Happy 8 Months!

WOW! EIGHT months old! Crazy! Ava is getting more and more fun by the day!!! :) She's so interactive now! It's so easy to get her to smile or laugh! And she just lights up with a huge smile when Patrick or I walk in the room! How rewarding! She's now officially a turbo crawler! She is a bad girl and gets into things she's not supposed to! (Just kidding, she's perfect)! Her favorite things to go after are cords(!) and the door stopper thing that sticks out of the wall and makes a loud noise when she touches it! Right now, we just watch her and re-direct when she gets close to bad stuff. We're not really baby-proofed yet, but I guess it's about that time now! She is such a busy body and needs to be watched like a hawk! :) Her little knee pads work great! She crawls very well in them, and they prevent her little perfect knees from getting all red and sad!She's doing such a good job eating! No problems with any food yet. So far, she's had apples, green beans, yellow squash, prunes, bananas, sweet potatoes, carrots, rice cereal, oatmeal cereal, cantaloupe, a grape popsicle, diet coke (just a sip), cranberry juice (just a sip), and most recently these little banana puff things...which she didn't really like...but we're still working on it! She wasn't too sure about the texture! Oh! And she HATES her face being wiped! Just hates it!! Now, bedtime bath is a MUST since she usually has sweet potatoes and such in her hair, stuck to her forehead, and up her nostrils!! Here she is with some prunes!
Still doesn't really show much interest in drinking from a sippy cup...although, she really wants to drink out of our cups and water bottles!

I was finishing up a case presentation for school/work right before bedtime, and Ava sat so nicely while I finished! What a sweet girl!
We took another trip to the swings! She just hangs out and relaxes! I am a little nervous, though, about having that porcelain skin in the sun for more than a few minutes at a time!
My view of Ava from the side...I just couldn't resist! Her head barely makes it over the top of the swing! I mean, COME ON!!

Her teeth are growing more and more! When she laughs or smiles, you can see them clear as day...and those sweet little mammalons!! (It's a dental thing). SO cute! Bobbi bought Ava a baby toothbrush since it's about that time to start brushing! I've tried it a few times. The first time, Ava made a horrible face from the feel of the bristles! Patrick called her a "Drama Queen" for all these faces she makes all the time (toothbrush, green beans, banana puffs, etc.)! :) Cute. Here's an up close shot of those pearly whites!Ava crawls all over the doggies...they are very tolerant! Here she is with Catcher!
Just more of her beach pose for you! Even though she sits up on her own now, she still does this a lot when she just needs a few seconds of a rest before she's off again!This past week was such a treat! Bobbi was here the entire week for her Spring Break from school (she works in an elementary school)! Also, Ava's Godparents, Kristin and Matthew, came for a visit for a few days as well. I love having company! Then people can see how much cuter she is in person!! :) (Can you even believe that she can be cuter than her pictures)?!?! ;) Also, HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my brother Ian who turned 25 on the 12th!!! (PS. Ian and Elizabeth will be finding out the sex of their next baby this Thursday! We can't wait! I'll keep you posted)!

Lately we've discovered that Ava thinks it's just hilarious when we make noises at the dogs (mostly Salsa!) if they're doing something they're not supposed to. So, sometimes I do it just to hear her laugh! Here's a little video! You'll have to ignore the really annoying sound that I'm making...just focus on her!

Here are some other (actually, just a few this time!) pics of Ava at 8 months! Enjoy!