Ava is now three months old! Hard to believe she was inside my tummy for longer than she's been hangin' out in the "outside" world... I'm sure the view has been much more spectactular during her past three months!
We measured her the other day. She is almost 24 inches long, now. Two whole feet! Per the growth charts, she is now in the 75th percentile for height.
We're not sure how much she weighs, but I would guess she is around 14-15 lbs right now. When I weighed her the other day, I think she was around 14 lbs.
I will also try to measure her cranium sometime. Her head and face do seem to be filling-out quite a bit. It's all very strange to me that she is filling-out not based upon formula, but breast milk exclusively. That is the weirdest thing. She hasn't had any formula since the first week of her life. It is strange to think human milk can create little fat rolls on a baby's legs! Hopefully nursing her will prevent some day-care kiddo-germies from getting the best of Ava, too.
We're heading to Columbia, TN (near Nashville) this weekend to visit my Pa's sister Anita Prince and family. We haven't seen them in a long time, so it will be good to visit with them! My Dad and Dolly will be traveling down from Michigan, so Ava will be getting some grandparent-smooches, too.
Friday, June 30, 2006
Thursday, June 29, 2006
Leaving a Legacy
Monticello, The Old Homestead?
Hello, all!
Some of you may know that I am quite fascinated in researching genealogy. On a trip to Thomas Jefferson's home (Monticello) a few years back, I saw the surname Randolph on tombstones in his family gravesite, on the Monticello grounds. This got me thinking... My Grandma Nila was a Randolph. Am I related to Thomas Jefferson? In elementary school, I had already decided I was a big fan of Mr. Jefferson.
So, I bought one of the books Thomas Jefferson penned in his life (he kept 5 diaries on a daily basis), in hopes that my Randolph "dilemma" would be solved. I learned my family is related to Jane Jefferson, his older and "favorite" sister (per his book), supposedly. The Randolphs were quite the prestigious family in Virginia in those days, and intermarried. So, we may be related to Thomas Jefferson in some way, but it will take more time to figure that out...
Jefferson left an obvious legacy to Americans, through the Library of Congress, the Louisiana Purchase, the Lewis and Clark expedition, the Declaration of Independence and numerous inventions (including a "seven day clock"), to name a few. He was also a doting father. Many don't know that when he died, he didn't leave a fortune, but actually owed many debtors. His estate and personal belongings were sold a year after his death, as his daughter couldn't bring him out of the "red" (no pun intended... he was also a red-head).
What kind of legacy do we want to leave?
Doug and I talked recently about what things we want to be sure to teach Ava as she grows up. These were some of our thoughts:
1. Teach Ava to love God. God created the world for her! (and for you, and for me, too!) Doug and I were once on a road trip, driving along the highway. I saw a flower in the most inconspicuous spot, in a little crevice high on a cliff near the expressway. I thought to myself... Why would God put that flower in that particular spot? It seemed so out of place, growing amongst rock? Then I realized, as strange as it may sound, that he put that flower there for me.
Having Ava has put some things in perspective for me. I now realize, more than ever, that life is about "the long haul" rather than immediate gratification. To think that God planted the seed, grew the flower, and put us on the highway at that exact moment is what amazes me. All for that exact moment. I know God plants many, many flowers high atop rocks, it's just a matter of us recognizing them in those spots. We need to be sure Ava understands this and is aware of God daily in her life. I want her to grow up to be a "lady" (hard to come by these days, I'm thinking), and a "woman of God".
2. Teach Ava to love and be respectful of others. She will say "please" and "thank you" and be respectful to everyone with whom she comes into contact. We will need to be especially mindful of this when the "terrible two's" arrive!
She should treat men, women, young, old, black, white, Hispanic, Japanese, disabled or not; each and every person, all in a loving manner.
3. Teach Ava to be resourceful. If I am the "jack of all trades, master of none" (if even the "jack" at all), Doug would be the "master of all". He probably doesn't think so (Mr. Modesty). He seems to be good at whatever he does. He reads books on how to accomplish something, and then he does it. I want to ensure Ava has the same sense of confidence and adventure (in tackling the unknown, especially) when she is growing up.
This brings back memories of the dictionary which sat on a shelf under our end-table when I was growing up. If ever I wondered how something was spelled, my Mom would point me in the direction of the dictionary (not in a cruel way at all, just to teach me to find it myself). I thank my Mom for keeping the dictionary there, and letting me find it. Eventually I went to the dictionary directly, knowing that is where the answer could be found.
To sum up this point, we want to instill in Ava that education (even educating one's self) is priceless. It is something that can't ever be taken away from you.
These are just a few of the things we want to teach Ava.
The following passage from Joshua 4:1-9, upon the Israelites crossing the Jordan River, still strikes a cord with me, regarding leaving a legacy:
"When the whole nation had finished crossing the Jordan, the Lord said to Joshua, 'Choose twelve men from among the people, one from each tribe, and tell them to take up twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan from right where the priests stood and to carry them over with you and put them down at the place where you stay tonight.'
So Joshua called together the twelve men he had appointed from the Israelites, one from each tribe, and said to them, 'Go over before the ark of the Lord your God into the middle of the Jordan. Each of you is to take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the Israelites, to serve as a sign among you. In the future, when your children ask you, 'What do these stones mean?' Tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever. '
So the Israelites did as Joshua commanded them. They took twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan, according to the number of the tribes of the Israelites, as the Lord had told Joshua; and they carried them over with them to their camp, where they put them down. Joshua set up the twelve stones that had been in the middle of the Jordan at the spot where the priests who carried the ark of the covenant had stood. And they are there to this day."
What if one of the Israelites didn't follow orders and pick up their stone? I definitely don't want to be the one to mess that up...
Today I think of the stone I will be leaving for Ava and eventually her great-grandchildren.
Shelly
Hello, all!
Some of you may know that I am quite fascinated in researching genealogy. On a trip to Thomas Jefferson's home (Monticello) a few years back, I saw the surname Randolph on tombstones in his family gravesite, on the Monticello grounds. This got me thinking... My Grandma Nila was a Randolph. Am I related to Thomas Jefferson? In elementary school, I had already decided I was a big fan of Mr. Jefferson.
So, I bought one of the books Thomas Jefferson penned in his life (he kept 5 diaries on a daily basis), in hopes that my Randolph "dilemma" would be solved. I learned my family is related to Jane Jefferson, his older and "favorite" sister (per his book), supposedly. The Randolphs were quite the prestigious family in Virginia in those days, and intermarried. So, we may be related to Thomas Jefferson in some way, but it will take more time to figure that out...
Jefferson left an obvious legacy to Americans, through the Library of Congress, the Louisiana Purchase, the Lewis and Clark expedition, the Declaration of Independence and numerous inventions (including a "seven day clock"), to name a few. He was also a doting father. Many don't know that when he died, he didn't leave a fortune, but actually owed many debtors. His estate and personal belongings were sold a year after his death, as his daughter couldn't bring him out of the "red" (no pun intended... he was also a red-head).
What kind of legacy do we want to leave?
Doug and I talked recently about what things we want to be sure to teach Ava as she grows up. These were some of our thoughts:
1. Teach Ava to love God. God created the world for her! (and for you, and for me, too!) Doug and I were once on a road trip, driving along the highway. I saw a flower in the most inconspicuous spot, in a little crevice high on a cliff near the expressway. I thought to myself... Why would God put that flower in that particular spot? It seemed so out of place, growing amongst rock? Then I realized, as strange as it may sound, that he put that flower there for me.
Having Ava has put some things in perspective for me. I now realize, more than ever, that life is about "the long haul" rather than immediate gratification. To think that God planted the seed, grew the flower, and put us on the highway at that exact moment is what amazes me. All for that exact moment. I know God plants many, many flowers high atop rocks, it's just a matter of us recognizing them in those spots. We need to be sure Ava understands this and is aware of God daily in her life. I want her to grow up to be a "lady" (hard to come by these days, I'm thinking), and a "woman of God".
2. Teach Ava to love and be respectful of others. She will say "please" and "thank you" and be respectful to everyone with whom she comes into contact. We will need to be especially mindful of this when the "terrible two's" arrive!
She should treat men, women, young, old, black, white, Hispanic, Japanese, disabled or not; each and every person, all in a loving manner.
3. Teach Ava to be resourceful. If I am the "jack of all trades, master of none" (if even the "jack" at all), Doug would be the "master of all". He probably doesn't think so (Mr. Modesty). He seems to be good at whatever he does. He reads books on how to accomplish something, and then he does it. I want to ensure Ava has the same sense of confidence and adventure (in tackling the unknown, especially) when she is growing up.
This brings back memories of the dictionary which sat on a shelf under our end-table when I was growing up. If ever I wondered how something was spelled, my Mom would point me in the direction of the dictionary (not in a cruel way at all, just to teach me to find it myself). I thank my Mom for keeping the dictionary there, and letting me find it. Eventually I went to the dictionary directly, knowing that is where the answer could be found.
To sum up this point, we want to instill in Ava that education (even educating one's self) is priceless. It is something that can't ever be taken away from you.
These are just a few of the things we want to teach Ava.
The following passage from Joshua 4:1-9, upon the Israelites crossing the Jordan River, still strikes a cord with me, regarding leaving a legacy:
"When the whole nation had finished crossing the Jordan, the Lord said to Joshua, 'Choose twelve men from among the people, one from each tribe, and tell them to take up twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan from right where the priests stood and to carry them over with you and put them down at the place where you stay tonight.'
So Joshua called together the twelve men he had appointed from the Israelites, one from each tribe, and said to them, 'Go over before the ark of the Lord your God into the middle of the Jordan. Each of you is to take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the Israelites, to serve as a sign among you. In the future, when your children ask you, 'What do these stones mean?' Tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever. '
So the Israelites did as Joshua commanded them. They took twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan, according to the number of the tribes of the Israelites, as the Lord had told Joshua; and they carried them over with them to their camp, where they put them down. Joshua set up the twelve stones that had been in the middle of the Jordan at the spot where the priests who carried the ark of the covenant had stood. And they are there to this day."
What if one of the Israelites didn't follow orders and pick up their stone? I definitely don't want to be the one to mess that up...
Today I think of the stone I will be leaving for Ava and eventually her great-grandchildren.
Shelly
Monday, June 26, 2006
Ava's First Day of Day Care
Today Ava ventured into a new world... The world of day care. I think it was tougher for Mommy to go through than Ava. She didn't even know we left. When I was paying my dues (literally) at the front desk, she must've already fallen asleep as a sign was hung on the infant room which said "Babies Sleeping".
I picked her up at 4:30 and she had just awoken from a nap. She seemed very happy and content. It was reassurance that we chose the right day care. She is currently attending a Montessori school near our house.
The attached picture was of her first day at school.
With love,
Shelly, Doug and Ava
The Bumbo Chair & The "Polish Crawl"
Loving her new chair...
Having Fun In Her New Chair
Video sent by thecareyclan
Look at those monkey-toes!
Isn't she sweet?
Hello all!
I will often look on www.babycenter.com to see what questions and tips other March 2006 moms have on their minds... Reviewing everyone's answers has been quite helpful to me. One of the questions recently was, "What was the one thing you could not live without within the past few months?" Many moms responded stating their "Bumbo chair" is a must-have.
I had never seen or heard of this strange little seat until other moms posted pictures of their little ones in their Bumbo chairs. When I inquired about "The Bumbo" at Babies 'R Us, I learned the store can't stock enough of these chairs. They sell like hotcakes.
This past Saturday, some of the ladies and babies in our small group got together for lunch in the historic district of Roswell. We ate at the Fickle Pickle and then meandered along Canton Street, perusing through the shops. (It was a scorcher! I would say the humidity-filled Georgia summer days are here to stay). At a children's consignment store at the end of our journey, I saw a Bumbo chair. It was marked $15-off the retail price, so I was a happy camper and made the purchase.
Ava seems to like it for a short period of time, after which she will tense-up as if she wants to stand (she might think she can, these days :-). The seat is good for teaching a baby how to sit, while also giving them the support they need so they don't topple over onto their head. The attached pictures are of Ava in her "Bumbo" seat.
The Polish Crawl:
I joke with Doug that Ava has a "Polish crawl". Her little legs are so strong, she looks like she is doing a "push-up" with her legs (straight), but she doesn't move her head or arms off of the ground. So, she somehow scoots a few inches with each semi-"Polish crawl", grinding her face into the blanket. Somewhat effective, yet it looks exhausting. Hopefully her arms will be strong enough soon that she can use them to move her body forward. Then she'll be all set!
We received some much needed rain here in Georgia over the past few days. Not much rain compared to those on the Eastern seaboard, although our rain seemed like quite the "downpour" to us. We hope you're staying cool and dry...
With love,
Shelly, Doug and Ava
Having Fun In Her New Chair
Video sent by thecareyclan
Look at those monkey-toes!
Isn't she sweet?
Hello all!
I will often look on www.babycenter.com to see what questions and tips other March 2006 moms have on their minds... Reviewing everyone's answers has been quite helpful to me. One of the questions recently was, "What was the one thing you could not live without within the past few months?" Many moms responded stating their "Bumbo chair" is a must-have.
I had never seen or heard of this strange little seat until other moms posted pictures of their little ones in their Bumbo chairs. When I inquired about "The Bumbo" at Babies 'R Us, I learned the store can't stock enough of these chairs. They sell like hotcakes.
This past Saturday, some of the ladies and babies in our small group got together for lunch in the historic district of Roswell. We ate at the Fickle Pickle and then meandered along Canton Street, perusing through the shops. (It was a scorcher! I would say the humidity-filled Georgia summer days are here to stay). At a children's consignment store at the end of our journey, I saw a Bumbo chair. It was marked $15-off the retail price, so I was a happy camper and made the purchase.
Ava seems to like it for a short period of time, after which she will tense-up as if she wants to stand (she might think she can, these days :-). The seat is good for teaching a baby how to sit, while also giving them the support they need so they don't topple over onto their head. The attached pictures are of Ava in her "Bumbo" seat.
The Polish Crawl:
I joke with Doug that Ava has a "Polish crawl". Her little legs are so strong, she looks like she is doing a "push-up" with her legs (straight), but she doesn't move her head or arms off of the ground. So, she somehow scoots a few inches with each semi-"Polish crawl", grinding her face into the blanket. Somewhat effective, yet it looks exhausting. Hopefully her arms will be strong enough soon that she can use them to move her body forward. Then she'll be all set!
We received some much needed rain here in Georgia over the past few days. Not much rain compared to those on the Eastern seaboard, although our rain seemed like quite the "downpour" to us. We hope you're staying cool and dry...
With love,
Shelly, Doug and Ava
Friday, June 23, 2006
Ava's Green TEDDY Blanket
Da Blanket:
Da Bears:
Hello, all!
When other friends have been pregnant, I have made a blanket for some of them. You've probably seen this type of blanket; no sewing required with two fleece blanket layers, tied together at their perimeter.
Doug's Mom was nice enough to make one of these blankets for me, and has made one for most (if not all) of her family members. The blanket Mary made for me is my favorite blanket for snuggling!
When I've made similar blankets for friends expecting babies, they tell me how nice the blankets are to use on the floor, so the baby can lay on it (extra padding with two fleece layers, I'm thinking). So, right before Ava started "rolling" I made one for her.
Ava now likes to talk to and smile at the little teddy bears on her blankie. Oh to be a kid again! :-)
Shelly, Doug and Ava
Da Bears:
Hello, all!
When other friends have been pregnant, I have made a blanket for some of them. You've probably seen this type of blanket; no sewing required with two fleece blanket layers, tied together at their perimeter.
Doug's Mom was nice enough to make one of these blankets for me, and has made one for most (if not all) of her family members. The blanket Mary made for me is my favorite blanket for snuggling!
When I've made similar blankets for friends expecting babies, they tell me how nice the blankets are to use on the floor, so the baby can lay on it (extra padding with two fleece layers, I'm thinking). So, right before Ava started "rolling" I made one for her.
Ava now likes to talk to and smile at the little teddy bears on her blankie. Oh to be a kid again! :-)
Shelly, Doug and Ava
Smile for the camera!
At 10 1/2 weeks, I took Ava to have her first "professional" pictures taken. We went to Babies 'R Us.
I thought I had this whole "taking pictures of the kid thing" figured out... I put her down for a nice long nap, woke her up, had her dress ironed and on a hanger, took her to Babies 'R Us, fed her a bottle in the parking lot, burped her and then changed her into the sweet little dress. All in record time! (I did this all in hopes of not wearing out her smiles). She smiled for the first picture, and after that, it was all she could do to not cry...
She hated being contorted into the poses the photographer used. Of course it didn't help that the photographer was BANGING on the little stage Ava was sitting on. I know she was doing that hoping it would get Ava's attention so she might smile... Didn't work!!! :-)
Our kid is pretty simple. You smile at her, she will most likely smile at you. Banging isn't necessary...yet :-) We did get some cute pictures out of the experience, though.
All smiles,
Shelly, Doug and Ava
Monday, June 19, 2006
Happy Father's Day!
Daddy and Ava
The Carey Clan
Mommy and Ava
Ava and her Daddy Hangin' Out on a Saturday Morning
The Many Faces of Ava...
In some of these pictures she might look a little upset, but she was actually "talking" to Doug and blowing raspberries :-)
Ava's Feet Don't Touch The Ground (When in her Activity Seat) Just Yet...
Shelly and Ava After Small Group
Happy Father's Day!
Doug was able to enjoy his VERY FIRST Father's Day yesterday!
He woke up to an 8x10 photo of himself holding Ava on our kitchen table. He also found a giftbag with the same photo in a smaller size (for work?), and a memory book on "A Father's Legacy". It is a book he can use to record his thoughts on his life experiences, etc. I gave a similar "Grandpa's Memories" book to my Pa (Fred Griffith), who graciously filled one of these books out for me before he died. I am so grateful Pa did! So, I told Doug that the book might not necessarily be the most fun of gifts for him (he seemed to dig it, though), but eventually a gift he could give all of our kids when they're grown.
We went to late service at church and ate at Boston Market afterward. (This is a dream not often realized by Doug, as I got a REALLY BAD case of food poisoning from Boston Market about 9 years ago... We're talking 7 lb weight loss in like two days...) We then went to Target for some odds and ends, picking up Ava's first Disney DVD's for viewing. I tried to pick the "limited release" DVD's, because I always seem to miss those I'd like, when they are out of the "Disney Vault". (quite the effective marketing gimmick, this vault idea!) So, we picked up "Bambi", "Cinderella", and "Lady and the Tramp". I've been singing "Bippity, Boppity, Boo" quite a bit lately, so it seemed fitting to purchase "Cinderella".
After small group last night, we went out to eat with some friends at El Nopal (I think that's the name of it) on Highway 9 in Roswell. It was GREAT Mexican food, and wonderful company!
We went to the Collins' house to help Jay Collins celebrate his 32nd birthday on Friday night. It was a nice time. We also played "Shout" (a DVD game about movies), while Jeremy Duncan schooled the rest of us... He could be on his own team, I swear!
Doug and I watched "Firewall" on Saturday night. It was a pretty good movie starring Harrison Ford. Some things in it were a bit far-fetched, but we both thought it was pretty good.
Ava is talking up a storm (she squeals, coos and makes a noise with her slobber like radio "fuzz" - see video clip previously attached) and rolling over immediately after you put her on the floor.
We hope all the dads out there had a memorable and enjoyable Father's Day. You are ALL important to us! As I've heard it put before, "it takes a village to raise a child." Thank you for being a dad!
With love,
Shelly, Daddy Doug and Ava
The Carey Clan
Mommy and Ava
Ava and her Daddy Hangin' Out on a Saturday Morning
The Many Faces of Ava...
In some of these pictures she might look a little upset, but she was actually "talking" to Doug and blowing raspberries :-)
Ava's Feet Don't Touch The Ground (When in her Activity Seat) Just Yet...
Shelly and Ava After Small Group
Happy Father's Day!
Doug was able to enjoy his VERY FIRST Father's Day yesterday!
He woke up to an 8x10 photo of himself holding Ava on our kitchen table. He also found a giftbag with the same photo in a smaller size (for work?), and a memory book on "A Father's Legacy". It is a book he can use to record his thoughts on his life experiences, etc. I gave a similar "Grandpa's Memories" book to my Pa (Fred Griffith), who graciously filled one of these books out for me before he died. I am so grateful Pa did! So, I told Doug that the book might not necessarily be the most fun of gifts for him (he seemed to dig it, though), but eventually a gift he could give all of our kids when they're grown.
We went to late service at church and ate at Boston Market afterward. (This is a dream not often realized by Doug, as I got a REALLY BAD case of food poisoning from Boston Market about 9 years ago... We're talking 7 lb weight loss in like two days...) We then went to Target for some odds and ends, picking up Ava's first Disney DVD's for viewing. I tried to pick the "limited release" DVD's, because I always seem to miss those I'd like, when they are out of the "Disney Vault". (quite the effective marketing gimmick, this vault idea!) So, we picked up "Bambi", "Cinderella", and "Lady and the Tramp". I've been singing "Bippity, Boppity, Boo" quite a bit lately, so it seemed fitting to purchase "Cinderella".
After small group last night, we went out to eat with some friends at El Nopal (I think that's the name of it) on Highway 9 in Roswell. It was GREAT Mexican food, and wonderful company!
We went to the Collins' house to help Jay Collins celebrate his 32nd birthday on Friday night. It was a nice time. We also played "Shout" (a DVD game about movies), while Jeremy Duncan schooled the rest of us... He could be on his own team, I swear!
Doug and I watched "Firewall" on Saturday night. It was a pretty good movie starring Harrison Ford. Some things in it were a bit far-fetched, but we both thought it was pretty good.
Ava is talking up a storm (she squeals, coos and makes a noise with her slobber like radio "fuzz" - see video clip previously attached) and rolling over immediately after you put her on the floor.
We hope all the dads out there had a memorable and enjoyable Father's Day. You are ALL important to us! As I've heard it put before, "it takes a village to raise a child." Thank you for being a dad!
With love,
Shelly, Daddy Doug and Ava
Friday, June 16, 2006
Video: Ava Talking
This video is Ava "talking" this morning.
Can anyone translate?
Ava Talking
Video sent by thecareyclan
Love,
Shelly, Doug and Ava
Can anyone translate?
Ava Talking
Video sent by thecareyclan
Love,
Shelly, Doug and Ava
Shake, Rattle and ROLL!
We put her to bed on her back. How did she manage this? :-)
She has definitely found her fingers these days, to suck on... No thumb yet, though!
Ava with a bit 'o morning face (she looks a little excited?)
More morning face...
On her tummy under her activity center
Ava on her tummy under her activity center
Rolling under her activity center
After rolling over
Ava in a bit of a pickle...
Having fun under her activity center
In her bouncy seat
In her bouncy seat
Hey folks!
We're enjoying some nice weather here in Georgia, although it is supposed to be in the 90's this weekend! How 'bout your neck o' the woods?
We have exciting news to report on the kiddo-front... Ava has now learned how to roll over! This past Tuesday, I was jonesin' for some coffee (we don't typically make coffee in the morning, unless it's a weekend, for some reason). I put Ava under her activity center on her back, so she could play with the hanging toys (a gift from Mrs. Flanigan and Grandma Spangler- merci beaucoup!). I walked into the kitchen to put cream in my coffee, and came back into our family room. Lo and behold, I find Ava OFF of the activity mat entirely, and on her stomach!
That night when Doug got home from work, she showed off her new skills for Daddy, too, by rolling over on our bed.
Last night we put her to sleep on her back. We watched her turn (via the baby video monitor we have) over to her stomach. Doug woke her up to feed her this morning and found her still on her stomach. He put her back into her crib on her back. When I woke her up to feed her again this morning, she is on her stomach! How does she do it? :-) So, for the record, she was 11 weeks exactly when she started rolling over on her own.
The scary thing about her moving around so much? I just put her in her bouncy seat, which also has hanging toys (see pictures). I didn't strap her in, and she finagled her way out of it by inching down so that only her head was on the seat, and her body was on the tile floor... All within a few seconds (of course my back was turned...). I now have her strapped into the bouncy seat and she is HATING IT. Guess we've got to watch her like a hawk, now that she's goin' mobile!
She is also grabbing for things very well lately. I gave her a little toy (a plastic star that hangs from her swing) and thought she might drop it, but found it in her hand like 30 minutes later... I'm crossing my fingers that she's a righty, but her Dad has other plans for her...
She fit into her first three month outfit this week. Still swimming in it, but it fits...More wardrobe possibilities! More clothes she'll spit up on! :-)
She is also cooing quite a bit these days and squealing, as a way of communicating. It is adorably cute! She likes to talk to Doug when he gets home from work. Maybe she's asking how his day went? "So what kind of building did you work on today, Daddy?"
Ava also was laughing this week when I was singing "Doe, a deer, a female deer" to her, and moving her feet. Poor kid, she has no idea how many songs from "The Sound of Music" are headed her way... Along those lines, and I know you're all out there... What are / were your favorite songs to sing to babies? Our repetoire currently includes:
Doe, a deer, a female deer (from The Sound of Music)
Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star
Daisy, Daisy, Give Me Your Answer, Do...
Mary Had a Little Lamb
Close To You (by the Carpenters)
Under the Sea (from The Little Mermaid)
You Are My Sunshine (probably my all-time favorite)
The Itsy-Bitsy Spider
The others slip my mind right now. Just wondering what your favorite songs are?
Hope you're having a GREAT FRIDAY!
With love,
Shelly, Doug and Ava
She has definitely found her fingers these days, to suck on... No thumb yet, though!
Ava with a bit 'o morning face (she looks a little excited?)
More morning face...
On her tummy under her activity center
Ava on her tummy under her activity center
Rolling under her activity center
After rolling over
Ava in a bit of a pickle...
Having fun under her activity center
In her bouncy seat
In her bouncy seat
Hey folks!
We're enjoying some nice weather here in Georgia, although it is supposed to be in the 90's this weekend! How 'bout your neck o' the woods?
We have exciting news to report on the kiddo-front... Ava has now learned how to roll over! This past Tuesday, I was jonesin' for some coffee (we don't typically make coffee in the morning, unless it's a weekend, for some reason). I put Ava under her activity center on her back, so she could play with the hanging toys (a gift from Mrs. Flanigan and Grandma Spangler- merci beaucoup!). I walked into the kitchen to put cream in my coffee, and came back into our family room. Lo and behold, I find Ava OFF of the activity mat entirely, and on her stomach!
That night when Doug got home from work, she showed off her new skills for Daddy, too, by rolling over on our bed.
Last night we put her to sleep on her back. We watched her turn (via the baby video monitor we have) over to her stomach. Doug woke her up to feed her this morning and found her still on her stomach. He put her back into her crib on her back. When I woke her up to feed her again this morning, she is on her stomach! How does she do it? :-) So, for the record, she was 11 weeks exactly when she started rolling over on her own.
The scary thing about her moving around so much? I just put her in her bouncy seat, which also has hanging toys (see pictures). I didn't strap her in, and she finagled her way out of it by inching down so that only her head was on the seat, and her body was on the tile floor... All within a few seconds (of course my back was turned...). I now have her strapped into the bouncy seat and she is HATING IT. Guess we've got to watch her like a hawk, now that she's goin' mobile!
She is also grabbing for things very well lately. I gave her a little toy (a plastic star that hangs from her swing) and thought she might drop it, but found it in her hand like 30 minutes later... I'm crossing my fingers that she's a righty, but her Dad has other plans for her...
She fit into her first three month outfit this week. Still swimming in it, but it fits...More wardrobe possibilities! More clothes she'll spit up on! :-)
She is also cooing quite a bit these days and squealing, as a way of communicating. It is adorably cute! She likes to talk to Doug when he gets home from work. Maybe she's asking how his day went? "So what kind of building did you work on today, Daddy?"
Ava also was laughing this week when I was singing "Doe, a deer, a female deer" to her, and moving her feet. Poor kid, she has no idea how many songs from "The Sound of Music" are headed her way... Along those lines, and I know you're all out there... What are / were your favorite songs to sing to babies? Our repetoire currently includes:
Doe, a deer, a female deer (from The Sound of Music)
Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star
Daisy, Daisy, Give Me Your Answer, Do...
Mary Had a Little Lamb
Close To You (by the Carpenters)
Under the Sea (from The Little Mermaid)
You Are My Sunshine (probably my all-time favorite)
The Itsy-Bitsy Spider
The others slip my mind right now. Just wondering what your favorite songs are?
Hope you're having a GREAT FRIDAY!
With love,
Shelly, Doug and Ava
Saturday, June 10, 2006
"Constructing" Friendships
The Birthday Boy: Spencer
The Birthday Boy: Spencer
Spencer And Buddy Maggie
Spencer Van Gogh painting "happy little trees"
Ava Dons Her Construction Hat (“Does this come in pink?”)
Spencer’s Cool Birthday Cake
Spencer Blowing Out His Birthday Candles (All Two!)
Spencer Opening Birthday Gifts
Ava and the Motley Crew (Kylie Shaw and Ryan Ashton Fletcher)
Ava and Crew
The Crew
The Crew
The Crew
The Crew
Ryan Ashton and His Ladies
Ryan Ashton Fletcher and His Momma Anna
Ava Partied-Out
Hey everyone!
We were fortunate enough today to attend Spencer Riley Duncan's second birthday party! The Duncans (Jeremy, Marsha and Spencer) are friends of ours from church. Spencer is the smartest little two year old I've met so far! He has quite the vocabulary and is ever so polite. He can even say "Doug" and "Shelly" (Shelly always seems to be a tough one for little kids to say).
Jeremy and Marsha are very crafty folk. The theme for Spencer's birthday party was "construction". Each child was supplied with a festive hardhat. Spencer walked around wearing his manly tool belt. Marsha made a really cool strawberry cake with strawberry frosting. The frosting was tinted to look like dirt / pavement, oreos were crushed to look like a road meandering along the top of the cake, and candy corn was used to look like construction cones... Too cute! A great time seemed to be had by all.
This was the first birthday party Ava attended. Her Daddy was all smiles knowing his little girl has already worn a construction hardhat. I'm sure she'll have a pink tool belt before she turns one, at this rate!
At the party, Ryan Ashton Fletcher (born in November), Kylie Reese Shaw (born early in January but due at the end of March like Ava) and Ava all posed for the camera together. Ryan Ashton was a big flirt with the girls... You should've seen the parents making a fuss over these little ones (myself included), trying to keep kiddos propped-up on the couch all while preventing any baby-mauling from occurring.
It is in the 90's here today! We hope you found a cool place to kick back and relax today... with a cone of a different sort... maybe an ice cream cone?
Love,
Shelly, Doug and Ava
The Birthday Boy: Spencer
Spencer And Buddy Maggie
Spencer Van Gogh painting "happy little trees"
Ava Dons Her Construction Hat (“Does this come in pink?”)
Spencer’s Cool Birthday Cake
Spencer Blowing Out His Birthday Candles (All Two!)
Spencer Opening Birthday Gifts
Ava and the Motley Crew (Kylie Shaw and Ryan Ashton Fletcher)
Ava and Crew
The Crew
The Crew
The Crew
The Crew
Ryan Ashton and His Ladies
Ryan Ashton Fletcher and His Momma Anna
Ava Partied-Out
Hey everyone!
We were fortunate enough today to attend Spencer Riley Duncan's second birthday party! The Duncans (Jeremy, Marsha and Spencer) are friends of ours from church. Spencer is the smartest little two year old I've met so far! He has quite the vocabulary and is ever so polite. He can even say "Doug" and "Shelly" (Shelly always seems to be a tough one for little kids to say).
Jeremy and Marsha are very crafty folk. The theme for Spencer's birthday party was "construction". Each child was supplied with a festive hardhat. Spencer walked around wearing his manly tool belt. Marsha made a really cool strawberry cake with strawberry frosting. The frosting was tinted to look like dirt / pavement, oreos were crushed to look like a road meandering along the top of the cake, and candy corn was used to look like construction cones... Too cute! A great time seemed to be had by all.
This was the first birthday party Ava attended. Her Daddy was all smiles knowing his little girl has already worn a construction hardhat. I'm sure she'll have a pink tool belt before she turns one, at this rate!
At the party, Ryan Ashton Fletcher (born in November), Kylie Reese Shaw (born early in January but due at the end of March like Ava) and Ava all posed for the camera together. Ryan Ashton was a big flirt with the girls... You should've seen the parents making a fuss over these little ones (myself included), trying to keep kiddos propped-up on the couch all while preventing any baby-mauling from occurring.
It is in the 90's here today! We hope you found a cool place to kick back and relax today... with a cone of a different sort... maybe an ice cream cone?
Love,
Shelly, Doug and Ava
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