$266.00 and a new hard-drive later, our data has been recovered! We will DEFINITELY be backing everything up (that isn't nailed down)!
My Mom is in town this weekend visiting the little one. We're enjoying having her around! I will post more (including pics) when we have our computer set-up again...
Doug's Dad had his knee surgery this past Tuesday. Although in quite a bit of pain shortly afterward, it sounds like the surgery was successful. He was able to go home from the hospital tonight, where I'm sure rest will be more plentiful! He will be without a knee component for approximately three months, after which he will go through knee-replacement surgery again. Would you believe they had him walking around the hospital this week? (Hold off on the cartwheels this week, Dad!) He has some great doctors working with him, from what we understand. Please continue to pray for his speedy and effective recovery, and that all happens in the right time.
'Happy as clams, with a new hard-drive and healthy Dad C!
Shelly, Doug and Ava
Sunday, July 30, 2006
The blog revolution is here!
Many of our friends have blogs. We enjoy keeping up with everyone through their blog!
Here are some interesting blogs I look at every so often...
Keep those posts coming!
http://carrisfamily.blogspot.com/
http://www.ryanashton.blogspot.com/
http://tentpegs.blogspot.com/
http://www.patrickmead.blogspot.com/
http://www.joshgraves.blogspot.com/
http://jeffslater.net/
http://harrisonhome.blogspot.com/
http://casadepate.blogspot.com/
http://duncansrolltide.blogspot.com/
http://walkwagon.blogspot.com/
http://mwfrost.blogspot.com/
http://blog.faith20.org/
http://malibulibrarian.typepad.com/books_beaches_blather/
http://bevchoatedowdy.blogspot.com/
http://savvysaver.blogspot.com/
http://kleinsingermany.blogspot.com/
http://ruthieliz.blogspot.com/
http://furtherinandfurtherup.blogspot.com/
http://babybrj.blogspot.com/
Just a note... Our hard drive is currently in the hands of the nearest Micro Center. We're hoping our data is able to be retrieved! Four months of pictures of the little one, a marriage-full of weekend get-away pictures, all "electronic"... Ugh. I organized all the files recently, only to have the hard drive go ka-put. Never did get around to backing those files up or saving them to CD... Please cross your fingers that they're able to salvage our info, and learn from my mistake.
I will post more pictures when we get a new hard drive and / or they're able to retrieve the info...
Shelly
Here are some interesting blogs I look at every so often...
Keep those posts coming!
http://carrisfamily.blogspot.com/
http://www.ryanashton.blogspot.com/
http://tentpegs.blogspot.com/
http://www.patrickmead.blogspot.com/
http://www.joshgraves.blogspot.com/
http://jeffslater.net/
http://harrisonhome.blogspot.com/
http://casadepate.blogspot.com/
http://duncansrolltide.blogspot.com/
http://walkwagon.blogspot.com/
http://mwfrost.blogspot.com/
http://blog.faith20.org/
http://malibulibrarian.typepad.com/books_beaches_blather/
http://bevchoatedowdy.blogspot.com/
http://savvysaver.blogspot.com/
http://kleinsingermany.blogspot.com/
http://ruthieliz.blogspot.com/
http://furtherinandfurtherup.blogspot.com/
http://babybrj.blogspot.com/
Just a note... Our hard drive is currently in the hands of the nearest Micro Center. We're hoping our data is able to be retrieved! Four months of pictures of the little one, a marriage-full of weekend get-away pictures, all "electronic"... Ugh. I organized all the files recently, only to have the hard drive go ka-put. Never did get around to backing those files up or saving them to CD... Please cross your fingers that they're able to salvage our info, and learn from my mistake.
I will post more pictures when we get a new hard drive and / or they're able to retrieve the info...
Shelly
Ava is Four Months Old
Hello, everyone!
We are experiencing technical difficulties... Our computer's hard drive might've crashed last night. Hopefully the data is salvageable!
Ava, July 2006
IT GIVES ME FEVER...
Just as Ava was getting over a cold, she got her 4-month "shots" on Friday. The immunizations seemed to give her a bit of a fever. We did the lukewarm bath, baby Tylenol, few layers of clothing and kept the ceiling fan running, which all seemed to do the trick. She was extra snuggly and wanted to be held yesterday, so we read a few books. She reaches for the pages and tries to turn them now. She's normally a very active baby, so her sitting still through two consecutive books was another indicator she was sick. It wasn't any fun seeing her lose her "spunk", but she bounced back and woke up as her same, sweet little smiley-self again this morning.
THE NUMBERS
At her 4-month doctor's appointment we learned:
-Ava is exactly 15 lbs, which puts her in the 75th percentile for weight
-She is 24 3/4 inches, which puts her in the 75th percentile for height
-Her head circumference is 16 1/2 inches, which is also the 75th percentile.
...A good place to be, I guess! We're blessed she is so healthy and got over her cold (and then fever) so quickly. Doug and I have both battled the cold this week, too.
AVA'S ARIA
And does she have some lungs! When the nurse went to weigh her, I think Ava got startled when the scale shifted (she might've thought she was falling?), so she started wailing. She didn't stop crying for quite a while. The air-conditioning was out of commission in the doctor's office, so they didn't close the door to the room, which meant other little ones heard Ava's extreme unhappiness with the scale... When the nurse came in, she said she expected to see a one year-old baby, based on how loud the cries were...I am amazed at how strong Ava's little lungs are... I joke that one day she may be an opera singer.
WALL ART
The doctor said Ava can start eating cereal or fruits now (liquid-form, of course), to get the hang of the "spoon" thing. My what fun we'll soon be having with food! Hmm, this color "banana" would look great on the wall, don't you think? ;-)
THIS LITTLE PIGGY...
She has found her toes, too. When she wakes up in the morning these days, she likes to play with her mobile or touch her toes (a few morning Calisthentics, I guess).
We love to see our little girl grin! She is our sweetie-pie!
With love,
Shelly, Doug and Ava
We are experiencing technical difficulties... Our computer's hard drive might've crashed last night. Hopefully the data is salvageable!
Ava, July 2006
IT GIVES ME FEVER...
Just as Ava was getting over a cold, she got her 4-month "shots" on Friday. The immunizations seemed to give her a bit of a fever. We did the lukewarm bath, baby Tylenol, few layers of clothing and kept the ceiling fan running, which all seemed to do the trick. She was extra snuggly and wanted to be held yesterday, so we read a few books. She reaches for the pages and tries to turn them now. She's normally a very active baby, so her sitting still through two consecutive books was another indicator she was sick. It wasn't any fun seeing her lose her "spunk", but she bounced back and woke up as her same, sweet little smiley-self again this morning.
THE NUMBERS
At her 4-month doctor's appointment we learned:
-Ava is exactly 15 lbs, which puts her in the 75th percentile for weight
-She is 24 3/4 inches, which puts her in the 75th percentile for height
-Her head circumference is 16 1/2 inches, which is also the 75th percentile.
...A good place to be, I guess! We're blessed she is so healthy and got over her cold (and then fever) so quickly. Doug and I have both battled the cold this week, too.
AVA'S ARIA
And does she have some lungs! When the nurse went to weigh her, I think Ava got startled when the scale shifted (she might've thought she was falling?), so she started wailing. She didn't stop crying for quite a while. The air-conditioning was out of commission in the doctor's office, so they didn't close the door to the room, which meant other little ones heard Ava's extreme unhappiness with the scale... When the nurse came in, she said she expected to see a one year-old baby, based on how loud the cries were...I am amazed at how strong Ava's little lungs are... I joke that one day she may be an opera singer.
WALL ART
The doctor said Ava can start eating cereal or fruits now (liquid-form, of course), to get the hang of the "spoon" thing. My what fun we'll soon be having with food! Hmm, this color "banana" would look great on the wall, don't you think? ;-)
THIS LITTLE PIGGY...
She has found her toes, too. When she wakes up in the morning these days, she likes to play with her mobile or touch her toes (a few morning Calisthentics, I guess).
We love to see our little girl grin! She is our sweetie-pie!
With love,
Shelly, Doug and Ava
Monday, July 24, 2006
Ava and Daddy Hanging-Out
This video was taken of Ava at 3 1/2 months old, hanging out with Daddy...
Ava as she grows
Video sent by thecareyclan
Ava as she grows
Video sent by thecareyclan
Okay, She Wasn't Kidding...
I guess Ava wasn't kidding. She IS sick. Her little cute cough has turned into a not so cute cough. She has been seriously congested for the past few days. Fortunately we were able to call Uncle Joe (Doug's brother) the pharmacist for some advice. He said that it is common for little ones to get colds during the summer.
Ava hasn't been running any kind of fever, so we haven't taken her to the doctor, but she does seem to have a cold. If she ran any kind of fever, believe me, I would be calling the doctor for the first available appointment. Fortunately she hasn't showed any signs of a fever yet.
Poor little thing. She has a runny nose and a cough. We've been giving her an infant vitamin, and a baby dose of Robitussin (Wal-Tussin, which doesn't contain any alcohol) to take care of the congestion. We also have given her minimal baby Motrin as needed.
We didn't take her to church or small group on Sunday, so she could rest as much as possible. We took her out for a walk to get some fresh air on Saturday and Sunday. She ends-up sleeping during the walk. We were able to use the Duncans' jogging stroller without the car-seat attached because she is now JUST big enough to recline in the stroller itself.
Almost 4 months... She's also reaching for things lately. She LOVES to grab my nose and lips. She has started reaching for the mobile over her crib, too. Her dexterity really seems to be improving. She's also able to ALMOST balance her body sitting up now, too. Not quite, but almost there! She also laughs on a somewhat normal basis now. Watching her laugh is the sweetest thing I've ever seen.
This is funny... Ava had me cornered Saturday morning. I got up to feed her and then make breakfast while Daddy slept. Before making a blueberry coffee cake (nothing fancy, just Jiffy Mix w/ pecans, etc), I put Ava in her activity "seat-on-wheels" (Doug calls it her "Death star" - from Star Wars) in the center of the kitchen. She obviously wanted much to hang-out with me, because she scooted all the way over to the corner of the kitchen, where I was, near the sink. I then had about 2 feet-square in which I could prepare breakfast... ;-) Each time I would move her back to the center of the kitchen, she would "walk" her way back toward me. I had to laugh.
I gave her a bath today in our tub and added Johnson & Johnson's bubble bath to help with her decongestion. She LOVES the tub. She likes to swim around and kick her legs. She enjoyed playing with some empty shampoo bottles. It was, however, pretty comical to watch her chase the bottles, which inevitably slip out of her little hands. We did laps around the tub, I guess you could say!
I just want to see her get better, and soon! :-( She has her 4-month check-up on Friday. I'm hoping she shows signs of improvement by the morning. Her congestion seems to be breaking-up, which is good. We think she got this fun little bug from day care. We kept her home today from day care, so I could continue to give her medicine as needed, and let her get some good rest (sans other-baby cootie-infested drool). This works out well with me working from home. I am still able to get my work done while she naps and plays.
People I talk with say kids who attend day care get their sniffles early on, whereas kids who stay at home get sick when starting elementary. So, it's either now or later... Ugh, I wish it was never!
She is still all-smiles. We're just giving her extra kisses and hugs these days.
Please say a prayer that our little one recovers quickly!
With love,
Shelly, Doug and Ava
P.S.- She IS cutting teeth, too. We can see that both of her bottom teeth are starting to poke through her gums now. Talk about everything happening at once!!!
Ava hasn't been running any kind of fever, so we haven't taken her to the doctor, but she does seem to have a cold. If she ran any kind of fever, believe me, I would be calling the doctor for the first available appointment. Fortunately she hasn't showed any signs of a fever yet.
Poor little thing. She has a runny nose and a cough. We've been giving her an infant vitamin, and a baby dose of Robitussin (Wal-Tussin, which doesn't contain any alcohol) to take care of the congestion. We also have given her minimal baby Motrin as needed.
We didn't take her to church or small group on Sunday, so she could rest as much as possible. We took her out for a walk to get some fresh air on Saturday and Sunday. She ends-up sleeping during the walk. We were able to use the Duncans' jogging stroller without the car-seat attached because she is now JUST big enough to recline in the stroller itself.
Almost 4 months... She's also reaching for things lately. She LOVES to grab my nose and lips. She has started reaching for the mobile over her crib, too. Her dexterity really seems to be improving. She's also able to ALMOST balance her body sitting up now, too. Not quite, but almost there! She also laughs on a somewhat normal basis now. Watching her laugh is the sweetest thing I've ever seen.
This is funny... Ava had me cornered Saturday morning. I got up to feed her and then make breakfast while Daddy slept. Before making a blueberry coffee cake (nothing fancy, just Jiffy Mix w/ pecans, etc), I put Ava in her activity "seat-on-wheels" (Doug calls it her "Death star" - from Star Wars) in the center of the kitchen. She obviously wanted much to hang-out with me, because she scooted all the way over to the corner of the kitchen, where I was, near the sink. I then had about 2 feet-square in which I could prepare breakfast... ;-) Each time I would move her back to the center of the kitchen, she would "walk" her way back toward me. I had to laugh.
I gave her a bath today in our tub and added Johnson & Johnson's bubble bath to help with her decongestion. She LOVES the tub. She likes to swim around and kick her legs. She enjoyed playing with some empty shampoo bottles. It was, however, pretty comical to watch her chase the bottles, which inevitably slip out of her little hands. We did laps around the tub, I guess you could say!
I just want to see her get better, and soon! :-( She has her 4-month check-up on Friday. I'm hoping she shows signs of improvement by the morning. Her congestion seems to be breaking-up, which is good. We think she got this fun little bug from day care. We kept her home today from day care, so I could continue to give her medicine as needed, and let her get some good rest (sans other-baby cootie-infested drool). This works out well with me working from home. I am still able to get my work done while she naps and plays.
People I talk with say kids who attend day care get their sniffles early on, whereas kids who stay at home get sick when starting elementary. So, it's either now or later... Ugh, I wish it was never!
She is still all-smiles. We're just giving her extra kisses and hugs these days.
Please say a prayer that our little one recovers quickly!
With love,
Shelly, Doug and Ava
P.S.- She IS cutting teeth, too. We can see that both of her bottom teeth are starting to poke through her gums now. Talk about everything happening at once!!!
Thursday, July 20, 2006
The "ahem" (ex-squeeze me?) cough
Ava has the funniest little habit now... She seems to cough to get attention. Doug thinks she continues to do this just because she learned how, and it's one trick in her very limited bag, at this point. I would tend to agree. She's been doing this for about a week or so.
She didn't seem to be coughing substantially, so we didn't worry too much about it, until yesterday afternoon. She coughed and seemed to be congested. Her voice was a little raspy. Although still our typical gleeful camper, I knew something was up...
She was sleeping more than usual yesterday. When she was awake, it would only be for an hour or so at a time (normally she'll be up for around two hours or longer). When she coughed last night (once or twice), it sounded like a croup cough I've heard from other kids in the past. We took her temperature (result=normal), gave her some Infant Motrin, put socks on her, turned the fan down in her room, and opened up the vent to allow her room to cool off with air-conditioning, without being drafty.
Being a first-time mommy, my mind starts racing... I grew-up across the townhouse court from a woman (Nita) who became mentally-disabled from a high fever she experienced in her childhood. She couldn't live on her own, so she lived with her mom. Nita loved to bring her radio outside and dance to it. She was very sweet, when I knew her. But, remembering how a fever can affect anyone in this way, I freak out a bit... Ava hasn't had a fever at all, thankfully.
I called Kaiser Permanente to ask them if there was anything we could do to prevent her cough (possible cold) from getting worse. They didn't seem to be of much help, as everything the nurse told me was fairly intuitive (you can use a vaporizer, keep head elevated, watch for decreased appetite, watch for decreased wet diapers, watch for decreased activity). So when they asked me if I wanted an appointment for the morning of 07/20, I told them I would just call back in the morning, if necessary.
Ava seems fine today. She isn't sleeping as much, either. Her cough is better. 'Still has a smile as wide as the Amazon River. Better yet, I guess you could say she has a "Nile Smile" ;-)
I think she is getting close to getting her first tooth (lower). Maybe this has something to do with it?
We'll keep you posted with the gummer-update!
Love,
Shelly, Doug and Ava
She didn't seem to be coughing substantially, so we didn't worry too much about it, until yesterday afternoon. She coughed and seemed to be congested. Her voice was a little raspy. Although still our typical gleeful camper, I knew something was up...
She was sleeping more than usual yesterday. When she was awake, it would only be for an hour or so at a time (normally she'll be up for around two hours or longer). When she coughed last night (once or twice), it sounded like a croup cough I've heard from other kids in the past. We took her temperature (result=normal), gave her some Infant Motrin, put socks on her, turned the fan down in her room, and opened up the vent to allow her room to cool off with air-conditioning, without being drafty.
Being a first-time mommy, my mind starts racing... I grew-up across the townhouse court from a woman (Nita) who became mentally-disabled from a high fever she experienced in her childhood. She couldn't live on her own, so she lived with her mom. Nita loved to bring her radio outside and dance to it. She was very sweet, when I knew her. But, remembering how a fever can affect anyone in this way, I freak out a bit... Ava hasn't had a fever at all, thankfully.
I called Kaiser Permanente to ask them if there was anything we could do to prevent her cough (possible cold) from getting worse. They didn't seem to be of much help, as everything the nurse told me was fairly intuitive (you can use a vaporizer, keep head elevated, watch for decreased appetite, watch for decreased wet diapers, watch for decreased activity). So when they asked me if I wanted an appointment for the morning of 07/20, I told them I would just call back in the morning, if necessary.
Ava seems fine today. She isn't sleeping as much, either. Her cough is better. 'Still has a smile as wide as the Amazon River. Better yet, I guess you could say she has a "Nile Smile" ;-)
I think she is getting close to getting her first tooth (lower). Maybe this has something to do with it?
We'll keep you posted with the gummer-update!
Love,
Shelly, Doug and Ava
Sunday, July 16, 2006
My heart (and the ice cream) melted!
Hello, everyone!
We're taking it easy these days indoors most of the time; it is SO hot outside!
On Friday Doug got to celebrate his birthday all over again; we used coupons he received (by e-mail) for a free dinner and ice cream. We went to Houlihan's for dinner, and made our way to Coldstone. We enjoy Coldstone, but gosh it's expensive! It's like $9.00 for two people to eat ice cream... What happened to the Mom 'n Pop joints of old, where ice cream was like $0.50? (Okay, am I sounding like a geezer now, or what?) The coupon he received was for a free "Creation". We enjoyed our ice cream outside on a bench. Ava tried a fingertip of my ice cream (strawberry shortcake something-or-other) and didn't seem to like it one bit...
On the way back to the car, Doug was carrying Ava. She kept looking back at the ice cream store when I asked her if she was drooling over ice cream. She started laughing with the biggest grin on her face! I asked her what her favorite ice cream was, and began naming off flavors. After each flavor I brought up, she would laugh hysterically. She continued to do this for a few minutes. It was the sweetest thing I've ever seen! This laugh attack wasn't "tickle-induced", so it was definitely a developmental milestone, I think.
My heart melted. So did the ice cream I never finished!
Shelly (Doug and Ava)
We're taking it easy these days indoors most of the time; it is SO hot outside!
On Friday Doug got to celebrate his birthday all over again; we used coupons he received (by e-mail) for a free dinner and ice cream. We went to Houlihan's for dinner, and made our way to Coldstone. We enjoy Coldstone, but gosh it's expensive! It's like $9.00 for two people to eat ice cream... What happened to the Mom 'n Pop joints of old, where ice cream was like $0.50? (Okay, am I sounding like a geezer now, or what?) The coupon he received was for a free "Creation". We enjoyed our ice cream outside on a bench. Ava tried a fingertip of my ice cream (strawberry shortcake something-or-other) and didn't seem to like it one bit...
On the way back to the car, Doug was carrying Ava. She kept looking back at the ice cream store when I asked her if she was drooling over ice cream. She started laughing with the biggest grin on her face! I asked her what her favorite ice cream was, and began naming off flavors. After each flavor I brought up, she would laugh hysterically. She continued to do this for a few minutes. It was the sweetest thing I've ever seen! This laugh attack wasn't "tickle-induced", so it was definitely a developmental milestone, I think.
My heart melted. So did the ice cream I never finished!
Shelly (Doug and Ava)
Thursday, July 13, 2006
Ava Laughs
Ava laughs in this video. She has been laughing for a while now. She only clams up for the camera, it seems. This is a little glimpse of what she is like when laughing. She's got the gummiest smile you've ever seen!
-Shelly
Ava laughs
Video sent by thecareyclan
-Shelly
Ava laughs
Video sent by thecareyclan
Ava In Action
Sorry, this is a long one... It might take a while to load, if you choose to view it.
-Shelly
Little Ava In Action
Video sent by thecareyclan
-Shelly
Little Ava In Action
Video sent by thecareyclan
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
An Update On The Little One...
Ava's motor skills are definitely taking off! She is now grabbing for my nose, my lips, my hair. She does the same with Doug. She also studies his face now, too. She is definitely in love with her daddy. :-)
Boy, this kid has nails, too. It seems you can't clip them often enough. Not the best for grabbing noses or eyes... Ouch!
She is also VERY close to crawling. I would say July 11th is her official "scooting" date. She crawls with her legs and can scoot a bit forward, but she doesn't pick her arms up and completely move them. I think it will be a matter of days before she figures this out...She was close last night.
She also makes her "raspberry" sounds (razzzzzz) when she is overjoyed, especially. It is too cute.
She still prefers standing up to laying down... She has very strong legs! She likes to stomp her feet while standing on your lap. Especially when music is playing or you sing to her.
Her vision really seems to be sharper... When we went for a walk this week she was looking up at the trees above us and smiling. She really loves being outdoors. Even when she was really little, if she was crying, we could take her outside and she seemed to calm right down.
She smiles at herself in the mirror now, too. I put a mirror on the floor and leaned it up against the wall. When she sees herself, she sometimes smiles or studies her own reflection. I hear babies don't actually know they're smiling at themselves until somewhere around two years-old.
She seems to be developing so fast now!
Shelly
Boy, this kid has nails, too. It seems you can't clip them often enough. Not the best for grabbing noses or eyes... Ouch!
She is also VERY close to crawling. I would say July 11th is her official "scooting" date. She crawls with her legs and can scoot a bit forward, but she doesn't pick her arms up and completely move them. I think it will be a matter of days before she figures this out...She was close last night.
She also makes her "raspberry" sounds (razzzzzz) when she is overjoyed, especially. It is too cute.
She still prefers standing up to laying down... She has very strong legs! She likes to stomp her feet while standing on your lap. Especially when music is playing or you sing to her.
Her vision really seems to be sharper... When we went for a walk this week she was looking up at the trees above us and smiling. She really loves being outdoors. Even when she was really little, if she was crying, we could take her outside and she seemed to calm right down.
She smiles at herself in the mirror now, too. I put a mirror on the floor and leaned it up against the wall. When she sees herself, she sometimes smiles or studies her own reflection. I hear babies don't actually know they're smiling at themselves until somewhere around two years-old.
She seems to be developing so fast now!
Shelly
Day Care Thoughts / Rumblings
Hello!
Here are some comments / rumblings from (and about) the day care world...
Another parent at the day care complained Ava was being held too much. I guess they felt like their kid wasn't receiving as much attention? The Day Care "Principal" laughed when she was telling me about it, saying that they weren't going to put Ava down on the floor for long at this point, if other kids could possibly hit her on her head... Since then, a few other young babies have joined the ranks of Ava's day care class, so we'll see what happens.
The funny thing? When I went back to the Day Care that day, the teacher (that someone complained was holding Ava too much) told me that Ava loves laying on her stomach when on her lap, and that she held her that way for "about an hour" that afternoon. Ava wasn't fussy when the teacher was holding her; I think (from what the Principal relayed) this one particular teacher just enjoys holding Ava. Actually, the principal's assistant also commented she likes holding Ava, too.
When I went to pick-up pipsqueak recently, she was in a swing and had a musical stand / toy in front of her, lights "a-blinking". When I said "Boy, we're spoiled here, aren't we?" to Ava, the teacher commented that they were calling her "Princess" that day, saying Ava didn't have the best morning... I guess she was fine in the afternoon, though.
Another teacher at Day Care commented recently that "Ava has some strong lungs". We told them we knew. :)
They have given Ava a dose of Infant Motrin when she has been extremely fussy recently. I told them she's been teething. Lately, though, she doesn't seem to have issues with it in the evening, when she's home with us. I just hope they don't give the Motrin to her to make their own lives easier, so she'll sleep for them. Doug told them today to only give it to her if it is an "emergency" situation and she won't settle. Hopefully they'll adhere to that...
Ahh, the fun life of day care.
I was thinking today, though, that even with Ava in day care, I feel the time I do spend with her is quality. I think I have more energy because I'm not worn-out from attending to her needs around the clock. I know that might sound bad... I try to keep her in the day care as LITTLE as possible and pick her up as soon as I can, every day. Some days I have an easier time with letting her go to day care, others not. I do know she gets to interact now with other kids her age, which is a plus. The downside is that I don't get to see her all the time. I'm sure many (probably most) moms struggle with this.
She seems to be forming her own little personality, and I recognize it most when I pick her up from day care. When I arrive to pick her up and she is smiling, I feel good. That makes me smile, too!
Shelly
Here are some comments / rumblings from (and about) the day care world...
Another parent at the day care complained Ava was being held too much. I guess they felt like their kid wasn't receiving as much attention? The Day Care "Principal" laughed when she was telling me about it, saying that they weren't going to put Ava down on the floor for long at this point, if other kids could possibly hit her on her head... Since then, a few other young babies have joined the ranks of Ava's day care class, so we'll see what happens.
The funny thing? When I went back to the Day Care that day, the teacher (that someone complained was holding Ava too much) told me that Ava loves laying on her stomach when on her lap, and that she held her that way for "about an hour" that afternoon. Ava wasn't fussy when the teacher was holding her; I think (from what the Principal relayed) this one particular teacher just enjoys holding Ava. Actually, the principal's assistant also commented she likes holding Ava, too.
When I went to pick-up pipsqueak recently, she was in a swing and had a musical stand / toy in front of her, lights "a-blinking". When I said "Boy, we're spoiled here, aren't we?" to Ava, the teacher commented that they were calling her "Princess" that day, saying Ava didn't have the best morning... I guess she was fine in the afternoon, though.
Another teacher at Day Care commented recently that "Ava has some strong lungs". We told them we knew. :)
They have given Ava a dose of Infant Motrin when she has been extremely fussy recently. I told them she's been teething. Lately, though, she doesn't seem to have issues with it in the evening, when she's home with us. I just hope they don't give the Motrin to her to make their own lives easier, so she'll sleep for them. Doug told them today to only give it to her if it is an "emergency" situation and she won't settle. Hopefully they'll adhere to that...
Ahh, the fun life of day care.
I was thinking today, though, that even with Ava in day care, I feel the time I do spend with her is quality. I think I have more energy because I'm not worn-out from attending to her needs around the clock. I know that might sound bad... I try to keep her in the day care as LITTLE as possible and pick her up as soon as I can, every day. Some days I have an easier time with letting her go to day care, others not. I do know she gets to interact now with other kids her age, which is a plus. The downside is that I don't get to see her all the time. I'm sure many (probably most) moms struggle with this.
She seems to be forming her own little personality, and I recognize it most when I pick her up from day care. When I arrive to pick her up and she is smiling, I feel good. That makes me smile, too!
Shelly
Tuesday, July 11, 2006
Jordan's Letter to Ava
Ava's cousin Jordan sent the letter (see below) to her recently.
Jordan just turned seven years-old. He is such a sweetheart and is so good with babies! He recently received $2.00 from the tooth fairy.
One Saturday, Jordan & Ava's other cousin Daymian (Jordan's big brother who is nine) went for a bike ride in Grandma Pam's neighborhood. They found a garage sale and decided to do a little shopping. Jordan bought some baby bottles, a matching bib and a musical puppy (stuffed animal) for Ava, and also purchased a candle for his Mommy with his "tooth fairy money". I heard he was very excited about his purchase :-) He spent $1.50 on his gifts for Ava. His Mommy (Sherry) is very proud of her little men, and rightly so.
Jordan included the bib, bottles and musical puppy in the package for Ava, sent with the help of Grandma Pam.
Jordan has such a BIG heart!
Thank you so much, Jordan!
We love you,
Baby Ava, Aunt Shelly and Uncle Doug
P.S.- He probably spelled words backward as I've sent Daymian and Jordan letters in the past which required holding the letter in front of a mirror to read correctly...
Jordan just turned seven years-old. He is such a sweetheart and is so good with babies! He recently received $2.00 from the tooth fairy.
One Saturday, Jordan & Ava's other cousin Daymian (Jordan's big brother who is nine) went for a bike ride in Grandma Pam's neighborhood. They found a garage sale and decided to do a little shopping. Jordan bought some baby bottles, a matching bib and a musical puppy (stuffed animal) for Ava, and also purchased a candle for his Mommy with his "tooth fairy money". I heard he was very excited about his purchase :-) He spent $1.50 on his gifts for Ava. His Mommy (Sherry) is very proud of her little men, and rightly so.
Jordan included the bib, bottles and musical puppy in the package for Ava, sent with the help of Grandma Pam.
Jordan has such a BIG heart!
Thank you so much, Jordan!
We love you,
Baby Ava, Aunt Shelly and Uncle Doug
P.S.- He probably spelled words backward as I've sent Daymian and Jordan letters in the past which required holding the letter in front of a mirror to read correctly...
Monday, July 10, 2006
Our Little Ballerina Isn't Quite Ready for Swan Lake Yet...
The Little Ballerina
Ain't She Sweet?
Ava's Curtsy
What's This All About? :-)
'Loving Her Activity Seat
She Eats Clothes
Miss Ava
The Ballerina Takes a Break
Hello, everyone!
We had a pretty uneventful weekend this past weekend. Ava was a complete angel, other than at times when her teeth were obviously bothering her. Those times seemed more limited this weekend. It seems to be that she is bothered most by her teeth near the end of her day, before she goes to bed. It is so hard to see her in such pain!
THE BALLERINA OUTFIT
We had some fun dressing her up for church on Sunday... Before Ava was born, a co-worker (Miss Macy) bought some cute little pink ballerina slippers for Ava. I saw a sweet little outfit on clearance at Target and bought it, also before Ava was born. The outfit consisted of a pink "tu-tu", a long sleeved onesie with a little rose at the neck, and a short little cardigan with a pretty bow. The dilemma? Where does one wear a "tu-tu"? It's not like you'd want to wear a tu-tu to the day care center or running errands around town... So, we tortured her (again) by dressing her up in an ever-so-girly outfit for church on Sunday morning. She was adorable.
PRETTY LITTLE NECK
This is cute, and goes along with the ballerina theme... When I took Ava to her two month check-up (some time back), the pediatrician commented on her chubby little neck (or lack of a neck, I guess :-). I told the doc that Ava actually had a pretty little neck when she was born. (I called her our little ballerina at the time, because of her long neck). The doctor said that her "pretty neck" would return at a later date.
Her cheeks are now so full, they look like they'll drip off her face. :-) They're so cute! Strangers comment that it looks like she can store some "nuts" in her cheeks, like a squirrel. You would never know it if she did, her cheeks are that full!
I GUESS SHE MUST BE COMFORTABLE...
I was carrying Ava out to the car yesterday from church in the morning. By now, I am used to Ava migrating down my arm to find her fist (so she can suck on it), while I carry her. She will double-over to find her fist, if need be. I think I was carrying her securely with one arm, when a woman in the parking lot did a double-take of the contorted way in which I was carrying Ava. The woman then commented that she was surprised to see that Ava LIKES being carried that way, and laughed. I let the woman know that Ava always finds her fist, regardless of how Ava is carried. I was not pulling a "Britney Spears" on her (for those of you who don't know, Britney has been in the tabloids for reportedly not being the most cautious Mommy).
ON THE VERGE OF CRAWLING, IT SEEMS
Ava will be crawling VERY soon. She has the leg motion going, it is just that her arms stop her... She hasn't figured out yet that she needs to use her arms to move her body forward. We have this toy which plays "Old MacDonald Had a Farm" whenever it is touched. She knows the toy requires that she touch it, in order that the music play. So, our house has been filled with the music of "Old MacDonald" for a few days now. I thought she would hate it, it is so loud, but she seems to THOROUGHLY enjoy it. Sometimes when she not within an arm's reach from the toy, she'll tap it with her noggin' to get the tunes movin'... Doug and I laugh hysterically at her ingenious methods for getting the job done. Resourceful already, I guess you could say!
Weekend, "Cliff Notes" Version:
We had a night out at the "Mad Italian" on Friday night, followed by a visit to the local bookstore. Doug bought an architectural dictionary / reference book he wanted for his birthday.
Saturday we slept-in and later went for the 'ole 2.75-mile walk. The weather wasn't too hot on Saturday, which allowed a nice walk. Doug helped a friend paint their kitchen on Saturday night, so I stayed home with Ava, as I didn't think I could be an effective painter while watching Ava. I made some cookies which had fun-sized Snickers in them... (I had seen them somewhere before and wanted to try my hand at making them, so I did a google-search for a recipe). Sunday we caught-up on household duties and projects, also sleeping-in and going to late service. Doug visited a VERY NICE house in the area for ideas on a houseplan he is drawing for a friend's relative.
We hope everyone had a great weekend! Summer is here!
With love,
Shelly, Doug and Ava
Ain't She Sweet?
Ava's Curtsy
What's This All About? :-)
'Loving Her Activity Seat
She Eats Clothes
Miss Ava
The Ballerina Takes a Break
Hello, everyone!
We had a pretty uneventful weekend this past weekend. Ava was a complete angel, other than at times when her teeth were obviously bothering her. Those times seemed more limited this weekend. It seems to be that she is bothered most by her teeth near the end of her day, before she goes to bed. It is so hard to see her in such pain!
THE BALLERINA OUTFIT
We had some fun dressing her up for church on Sunday... Before Ava was born, a co-worker (Miss Macy) bought some cute little pink ballerina slippers for Ava. I saw a sweet little outfit on clearance at Target and bought it, also before Ava was born. The outfit consisted of a pink "tu-tu", a long sleeved onesie with a little rose at the neck, and a short little cardigan with a pretty bow. The dilemma? Where does one wear a "tu-tu"? It's not like you'd want to wear a tu-tu to the day care center or running errands around town... So, we tortured her (again) by dressing her up in an ever-so-girly outfit for church on Sunday morning. She was adorable.
PRETTY LITTLE NECK
This is cute, and goes along with the ballerina theme... When I took Ava to her two month check-up (some time back), the pediatrician commented on her chubby little neck (or lack of a neck, I guess :-). I told the doc that Ava actually had a pretty little neck when she was born. (I called her our little ballerina at the time, because of her long neck). The doctor said that her "pretty neck" would return at a later date.
Her cheeks are now so full, they look like they'll drip off her face. :-) They're so cute! Strangers comment that it looks like she can store some "nuts" in her cheeks, like a squirrel. You would never know it if she did, her cheeks are that full!
I GUESS SHE MUST BE COMFORTABLE...
I was carrying Ava out to the car yesterday from church in the morning. By now, I am used to Ava migrating down my arm to find her fist (so she can suck on it), while I carry her. She will double-over to find her fist, if need be. I think I was carrying her securely with one arm, when a woman in the parking lot did a double-take of the contorted way in which I was carrying Ava. The woman then commented that she was surprised to see that Ava LIKES being carried that way, and laughed. I let the woman know that Ava always finds her fist, regardless of how Ava is carried. I was not pulling a "Britney Spears" on her (for those of you who don't know, Britney has been in the tabloids for reportedly not being the most cautious Mommy).
ON THE VERGE OF CRAWLING, IT SEEMS
Ava will be crawling VERY soon. She has the leg motion going, it is just that her arms stop her... She hasn't figured out yet that she needs to use her arms to move her body forward. We have this toy which plays "Old MacDonald Had a Farm" whenever it is touched. She knows the toy requires that she touch it, in order that the music play. So, our house has been filled with the music of "Old MacDonald" for a few days now. I thought she would hate it, it is so loud, but she seems to THOROUGHLY enjoy it. Sometimes when she not within an arm's reach from the toy, she'll tap it with her noggin' to get the tunes movin'... Doug and I laugh hysterically at her ingenious methods for getting the job done. Resourceful already, I guess you could say!
Weekend, "Cliff Notes" Version:
We had a night out at the "Mad Italian" on Friday night, followed by a visit to the local bookstore. Doug bought an architectural dictionary / reference book he wanted for his birthday.
Saturday we slept-in and later went for the 'ole 2.75-mile walk. The weather wasn't too hot on Saturday, which allowed a nice walk. Doug helped a friend paint their kitchen on Saturday night, so I stayed home with Ava, as I didn't think I could be an effective painter while watching Ava. I made some cookies which had fun-sized Snickers in them... (I had seen them somewhere before and wanted to try my hand at making them, so I did a google-search for a recipe). Sunday we caught-up on household duties and projects, also sleeping-in and going to late service. Doug visited a VERY NICE house in the area for ideas on a houseplan he is drawing for a friend's relative.
We hope everyone had a great weekend! Summer is here!
With love,
Shelly, Doug and Ava
Wednesday, July 05, 2006
Doug's Shock and Awe: "I'm How Old???"
The Birthday Boy
Doug's bee-u-tee-ful birthday cake
Has anyone seen "O Brother Where Art Thou?"...
We're In the Jailhouse Now....
Monell's Restaurant, in what was once the Franklin, TN jail
Gomer Pyle, I mean Ava, Hanging-Out on Her Daddy's Back
Notice the drooly chin... We're teething these days!
Grandpa Dean and "Boo"
She's a Happy Girl with Her Grandpa!
Ava Entertained by Grandma Dolly :-)
Ava in the BIG Rocking Chair at "The Factory at Franklin"
Shelly, Doug and Ava at Monell's Restaurant in Franklin, TN
Doug turned 34 years-old on July 3rd! I like to tease him that he is now officially "older than Jesus." HAPPY BIRTHDAY DUGGERS!
He had a great birthday. On Saturday we woke up, packed our bags, and drove to my Great Aunt Anita and Uncle Donald Prince's house in Columbia, TN. The drive was only 3 1/2 hours from Atlanta. My Dad and Dolly were planning a visit to Donald and Anita's, also. So, we had a mini-family reunion!
DONALD AND ANITA'S
Donald and Anita have a beautiful house and welcomed us with open arms. They live in the COUNTRY. They, like us, used to live in the Detroit area (they lived in Fraser), but moved to TN about a year and a half ago. Somehow we weren't diligent about taking that many pictures this weekend (it was that relaxing)... I wish we had some pictures of Donald and Anita and family to post here...
It was a full house, but that made the trip even better! My cousin Tiffany lives with Donald and Anita. She is a year older than me, so we had some fun hanging-out when we were growing up. It was great to see her! Donald and Anita's middle son (Tim), his wife Sandy, and their sweet 17-month old daughter Halle are staying with them while their house is being built in Brentwood, TN. Tim and Sandy's house should be finished in August. Donald and Anita's 14 year-old grandson (Brian's son Donovan) is also staying with them for the summer. So, we crashed the (already big) party...
And the party continued to get bigger...Aunt Anita's youngest sister (Aunt Cheryl) also drove up from Harvest, AL on Monday after work, with her husband Michael. It was GREAT to see them, too!
Aunt Anita has some FANTASTIC books on the history of the Griffith family. (The Griffiths came from Llanddewi, Cardigan, Wales in 1715, settling in Chester County, PA - which I knew from previous geneology research). I was really enjoying looking at the books. She has quite the collection of family pictures, too. It was really cool to see a picture of my Grandma Nila in her school days. She was beautiful! Anita also confirmed that Mee-Maw wasn't quite 5 feet tall... I am still amazed Mee-Maw was able to successfully give birth to Pa (Fred Griffith), born weighing 13 lbs? How is this possible? :-) And he was the first of five kids. Oy, yoy, yoy!
BIG GRINS
Ava seemed to love seeing her Grandpa Dean and Grandma Dolly this weekend (especially when Ava wasn't in pain from her teeth). She reached for Grandpa Dean twice! She was all-smiles with BIG GRINS for both Grandma Dolly and Grandpa Dean. I hear she was laughing big laughs for Grandpa while the girls were shopping. She is quite the happy baby!
LUNCH ON DOUG'S BIRTHDAY
On Monday during the day, we drove to Franklin, TN to do some shopping and enjoy the local fare. We went to Monell's, a family-style restaurant in Franklin, which is located in an OLD JAIL! So, I guess you could say we celebrated part of Doug's birthday in jail??? :-) It was wonderful food, and we learned to always pass to the left... Fried chicken, meatloaf, chicken and "dumplins", potatoes, creamed corn, green beans, beets, cucumber salad, cole slaw, sweet tea, and cherry cobbler. Yum!
After lunch, Doug wanted to look for a book on the architecture of Franklin and the surrounding area, so we walked a block to a neat bookstore on Main St. I bought some old cookbooks, but Doug didn't find the specific kind of book he was looking for at that store. We drove past a really cool house called the "Carter House". I'm sure he'll want to see something more on that house...
While walking around town, Doug toted Ava in an REI backpack. We got a deal on the backpack at a consignment sale before Ava was born. She is ALMOST big enough to hang-out on Dad's back now... She is quite the trooper, I would say.
Dolly was sweet enough to make Doug's FAVORITE salad (Winter fruit salad with poppy-seed dressing) for his birthday. It has cashews, swiss cheese, dried cranberries, pears and apples in it. They also bought a birthday cake for Doug. He took full advantage of the fact that it was his birthday :-)
The next day, 4th of July, consisted of more shopping (sure, twist my arm!) at TJ Maxx, Ross, and Rack Room Shoes. Tim is a real estate agent/broker, so the guys went house-hunting near Franklin.
CUTTING TEETH?
Ava seems to be cutting teeth, I think, on the upper left front side of her mouth. She was crying for part of the weekend like she was in some SERIOUS pain. We used some Orajel swabs in hopes that she would find relief. It seemed to work after giving it a few minutes to get into her system. I cut my first tooth at 2 1/2 months, so it is likely Ava will also cut teeth early. Part of the ride home yesterday wasn't easy (from Chattanooga to Atlanta) with her crying, so we stopped at Wal-Mart and bought some Children's Motrin. It seemed to do the trick after a bit.
We really enjoyed ourselves. We hope we didn't crowd Donald and Anita too much!
We hope you enjoyed the fireworks in your area... Hopefully no "sparkler-burnt" fingers!
With love,
Shelly, Doug and Ava
Doug's bee-u-tee-ful birthday cake
Has anyone seen "O Brother Where Art Thou?"...
We're In the Jailhouse Now....
Monell's Restaurant, in what was once the Franklin, TN jail
Gomer Pyle, I mean Ava, Hanging-Out on Her Daddy's Back
Notice the drooly chin... We're teething these days!
Grandpa Dean and "Boo"
She's a Happy Girl with Her Grandpa!
Ava Entertained by Grandma Dolly :-)
Ava in the BIG Rocking Chair at "The Factory at Franklin"
Shelly, Doug and Ava at Monell's Restaurant in Franklin, TN
Doug turned 34 years-old on July 3rd! I like to tease him that he is now officially "older than Jesus." HAPPY BIRTHDAY DUGGERS!
He had a great birthday. On Saturday we woke up, packed our bags, and drove to my Great Aunt Anita and Uncle Donald Prince's house in Columbia, TN. The drive was only 3 1/2 hours from Atlanta. My Dad and Dolly were planning a visit to Donald and Anita's, also. So, we had a mini-family reunion!
DONALD AND ANITA'S
Donald and Anita have a beautiful house and welcomed us with open arms. They live in the COUNTRY. They, like us, used to live in the Detroit area (they lived in Fraser), but moved to TN about a year and a half ago. Somehow we weren't diligent about taking that many pictures this weekend (it was that relaxing)... I wish we had some pictures of Donald and Anita and family to post here...
It was a full house, but that made the trip even better! My cousin Tiffany lives with Donald and Anita. She is a year older than me, so we had some fun hanging-out when we were growing up. It was great to see her! Donald and Anita's middle son (Tim), his wife Sandy, and their sweet 17-month old daughter Halle are staying with them while their house is being built in Brentwood, TN. Tim and Sandy's house should be finished in August. Donald and Anita's 14 year-old grandson (Brian's son Donovan) is also staying with them for the summer. So, we crashed the (already big) party...
And the party continued to get bigger...Aunt Anita's youngest sister (Aunt Cheryl) also drove up from Harvest, AL on Monday after work, with her husband Michael. It was GREAT to see them, too!
Aunt Anita has some FANTASTIC books on the history of the Griffith family. (The Griffiths came from Llanddewi, Cardigan, Wales in 1715, settling in Chester County, PA - which I knew from previous geneology research). I was really enjoying looking at the books. She has quite the collection of family pictures, too. It was really cool to see a picture of my Grandma Nila in her school days. She was beautiful! Anita also confirmed that Mee-Maw wasn't quite 5 feet tall... I am still amazed Mee-Maw was able to successfully give birth to Pa (Fred Griffith), born weighing 13 lbs? How is this possible? :-) And he was the first of five kids. Oy, yoy, yoy!
BIG GRINS
Ava seemed to love seeing her Grandpa Dean and Grandma Dolly this weekend (especially when Ava wasn't in pain from her teeth). She reached for Grandpa Dean twice! She was all-smiles with BIG GRINS for both Grandma Dolly and Grandpa Dean. I hear she was laughing big laughs for Grandpa while the girls were shopping. She is quite the happy baby!
LUNCH ON DOUG'S BIRTHDAY
On Monday during the day, we drove to Franklin, TN to do some shopping and enjoy the local fare. We went to Monell's, a family-style restaurant in Franklin, which is located in an OLD JAIL! So, I guess you could say we celebrated part of Doug's birthday in jail??? :-) It was wonderful food, and we learned to always pass to the left... Fried chicken, meatloaf, chicken and "dumplins", potatoes, creamed corn, green beans, beets, cucumber salad, cole slaw, sweet tea, and cherry cobbler. Yum!
After lunch, Doug wanted to look for a book on the architecture of Franklin and the surrounding area, so we walked a block to a neat bookstore on Main St. I bought some old cookbooks, but Doug didn't find the specific kind of book he was looking for at that store. We drove past a really cool house called the "Carter House". I'm sure he'll want to see something more on that house...
While walking around town, Doug toted Ava in an REI backpack. We got a deal on the backpack at a consignment sale before Ava was born. She is ALMOST big enough to hang-out on Dad's back now... She is quite the trooper, I would say.
Dolly was sweet enough to make Doug's FAVORITE salad (Winter fruit salad with poppy-seed dressing) for his birthday. It has cashews, swiss cheese, dried cranberries, pears and apples in it. They also bought a birthday cake for Doug. He took full advantage of the fact that it was his birthday :-)
The next day, 4th of July, consisted of more shopping (sure, twist my arm!) at TJ Maxx, Ross, and Rack Room Shoes. Tim is a real estate agent/broker, so the guys went house-hunting near Franklin.
CUTTING TEETH?
Ava seems to be cutting teeth, I think, on the upper left front side of her mouth. She was crying for part of the weekend like she was in some SERIOUS pain. We used some Orajel swabs in hopes that she would find relief. It seemed to work after giving it a few minutes to get into her system. I cut my first tooth at 2 1/2 months, so it is likely Ava will also cut teeth early. Part of the ride home yesterday wasn't easy (from Chattanooga to Atlanta) with her crying, so we stopped at Wal-Mart and bought some Children's Motrin. It seemed to do the trick after a bit.
We really enjoyed ourselves. We hope we didn't crowd Donald and Anita too much!
We hope you enjoyed the fireworks in your area... Hopefully no "sparkler-burnt" fingers!
With love,
Shelly, Doug and Ava
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
