Happy 2nd Birthday Ava!

Ava had a busy 2nd birthday! Some activities she enjoyed...others, not so much. I can't believe my tiny kiddo is two- officially a toddler. She spent the morning at the park and loved the balmy 50 degree weather. 

She did lots of coloring today- she thinks she's SUCH a cool cat when she sits at the kitchen table and colors. 

Every year I make an impression handprint ornament of Ava's hand to hang on the tree and I thought it would be "so fun!" to make it on her actual birthday this year. Year 0 was easy. Year 1 was a little tough. Year 2 was traumatic. 

"It burns! Oh no, it burns! Get it off my hands, devil woman!"

This doesn't quite capture the tantrum that accompanied the handprint project. Eventually, I (kinda) got it. When Ava's older, she'll wonder why she had just four fingers- two of them sausages and two that were hooked like claws. 

Later, Ava took some time to examine the gifts underneath the tree. 

This one is for me. And I think this one over here is also mine...

You'd think I would have learned from the handprint fiasco, but I also wanted to measure Ava  and mark her height on the basement wall to start a new tradition. You know what happens next. Panic ensues once I ask her to stand against the wall and this is the after-shot of her, relieved that another ordeal is over. 

All was forgotten after another round of SPECIAL MARKER coloring. Markers are like toddler crack- guaranteed party pleasers for two year olds. Also, we have reached the "no pants" portion of the evening. 

After a little dancing- this is actually a super accurate portrait of how active she usually is- we came upstairs for dinner. 

I became Super Mom once again when I presented Ava with not just pizza, her favorite food, but ELMO pizza. Me, for the win. 

Two year memories: 

Favorite Books: The Very Busy Spider, The Snowy Day, Stuff and Nonsense, Wheels on the Bus, Snowmen at Night

Favorite Activities: Going to the park, sitting on the stairs and making facing at herself in the mirror, turning the Christmas lights on and off with the little push button, coloring, playing with my headbands, playing with her "choo choo"

Best Friends: Olivia (Wibby), Graham (Gee), Owen (Owe), Rebecca (Becca)

Favorite phrases: Gross, Stinky, Bye pee pee, I get yammie, Please Elmo, I get Kate, I love me, I take bathy

Can identify her: belly, head, hair, cheeks, mouth, eyes, arms, hands, feet, nose

Favorite Foods: Bananas, pizza, cereal, raspberries, oranges, cheese

Ava can levitate

Maybe it's a combo of her birthday and Christmas all coming up, but Ava got REALLY excited the other morning. 

What has your toddler done today?

2nd Birthday Party

This past weekend we celebrated Ava's 2nd (rainbow themed) birthday! Although it was a couple weeks early, a good time was had by all. 

I had fun making rainbow platters of food (thank you, Pinterest).

Ava was on great behavior and enjoyed having all of her friends and family over to party. 

She wasn't too thrilled with all eyes on her when we brought out the cake. 

Her dismay was quickly forgotten when she tasted how delicious it was. 

Ava's buddies got to take home huge lollipops as favors....

 They all enjoyed them (as swords)...

And as snacks.

A first that no parent wants

Yesterday marked a parenting "first" that no one wants to see- our first trip to the ER with Ava. While I was right next to her, she tripped and fell face-first into the hardwood stair riser. 

Henceforth to be referred to as "The Step on my Sh*tlist". It was immediately apparent that Ava needed stitches so I bundled her up (with the help of our friend Bekah Kalita, thank God she was there!) and took her to the hospital; daddy and grandma were en route as soon as I called them. 

After several hours, one bout of twilight anesthetic, and five stitches later, we were home again. Ava seems to be recovering well and isn't hip the fact (yet) that Daddy is imposing an "Ava can have whatever she wants" edict. 

Some suggestions for her list: 

Personal visit from Elmo

A unicorn pony

A return to trip to Four Seasons Manele Bay...wait, how did that get in there? 

Ava's First Election

One of Ava's most important firsts happened today- her first Election Day!

She started off the day walking to our local polling place with Dad and Mom. 
But who to vote for? Ava's been researching the issues for weeks.

Would she choose Romney? She has family and friends who would urge her to do so.

Would she choose Obama? She has family and friends on this side of the coin, too.

Time for the final vote. 

I should have known. Ava wrote-in for Elmo (her BFF 4 lyfe) because of his stance on the "important issues". 

-Later bedtimes

-He's a good singer and likes to share

-Bananas for every meal

-She's a member of SPEW (Society for the Promotion of Elmo's Worldwide domination)

-Cookie Monster likes cookies, as does Ava

However you voted, Ava's just glad you did. Happy Election Day!

Happy Halloween!

Ava had a great Halloween. She started off her day at Munchkins (our parent-toddler class), where she celebrated with friends. 

We went sans tutu at class in order to have better maneuverability. 

With all of her buddies waiting for the sugar rush to begin.

Later in the day, she donned the full costume and got ready to trick or treat. 

So Art made so much fun of me for buying this ghost on clearance after Halloween last year. Ava (and all the neighborhood kids) LOVED it! 

Her first (and last) candy run with Dad. However, there were no tantrums, which I consider a victory. If you think about it, Halloween is literally horrific for Ava. She has to approach strangers and talk to them while they wait for her to say trick or treat.  Pretty much her worst nightmare.

Ava was able to lift 40 pound pumpkins with ease after chowing down on some Twix. 

*Just kidding. The pumpkin is plastic and I successfully made it through the day without letting her have any actual candy. You may think I'm mean, but I know once she actually figures out what candy is next year, we're in for it.*

Pumpkin Patch of Horrors...I mean, Fun.

Sometimes you have those moments when you go, "Whoa, I'm a parent". One of those happened this morning, when we all got up and left at 8:30 on a Saturday morning to drive an hour and 15 minutes to a pumpkin patch in Northwest Indiana. 

We were going to meet our friends the Elsener's and their two kids. My biggest worry was that Ava would fall asleep in the car and not nap later. Oh, the naiveté. 

I mean, here she is at breakfast. Happy, smiling, looking totally ready for a great day of picking pumpkins and riding tractors!

There aren't even any interim pictures that I can post to show how it devolved into this. 

Maybe she doesn't like the color orange. 

Liv and Graham, two of the happiest, sweetest kids I've ever met, along with Zava (Ava's naughty alter-ego). 

In hindsight, maybe she was scared of the tractor. Although maybe not...at this point, we'd been off of the tractor for a good 20 minutes. 

In all seriousness, this is the kind of thing I love and I'm glad we did it. It was definitely an "experience" Happy Fall everyone!

Art, Lauren, Ava and R2P2. 

Oh, there's a blog here?

Yeah, I've been a bad mommy blogger. In all fairness, when the things that make you throw up include (but are not limited to): 

-Kate's dog food

-Ava's breakfast, lunch and dinner

-Changing diapers

-Curbing your dog

-Riding in the car

-Cooking

-Sneezing

It doesn't leave much time to take pictures and blog about your super cute kid. 

We've all very excited about R2P2, as my brother calls the in utero baby.

Ava doesn't quite seem to "get it" yet. Here are some of her expressions when we've mentioned the her little brother or sister. 

Excitement!

Shock

Disbelief

Skepticism

Grudging acceptance