2 1/2 years old!!!

For those of you still following- I am SO sorry for the lack of existence! I cannot seem to find the energy to get on here and get an update up! I tried really hard to take the advice of a fellow friend and blogger, Carmen, and to do shorter, easier updates- but that didn't work either. So, here I am...with Ava at 2 1/2 years old....with an update! :)
So, I have totally spawned a monster! A cute, sweet, loving monster- but a monster none the less!! :) As she's gotten older and her personality has become more prevalent, we all have noticed something- she is TYPE A!!! She doesn't like to be dirty- her hands, her clothes, her shoes- nothing. She constantly asks for a wipe to clean her hands, mouth, etc. When she has a snack in the car, you better have a Wet-One ready for her when she's done...cause she wants CLEAN HANDS!

Every now and then, she'll get a treat of M&M's in a little bowl...well, she eats them in order according to their color. All the reds. Then all the yellows. Then all the greens. Don't even think about getting them out of order!

One of her favorite things to do is line up all her toys, animals, babies, etc....she puts them all in a line (sometimes stretching all across the entire room). It's usually a curvy line that goes all over....she calls is her "crazy line," and she's so proud of it! At nap and bedtime, she has a specific order in which she requires the blankets be laid on her. First her "taggie" (her version of a "blankie"- she sucks on the tag, though, which is why it's a "taggie"), then the big blanket (but "only cover my feet"- this blanket is not allowed above her waist, then the fuzzy one on top of them all. If they aren't in that order, just go ahead and start over again with the taggie! She's cute. Crazy cute. ;)

Everything else is pretty good...she's talking like crazy, although, at this point that's no surprise. In fact, she never really stops talking...or moving. The child is very busy. Sometimes I make phone calls when I'm driving home since it's really the only "free time" I have in my day- and almost everyone makes a comment about the fact that she's in the background just....talking. To herself. (Usually) Happily! She's usually pretty great in the car (thank GOODness!)- I keep a good pile of books in there for her, so she's entertained by those for quite a while!

She's got her favorite books recently- she loves all the Fancy Nancy books and is into a few of the Dr. Suess books as well (The Tooth Book, Green Eggs and Ham, and Honey Bunny Funnybunny). She can fill in any of the words to these stories. It's actually kinda amazing. Makes me realize how-many-times-we've-read-the-darn-things!! But, she loves them, so I just keep reading them- over and over and over! :)

I'd have to say her favorite toys are:
1) Her rubber duckies (she knows which ones are the mommies, babies, daddy, and grandpas)! She brings them into the bath with her, then at the end of bath time, she lines them up so they can dry. OCD?!?
2) Her babies/barbies/animals (treats them all like babies)- she is constantly putting them to nap time and covering them up. It's a little morbid since she covers their entire body (including their face), but she's very nurturing with them. It's super cute. She even puts them in time-out sometimes! :) Covered from head to toe...
3) Her dollhouse- she plays with her doll house and dollhouse family everyday. She talks to them and carries on complete conversations with them. She has quite an imagination!

School's going great. She moved up to the next class. She'll be in this class for about 6 months and will move up again at age 3. (OMG! Age three)!?!! We do very much miss her first teacher, Ms. Kristin. She was wonderful and kind and so soft spoken. Ava loved her (she even told her so)! There will never be another Ms. Kristin. It's bad when you start with the best. It's kinda like I know we'll never have anyone quite as special as April. (We miss you Loop)!
Well, she's still in the mommy phase. She pretty much wants me all the time. I'm still cool with that (...for the most part. Sometimes, I do want just a little break). :) Sometimes I try to get Patrick to do bedtime, and that works....until it's actually time to get in the bed. Then the tears start...until I get there. (Now, she's very smart, cause if I'm not there, then it's no problem...but if she knows I'm there...not a chance)! So, not much rest for the weary...but I signed up for this, right?! :)

Sweetness...peaking from behind the chair.


Her hair is getting pretty long. It's still semi-rat tail'ish, but I can't bring myself to cut it yet....then her ponytail wont look this cute!
So here's some cute stuff she's said:

A while ago, Ava and I talked about going to get pancakes at IHOP one day after church...but she didn't end up getting them. Well, the next day, she asked me for "canpakes!" I mean, come on! Freakin' cute!!

One morning, I went to get Ava up for school and she was still a little groggy- eyes kinda closed with tired face. When I was changing her diaper, (warning, graphic!) ...she farted. :) She didn't react at all and then a few seconds later (eyes still closed), she said, "I toot." I said, "Yep, you sure did." Then she said, "I a toot machine!" Now, WHO taught her that one?!?! Daddy??

We went to Waffle House one morning after church, and Ava got some toast. I asked her if she wanted jelly or butter, and she, (of course!), chose butter (she's a butter-holic! Thanks Grandpa Mike)! Well, the next day, we were driving in the car, and she said, "Mommy, I don't care for jelly." Huh!?! I mean, really?


I know there's so much more going on with Ava, but I don't want to overwhelm you! ;) I'm gonna try to post more smaller, more often updates. We'll see.....

I hope everyone is going great! I promise it will not be a month and a half before I update again!!