The Tiniest Dancer

Aunt Kathy and Uncle Jeff bought a tutu-outfit (onesie) at Disney World this past Spring, for Ava. It took a while before it actually fit. Here is Ava's debut! I found a tiara, magic wand and larger tutu skirt at Marshalls for a steal, so a few weeks ago we used some of that outfit for playing, too!

Biting Biscuits Are Yummy

Biting Biscuits
Video sent by thecareyclan

Ava With Her Push Toy, Two Weeks Ago

Ava With a Push Toy
Video sent by thecareyclan

HE PASSED!!!

Doug has been whittling away at taking the Architectural Registration Exams for two years now. This amongst home improvement projects, a pregnant wife, the birth of Ava, etc.

On December 11th, he took the eighth exam (of nine): Building Planning. He just received the results yesterday stating HE PASSED!!!! Doug was very relieved to find this out; it takes 6-8 weeks to receive the results. With a deadline completed at work yesterday, he had reason to celebrate the deadline's completion AND passing this test.

He is eligible to take the LAST test, Building Technology, on or after March 7th. Please say big prayers that he does well and passes this test. Doug has known he's wanted to be an architect since he was EIGHT YEARS OLD!!! His job will remain the same... He's already does "architect-work", he just isn't a certified Architect. Once certified, he will be able to stamp his own drawings. He will then be known as: Douglas Carey, RA (Registered Architect). If he chooses to join the American Institute of Architects, his signature will read: Douglas Carey, AIA.

Congrats, Doug! I KNOW you worked hard for this one!!!

With love,
Shelly

The One Un-Babyproofed Cabinet

The One Un-babyproofed Cabinet
Video sent by thecareyclan

Etc Pictures

Happy Anniversary, Babe!

Today Doug and I celebrated our NINTH wedding anniversary together! Boy, saying that makes me feel like a serious geezer. It has been an amazing nine years together, plus the 1 1/2 fun years we dated. I pray for 99 years more! I am the luckiest girl in the world for finding such a loving, caring and sweet man like Doug.

We'll be going out for a nice dinner alone on Saturday night, while a friend will be watching Ava. Tonight we just had a nice relaxing dinner at home, dining next to the roses Doug bought for me to celebrate. They're absolutely beautiful! Thank you!

It has been amazing to see Doug in his newest role as "best dad in the world," over this past year. I pray that Ava grows up to know Doug as a man of God, someone to be respected, adored and to go to for hugs when she skins her knee (and help with math homework). I know Doug hangs the moon for me. He does the same for Ava, proven by her twinkly-eyed smiles for her Daddy, too.

Happy Anniversary, babe!

Love forever,
Shel

She Walks!

Today is the day Ava decided she knew how to walk!

She has been taking two or three steps here and there, but today I'd say it's official. She took eight steps in the kitchen this morning and has continued to walk today without holding onto anything. I think she now realizes she can walk. (We'll try to post some video / pictures at a later date.)

So, she's been practicing for almost month now, having taken her first step on Christmas Day.

What fun it was to watch her hurry her way across the kitchen floor, into our arms.

Congratulations on another milestone, little one! We love to watch you attempt and master new things on your own, in your own sweet way.

With love,
Shelly (aka Mama)

A Cool House

On our way up I-75 to Michigan, we always see a very cool house from the expressway, but could never remember where it was located. We saw it on the way back from Thanksgiving, so we noted where it was (in Lexington, Kentucky), hoping to see it sometime in the future.









We took a detour on our way up to Michigan this Christmas, to see the house and take some pictures. Doug loves this house (as do I). It is an Italianate style (Doug's favorite), and made of brick.

Pretty cool house, huh?

Grazie For The Rigatoni, Mama Mia

From a week and a half ago...

Ava Eating Pasta
Video sent by thecareyclan

A Dish Hutch, At Long Last

The Night Stand
Doug and I have been storing our "fancy china" in his nightstand from when he was a little boy!

I was a bit picky about the dish hutch I wanted. It had to have a top hutch area with doors, a buffet bottom with a serving area (basically like a countertop area).

We haven't been in a rush to buy something if it didn't fit the bill...










The New Dish Hutch
We found a nice dish hutch at a local unfinished furniture store, and had it stained by one of the finishers they recommended. We bought the hutch for a deal at the store's customer appreciation event, as we've bought a desk / wall-unit for our basement there previously.

It's huge... It's 7-feet tall (made of maple), so it's definitely the tallest piece of furniture we own...

This dish hutch was our Christmas present to each other (okay, Doug got a more manly gift, also). We hope to pass this down to future generations. I have fond memories of my Grandma Nila, her china cabinet, fancy embroidered linens, her dressing table. My cousin Rachel has Grandma Nila's china cabinet; I have Grandma Nila's dressing table. I hope this piece of furniture, too, will someday be in our family as a reminder of good times cherished with those we love.

So, we went from cramming all of our fancy china into a NIGHTSTAND, to having somewhere nice to display it. It took us 9 years, but we got there! :-)

Bunny-Quest 2007

You may have noticed "Bun" in some pictures on the blog. "Bun" the bunny goes wherever Ava goes: to day care, in the car, to sleep. Bun has seen better days.

This is a picture of Ava chewing on Bun at Grandma Pam's house.








We received Bun as a shower gift from our friends the Shaws. I think the Shaws were unsure of Bun's origin.

Being that Bun has become a bit ragged over the past 9 months, I thought it would be a good idea to have two "Buns" (no pun intended, there), due to the fact that Ava chases sweet potatoes with a nice chewing on Bun...

I've e-mailed the manufacturer. I've searched EBay. I've scoured and called at least five stores. Bun's manufacturer decided that Bun should have the luxury of retiring. No more twin Buns. I came close, though...







Bun's long-lost cousin!

I found Bun's cousin on EBay and purchased the cousin (I'm open to name suggestions for Bun's cousin; Doug calls this Bun the "Un-Bun"). At this point, Ava seems to enjoy the cousin, and has yet to let us know she prefers one over the other. She chews on the cousin, too.













The Bun Family Picture

Bun's cousin on the left, Bun on the right, and some curious and eager little hands in the upper portion of the picture...










Grandma Pam also sent a cousin of Bun's our way yesterday. Grandma Pam's "Bun" has a rattle in his head (don't we all). So I guess that bunny can be called "Fun-Bun".

How are parents to know which shower gift their little one will like? If so, I think most parents would rush out and buy two (one for safe keeping)?

Buying two of everything from here on out...

:-)
Shelly

Ava Is 9 Months Old

It's so hard to believe that Ava is 3/4 of a year old already! How time flies when you're having fun.

She has been a blast lately. She gets excited and cackles when we play hide and seek and peek-a-boo with her. She now stands on her own, dancing and swaying side to side, clapping her hands all-the-while. She babbles on and on.

She signed for the first time two weeks ago, when she was tired, signing "all done". I'm trying to talk more slowly and deliberately with her, so she will understand what I'm saying. She seems to understand quite a few things. We're trying to teach "gentle" more, too.

She now takes a step or two on her own (without holding onto anything) before falling down. Ava inches her way around the living room holding onto things, for the most part. Boy is she fast, though!


Ava likes to eat bananas, and now eats almost a whole banana. Instead of mashing things up now, we give her slices of banana, cooked rotini pasta, baked apple slices, corn niblets, fruit puffs. She now eats "Yo Baby" yogurt, and eats it up!

She doesn't seem to like green beans and actually gagged on sweet potatoes the other day. Ironically, sweet potatoes used to be her favorite food. We'll have to work on that!










She likes to give kisses more lately, too. When I kiss Doug when he goes to work, or when he comes home, Ava wants to give us kisses, too. Kiss Fest!

She now knows how to squeal (VERY high pitched). She does this when she wants something and also when she is excited. We're just trying to keep with the baby sign language to minimize squealing when she wants something. It is EAR-PIERCING!!!





She still loves "Bun" the bunny, but seems very interested in things of electronic-nature. She is queen of the remotes. Our ceiling fan turns on the high setting when she gets her hands on the remote... Nothing like a little indoor breeze in the middle of winter.

She is absolutely social. She likes to see people and interact with them. Since coming back from Christmas holiday in Michigan, she is more independent. She is less clingy and likes to venture off on her own more.



Ava found the stairs. The other day I was vacuuming while Doug was in the living room. When I turned around, she had already made it up two steps. So, the gate needs to go up...

This was kind of funny.... The other day she was crawling in the kitchen and Doug said "do you want to come see Daddy?" She started crawling toward him with her head down, and crawled right past him into the living room. It looked like she MEANT to crawl into the living room, too!




Ava still goes down very well for naps IF she is in a familiar environment. We continue to put her in her crib at bed / nap-time, with Bun and her pacifier, and she goes to sleep, rubbing the satin edging of Bun's blanket.

She doesn't sit still for long these days. If she is awake, she is moving. She has always been an active baby, but this week she hasn't even wanted to sit still to read a book. I'm sure that, too, will change.




Her hair is really filling in thicker these days. Everyone guesses at what her hair color will be when she is older. Strangers comment that she'll probably have Mommy's red / strawberry-blonde hair. In fact, it is growing in with a little bit of strawberry in it.

She has been an absolute sweet little Georgia peach. We are just enjoying watching her grow and learn about the world!

We love you sweetness!

Daddy and Mommy

Ava Playing at 9 Months Old
Video sent by thecareyclan

Ava Playing at 9 Months Old
Video sent by thecareyclan

Lawson Christmas

Ava at Grandpa Bill and Grandma Pam's
Video sent by thecareyclan

Jordan shows Ava how to use her new popcorn popper from Grandma Pam and Grandpa Bill

Daymian and Jordan opening their gift of a laptop

A picture of Sherry and myself, from my sister Sherry. The picture frame says "Peace" on it. Sherry nicknamed me "Peace" back in high school, because she thought my clothes were all "hippy" clothes. So, she and her friends used to dress-up in my clothes and walk around flashing the peace sign. Thus the nickname "Peace".

Ava enjoying her 2006 Fisher Price model convertible "hot rod" from Grandma Pam and Grandpa Bill.

She now uses it to inch everywhere in the living room, by pushing it (while she's standing up)where she wants to go. :-)

Grammy with a "fruit puff" at-the-ready, for Ava

Mommy and Ava

Just playin' around

Grammy enjoying the holiday festivities

Griffith Christmas 2006

The Griffith Clan













Ava In Front of Grandma and Grandpa Griffith's Tree












Ava Looking at the Train Going Around The Tree












Shelly and Doug with Santa


















Ava and Daddy With Santa


















Mrs. Grandma Claus


















Ava Showing Off Her Skills


















Grandpa Dean Relaxing













Aunt Sherry Relaxing














Daymian Playing with his Nintendo DS














Jordan Hanging-Out














Sophia, Super-exicited About Something :-)