Birthday celebration

Creepy Santa

I have to tell the story about this scary little santa decoration that we have. I think my mom gave it to me a couple of years ago and I didn't think much of it (it's kinda creepy looking). Well, Ava has found a liking to it and makes it do very creepy things! For some reason, she will close the bathroom door and put it right up against it every morning! Imagine waking up in the middle of the night and seeing this creepy thing!

Happy 3rd Birthday Jackson!

To my Son on your 3rd Birthday,

Today you turn 3. Where has the time gone! I still can remember the day, so vividly in my mind, December 16, 2006. Our first child, our only boy, was born. Life has changed so much since you have come into our lives. You are getting so big, so independent, and not needing mommy as much....sniff, sniff. Since you have started daycare you have learned so much. I am so proud of you! Everyday I pick you up from school you amaze me with what you have learned. Even in the times that you make me want to pull my hair out I wouldn't trade you for the world! You are such a wonderful big brother (most of the time). I love watching you play with Ava. She looks up to you so much and wants to do everything you do.

Your favorite things are "chups" or chips, dinosaurs, Mickey Mouse, anything having to do with cars, playing with your cousins, singing Christmas songs, going on adventure walks, riding the carosel at the mall, wrestling with Dad and Ava, cuddling on the couch with Mom or Dad, putting on your own shoes, among many other big boy things!

You have learned to go potty all by yourself! Sometimes we wish you would tell us you went though! ;-) You watch out for your little sister and you two are best buds (for now at least).

I cherish every second with you. I can never get enough of all your hugs and sugars! I love you so much.

Happy Birthday Sugarplum!

Love,

Mom

Look at those piggies!

So I finally tried putting pig tails in Ava's hair today. Why on earth did I not try this sooner? Her hair is way long enough! She looked like a totally different little girl, a much BIGGER girl at that! She seemed to love them too as she posed and smiled for the camera. Check out her piggies. Way cute!

Halleluja!

I am confident to say my son is now pottytrained! After SEVERAL months of I'm guessing "not being ready" he has gone a whole week with only two accidents! He now comes and tells us everytime he has to go "tee tee or poopy"! He has even learned to stand up and tee tee! Yay! After learning this it is much easier for him to go by himself. It's like a light came on in his little head! :-) What a relief! No more diapers (with the exception of naps and bedtime). That's the next step!

Bows, Shoes, Purses....OH MY!

So now we are obsessed with purses? What? How is this girl becoming so Girlie Girl? I must admit I started the whole bow thing. We probably have a bow for every outfit. Whenever a bow falls out of her hair I will ask her to go and find her bow. She will hunt for the thing and bring it back to me to put in her hair. It is too funny! Then the shoe obsession started. Will not let me take the things off her feet! She would probably sleep in them if I let her! Now purses? She walked around the house all morning with this one over her arm. Oh my!

Our First Tooth!

After a not so fun weekend of fever, a snotty nose, constant whining and crying, night wakings and not interested in eating we FINALLY have a tooth popping through! You can feel a rough patch on her bottom gums. Yay!!! What a big girl she is! I was beginning to think we were never going to get one!

Water Babies

We let the kids play in the sprinklers today so we didn't have to make a trip to the pool. They both love the water, so we knew they would enjoy it just the same. The water table was also a hit, although Ava did think it was a pool as you can see! I managed to get some really great shots of them. Hope you enjoy!

I've created a MONSTER!

So, Miss Ava has about a handful of shoes she wears (but not often since we are home a lot). I recently bought her a fall pair of fuschia mary jane's that are just adorable. Anywhoo, she spotted them in the top of her closet and I pulled them out for her to try on. I let her walk around in her room with them and as I went to take them off she growled at me! She did not want to take off her shoes! I tried numerous times to take them off and I got the same reaction everytime! Oh my, I have created a shoe'aholic! Here are some pics of her wearing her pj's and her "new shoes".

Little Monkey

Look at this crazy girl! Scott and Jack went upstairs and didn't take Ava! She realized she could climb and put both feet on the first step of the stairs! Not good! I was so worried she would fall back and hit her head on the tile. Hopefully she doesn't continue to do this!

It's been a while....

Showing her gummy smile! No teeth yet!

Mom, this bow weighs more than I do!

Stick 'em up!

Come on little baby, bottoms up!

She thinks she's at the pool.

So, I finally found my USB plug to fit our camera. Laptop still out of commission so I had to resort to the desktop. We've been doing great. Ava is into everything. Walking around like a little old lady! It is too funny. She carries her hands up by her chest I'm guessing for balance? She'll just stroll on into a room like a little old lady. I have to try and catch it on video. Her vocabulary is expanding. She'll say, Mommy, Dadda, dog, milk, hi and bye. She points to everything, squeals, still loves to be carried, and this is the topper. I pulled out a life like doll I had in her closet. It comes with a bottle and pees herself. Anyways, everytime we would go in her closet she would eye it so I decided to get it out. Oh my, is she the little mommy. She immediately took the bottle and put it in her mouth! What??? How on earth did she know to do that? She even held it like a baby! She really is too funny. She loves dancing to the Imagination Mover's theme song. Everytime it comes on, no matter where she is in the house she will come wobbling into the living room hands flying around with a big smile on her face. They will be in Houston in October. Maybe we can get tickets????!!!

Jackson is crazy. If we can get him to share and stop hitting we'll be good to go. He's into everything as well. This morning I was blow drying my hair and he said, "Mommy, my hair is messy. I need it blow dwied." So I started blow drying his hair and he replied with, "Good job Mom!" It looks good. What? Where does he get these things from? Potty training is still going. He'll have a couple of accidents a day and for the most part he will tell me he has to go but it's usually too late. Hopefully he'll catch on soon. It's seems to be just another part of our day now so I don't get easily frustrated.

Ava is walking!

Well it's actually been a little while since she has OFFICIALLY been walking but I am just now posting. Luckily for us she started walking before we left for our mini vacation. She is moving and shaking now! It's so funny to watch her because she is so tiny. She moves like a snail but she is walking on her own. She was only a month behind her brother walking at 12 months. I'll post a video or pics once I get my laptop working again!

Flying high....

So last weekend Celina had their 4th Annual Balloon Festival. The take off was scheduled for 7am Saturday morning. Though we WERE up that early, 5am to be exact, it was still hard to get everyone fed, dressed and out the door to be there on time. So Scott and Jack went out front to see if they could see any balloons since the park wasn't too far from our house. Scott was looking towards the park and all of a sudden Jackson lets out a scream full of excitement! "Look Dad! A balloon!" It was literally right over the lake infront of our house! We ended up sitting out front watching about 15-20 balloons fly right over the lake! We had the best view and we didn't even have to leave our house! Jackson loved every minute of it. He would wave to all the balloons and yell everytime a new one would fly over. Here is a video of Jackson watching the balloons.

Pretty in Pink

Just a few pics of Ava in a cute little outfit. I'm in love with little girl skirts now. I didn't think I would like them until I tried some on her. Love them!

Ava's 12 month stats

Well Ava had her 12 month appointment today and she weighed 16lbs 13 1/2 oz. which is still (less than 3%) on the charts but she did gain since her last appointment so the doctor was okay with this. She did grow in height as well as she is 27 1/2 inches tall (5%) and her head circumference is 18 in. (50%). She thinks she is moving in the right direction but wants to start her on Pediasure instead of whole milk and put her on Prevacid since her throat looked red. Go figure....it's always something. I'm thinking of doing my own thing and say screw the doctors. I'm fed up with them trying to find something wrong with her!

To my sweet cheeks on your 1st birthday

Dear sweet Ava-
Where does the time go? I remember the day we found out we were expecting you. Very shocked but pleasantly suprised. I can remember the day you were born as if it were yesterday. You were a tiny little thing (4 lbs 10oz) but very eager to get out and see the world. It was love at first sight. Your brother loved on you so much and showered you with sugars. You had daddy wrapped around your finger. The first couple months were tough and left us yearning for sleep but we didn't care. What a bundle of joy we had. Two precious babies to love and care for.

You bring a smile to my face everytime I go to get you out of bed. You always wake standing up in your crib laughing and giggling, arms flying everywhere. Sometimes I sneak you into our bed if you are too fussy to fall back asleep. You are sometimes a snuggler but most of the time you just want to play and wrestle with dad.

I love how you and your brother play together. With being only 17 months apart I hope you grow to be the best of friends. He is so protective of you and watches out for you. He lets me know when you get into things you are not supposed to and has never had a jealous bone in his body when it comes to you. For this we are forever grateful. Watching you two together has brought great joy to me. I love that I am able to stay home with you and watch you grow. Sometimes it goes by too fast. One minute you were laying in my arms fast asleep, the next you are taking steps learning how to walk.

I love how you make your funny faces and it's as if you know we are looking at you. You love to shop, wrestle with brother and dad, play in the water, push anything you can get your hands on, any kind of food but mostly pankcakes and cheerios, bathtime, being thrown in the air, playing with your brother's toys when he isn't looking, our morning walks, there are just too many things to list.

I am so grateful you came into our lives. We can't imagine life without you. My dear sweet Ava. I love you so much. Happy 1st birthday baby doll!

Love,
Mom

Ava's 1 year birthday party

What a wonderful and HOT afternoon. My sweet pea turned 1. I went to go get her out of bed this morning and I walked in to her room to find her flashing a 1000 watt grin. What a happy girl! I can't believe she is 1! She looks so little! I looked back at Jackson's 12 month photos and he was so much bigger than Ava. We had a nice party with family and close friends. A bounce house filled the backyard but it was way too hot for the kids to get in. Those dog days of summer! Next year we have got to do something indoors! She loved her cake that Nina made (Strawberry Shortcake). She was a little social butterfly playing with all her friends.

Thanks to everyone for the gifts. What cute clothes she got!!! Adorable!

Happy 1st Birthday baby girl!