So this is Christmas...

Christmas this year was so fun with Ava. We wanted to start some new traditions now that we are starting our own family (like openings presents with Ava at home on Christmas morning) so the family (us, Tyson & Rachel, Josh, and Mom & Dad) all went to church together at Prairie Lakes, where Tyson and Rachel attend, on Christmas Eve. Ava sat very good during church, as usual, with the help of a couple snacks. After church, we headed back to our house for some snacks and games. Ava even opened her presents from us. She received new shoes, a trike, a farm animal book, clothes, Mega Blocks, new jammies, and her very own chair! She was so cute tearing off the tiny pieces of paper and handing them to everyone. The new trike was a big hit!

Trying to get a family photo.
Practically holding her down, but we got it!
Coloring with Papa. As my dad would say, "Papa's Girl! Papa's Girl!"
Loving the presents!
Getting the hang of it.

Here, Nana, take this paper.
The new trike!

Kisses for Mommy!
She hugged me unprompted, as if saying thank you for the new trike.



Christmas morning we had more gifts (from Santa). And let Ava enjoy some cartoons in her new pink chair while we got ready. Ava got a puzzle, books, her favorite snacks, and some kids movies from Santa.

Still looking pretty tired checking out the loot from Santa.
Drinking milk and watching cartoons in the new pink chair!


We then headed to my parents around 10:30 for brunch and of course, more gifts. Ave received many nice gifts including a wagon, puzzles, lots of clothes and jammies, a sock monkey that she loves, a refurbished rocking chair that once belong to Mommy, a cradle for her babies, and much more. We were also informed that Santa will no longer be stopping at my parents house, except for Ava (and any future grandchildren, of course). We spent the day and evening there and played too many games of Scattegories to count. We finally had to stop because Darren and my Dad were arguing every answer. Ha!







The day after Christmas we slept in, had breakfast, and then headed to Wes & Cindy's for the afternoon. We had lunch with then and then I was able to take a nice long nap on the couch while we were there. When I finally woke up we played a few games of Farkle and another card game that Wes and Cindy taught us. I won, of course. Ava was very good the whole day, even without a nap! She played with her toys and sat in her highchair and colored while we were playing cards. We didn't celebrate Christmas with the Malcolm's because we are doing that this coming weekend at Mark & Jody's in Hampton.

Looking at the kitties out the window.

Santa Baby

Friday night we headed out for dinner, some Christmas shopping, and of course to see Santa. We were a bit disappointed with the Santa at the mall. Ava was scared and cried, with good reason. He seemed as if he hated children and he didn't even have a real beard! We left without a picture.

After talking with one of Darren's co-workers (who looks like Santa) at his work Christmas party Saturday night he told us he was going to be "working" at the Cedar Falls Health Care Center. So Sunday afternoon we headed on over there to visit Santa (again). Round Two went so much better. He put his hands out for Ava and she went right to him. Nana and Papa were even in town and were able to join us!

Sick baby

Ava has been fighting what I thought was just a cold all week. However, yesterday when I got home from work she was worse than ever and crying like she was in pain. I gave her a bath to help bring down her fever. She burped and started crying hysterically, which made me think that her throat was sore. So off to Urgent Care we went. Turns out my poor baby has an ear infection and a very red, irritated throat (they didn't test for Strep since she'll be getting Amoxicillan anyway).

Today I didn't work until the afternoon and then my dad took the day off to come take care of my sick little girl so that I could go to work. Ava is sure lucky to have such a good Papa! Here's hoping we're all healthy by Christmas!

Smarty Pants

At 14 months old, here is a list of the words that Ava can say. I thought I would enjoy looking back on this. Some she says more than others and some we've heard just a few times.

Mama
Dada (often times Da)
Nana
Papa
Thank You
Ball
Hi
Bye
Eye (she says it when you ask her where her eye is)
Touch (this one she'll touch your head, say "Tusch" and then laugh hyterically)
Tree (we ask her where the tree is and she points to it and says "tree")

Yesterday Grandma Cindy was here to babysit and when I called to talk to her on the phone she put Ava on and Ava said "hi" and "bye" to me on the phone.

She is also very good at pointing to "Eyes", "Nose", and "Ears".

I am so amazed at all of the things that she can do at just 14 months old.

Coloring

Ava loves to color, and I have to admit that I forgot how much I do too. Here she is today sitting at her little table coloring in her coloring book. However, a few minutes after I took this picture she proceeded to color all over the wall. The first of many times, I'm sure.

Getting closer...

Today Ava is 14 months old. In fact, one year ago today was her baptism. Boy, has this year just flow.

This afternoon, my friend Erika stopped by with her twins, Alaina and Jonah, they are about 8 months older than Ava. Ava and the kids were loving up on each other giving lots of kisses. Alaina is even getting really good at saying "Ava".



Early this evening we had a big milestone! Ava took her first three steps! Its just a matter of time before she's walking all over the place! I suddenly feel the need to pad the furniture in big pillows! Ha!

CARRIE!

This past weekend I went to Des Moines with some girlfriends for the Carrie Underwood concert! We had such a great time and ended up getting luxury box seats - defintely the way to enjoy a concert! (thanks, Steph!) It was so nice to catch up and have some girl time with some of my favorite gals! Carrie put on an awesome show and I can't wait for her to come back to Iowa!

Me and my girlfriends before the concert.



My extended family (Pecha side) ended up celebrating Thanksgiving/Christmas also on Saturday night so Darren and originally planned on taking Ava. However, he hurt his back somehow during the week and was having a hard time moving, let alone bending over and picking up Ava. We off to Nana and Papa's she went. Of course, they were glad to have her. We didn't even have to twist their arms.

Kisses

Just another testament to how Ava is such a lovey little girl! She has officially started blowing kisses. Yesterday, my mom stopped by before her night class and when she was leaving she waved "bye-bye" like normal and I said blow Nana a kiss... and she did! We've been working on it and she got it! She blew Daddy a bunch of kisses when he got home as well!

Thanksgiving

We spent Thanksgiving weekend in St Louis celebrating Thanksgiving and Christmas with the Meinders clan. My parents and Josh rode down with us to help keep Ava entertained and to save money on gas. We had a van full! Ava did great in the car and had a fun filled weekend of swimming, eating, playing with cousins, and being passed around! She went to bed Monday night before 7:30, so I'd say she was pretty exhausted from the busy weekend!

Unfortunately, I forgot to bring my camera so I don't have anything to share!

Show me your teeth...

We've been working on asking Ava to point out her nose, ears, eyes, and teeth. She's gotten really good at pointing them all out! When you ask her to show you her teeth, this is what she does. Every. Single. Time. So funny!

How big is Ava?

SO BIG!



We've been working on this for months now and one morning this week when I was getting Ava dressed. I asked her, "How big is Ava?" And just like that... one hand up in the air. So I asked her again, "How big is Ava?" And then she shot both hands in the hair and let out her cute little giggle.

Its a pony tail kind of day...

Ava wore her first pony tail this week! Look at my little cutie!

We Heart Fall!

70 degrees was the temperature today! We've been spending lots of time enjoying the weather while it lasts. Last Monday when Nana was here we raked up a big pile of leaves and it was the perfect photo opportunity! Ava was a little scared at first, especially when Sophie barreled through the pile of leaves right in front of her, but we started tossing leaves in the air and she thought it was hilarious. I got some great photos!

Teeth

Ava had her seventh (yes 7th) tooth pop through today. On her first birthday she only had three teeth! I can't believe she has cut four teeth in the last month! Ava has been a little more crabby than normal and has been kind of crying in her sleep (not actually waking up, just letting out little whines or cries in the middle of the night). I know it probably has to be so painful!

Bye!

Ava started saying "Bye" this week. Thursday when I left for work she waved like she normally does and said in the sweetest little high pitched voice "bye". What a proud, proud moment. She has continued to say it many times over the weekend.

Flu shot

I had to take Ava back to the doctor this morning for her second dose of the flu shot. It was horrible. I am 99% positive that she remembers the awful experience she had there last month. She wouldn't even smile for the nurses like she normally does. Then as soon as I set her on the table, she knew what was coming because she started to whine. I decided to sit her on my lap for the shot this time. The nurse poked her, instant tears turned into almost hyperventilating tears. Then I got a flu shot and Ava, with tears still running down her cheeks, wouldn't take her eyes off the nurse. My poor baby is now sleeping it off. Hopefully, she'll forget all about it when she wakes up. We hate shots!

Happy Halloween

Its still hard to believe that this was Ava's second Halloween! Although we didn't do much this year, it was much more eventful than Ava's last Halloween! On Friday, Main Street Cedar Falls had their annual Trick or Treating so I took Ava, mostly to show off Ava in her costume to the girls at work. We didn't even get any treats. :o) Then Ava and I headed to Snap Fitness to Trick or Treat to Tyson and Rachel. My little Ladybug was the cutest darn ladybug I ever did see! We were there for a little while, Ava made a total mess of Uncle Tyson's office by eating the cookie Rachel brought her. She then enjoyed looking at herself in the mirrors and playing with the exercise balls there.

Yesterday afternoon I dressed Ava up in costume # 2 while Nana and Papa were here visiting. This time she was the world's cutest Yoda. I have to admit, if the actual Yoda was this cute, I may have enjoyed Star Wars more.

Today we skipped Trick or Treating all together. We were visiting Grandma and Grandpa Malcolm this evening and figured we didn't need all that extra candy around anyway. Grandma even had a Halloween sucker for Ava. She loved every lick and did very well with it all on her own!








My ladybug one year ago