Why is this?

Seeing as Dejan and I don't go around hitting ourselves when we get mad or frustrated, nor do we spit our drinks onto the floor, why is Ava doing this? It's like children are animals. They poop and pee on themselves, throw up wherever is convenient, have this never ending dripping snot, spit everything out of their mouths, throw tantrums and hit things. Why is this?  :-)

Potting training is well underway, the snot has stopped for the moment (but I have purchased stock in Kleenex Brand Tissues), I have designated a sponge to cleaning the floor (you know, for all the liquids Ava decides to spit out), the tantrums get ignored to Ava's aggravation hence the hitting herself (I guess to get my attention), and the idea of doing this all over again makes me shutter...don't ask me about another baby and don't ask me what I did all day, I might just hit you! Oh wait; maybe I just answered my original question.

PS. Don' let me fool you, Ava is my biggest love and I'm enjoying every gross, hitting, tantrum. If she's the only child I get, I am the luckiest person alive!

A Prairie Home Companion

Garrison Keillor made me laugh pretty hard Saturday night and two quotes that keep sticking out in my mind...

"God created marriage so we don't have to fight with strangers" and

"When you die you either go to heaven with your wife's family or purgatory with your friends"

Thanks to Iowa Public Radio for working so hard to get the show to come to Des Moines...it's the only odd ball stop on their list. ha

Dejan may be gone all week, but Jenn and I start drinking wine every night at 5pm to make ourselves feel cool. I am so thankful she and the kids came up to spend the week with Ava and I, we have been having fun. As for the wine, bottle #2 starts tomorrow.

I HATE IT MOM!

We gave it the old college try...

she just wouldn't have anything to do with it ( I know, aren't I mean, I'm laughing at her)! Ava's first trick or treat at the Y went great after we took that silly costume off. She went straight for the candy box, then went again, and again, and again, and again, and again. Right on girl, you know exactly what to do. Now we need to work on what type of candy you are taking from the candy box.

We ended the night with a bang! Her first sucker.

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.