Ms. Angelove

Yesterday Sarah told me that her darling son Noah calls me Ms. Angelove!
I think it is great!!!

You may remember Noah from Ava's continuous desire to 'push Noah'. She used to carry on her own little conversation that went like this:

"Push Noah"

"Don't push Noah"

"Love Noah"

Ava...

The Chef....

And with a knife...

Proof of the Cough

So, there has been some talk concerning the authenticity of Charlotte's cough. Here it is. Judge for yourself. Please don't forget to fake worry for her.

Also, I just think she's a cutie...so here's another one!

Cough and Worry

Charlotte has started fake coughing. Don't worry...I immediately fake worry!!!

One of my favorite things...

One of my favorite things about being with my mother is the amazing number of pictures she takes of our family! We've been here with her in North Carolina for just over a week and I'd bet she has 7 bazillion pictures of the girls. We always joke that my mother is the best person to give a camera to. The funny thing is that before she got a digital camera, she sort of stunk at having film developed. She has overcome that one!!!

While Ava had an amazing time on a slide that is way too big for her (in my opinion...)

Charlotte waited patiently...bundled up in a stroller. Seriously, you could only see part of her face. The rest was snuggled under a blanket. The funny thing is that this wiggly girl didn't move a muscle the whole time! She just enjoyed being outside in the sunshine!

On my Grandmother's birthday, we drove to see her and my aunt Jude in Durham. Along the way, we saw an ostrich farm. We knew that Ava had finally seen the ostriches when she hollered, "DUCK!".

We Are Not Potty Training Today

So, in spite of the wonderful and heartbreaking chaos that has been our life since December 22nd (that's the day everyone came to stay at our house for Christmas), yesterday we decided to work on potty-learning with Ava. The girls and I are at mom's house for a couple of weeks, and I thought that Gram's presence would be a great help. What a day! First we taught Bear, a little friend, how to wear panties and use the potty chair. This went really well and Bear now wears panties all of the time. Ava helped teach Bear and gobbled up a chocolate chip every time Bear was a success. Of course, she wanted a turn for herself.

We put Ava in panties and celebrated being 'dry' and sitting on the potty chair. Of all of the disgusting snacks that were offered, Ava preferred the chocolate chips. She tasted the mini marshmallows and gagged on two Skittles. She also refused the 'apple juice' which she loves to talk about but hates to drink. (fine with me!)

So, it turned out that she sat on the potty chair a million times with no trouble, then pottied on the floor twice before her nap. Then, I put a diaper on her and put her down for her nap. After about a half an hour I needed to sneak into her room for something. Imagine my shock to walk in the room to see a bare naked Ava, standing next to a dry diaper, in a puddle! She had taken all of her clothes and her diaper off to keep them dry. I tried to be encouraging and laugh. Thank goodness mom is here to keep me grounded!

We put Ava's bed back together and dressed her back in her clothes and dry diaper with some guidance on how it all works at naptime. She didn't want to take a nap, and instead spent the next 30 minutes yelling 'stop it' at me through the bedroom door. Boy does that girl know how to push my buttons! Of course, Charlotte slept through all of it!

One problem with the potty training books. They recommend all of these wonderful snacks and celebrations for rewards, but don't give you any advice on how to manage a child hyped up on chocolate and sugar!

I have decided not to initiate this for a while. I'll go along with whatever Ava is doing, but I'm too tired for this mess right now. And if she tries to break out of her diaper again during a nap, I'll break out the duct tape!

Oh, today's the day we celebrate her birthday!

Yes, our darling Danielle has a birthday today. As far as I can tell, she is everyone's favorite person. We love her so much and are thrilled to celebrate National Danielle Day!!! (Which is only officially recognized in Ecuador.)

Since I don't sing all that well, and Ava can't remember all of these words, here are a few songs that she can sing as she reads them!

Happy Birthday to you.

Happy Birthday to you.

Happy Birthday, dear Danie!

Happy Birthday to you.

and another...a little patriotic...

Oh today's the day we celebrate your birthday!

A big parade is getting under way.

Everybody knows that it's your birthday,

All across the USA.

America is proud of young Americans like you.

She knows you love your country

And your country loves you, too!

So, a very, very happy, happy birthday

From the USA to you!

here's another...

Oh today is your birthday

Oh so we've been told.

What a wonderful birthday

You're not very old.

On your cake we'll have candles

All lighted for you.

And the whole world is singing,

"Happy Birthday To You!"