So, I've been so busy doing a hundred things, and I am WAY late on updating Ava's life! Sorry!
So, she has been amazing, impressive, smart, funny, loving, loud, stubborn, and
completely entertaining!! It's been a fun month, and Ava is changing and learning at a truly incredible speed! Every single day she surprises me with many new things that she knows or has picked up on. The 16 month old mind is unreal! She's added some words to her vocabulary. The only ones that I can think of right now is car ("ca") and color ("ca-ca"). Michee gave her an early Christmas present (since we're flying home and couldn't bring back any bulky things)- she got her a coloring desk that can fold up to an easel. She really loves it and uses it everyday. She's getting more and more interested in coloring....and (this is really great news!!), she favors her RIGHT HAND when she writes!!! YAY!!! She's definitely a lefty when it comes to eating, but for some reason, she'd rather write with her right hand. Hopefully, that will continue. Then she wont have to sit in that crazy looking desk at school! :) Here she is sitting at her desk...like she's all grown up or something!
So, we got a Christmas tree last weekend, and since then we've been talking about Christmas and Santa and Jesus (we talk about him at night before bed)! She can pick out a picture of Santa in a book, and if you ask her what Santa says, she says, "ho ho ho!" And whenever she says it, she points to the Santa person I have next to the TV. I'm quite impressed by her! ;) Can you tell?
She just recently learned how old she is...if you ask her, she holds up one finger! Usually I'll say "one" when she holds it up...then she proceeds to say "tewuuuu" and I finish with "three!" She tries to say three, but she can't do it quite yet! She's also been "reading" books to herself lately. She's gotten into imitating us, and she'll pick up a book now, sit on the ground, and babble to herself as if she's reading the book aloud...we think she's doing it cause that's what WE do. Smart little cookie.
After her bath at night, I always sing "Rock-a-bye-baby" to her while she's still wrapped up in the towel, and she's started to sing a long with me now and joins me very clearly when I get to the "down will come baby, cradle and all" part....she joins in with a very long, drawn out "aaaaaallllll" at the end. It's very sweet...and it also lets me see those little molars coming in way in the back of her mouth! She's just growing so fast!! Ava's had a runny nose on and off for about 2 weeks now, and her nose was getting raw from me wiping it...so, one night I layed her on her changing table just before bed and put some Aquafor on her face (good lotion stuff), and she was so calmed by it! She just laid there and let me rub her face for many minutes and eventually started to close her eyes and fall asleep. We've been doing it pretty much every night since, and now she gets so excited when I ask if she wants some Aquafor! She has a blanket that she sleeps with, and she sucks on the tag (which is totally disgusting, and even after washing it, the tag smells gross), and Aquafor is the only thing that she'll totally forget about the tag for! She loves it!
She's also found my jewlery drawer, and she always goes for the same thing....two stretchy beaded bracelets. She puts one on one arm and one on the other and walks around with them. Oh gosh, I can just see her in my heels not too long from now. (Oh, who am I kidding...I don't wear heels...I can see her in my....flipflops)! I need to get her some pretend bracelets that aren't choking hazards! She's been kinda a bugger lately with eating...she's such a picky little thing. And she doesn't care if she just doesn't eat...if she doesn't like it, she'll just want to get down. Seriously. How did WE end up with a picky eater!!?
During Thanksgiving we were able to go to the Georgia Aquarium with Michee, Ian, Booj, Keegan, and Emery. Here are a few pics!
Well, I've got two more days of work, then we're heading home for Christmas!! Can't wait to have some time away from work! I know I'll be totally crazy busy while I'm at home since we're only there for 5 days...but, I'm really looking forward to it!
Here are a few more pictures....the picture quality is pretty low because these weren't taken with my good camera since it was out being fixed. Although, I got it back, and it's still nowt fixed...so, looks like I'll be using my little one for a while....
I love this Elmo shirt on her! When she wears it, if you ask her where Elmo is, she points to her belly!!
We had a cold snap down here a few weeks ago and actually got to try out Ava's new coat...
Hanging out with Catcher...
This was during Thanksgiving...just looking like such a big girl...and a pouty little thing!! And that turtle neck it just too much!!!
Things have been so great. She just keeps me completely entertained and constantly amazed at how much she is learning. I can't wait to get home and share her with everyone!
Here are a few other pictures if you'd like to see more of Ava's 16th month! I'll try not to take so long for my next post.....Enjoy!
We had a great Christmas this year! Patrick and I are about to head out to Orlando for New Years (and then to watch the Dawgs play on New Years Day), but I wanted to put up a few quick pictures! This Christmas Eve dress was from Michee. Isn't everything SO FREAKING CUTE!!!?? I had to trick her to get the bow in...and as soon as she discovered it, out it came! But, I was able to get a few pics with it still in! She looks so girly with it in!!
Bobbi's house had The Grinch, and she carried it around with her a lot!
She fell in love with Grandpa Mike and just couldn't stop giving him hugs and kisses!
Loves those stacking cups...
Little stinker....
The Christmas Bo. (Catcher)
Christmas morning...Ava stocked up on more books...she loved them!
She got this warm fuzzy thing...not really lovin' it...but it's REALLY cute!
Her big present from Grandpa Mike and Bobbi....this pink car! Aunt Sarah brought it out with a sheet on it, and when she uncovered it, Ava had the best reaction! I wish I had it on video! She had a HUGE smile on her face, walked slowly toward it and looked around smiling at all of us....as if to say, "Is it really mine? Is it okay if I touch it?" Then she got in and out and in and out for the next several hours and completely loves it! She loves to push the horn too....it plays songs. Aunt Sarah said she was going to take the battery out.... 
She just smiled like this for at least an hour!
Christmas day dress. She had cute little red shoes on, but she took them off!
A Christmas kiss from Daddy!
Aunt Sarah gave her her headband, and Ava wore it for a whopping 20 seconds!!
Quick family photo!!
I'll post for Ava's 17th month soon. (Holy Cow! That sounds old)! We're off to Orlando for a fun night with Tim, Nicole, Keinan, Unlce Ian, and Aunt Booj. Bobbi came down to watch Ava for the night!
