More weekend fun!

It was Cedar Falls' annual Sturgis Falls celebration over the weekend. Ava attended her first Bill Riley Talent Contest on Friday night. If she's anything like her mama, she'll be performing in them before too long. It was gorgeous weather and Ava loves being outside AND music, so it was the perfect combo.

Saturday morning, Darren had to work so my mom and I took Ava to the parade. At first, I didn't think we would go because I thought Ava was too young to really care. Boy was I wrong! She loved the parade!! The bands and music were her favorite part. She was so cute clapping and shaking her legs to the beat of the drums. That and the orange push-up she shared with Nana! We'll have to wait for the pictures from the parade. I didn't bring my camera, so I'm waiting for pictures from my mom.

She is getting better at standing with little help.



Saturday night our friends, Derek and Malisa Fender, babysat Ava while we attended the couple's shower I (along with the other bridesmaids) threw for Tyson and Rachel. The party turned out great. It was a Mexican theme, complete with sombrero's, maracas, margaritas, Corona, and more!

The soon-to-be Mr & Mrs

R & T with Ma & Pa Pecha






Today we spent some time outside. Darren installed the outdoor baby swing into the deck for Ava, and then we let Ava splash around in her pool for awhile.

Ava has really picked up speed the past few days. She is moving all around and we seriously need to baby proof! We don't even have a baby gate yet, so guess what we'll be purchasing this week? She is so cute crawling, it just makes me laugh when I watch her. Its so funny because she keeps going for Sophie's toys now, instead of her own. For those of you with Facebook, check out the recent video I posted of Ava crawling. I was going to post on here, but the uploader isn't working.

We have a crawler!

Ava has been on the verge of crawling for a few weeks now. She has been scooting and army crawling for several weeks, but hadn't taken the belly off the floor, crawl with the knees crawl yet. And today was the day! I was just thinking how I hadn't taken a video of her for awhile, so I was taping her and she took those first few inches.

First Father's Day!

Darren has been super busy at work the past few weeks. Its hard for me to decide whether to be thankful for the money and overtime and that we both have jobs, or sad that we don't get to spend as much time together as a family as we would like. Anyway, Darren was asked to work on Sunday. Since he knew it would only be for a few hours, he decided to go ahead and do it. Ava and I spent the morning together and I attempted to clean the house during her nap. We decided not to go to church without Daddy, especially on Father's Day.

Darren got home around 11 and had told me earlier in the week that he wanted to do some work in the yard in the afternoon. So out we went. I was under the impression that I had to help with the yard work, but he really just wanted me and Ava out there to keep him company. Fine by me! However, after being outside for about 20 minutes watching Darren try to take down a wasp nest, a robin kept swooping down and trying to attack Sophie in the yard. After about 3 times of just getting missed by the robin, I decided enough was enough and came back inside. I was not about to spend the day in the ER and be on the front page of the newspaper, "Local woman attacked by crazy bird!"

After Darren was finished with his projects we took a walk and took Ava to the park across the street. I often wonder, as she gets older will a park across the street be a blessing, or a curse? Ava loves to swing and its so fun listening to her giggle!

We then went to my parents in Dumont to have a BBQ with my parents and my Grandpa to celebrate Father's Day with them. Ava had fun playing outside, swinging at Nana and Papa's and seeing the new baby kitties.


Introducing Ava to the kitties. See how excited Sophie is in the background?

She wasn't quite sure what to think.

Papa and Ava

Swinging with Papa


Daddy and Ava

Tyson and Josh putting together Dad's Father's Day gift

Daddy taking a walk with his girls.

Meinders Wedding

We had a great weekend in Kansas City for Jared and Sandy's wedding. We left on left on Friday around noon, just in time for Ava to nap for a couple of hours. She rides in the car so well! (Better than mommy, that's for sure!) It was us, along with Rachel and my dad in our vehicle. Tyson wasn't able to make it, because he was participating in the Hy-Vee Triathlon in Des Moines on Sunday. And Mom and Josh left a day earlier so Josh could attend the bachelor party on Thursday night.

We arrived early Friday evening, had dinner, and spent the evening sitting on the patio outside visiting with family. Saturday we woke up to a very rainy day. Not exactly the weather you hope for for your wedding day, but what do you do? Luckily, the rain cleared in time for the wedding and we didn't have to go outside in the rain. :o) We were also able to take Ava swimming in the hotel pool before wedding time. Daddy hadn't had the opportunity to swim with her yet. The pool water was a little cold for him though.

Ava had so much fun at the wedding reception. She missed her 5:00 nap and by 6:30 could barely keep her eyes open. She napped in Aunt Mari's arms for a little bit, and then Darren walked her around the hotel for a while until she woke up and was ready to DANCE! I'm telling you, if Ava could walk she would have been a dancing machine all night long! That girl loves music and loves to dance! Her little arms and legs didn't stop moving all night! She started to get pretty tired again around 9:00, so Darren took her back to the hotel to go to bed.

Ava playing on the bed

Swimming with mommy

Ava looks kind of out of it. It was nap time!

Congrats to Jared and Sandy Meinders!

Family photo

Ava wanted to eat the flower

Pretty flower.

Mmmmm.... this dress tastes good!

So excited!

Dancing!

She loves this!

All tuckered out!

Darren & Wendy

Siblings

These are a few of my favorite things...

Swinging

My Jumperoo

Cell Phones

Remotes

Sophie

Playing outside.

Reading books.

My Puppy Pal, Violet.

Tags

Necklaces

Ice Cream

Drinking from my sippy cup.

Bath Time!

Swimming

8 months old

So big!

So excited!

Funny faces.

Trying to crawl.

Clapping

More clapping...

Happy Girl!

Ava currently weighs 23 lbs, 6 oz.

Ava loves:
playing outside
bath time
swimming
cell phones
music
drinking from a sippy cup
toys that make noise
Sophie
all fruit that we've tried
ice cream (in moderation, of course)
Gerber Puffs
necklaces and earrings
books
going for walks
dancing

Ava had a BIG month! She had her first overnight away from mommy and daddy, first bike ride, she started saying mama and dada, first campfire, first trip to the park, and tried apple juice for the first time. Ava also started waving bye-bye (not always at the appropriate time) and has also started clapping!

Ava has mostly transitioned to size 12 months. She is still wearing size 3 diapers, but I'm thinking about switching to size 4 soon.

Ava is on the verge of crawling. There were many times over the past week that we thought, "oh... here it comes..." Up until today she has had trouble getting both legs in the right position. She mastered that today, I'm thinking any day now!

We have also started transitioning to some formula, in addition to breastmilk. Ava usually has one to two bottles a day of formula. I am amazed at how easily she started taking it. We've also been trying to give Ava 3 meals a day. She isn't always interested in eating breakfast, but I usually offer it to her anyway.

We have had so much fun with Ava and have truly enjoyed every stage. I just wish time would slow down!!!!