I am Ava and I am Two.

This makes me giggle every time I watch it...I'm so happy she can say it!




The last few weeks have been interesting at our house. Ava's verbal skills have just taken off, and the funny things she tries to say everyday just have me rolling. I could fill a book every day with attempted conversations between the two of us. I unfortunately never have my camera handy during these moments, which makes me sad because I just know I'll forget them. I do have a journal and write things down on paper as I remember. I'm moving that book by my bed...right before I fall asleep is when all the day's memories come back, so I'll be making an attempt to write some down.

I am loving two (well, most days). Random stuff...

*I have been working on her cooking skills. She uses a knife pretty darn good and is so excited to help me. GOOD, it's my goal to have her making us dinner by 5.

*She notices her finger nails are pink (for us adults who don't pay attention anymore, it's the skin underneath she's talking about.) While pointing to her fingers and toes, "Mom, pink!" "WHAT?" "Yeah, Mom, PINK!"

*She ran out into a busy street at the park. This has been the scariest moment for me so far. She just took off! Damn this independent streak! Her guardian angel made her abruptly stop, I just know he or she did.

*Reading books is a challenge...she wants this page, I'm ready to move on, she wants that book, I'm tired of reading that one, she holds onto the book so I can't turn pages, she points and repeats herself A LOT. Reading is so important to me, so we muddle through twice a day for 20 minutes and know it will be all worth it.

*And yes, I take her to listen to the Municipal Band in the park. I want her to know her options, and plus, it brings back a lot of hilarious memories for me. Those of you in High School band know exactly what I'm talking about! She liked it, but seemed slightly disappointed when it started...you know, because it didn't have base and didn't feel like shake your hips kind of rhythm.

We are having fun this summer and time is flying by. I'm trying to enjoy every moment I can, which is impossible, and appreciate my husband working his tail off so I can stay home and have this special one on one time with Ava before she takes off into the big wide world.

What. Is. Up. In. Your. World. Today?

Such an appropriate question from my sister yesterday.

My day was so funny that I just have to write it down.

6am-water service out
6:30am-I call water department to see what's going on, here's a sneak peak at my conversation with a water works employee. The man says, "There's a leak somewhere on your street." Me, "Do you know when it will be fixed?", This crazy man on the phone, "Why do you need water?" SILENCE...
Clearly there were 10 seconds of silence because I was waiting for him to laugh, but no, he didn't. I said "Well, I have a toddler at home and clean water is pretty important." He continues his craziness by saying, "Honey, babies shouldn't be drinking the city water anyway." That's so reassuring! This conversation turned into a person growing a third arm, well water, and something else before I cut him off and just asked when the water would be back on. 4-6 hours. Fine.

So the day begins...

8:30am- wake up Ava. She's grumpy and sulks for about an hour, which was fine by me because I had other stuff to do, before asking for breakfast.
10:30am-Ava sits on the potty and tells me no, then stands up, gets dressed, and pees her pants. I hate potty training! Then she surprises me by pooping in the potty to get a ring pop (try not to judge me). Nice!! I'm feeling pretty good.

11:00am-Ava is into everything. Climbing, falling, opening, jumping, falling, up and down the stairs, nothing is left untouched. I need a break. I go down to get laundry and turns out Ava finds a way to help...she picks up cat poop and brings pieces, one by one, to me in the laundry room and drops them on the floor. Yes, that's right, I said she picked up cat poop with her bare hands piece by piece saying "Mommy, poopy!" I REALLY need a break now....thank you Nick Jr.!

1:00pm-Lunch over, cleaning up, Ava of course insistent on helping ("Eellpp Mommy"), spills an entire bowl of water on the kitchen rug. Move everything out, clean up, Ava it's time for a nap! "NNNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOO" while running in circles dancing to Dora music.

6:00pm-I respond to my sister's original question. I need to escape my world is what's up today! My kitchen rug is soaked with water, toys have taken over my entire house, even though I NEVER see Ava playing with them, & Dejan just said he was going to sit down & wait for me to decide on dinner...clearly to annoy me even more, but this lady is shut down for the day. My heart may go crazy (because I have heart palps), but this glass of Port is REAL nice.

7:00pm-Dejan plays the entire evening with Ava and this makes up for EVERYTHING. See, sometimes he can still make me happy (hahaha) and this is the happiest I have seen Ava all day!

8:00pm-I check facebook and my good friend Angie feels sorry for me and mentions she's off work tomorrow. Sweet, let's get together! Now I have a reason to make tomorrow a better day. Having a plan makes Mommy happy, so everyone is happy!

9:00pm-downloading pictures and find another fun plus for the day. Ava can dress herself and pretty darn good too. She wanted two bows, her Dora sneakers, and she always coordinates very well. This means more Mommy freedom. YES!

DSM to PHX

A much needed trip for me, a first plane ride for Ava, and a time to unwind for Dejan. Arizona was our choice destination and the warm weather, sunshine, and visit with family does a person good. The down side, now we dislike Ottumwa even more.

Ava was so great on the plane. She charmed everyone with her "wwwhhhoooo's" during take off, and kept me busy enough to forget I was even flying. Aunt Dusica played Dora on the radio for the car ride to her house, so Ava was immediately in love with "Dodo". Playing with Addison was so easy for her and swimming in the pool was a big hit. Addie this, Addie that, play, doggie, baby, pool, more, TOOOYYYYYSSSSS, bath, all words that kept coming out of Ava's mouth along with an obnoxious squeal, which I'm sure just decided to come out for the trip because I haven't heard it since, but which her and Addie spent a lot of time doing through the house. My poor eardrums are still recovering




PMS seemed to keep me from really enjoying myself like I should have, but that's life and next time I'll remember to plan better. Having babies plays havoc on your hormones, so planning around PMS is a must...I'm just saying so no one else makes the same mistake. I did come back with a tan line and a new appreciation for my baby girl, who can travel and put up with just about anything along the way. I am ready for another trip and ready to move out of Ottumwa. Sorry Ottumwa, you're just not doing it for me.

Getting back into the hum drums of regular life have been a bit slow. Ava hasn't been wanting to go to bed without a fight, laundry is still getting put away,and our yard is a mess. I suddenly feel the need to hire all this work out.

Thanks to all of Dejan's family for a wonderful visit. You made us feel so comfortable we almost felt like we lived there too. We love you guys!

Random Findings

I love to pick up at the end of the day and find Ava's little play scenes throughout the house. I had to share what I laughed about last night.

1220

10 Reasons Why I Love My 103 year old Home

Because...
1. Ava and I can spend even rainy days outside on our fantastic front porch
2. The trees
3. The yard, which allows us to have numerous party spots on any given day
4. The barn still smells like horses
5. The feeling I get late at night or early in the morning, when things are quiet, that this house has so many stories to tell
6. The soil is so rich from previous farm land that the overgrowth of weeds is actually a wonderful sign to plant, plant, plant
7. The wood floors which show signs of wear from years of living
8. The fact I can sleep 10 guests randomly throughout the house with almost everyone being comfortable...sorry Mark and Jim
9. The abundance of windows, for sunshine and those wonderful cross breezes
10. This is the home we brought our first born home to and it will always bring back the laughter, the tears, the happiness, the sadness, the fights, the hugs, the kisses, and the squeals of a toddler happy as a clam to live in this wonderfully old, drafty, leaky basement, too many bushes to trim, in need of a paint job, and endless projects, which all seem to keep us from moving away.

Thanks 1220 for helping Ottumwa feel like home.

Turning Two and Binky Woes

What a difference a year makes in a toddlers life, and ours for that matter. If I could bottle Ava up right now I would love to keep her just as is. She is happy, talkative, learning to use the potty with flying colors, funny & goofy, and has this tendency to run around everywhere at anytime, even first thing in the morning. She runs to the bathroom, to our bedroom, to her bedroom, all while giggling to herself about who knows what. Who knew this crazed postpartum mommy could come out of the fog and be such a happy person again. It's her. It's her hugs, her kisses, her "yeah" when we tell her we love her, her need to put one finger up and shake her head yes when she wants one more of something, her loud squeal, that funny run, and the random words which come out perfectly the first time.

Don't worry it's not all good stuff. She really knows the word NO and the binky is a real issue. Two was supposed to be the end of the binky love affair, but Ava would have none of that. She is still sucking on a half binky (that's right, I cut half of it off and she still won't throw it away). This is touchy and I have decided it's going to be on her terms...I'm just slowly coaxing her in the right direction. I'm not one for drama, which for one week there was WAY too much of it, so she keeps the binky only for sleeping, and I keep telling her how gross that thing is and sometime soon she is going to have to throw it away. She agrees, so we are headed in the right direction.

This picture is the morning we sent all her binky's to another baby. You can she was really happy to do this UNTIL nap time came and she realized what just happened.


We had a big birthday bash...which I said I would never do. But how can we not throw her a party. She's so cute and Dejan and I LOVE a good party. She had such a great day and I am so thankful for all our family and friends who were able to share the day with us. She totally gets what a birthday is all about now. And yes, we had a giant Muno at her party.

Life is going at warp speed and I have missed many opportunities to write. We have had some ups and downs already this year. Yammi blessed us with becoming part of our lives (and the excitement and hugs I get every time she sees me makes me about as happy as Ava does). Dusica gave us another nephew, and a trip in June will allow us to FINALLY meet Conor and catch up with Addison. Dejan's Dad was in the hospital and gave us quit a scare, but is making a full recovery. My nephew's Harris and Nick have changed so much, I cry a little every time I see them. Niece Anna and nephew Sam are quit a pair and bring so much life and laughter when they come to visit. I miss them right now too.

I will take a deep breath now and try to remind myself to enjoy every moment, give lots of hugs, say I love you as much as I can, and make it a point to dance around the kitchen with Ava everyday to our favorite songs. I love those moments and want to bottle them up too.

Digging some dirt

I had lots of help this year digging up my garden to get ready for planting. Ava enjoyed digging up dirt with a shovel and dumping it into a bucket until she discovered how much more fun it was to use her hands. I agree! This Iowa dirt is amazing. Dark, rich, full of worms, and has a smell that must bring out our historical beginnings somewhere in our brains. It just makes me want to work hard and feel pride in my "crop" (I put that in quotations because my mini garden, that tends to fade away before I even reap its benefits, is no where near a crop).

My 80 year old neighbor, Gail, must have been keeping a watchful eye on us, and got sick of watching us take our sweet time. He came out and helped me pull up a ton of weeds and trees that were near impossible to dig out. So yes, that's right, an 80 year old showed me up in my own garden. Now I owe him a homemade cherry pie once all our cherries ripen up...and good lord, that tree is FULL of cherries this year.

I have big hopes for my garden this year since Ava is old enough to help and play on her own (this helps to get some stuff done without interruption). The lettuce is in, the eggplant is in, and the strawberries are blooming (well, what's left of them). Summer is right around the corner, I can smell it.

*Ava was quit interested in those worms*