Wanted to post and say we have been enjoying the fact Fall finally made an appearance for a couple days. Just when I thought I would scream curse words at the clouds and rain, the sun came out, warmed it up enough for a day at the park and an afternoon jumping in leaf piles. Sniff, Sniff, Sniff...I will miss you sun, green grass, warm breeze, and blue skies. Despite my gloominess towards the cold weather, Fall does have its up side...spectacular leaf color's, the sound of walking through the drying leaves in our backyard, carving pumpkins, and getting to dress Ava like she stepped right out of the Fall Boden catalog.

Fun, Fun, Fun and some sweet news

Ava had a BLAST with her cousins this past week, and we thought for sure she was going to just start talking by the time we left, she wanted to be a big kid so bad! I had a memorable walk through Seabold's neighborhood with my #1 nephew (no matter how old he gets, Harris is still #1 and will always be the little guy who had poop up to his head while Jenn and I played dress up with him, AND puked coca-cola orange juice all over me). A lunch date at Longfellow School with Nick left Ava ready for school and me so happy to be able to spend time doing things like this. Thanks Dejan for working so hard so Ava and I can have so much fun.

The Iowa game was great and we couldn't believe we actually left Ava two weekends in a row. Nonna and Nonno were GREAT babysitters and totally spoiled her... just as grandparents should do. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for being so great Mom and Dad, and of course for allowing us to totally take over your entire weekend. As far as our company at the game...we HAVE to do this again, but I'll be sure to bring along Gatorade!

On to the sweet news! I am going to be an Aunt twice over come next spring. My sister-in -law is due to bless us with another baby in the family around May (which I may add is super exciting for us, maybe Ava will share another May birthday with someone), and Seabold's are adopting a beautifully sweet 3 year old from Ethiopia. They have been on a long journey waiting for her and words cannot express what they're going to give this girl. Yamerot is her name and as soon as they are ready I will share a picture. Yamerot's little face is etched in my mind and both these children are already part of my heart. Congratulations to all of you and thanks for giving life and sharing your lives.

Shining Moment

I was so proud of Ava today. Off we went to story time at the library...late of course, because we are always fashionably late...and there were LOTS of kids today. Who to play with, hhmmm, Ava looks around at everyone. She walks around matter of factly (is that even a group of words..if not it should have the definition...AVA), pulls a few books off the self, wants to go where the big kids are, tries to stand on the chairs, succeeds briefly while I was looking away, watches this girl sitting by herself, then of course walks away to get some more books and boss me about where to sit. THEN, she did it! She went over and sat with the girl no one else wanted to play with. It made little Erica's day and Ava seemed pretty content following her around. Thanks Ava for being the person I didn't even have to try to teach such a thing to.

Our Night Away

Oh My Lord...Dave Matthews ROCKED! We had so much fun and I feel I would make a really great groupie. If they tour in your area you better buy me a ticket! I was having so much fun I let the whole "I really LOVE the Tina Fay thing you've got going on," go. UUGGGHH I guess I wont wear that outfit EVER again...we decided it was my glasses but he assured me it was a good thing, especially since I had a baby just a year ago. WHATEVER, thanks!
Thanks to Rosy and Nick for allowing us to have a worry free night away. I knew Ava would have a blast and show you her best "stomping away mad self" when you were so mean and took her out of the car and had to stop her from going down the slide by herself (nice save)! At least you made up for it by giving her an ENTIRE plate of Fruit Loops for breakfast.

UUUUMMMM....

I just haven't found time to talk about anything right now. So much is going on but there's no energy left at the end of the day to even want to type and rethink the day. Teeth, LOTS of poppy diapers, her first diaper rash (my record is over), less sleep, changing personality, super cute talking, mama, mama, mama, mama, mama, mama, mama, mama, mama, mama, and mama some more if she wants to show me something and I'm not quite paying attention, big hugs, lots of kisses, obsession with wanting to play in dada's truck, a fit at least once a day, "mmmmooooo", able to match animals up on puzzles and put them in their place (you know I make her wear a GENIUS shirt...because she is!), the independent bug has kicked in (don't even try to help her down the slide), on and on and on I could go. Ava makes me smile MOST of the day, Dejan and I have turned a corner as parents, we just seem to jive and I like that.

We are off to a Dave Matthew's concert tomorrow night! A night away for the first time in almost 17 months, I can't wait! I know Ava will be having fun with Tata Rosy and cousin Nick...she loves video games so the two of them probably wont even need Rosy.

Thanks to her Arizona Aunties and Uncles for all the great clothes they sent Ava earlier this summer. This is my favorite on her and she sure enjoyed posing.

What is poor Dejan going to do...I want to change everything in my house! You see, I should not be allowed to stay home for more than a year, after that I hate EVERYTHING in my house.  I want new wall colors, new carpet, new dining room furniture, fix the basement, take out the 70's trim in the kitchen, put in a bathroom on the main floor; can you imagine we have lived here for 6 years, with me having one surgery, one pregnancy, one c-section, and 16 months going up and down to change diapers...now who's coming to do all the work for me? :-)

Well, let's talk about Ava to get my mind off that!

I am amused at how much she loves her shoes. She already has a favorite pair which we have to put on every morning, and every morning they make her fall down because she's not good at walking in them and of course she cries. She sat right down on her new potty, made a fart noise and had me take off her diaper..not bad for her first time. I am really excited about how she does almost everything I tell her to do (hahahaha), we think she may like our neighbor Chris more than she likes us, she already eats in a booster seat, and she is SO close to telling Dejan and I to get out of her way she's going over to see Chris ("keeeee") and Sara ("ssiii"); as for right now, she gives her demanding point and walks right over to his house!