It's already going so fast! Her second year of life. I can't believe it's already been a month since her birthday. Each time I post, I am amazed at how time
seriously FLIES!!! Ava's doing great and changing everyday. She has officially gone from two naps to one. For a while, she would sleep at her first nap but never really fall asleep for her second...so, we made the switch, and she's doing pretty well with it. Now, we stretch her until about 12 noon and she'll take a nap anywhere from 1 hour to 2.5 hours. Usually about 1.5 hours, though! Until she starts to sleep a little longer for her nap, she gets tired a little sooner, so she's been going to bed slightly earlier... around 7'ish. So, anyway, she's adjusting pretty well! Another update---she is a stinker when it comes to eating. Well, really the problem is eating meat and drinking milk. She does't want to do either!! She is a fruit and veggie
monster and that's pretty much all she wants. And cheese. She loves cheese. :) Who knows, maybe she'll be my little vegetarian?!? Any ideas on getting her to drink milk or eat the yummy food we've been making for her?!? I'm up for anything!
Ava's learning more animal sounds (and even some motions! ...like a crab pinching or an elephants tunk moving up and down). She's hisses like a snake and moos like a cow. :) It's super cute! Just in the past day or two, she's started to stack her cups....largest on the bottom and smallest on the top. She's been watching me do that for a long time, and she finally started to pick it up! Very cool. :) And stairs. She loves them. She wants to go up, then down, then up, then down. And she's not interested in crawling. Nope! She wants to walk! When she gets to the stair, she puts her hand up for help...as if we're ready to help her at a whim. ;) Well....maybe I am. Just a little. :)
So, Ava loves Elmo's World (which is a 20 minute segment on Sesame Street where Elmo talks about the subject/word of the day). She'll sit there watching totally mezmorized!The second she hears the intro song, her mouth opens as big as possible and the biggest smile ever appears. Then she runs over to me and puts her hands up...she likes to sit on my (or whoever's) lap when Elmo comes on. Of course, I
love this. It gives me cuddle time. :) Here she is watching it on her own one day. We made sure she had a cozy spot to relax in!
Bobbi came for a visit and was typical Bobbi...she organized! She downsized Ava's toys and got these shelves. If makes me feel better just
looking at them! They give me peace. Thanks Bobbi!
Love these cute PJ's. Pretty sure she's watching Elmo here. (You must think she watches Elmo all day long! But, really, it's about once a day)! Just LOOK at her! Looks like such a big girl here!
Looking at books with Daddy!
Yep, it's still there. :) Just checking!
More fun with Daddy.
Hanging out with her two favorites. :)
We built a fort. She really liked crawling under it...thought it was hilarious. Hi there! :)
So, she got a busted lip. :( Itsn't it sad?
Here she is helping Daddy with some yard work! For some reason, Patrick thought it might be a good idea to give her a stick to carry around!
She's ready to go inside now. :)
Ava discovered watermelon a few weeks ago...and man, did she approve!!
Mmmmmm!
This is her first corn on the cob. I thought she might take a few bites and be done....well, she ate the WHOLE FREAKING THING! There wasn't a single kernel left!
Remember my visit home to visit my new neice, Emery? Well, here she is!!!
Isn't she beautiful?! :)
Today just happens to be Booj's (Emery's mom!) birthday!! So, HAPPY BIRTHDAY Booj! I had a great time seeing y'all! Can't wait to visit again!!!
Here are some more pictures of Ava's 13th month!
Poor thing!
Ava got herself a little gameday outfit! Doesn't get cuter than this....
So, instead of laying on the couch pillows...my bunny needs something more comfortable to lean aganist while she watching Elmo...so, I got her this pillow. She already goes there on her own and sits right down! Here she is....yes, you guessed it, watching Elmo! I wonder where she got that big mouth from? Hmmm......
It's already going so fast! Her second year of life. I can't believe it's already been a month since her birthday. Each time I post, I am amazed at how time seriously FLIES!!! Ava's doing great and changing everyday. She has officially gone from two naps to one. For a while, she would sleep at her first nap but never really fall asleep for her second...so, we made the switch, and she's doing pretty well with it. Now, we stretch her until about 12 noon and she'll take a nap anywhere from 1 hour to 2.5 hours. Usually about 1.5 hours, though! Until she starts to sleep a little longer for her nap, she gets tired a little sooner, so she's been going to bed slightly earlier... around 7'ish. So, anyway, she's adjusting pretty well! Another update---she is a stinker when it comes to eating. Well, really the problem is eating meat and drinking milk. She does't want to do either!! She is a fruit and veggie monster and that's pretty much all she wants. And cheese. She loves cheese. :) Who knows, maybe she'll be my little vegetarian?!? Any ideas on getting her to drink milk or eat the yummy food we've been making for her?!? I'm up for anything!
Bobbi came for a visit and was typical Bobbi...she organized! She downsized Ava's toys and got these shelves. If makes me feel better just looking at them! They give me peace. Thanks Bobbi!
Love these cute PJ's. Pretty sure she's watching Elmo here. (You must think she watches Elmo all day long! But, really, it's about once a day)! Just LOOK at her! Looks like such a big girl here!
Looking at books with Daddy!
Yep, it's still there. :) Just checking!
More fun with Daddy.
Hanging out with her two favorites. :)
We built a fort. She really liked crawling under it...thought it was hilarious. Hi there! :)
So, she got a busted lip. :( Itsn't it sad?
Here she is helping Daddy with some yard work! For some reason, Patrick thought it might be a good idea to give her a stick to carry around!
She's ready to go inside now. :)
Ava discovered watermelon a few weeks ago...and man, did she approve!!
Mmmmmm!
This is her first corn on the cob. I thought she might take a few bites and be done....well, she ate the WHOLE FREAKING THING! There wasn't a single kernel left! 
Remember my visit home to visit my new neice, Emery? Well, here she is!!!
Today just happens to be Booj's (Emery's mom!) birthday!! So, HAPPY BIRTHDAY Booj! I had a great time seeing y'all! Can't wait to visit again!!!
Just hanging out together on the couch!
Sarah even took care of our doggies!
I'm pretty sure this one was the last night that Sarah was with us. You can tell Ava loves her.
We're all ready for the GEORGIA GAME tomorrow! Just a little pre-game cuteness! Ava got to go into work with me for a little while today and show off her UGA attire! Everyone loved her, but they all kept saying that she had the wrong shirt on! No way! Ava's learning how to do the touchdown sign when I say, "Touchdown Georiga!" She's pretty good at it! I imagine by the end of the season, she'll be an ol' pro! Ava got this sparkly Georgia shirt from on of my very old friends, Nicole, before she was even born! And now she's finally big enough to wear it! She's even debuting her new boot cut jeans that fall off her little waist...(even with 6-12 months size)!
What a party is was! We had Ava's official birthday party last Saturday at Michee and Pop's house! Above is the official invitation! Cute, huh?! It was an ice cream party with as many toppings as you could possibly want!! Crushed oreos, caramel, hot fudge, chocolate sauce, sprinkles, peanuts, whipped cream, plain m&m's, peanut m&m's, cherries and more! It was a lot of fun and was really nice to see family and friends and share Ava with them! There were over 25 people there for Ava. She is a lucky girl to have so many people who love and care for her! 
Publix is really great, and whenever you buy a cake from them that is for a 1st birthday, you also get a "smash cake" for free! Here's Ava's smash cake....before getting smashed!
Here we are singing Happy Birthday! Look at her sweet little clasping hands.
She liked this cake much better than the dinky little cupcake I gave her on her actual birthday! :) That hat lasted about 2 more seconds!
The family!
Ava hanging out with her God mother, Kristin! 
Relaxing with Aunt Sarah!
She really loved walking around that big yard!
We really had such a wonderful time. It makes me miss being home and really makes me look forward to getting back in 10 months! So much thanks to everyone who came (and those who couldn't make it but were there in spirit!). We had a great, great time! Here are some more birthday pictures!
