Keeping Up

Our blog is our journal and at the end of each year we convert it into a book. We just recently finished our 2009 blog book and I'm happy to have all the stories and memories preserved (especially since it was Ava's 1st year). Now that Ava is older and more active it is harder to keep up with our blog, but I'm determined to continue to preserve our family memories and special events. To help keep up with our ordinary daily activities here are some photos and short stories.

In July Ava turned 18 months and a lot of changes came with it. She moved out of her baby tub and is now taking a bath in the big tub. Ava loves playing in the bath especially with her monkey bubble wand and a cup. In July Ava also graduated from her high chair to a booster seat at the table. Now we just have to tackle potty training. We bought a toddler potty chair to get her use to it, but she is not quite ready for the training.

Ava likes all kinds of foods. In this picture she is chowing on a dill pickle at Jack's Urban Eats. Within this past month Ava's eating habits have really fluctuated and she has become fickle with her likes and dislikes. One day she will eat broccoli and then the next day she hates it. She has recently discovered a love for grapes.
Ava has a couple different duplo sets. I have to admit initially we got duplos because I thought they would be fun to play with. Fortunately Ava thinks they are fun too. She likes to dump out the blocks and mainly play with the animals or direct me on how to build. I can't wait until she enjoys building too. In this picture Ava is holding a monkey and saying "oo, aa, oo, aa".

Ava has never seen Toy Story I or II, but she loves Buzz Lightyear. It might have something to do with the fact that I love Toy Story and have several Buzz Lightyear things. When she sees Buzz she gets excited and says, "Buu, Buu". I bought this fabric before Ava was born. It is a Toy Story fleece that I plan on making a blanket out of. Now that I know Ava loves Buzz I decided to wash it and get going on the blanket.

On many Sunday mornings Rich takes over getting Ava up and feeding her, so I can get ready and have a break. Ava enjoys this special father-daughter time because she gets to eat delicious breakfasts like bread smothered in Nutella.

Ava truly is my daughter and we share a love for shoes. She loves to put on our shoes and walk around the house. Since Ava discovered my grandma's high heels she plays with them all them time.

When I see Ava wear these shoes it warms my heart and makes me think of my grandma. She was a special lady and these shoes remind me of her. When I was little and visited my grandma I always played with her shoes. I loved trying all her shoes on, but these ones were my favorite. I don't think I would ever wear them out in public, but I always thought the beaded rose was so beautiful. I am so happy that Ava has her great-grandma's shoes and loves them the way I do.

Ava loves Luca!! She likes to snuggle and pet him. She also likes to boss him around. When we give him a treat we make him sit and Ava tries to do the same thing. She also likes to throw his ball and if he doesn't chase it she will tell him to go get it. It is funny to watch her imitate the things we do.