Happy Tax Day!

There's been a lot going on (tea parties, for example), so Ava got a late start to taxes this year. She began the day by choosing her most responsible-looking outfit. Navy blue baby cardigans are very serious. Seriously cute.

My mom let me borrow her bedazzled desk accessories for this tax season. Rhinestones make work WAY more fun.  Let's do this!

Let me just find my glasses here...Ah, there we go. Much better.

Let's see. Tax deductions, tax deductions....oh! Right. I'M a tax deduction this year. You're welcome.

Now if I'm reading this correctly, you didn't deduct for pacifiers? Big oversight, Mom. I'm trying to read; please keep holding my glasses up. Thanks.

And if you look here, you'll see that I'm going to be able to get you a pretty decent sized refund. Baby needs a new pair of shoes.

Well it looks like my work here is done. Eat a binkie, auditors! Until next year, federal government.

After all that number crunching, Ava needed to chillax with an ice cold brewski. Happy Tax Day, everyone!

Four Month Tea Party (not politically oriented;)

Ava decided to have some of her friends over for an intimate tea party this morning. Nothing fancy, just tea and presents. Lots of presents.

Ava: Thanks for coming to my 4-month birthday party today guys!

Sock Monkey: No problem. Wow, I can't believe your Mom let you use her best china. How cool of her!

Ava: Yeah, do me a favor and don't mention it to my Dad. Mom said if he found out there would be something about straightjackets and padded rooms. I dunno. Okay, so who brought a gift?

Sock Monkey: Here's a bow for your beautiful hair Ava!

Ava: Thanks so much! I hardly have any bows at all. I'm kind of deprived. Who's next?

Pluto: I am but your humble servant. Here are some shoes for your itsy bitsy feet.

Ava: Thanks. Let me just taste and check the quality of the leather...(nom nom nom). And watch that you don't knock over the tea. You know how hard those stains are to get out of linens.

Ava: What's that, Mr. Bear?

Mr. Bear: It's a nightlight! I heard that your parents are moving you to your own room and you won't be shacking up with them anymore! Way cool.





Ava: Ask them how that went last night. Muahahahahaa!

Giraffe: Here's a necklace to grace your tiny neck!

Ava: Jewels. I like it. You may have an extra cookie.

Ava: Hold on everyone. Mom, please stop interrupting my party to take pictures. Kthankxbye.

Ava: What's that Chameleon?

Chameleon: It's a rattle! They're all the rage these days.

Ava: I think I will use it as a scepter. You may go back to your seat. Another scone?

Ava: Are those sunglasses for me?

Pink Dog: Yes they are!

Ava: Then why are you wearing them. Please hand them over.

Ava: Thank you all for coming to my 4-month tea party. I hope you enjoyed yourselves.

Animal Friends (except for Sock Monkey, who apparently slipped a flask of whiskey in to go with his tea): We did! Thanks Ava! Your mom told us it's time for your nap. Enjoy your rest!

Ava: A NAP?! How DARE she? She will rue the day; I'll put HER to bed...

Time for someone to take a little siesta. Happy four-month birthday Ava!

The Tiniest Fan

It's spring, the Bulls have clinched a playoff berth, and the Cubs are, well, the Cubs. Ava comes from a sports background. Her mom worked for the Bulls and her dad worked for the Cubs. Put those together and you get a baby superfan!

(30 years in the future) "And this, Mr. Therapist, is how my parents set me up for failure".

Go Bulls! D Rose for MVP!

Ava's First Vacation

Let me tell you about Florida. First, you have to take a plane to get there. After you (by "you", I mean Mom and Dad) lug all of your stuff around the airport for hours, hang out on the plane being entertained by parents who are desperate for you to behave (which means you can make them dance like monkeys), then collect more baggage before you get loaded in the car, you're exhausted.

Then your Grandma dresses you in ridiculous hats while she marches you around the pool

showing you off to all of her friends.

After you realize that you're wearing a dumb hat, and your mom smears cream all over your face,

you've HAD IT.

But it's not all bad. You get to wear really cool shades that make you look like a miniature movie star.

All that fresh air makes you tired. So you take a nap.

Then you go to the beach and astound the masses with your cuteness.

Then it's time for a nap outside. Where your grandma is afraid you'll get cold so she bundles you up in blankets in the 85 degree heat. Great idea, no really.



Enjoying the good life after a poo-splosion forced Mom to change me out of my yellow tulle bikini. Not that I planned that or anything, mwhahahaha.

Mom had to work hard to put me in all the outfits she brought. I even had my own full-size suitcase! Not crazy at all, Mom....

I had a little time to cheer for the Illini in between pool and beach visits. Too bad they blew it. Daddy says it's time for Coach Weber to kick rocks.

The unfortunate thing about Florida is that the humidity makes your hair go flat.

I prefer more volume with my 'do's.

But overall it was a great trip. I gained over a pound in two weeks, enjoyed some fine dining and outlet mall shopping, and just really had a good time getting out of my daily grind. I just needed some "Ava" time, you know?



Three, Oh, it's a Magic Number

So we're a day late and some pictures short with Ava's three-month photos. She decided to celebrate the three month mark by helping Dad look at some properties, made a quick stop at her friend Olivia's house, then took a five hour nap. That didn't leave much time for pictures! As of Friday Ava weighed 10 lbs, 10 oz., which skyrockets her to the 18th percentile for weight (up from the 7th percentile the month before). Somebody is going on a diet. (just kidding Mom)

Ava has dicovered her fingers and spends a large amount of time spitting out her pacifier, crying, then finding her fingers to soothe herself. It's quite the exhausting cycle...for her and for us.

Ava still enjoys growing her hair out. Yesterday she got her first blow-out, which resulted in the above. She also rolled over for the first time this weekend. She was so excited about it that she promptly fell asleep and napped for an hour.

Here's Ava modeling Uncle Rob's sunglasses.

Her head hasn't quite reached gigantic Erickson proportions yet.

Ava with her cousin Leonidas visiting from Greece. Leo says Ava needs to come to Thessaloniki to discover what spoiling really is. I say she doesn't need to go that far to get spoiled...her grandparents have that covered just fine here in the States.

Ava thought Eirini was really pretty and fun; she's had lots of practice with her cousins

Anastasia and Christina.

Ava and her friend Mary. Mary is going to teach Ava lots of things. Like wine-drinking, shopping and stiletto-wearing.

Ava and Uncle Rob. Rob is teaching Ava about avant garde movies and hip bands that

Mom has never heard of.

Ava and Steffy-pants. Steph teaches Ava about journalism, hobbit boots and how to end words with "-sies". As in, "Ava's shirtsies is cute"

Here are some random bath pics from her 3 month birthday...

Alfalfa

Horns (but sweet, angelic horns)

Smooshed side part

Curly 'fro

Tomorrow Ava leaves for Naples for two weeks so there will be LOTS of pictures when we get back. Signing off for now...have to go pack several teeny weeny baby bikinis for our trip.

Trip to Champaign

Ava went down to Champaign this past weekend for Unofficial St. Patrick's Day. Ha, just kidding. But she did get to meet her Great Grandma and Grandpa C, Emily, Melissa, Aunt Judi and hang with Great Grandma E. A few pics!

Four generations :-)

Nice, normal family picture...

What we're really like.

"So, which shampoo do you use Baba? Oh wait..."

Great Grandma C is going to potty train Ava before she's one. She promised.

"And then the aliens came and built the pyramids..."

See how tight my mom is holding on? We usually have to pry Ava away.

Oh well, that's what Grandmas are for.

Grandma E is happy to hold her great-grandaughter.

"Enough pictures, Mom. What? Uncle Rob AND my cousins are visiting from Greece this week?

  Here comes the paparazzi"