My Darling Ava

I had two really sweet moments with Ava today. She is a delight to me so much of the time. First, after working in the yard this afternoon, I needed to sit down and take a break for a while. Since Ava wasn't really napping, I let her join me on the couch to eat cookies and California Cuties and watch some West Wing. I handed her a chocolate chip cookie. She looked at it and handed it back. "I'd like a black one," she said. I love her! I can't wait to tell Mark! He thinks that I should remake her grilled cheese sandwiches when the are slightly crispy! My aunt Jude says we just call it 'golden brown'.

Then, I took her to Target with me to pick up some storage bins. Our shopping cart had a broken plastic handle, and Ava was sitting in the cart's seat. We were looking for a wreath hanger in the Christmas aisles when I hear Ava say, "Dear God, please heal our shopping cart." I almost cried. It was so sweet to see how she calls on God for her every need. I did, however, ask her to focus her prayers on important matters. She then asked God for a wreath hanger. He'll answer some time in the next year...I'm sure of it!

A Few Christmas Pictures

These pics all came from my mom's camera. That means that she isn't in very many of them. This one is super sweet, though. Charlotte loves her gram...or as Mark has started calling her "Grambo". He gets away with way too much! Good thing he's cute!

Charlotte always has a bow and a hairband in her hair. She is quite particular about this!

Take a good look at this one. The two amazing things about this picture are 1.) Patrick is in a picture and 2.) Patrick is smiling in a picture! We love Patrick! He was so wonderful with the girls this Christmas. He helped assemble toys and snuggled little girls a lot!

Before this visit, Charlotte really didn't know Laura. By the end of the visit, they were best friends! Laura plays with the girls like no one else...and they love it! Mark commented on it, and I told him how in love with Patrick I have been since the moment of his birth. There is just something precious about your sisters' children!

Jude has a new dog, Savannah. She's a darling dog. Here she is posing with her mother and grandmother.

Here is Leah, holding still long enough to open a present. She is on the move constantly. She is just beautiful. Her hair is the most amazing hair I have ever seen. It is long, thick and straight. She has way too much hair for a girl her age!!!

GiGi and Grandpa Andy sent toys with wheels this year! Actually, the girls are on the wrong toys! Ava has a new 'plasma car'. It is so fun! And, she's actually good at making it move. Charlotte has a new ladybug...but she's happy on either one. The girl just likes to go!

Just a Little Scared About Having a Boy!

If you want to know why we are a little scared about having a boy, check out this video on Ann's blog!

Let's Take a Vote!!!

So, most of you know that for Christmas this year, we wrapped our baby up and gave it to my mother. Actually, when we went for our ultrasound last week, we had the tech put the picture that identified the baby's gender (in words..not a super detailed picture, of course) in an envelope for my mother to open on Christmas morning. Mark and I didn't even know whether our baby was going to be pink or blue. When it was time for that part of the ultrasound, the tech, who was so much fun, told us to look away.

So, it's been killing all of us (and some of you) not to know! Christmas morning, everything started so slow! Our daughters didn't wake up until 8am. My grandmother and aunt were supposed to be at the house around 9, but didn't make it until almost 10! Then, my darn dog caused another 20 minute delay...one that almost caused him to be homeless (cute dog for sale).

So, mom, by unanimous decision, got to open her present first. She began to open the envelope, peeked into the envelope, but then I hollered, "Let's take a vote! Who thinks this baby is a girl?" A couple of folks raised their hands. "Who thinks it is a boy?" More people raised their hands...and so did mom!!! Everyone started laughing. Yes, it is true. This pink family of girls, a dad so severely outnumbered by purse-carrying, princess dress-wearing darlings is going to have a baby BOY! I am sure that he will want to play in the pink kitchen and use the pink EVERYTHING we currently own...but maybe he'll also play with Ava's new football as well...

Who has been talking to Ava???

So, we're not doing any huge Santa stuff at our house. Ava knows who Santa is; she spots him all over town. We're not anti Santa, we're just not messing with the whole thing until we have to...and we don't really have a plan for discussing him. I grew up 'Santa-free' and don't think that is the cause of any of my current problems (i.e. Santa didn't get me pregnant and didn't make the mess in my dining room).

Suddenly though, Ava's been talking about Santa bringing her a horse! Then, yesterday we're at LaRosa's with my mom, grandmother and cousin Paul. We're kind of stuck in the back, and the service is a little slow. Ava looks up at a high shelf, where there are a couple of decorations tucked and states very certainly that, "That is the Santa who is going to bring me a horse." We look up to see a 12-inch stuffed Santa. Talk about some big faith and imagination! This little Santa would only have the power to cause her to sneeze because of the dust covering him!

I do have a solution to the 'horse' thing. Months and months ago, my aunt Ruth (who is responsible for providing all of our ballet costumes and snow suits), gave me a spring horse set-up for the girls. I have been ignoring it - dangerous and more stuff to have in the house - but I think it is time for him to come into the house. But, tell me, is this horse really supposed to come from Santa?

Ava's birthday was a week and a half ago. She had a great day full of too many wonderful presents! Thanks to you all. Here are some pics of her playing with some of her presents.

I'm not quite sure if she really understands football, but she's got some moves!

This funny chair has been used as a hat...and a turtle shell!

Count on 'crafty' Kira to teach Ava all about the wonderful world of play-doh!

One of our huge family parties was on Ava's birthday. I thought she would be a little shy about standing in front if a hundred people while they sang 'Happy Birthday'...but not Ava! She loved it!

Girl Update!

Charlotte is walking more and more...unless she decides not to!

You can't hear the music...but you can see the girls groovin'!

To Me, She Is Delicious!

Today, Ava turns three! She is no longer my baby. She is a little girl. This has become less and less about her age, and more and more about her behavior and personality. She has suddenly become stubborn about odd things and independent about almost all things.

She won't kiss me on the cheek, for example. Suddenly, she wants to kiss my lips - she wants both of us to kiss. Suddenly, she wants to be called 'Gina' like the woman on Sesame Street who is studying to be a veterinarian. She tells me to say, "Hey, Gina!" She sits around 'studying' a 'grown-up book', just like Gina. It is actually David Baldacci's book Simple Truth, and it has no pictures or interesting features at all. Suddenly, her hair is not as curly or wavy. Suddenly, she wants to select her own clothes and dress her self (oh so slowly!!!). Suddenly she reasons things out. Suddenly she can be spontaneously kind to others - deciding this on her own. Charlotte will crawl or walk-ish into a room, and Ava will rush to her and say, "Sister! There you are! You're doing so well!" Suddenly, I can't bear to look at her because I am afraid of how big she is getting and how close she is getting to more independence.

BUT, constantly, she is my delight. Constantly, she is amazing. Constantly, she reminds me of all of the people who have influenced her. Constantly, she reminds me of the wonder of my Lord. Constantly, to me, she is delicious!

She's not eating!!!

If you have ever witnessed Charlotte eating, you know that the girl is a professional. She has been eating 'people' food for ages. She really only ate the mushy stuff for a couple of months. All along she has had only four teeth. To fully understand Charlotte's eating capabilities, let me give you a few examples. She eats hard pretzels with four teeth! She also ate a lollipop with only four teeth last week. When I say she ate a lollipop, I mean that she crunched the thing! Try that with only your four front teeth!

Well, since this time last week, Charlotte has THREE NEW TEETH. And, by this time next week, she will have FIVE MORE NEW TEETH! We discovered all of this because Charlotte stopped eating a week or so ago. This is completely out of character for her! Well, mom suggested I check her mouth. Sure enough, she was working on all of her new front teeth (the ones on the sides of her front teeth). Then mom suggested I check the back of her mouth. I suggested that mom come and do that because MY fingers are necessary for my day to day life. Finally after a few days of Charlotte acting odd (wailing and throwing things), I stuck my finger into the dark recesses of her mouth. Sure enough, she's working on four molars!!! Poor Charlotte!!!

She's not broken!!!

I never really thought that Charlotte was actually broken, but I was anxiously awaiting her first steps. There is something about visiting Columbus that makes the girl walk! On Saturday, after we got home from a Thanksgiving day visit, Mark comes into the kitchen and states that Charlotte walked ten steps to him! I didn't believe him...but sure enough...it's true. Now, she still does a ton of crawling. Don't sell your stock in the Shout or Oxyclean that I use to clean the knees of ALL OF HER PANTS!!!

Anyway, here's a quick shot of the girl on the move!