Ava, the not quite equestrian...

At Meijer they have mechanical pony rides for $0.01. (can you believe that there isn't a 'cent' symbol on the keyboard!?!) Ava is always fascinated by these horses...from afar. She will talk about the horse, call it her horse and beg to get close to the horse. Once you are close to the horse, she will not touch it, really doesn't want you to touch it and definitely will not ride it!

Today we had a breakthrough. After a very frustrating grocery experience (because of Meijer...not my lovely children), we drew alongside the horse. I started to talk to the horse and pet him. I wooed this plastic horse with my sweetest tones and petting. Then, the amazing happened! Ava reached out and very gently stroked her horse's nose. She still wouldn't even consider riding the horse, but that is probably a good thing. I didn't even have a penny with me!

I am sure that there is something I have done to cause this child to have a fear of fake horses, but I do not know what it could be! Hopefully one of my friends with fearless children will take her to Meijer someday.

Charlotte Grace is a little spoiled...

Just a few things that you may not know about Charlotte...

• If mama is in the room, she will squawk and wail like she is broken.
• If mama is not in the room, she will be delightful and happy.
• If you have a spoon in your hand, put it in her mouth.
• She is not going to take a bottle full of precious, homemade, liquid gold for her babysitter...but she will for her dad. (doesn't the girl realize who Sara G. is?)
• No one can make her laugh like Ava can. Ava can just touch Charlotte's foot and it is hilarious! I can make all the funny noises and funny moves known to man and just get an odd look. (are they born knowing about big sisters?)
• She's on her way to see Havah...probably because she thinks that Havah is the only person around who is smaller than her...probably because she thinks that Havah is a tasty morsel!

Exciting Day!

For any of you who have been keeping track of Tricia and Nate, today is release day for Tricia!!!

Visiting with Friends

I cannot believe that we are taking a break from our darling Havah, but here goes...

This week we visited with friends. On Tuesday we went downtown to have lunch with Aunt Linda (Ava calls her Winna, and if you correct her we will no longer be friends). We went to Skyline - a favorite of all of us. Ava ate most of Winna's crackers and almost none of her hot dog! We try to spend time with Winna as often as possible. She is a favorite!

Since we so rarely make it downtown, we decided to do some visiting. We stopped in to visit a friend at her office. The lawyers in the building probably think that it is their office, but what do they know?!? So, we saw the wonderful Linda Brubaker and pictures of her darling God children. Linda is a sweet, darling person that I met in a former life. We used to try to sort out the nonsense that was created by those who would boss us around!

Truly, though, Linda is delightful and really interesting. She is a hockey fan, a baby lover, a world traveler and a wonderful cook. If you are sick or having a baby, I would definitely let her know. She brought a delicious homemade fried chicken dinner to us when Charlotte was born. And she has given us cookies twice. She is the one who gave Ava a cookie making kit when Charlotte was born. Very clever. I like her a lot and am really thankful to know her. She is one of those people who is so full of joy that you can hear it in her voice. Praise God for Linda!

(Yes, that is Charlotte's tongue. We have put all of her toys away, because that is her favorite thing to play with. It spends no time in her mouth...it is hanging out all of the time. Actually, her tongue is quite amazing. She can curl it in the funniest ways...while her eyes laugh the whole time!)

Then today we got to spend time with the (mostly former) Green girls and the only Green grandchild. If you know any of the Green girls, you probably have a place in your heart for them. They are loving, fun sisters who I have known for years. They are creative, smart and pretty. I love it that they walk into my house and feel at home. They don't sit on the couch to be polite, they sit on the floor to snuggle and tickle babies. It would be nice if they weren't so busy with their own lives...they could be in my living room a lot more! Caiden is the only boy in the picture below. He is Kalla's darling boy. He is about 6 weeks older than Charlotte, but thinks he's about 2 years older. He is a smiley little boy who crawls, stands, pulls on things and charms you while he does what you just told him not to. We'd definitely have kept him!

By the way, that baby in the rocking chair is Big Baby, a doll from my childhood. She is almost as big as Ava, so we're not always sure who is carrying whom. Please don't ask Ava what the doll's name is. People keep saying, "Ava, what is big baby's name?" Ava looks at them with one of those 'Hello, isn't it obvious' looks, because big baby's name is Big Baby...not to be confused with the little baby. Her name is Little Baby.

Henry Girls

It looks like Israel and Judah like their new baby sister.

More Havah pics...

Here's a link to some more Havah pics!

Hostpital Pics of Havah

Havah Pearlene Joy Henry

Here she is!

Havah is a good nurser, a good wailer and a wonderful baby! She has a bunch of hair...maybe it will be RED!!!

Havalujah!

My baby sister Danie and her husband Sean’s baby girl (I believe her name is Havah Perlene Henry) was born this morning at 9:14am. She is 18.5 inches long and 6pounds 9 ounces. Danie sounded good, Sean said Danielle had done a wonderful job, and Havah sounds like a tiny little girl. “Waah, “she said into the phone!

All we have to say at the Solomon house is ‘Havalujah’!

Baby Havah Henry...

Danielle is in labor! Pray for my baby sister and her family...then check out Uncle Sean's Blog

We can't wait to meet you, darling Havah!!!

The City Mouse visits the Country Mouse

For as much as they love each other, it is amazing how different Ava and Leah have been since birth. Leah came out brave and wonderfully wild. She learned to walk barefoot on gravel. She still prefers to be barefoot ("My shoes make my feet sweat," she told me last night.) She has never had a fear in her life...except for the fear of missing out on something. The girl plays so hard and sleeps equally hard. Last night, after a full day of school and outside play, her mother moved her sleeping body from the couch to her bed. Leah was scooped up and moved with some effort (she is getting so big) and never even opened an eye. She was one of those kids who could sleep anywhere. She slept in an umbrella stroller if the time was right.

Above, Leah is holding her cat, Roots. He was her birthday present last year. He is an outside cat who can catch a bird or rodent without any effort. I think he may be color blind, though. Apparently he snagged himself a redbird (Cardinal) recently. Dang cat! He scratched Ava this morning, but will allow Leah to do anything. Yesterday I observed her holding the cat like a baby while she forced him to suck (chew) on a doll's bottle. I remember watching the crazy way he was carried around last summer...he was just a kitten, but somehow he knew that he belonged to Leah.

So we came to Tennessee for a few reasons. Mark had to work this weekend. Patrick has a ball game (whoa! what an athlete!). Mom was driving through on her way to Danielle's, and we had things that needed to be delivered to that mommy-to-be.

We got an extra day with mom because of some nasty weather in the midwest...hooray for us...sorry Danielle! But, she left this morning. Ava gave her a good smooch before she left.

Charlotte's has fallen in love with her tongue. It is the most delightful thing to watch. She can curl the end of it up in a funny little way. What a fun girl she is!

Weekend Adventures

This past weekend we trekked up to Columbus to visit Mark's fam. We always have a good time, eating and sleeping too much. The silly thing is...we come home so tired after a weekend of relaxing! No excuse for that...unless GiGi wants to confess to the sleeping potion she puts in all of the food!

We ate pizza at Dan, Emmie and Aaron's house on Friday. Ava has always loved Emmie...

Ava has a tricycle at GiGi's house and as I watched in fright, she learned how to ride it! Grandpa Andy won my heart forever when he brought Ava's tricycle out of the basement (after she'd ridden it in the driveway for ages) and gave it to her in the family room. He said, "Whatever she wants." That man knows about the role of a grandpa! Spoil them and make them love you!!!

Sahja always joins us at Lake of the Woods. He loves GiGi and Grandpa Andy...almost as much as they love him. Here he is drinking tea that Ava poured for him. But his weekend highlight was falling asleep in Andy's lap after dinner. He was so zonked out that he was snoring! Silly puppy!

No...we haven't forgotten about Charlotte!!!