Our Little Tadpole

Grandpa Dean, Grandma Dolly, Shelly, Doug and Ava
















Ava with her Sweet Smile (Stop propping me up, Mom...)




















A Sea Turtle at the Atlanta Aquarium
















Ava Very Alert















Dad and Dolly at The Blue Willow Inn, Social Circle, GA

















Dad, Dolly and Ava at The Blue Willow Inn
















Ava Dines At The Blue Willow Inn




















Sweet Girl




















Dad, Dolly and Ava at The Blue Willow Inn
















Shelly, Doug and Ava at The Blue Willow Inn
















Grandpa Burping Ava in the Back Seat of Doug's Truck















Ava and Grandpa Dean















Hello, everyone!

We've been busy keeping up with the diaper changes and feedings as of late!

Grandpa Dean and Grandma Dolly visited this past Wednesday through Sunday. We had a great time with them! We were able to get out and enjoy quite a few sites in and around Atlanta with them. We went to the Georgia aquarium, The Blue Willow Inn, checked out houses in Madison, Georgia, The Cook's Warehouse, Target, and a local craft festival.

The Georgia Aquarium is amazing! Our little tadpole, Ava, was on her best behavior and didn't make a peep throughout the tour. The aquarium has a three-story fish tank which includes whale sharks, sting rays, VERY LARGE grouper, and many other fish. It's absolutely breath-taking. I enjoyed the sea otter, especially. He swims around all day on his back... If only we had it that easy??? It is definitely worth visiting the aquarium if you're in the Atlanta area.

The Blue Willow Inn serves up Southern-style food in an old historic house in Madison, Georgia. We enjoyed all the fixins at the inn, and then drove on to see some old houses in Madison, Georgia. Madison is such a beautiful town.

We enjoyed hanging out with Grandma and Grandpa Griffith :-). Ava flashed a few smiles their way and also has begun to "talk". She now likes to coo and hold conversations with the animals on her mobile. It's too cute...

Ava is now up to 9 and 3/4 lbs, from her original birth weight of 6 lbs 15 ounces. She's growing in leaps and bounds. It's been amazing to watch her little face change on a daily basis. We can't get enough of her!

Today we had our first real bath (non-sponge) which didn't include blood-curdling crying. I brought her in the bathtub with me, as all previous attempts at baths (with her in a small tub on the counter) were full of drama and screaming :-). Today she cried a little at first, but by the end, she was doing the backstroke in the tub and actually smiled a few times. She DIDN'T like being pulled-out of the tub and into cold air, though. Can't blame her, I guess!

Ava seems to be quite the content baby these days. She seems to stick to a schedule and only cries when she needs something (diaper change, pacifier, food, sleep). We feel blessed to have such a content little one. As the days go on, she seems to be even more content sitting in a swing, watching a mobile, or doing other things by herself. She is a sweetie! Of course Grandma and Grandpa Griffith spoiled her this past weekend!

We're excited to drive up to Michigan this Friday for Doug's youngest sister's (Tracy's) graduation from Oakland University's School of Nursing, and my cousin Adam's wedding (the following weekend)...

We can't wait for Ava to meet Aunt Tracy, Uncle Joe, Aunt Kristy, cousin Trinity, Great Uncle Bill and Great Aunt Jackie. We also can't wait for her to meet her Aunt Sherry, cousins Daymian and Jordan, Grandpa Bill, Great Grandmother, Great Uncle Danny, Great Aunt Linda and Ginger, Uncle Chris, Aunt Kristin, cousins Olivia and Sophia, Great Aunt Freda, Great Uncle Dave and Adam, Rachel, Rebecca, and Great Grandma Burnis! Lots of people to see!

I hope everyone is doing well, enjoying this beautiful spring weather!

Love,
Shelly, Doug and Ava