Ava's First Steps!

So, Ava is 9 1/2 months now, and the newest and biggest news of all is that she took her first steps yesterday!! Can you believe it??! She still seems so little to me, and I find it hard to believe that she is already starting to walk!! CRAZY! Yesterday, I just happened to look over and she had just pulled herself up next to the chair...then she just started walking! She took 4 steps then sat down! A little after that, I was filming her playing and crawling around, and she crawled right to me and stood up....and I was able to catch her 2nd "first" steps. So much fun!! Here's a little video!

Ava's doing great these days. She is SO MUCH fun to be around! She loves the game where one of us dips behind the couch and then pops back up. She will laugh hysterically for many minutes playing that. She's getting so smart and will look over the edge of the couch to try and find us. Of course, she still LOVES hide and seek...one of her favorite games! She talks constantly and makes all sorts of crazy funny faces. She's becoming so much more animated! She's just so much fun to be with!

Patrick and I went to the beach with some friends for Memorial Day weekend. We left Ava (my first time away from her!!) at home with Aunt Sarah. Bobbi and Grandpa Mike came to help out as well. They had a wonderful time with her! I tried really hard not to cry when we were leaving, but I couldn't help it. :( I was excited to go to the beach, but really sad to be without her for 3 days. Since I'm still nursing, I was a little nervous that she wouldn't continue nursing when I got back since it was several days...but she is so go-with-the-flow, and she took right back to it without any problems. What a great baby I have!

Ava's got some more teeth coming in! Her top two teeth are on their way...starting to poke through her sweet little gums! So, I'll be looking forward to a 4 toothed smile pretty soon!

Here's Ava with her Grandpa Mike. He came for a very quick visit a few weeks ago when he was passing through Gainesville for work.
Ava and Aunt Sarah...in her fishing dress!
Ava with zucchini and sweet potatoes all over her face!
A sweet pic of my baby...
Just hanging out with Dad. He's always doing weird things to her...but she just tolerates them!
Here are just a few more pics of Ava at 9.5 months. There aren't very many...I'll have more for the 10 month post!