)

Spring is in the air!

We had a great trip to Hamilton this week. Dejan was gone for three days for work, and I was NOT about to spend those three days alone in Ottumwa. SO, off Ava and I went. We stopped in Keokuk and spent some time with Grandma and Grandpa...I think I kind of surprised them, but know it was a good surprise. Ava was so happy to see them and spent the entire time walking around the ottoman and getting into everything that had a door.

When we finally made it to Hamilton, Ava was surrounded by Anna and Sam and she loved every minute it of it. They are so good to her! We all crashed hard that night and couldn't wait for the 65 degree day in store for Wednesday. Wednesday did not disappoint! I snuck away for an hour and half and enjoyed a walk to "downtown" Hamilton and shopped at Arnell's and Samuels...I think I am broke now. :-) I had to laugh because walking into Arnell's was like walking into the past. It looks just like when I was 10 and Owner/Pharmacist Steve Arnell was still working hard behind the counter and I looked up and smiled when I heard his familiar voice. I felt like a kid for a brief moment...I had to stop myself from buying pop and candy like the old days too. If you haven't been to Samuels, you are missing out. Jim has done a really great job with the store and I have a hard time leaving there spending less than 100 dollars.

The rest of the day was spent with Jenn and the kids and we had so much fun. I'll just post pictures; they are more fun to look at then words.

We bounced forever in that bounce house...I was exhausted, but we had so much fun!



She walked without help with that thing!

Doesn't she looked humiliated!?!?!

We made it home Thursday after driving 2 hours in a terrible rain storm...seriously, it poured the entire time and made it almost impossible to see the lines on the road. How did Ava do? Well, she slept the whole way! Lucky girl. I had to pry my hands off the steering wheel!

A growth spurt and a brain spurt

The whole reason I started this blog was to help me remember things I know I will forget...well, how am I going to remember them if I don't write!

I swear Ava turned 8 months old last month and she just erupted into this little person. The best part has been she is completely sleeping through the night without any cries out. You may remember she had bad gas, she had it the worst at night, and would always need her binky or repositioned to help her more comfortable. THAT IS FINALLY OVER!! WOO HOO. I actually sleep from 9:30-6:00 without interruptions...well, you mom's all know the trips to the bathroom really never stop, and I still lay my hand on her to make sure she is breathing. Will that every stop?

Her biggest milestones: she claps, she hugs and kisses, she stands with a little balance on her own, she stacks blocks, she follows directions (things like 'get the ball', 'give mommy the ball', 'where's the kitty' and she always looks right at her and points, she knows the words mommy and daddy, she cut two teeth, she can walk up the stairs (seriously), and finally SHE CRAWLS...it took one week of practice and she got it!

This all means she wants to go where she wants to go and she wants to do what she wants to do. Not so good for me! The other morning I heard her wake up and could hear her talking to herself and kind of sounding angry...I let her be for about 5 minutes and then it got quiet....I figured she fell back asleep....she did, but I found her on her side with one hand gripping the side of the crib like she had been trying to sit up and then just gave up and fell back asleep in exhaustion in that postion with binky in mouth. I just stood there staring at her laughing and thinking to myself...this girl is very determined and is going to cause me a lot of headaches!

This video is for Seabold's so they can continue to enjoy Ava's angry side...it gives them much joy! Sorry Mark, I forgot to say your name...it's like cutting you out of the pictures all over again...actually it's really because you are the nice one and don't laugh at my misery. lol

She's Not A Boy, OKAY!

Ava takes her first ride in a TARGET cart sitting all by herself...she was SOOOO happy!

WELL, this is her after some lady said "AHHH, your little boy is very cute and being so good!"

I had a private conversation with myself, "ARE YOU STUPID...can't you see the flowers on her shirt...she is beautiful and the only child not screaming in here today."

I instead chuckled and said "thanks, SHE is being very good."

P.S. Ava left Target with two new binkies that day, I thought she deserved it!

My New Year's Resolution finally comes to light!

I am starting to find humor in my very mundane new life style. Why not laugh that my mind is turning to mush from entertaining an 8 month old...it really doesn't take much to make her laugh or to find amusement in a sock on my head. Why not laugh that I purposely make lists so I have an excuse to run to the store when Dejan comes home. Why not laugh that my only connection right now with any friends, and people I can't seem to remember but they just won’t stop asking for that friend request (that one really makes me laugh), is through Facebook. Why not laugh that I now have an audience every time I use the bathroom. And, finally why not laugh that I have totally fallen in love with this vampire Edward Cullen...at least I can still engross myself in a good book, life is still the same after all.

So there you have it, my new year's resolution...TO LAUGH MORE!

Christmas and the New Year

Thank goodness Dejan, Ava, and I celebrated a quiet peaceful Christmas before we left for our parent's houses, because otherwise I would have to say Ava's first Christmas was a disaster. I got a stomach virus that made me sicker then I have ever been in a long time and proceeded to pass it to Dejan then Ava. My mom was supposed to leave for Italy (that's a whole nothing story I won’t share), but instead she came home that night to find me sitting on the bathroom floor...I haven't done that since my college days! lol Needless to say, the three of us spent Christmas Eve lying on my Mom and Dad’s couch under a blanket sound asleep....Merry Freakin' Christmas. I guess you can just imagine how Christmas Day was; at least I got that sweet picture of Ava up there. I'm thinking Fiji sounds really good for Christmas next year!

We did get to see our nieces Addison and Anna and nephew Sam, which seemed to brighten the long days. Ava played really good with all of them and of course seemed totally bored once we came home.

New Year was spent in Iowa City with a bottle of Dom Perignon..."the last splurge", YEAH RIGHT DEJAN! It's always fun to go up there. Thanks for letting us invite ourselves Seabold's!

Happy New Year...here's to 2009!