Like Mother, Like Daughter

Some families have family heirlooms. Antiques, books, jewelry. My family has a family bikini. Every girl born in the last 35 years has worn this little number. Here I am, below, in 1982. As you can see, the propensity for dressing children in absurd accessories is a hereditary trait.

Here's Ava 29 years later at Girl's Weekend. Wow. My daughter is WAY cuter than I was as a kiddo.



The Darlingest Catch

We've had a crazy 10 days of traveling to Champaign for Father's Day, back to Chicago, then to Champaign again a couple days later, then to Brown County, IN, back to Champaign and finally home. Whew.





I know precisely nothing about the show The Deadliest Catch. However, if there were a baby edition, Ava would be the star. Or, I guess she could be the villain from I Know What You Did Last Summer. Either way, thanks, Grandma E, for the cool hat and boots.

I'll be able to wear these sometime in 2014. I guess you could say I'm saving them for a rainy day. Hardy har har.



 I'd like to congratulate Art for officially making the blog. He hasn't been on it since he posted his one and only contribution (the first post) back in January and included a couple photos of himself. This is Father's Day with Grandpa E down in Champaign. Hooray! Ava has a dad.

After we got home on Father's Day, Grandma & Grandpa P came to see Ava. Happy belated Father's Day to all the dads out there!

After FD Weekend, we came back to Chicago, then headed back down south to Brown County for our 7th Annual Girl's Weekend. Ava got to meet her cousins Elle and Sophie. Heather and Pam got them matching pj's, natch.

Modeling her pre-bedtime hair with Aunt Peggy. Someone is going to make an EXCELLENT Harry Potter for Hallowen.

"Come a little closer and tell me I need to do more tummy time. No? That's what I thought".

Aunt Peggyis getting her bid in early and bought Ava a Trevecca shirt, where she works. Ava has family alums from U of I, Marquette, Harvard, Clark, IU, Purdue, North Park, Miami and Babson, to name a few. I forsee quite the college tour in 2028.

We rounded out our whirlwind 10 days by dropping Grandma E off in Champaign before heading back home. Cousin Matt was waiting to see Ava and fed her before he headed back home.

Next up, cousins visiting from Vermont next weekend and Aunt Alexis comes to town. Gearing up for the 4th....

 

Six Month Stats

Hey all! Got to post and run today because I have a busy day ahead of me. My new music class begins, have to help Mom pick up the house, pick up Kate from the groomer, fill several diapers and then Daddy gets home tonight from the East Coast. We love and miss you Great Grandma P. Rest in peace.

First things first. I'm getting my bottom two teeth. Mom calls me Razor Jaws because I like to bite her hand as hard as I can. Then she takes her hand away so I bite my own and make myself hysterically cry. Then Mom feels bad and gives me back her hand. Haha Mommy.

Went to the doctor for my 6-month check up and got my stats. I'm 14 pounds, 12 oz.

30th percentile!

 

I'm 25 inches long, which is the 28th percentile. But Mom keeps saying that the nurse didn't stretch me out all the way and I'm taller. Who cares, Mom?

(Editor's Note: I care Ava! Even though I'm short, you have tall genes from my side of the family. We're going to start with some stretching exercises.)

Uh, ok Mom. Chill out.

When I was born, Dad said that I "was a q-tip with a bowling ball for a head". Turns out he was right. My enormous noggin is in the 81st percentile. Wait, did you say EIGHTY FIRST? My brainpower must be...staggering. Did you know that the top number of a fraction is called numerator? How do I know this??

Anyway, I can do supported sitting these days. Pretty cool, I guess. Mom lets me try and do it on my own but Daddy surrounds me with pillows and is thinking about making me get a helmet.

I'm working on scooting and I love to read books. Olivia is currently my favorite. Shoutout to Olivia Elsener, my bestie! What what?

Gotta go help Mom. Halfway to a year. Cannot believe it. Must. Slow. Down. Time.

Peace, love, and ginsu knife kisses,

Ava Bug

Sweet Potatoes, Sun & Fun

Ava's been having a lot of fun this spring/summer. Here we are on Memorial Day modeling our red Ray Bans. Well, not really Ray Bans because that would be ridiculous. Or would it?

Our very first bite of sweet potatoes (it's a rare Daddy sighting!!!! Even if it is just his hand).

Not too thrilled with them.

But we tried again the next day and Ava LOVED them. And by love I mean she loved smearing them all over her face and hair. And my face and hair. And her outfit and on Kate. I am investing in Costco-sized containers of Oxi Clean.

I spy, with my little eye, a teeny weeny baby bikini. She's allowed to wear these while she's small and has that hilarious baby potbelly. By the time she's 15, she will be dressing in swimsuits like this one:

Wait, what's that over there?

It's a flying puppy! Kate is also enjoying the warmer weather. It allows her greater freedom to stalk rabbits and squirrels and planes flying overhead. They win every. single. time. But she perseveres.

Ava loved splashing in her itty bitty baby pool. She also liked splashing Art and I. Oh, and the camera. Might have to get a water-proof lens.

She lounged for a bit (um, can we say super cute sausage link legs?).

And then was ready to head in. Ciao, friends!

Happy Memorial Day!



A heartfelt THANK YOU to all the veterans and troops. God bless, and Happy Memorial Day! XOXO, Ava

Interview: Five Month Favesies!

Interview with a five-month old about her favorites.

"And....welcome to my five month favorites column ladies and germs!"

"I'm here to tell you about my likes, my loves and my favesies."

"I've been pretty busy over the past five months. Learning, growing, pooping. Here are some of my favorite things in my tiny little world."

Favorite Hair Bow

"Well, that's just ridiculous. Who can choose only one? Here are all my favorite purple hairbows."

Favorite Diapers

"Pampers Swaddlers Sensitive. Guaranteed to contain 50% of the poo-splosion, 25% of the time."

Favorite Teether

"Mom's FACE."

(*Editor's note: Watch daughter closely for cannibalistic tendencies)

Favorite Book

"I prefer the classics. Right now I'm reading A Confederacy of Dunces. Illuminating, considering who I live with. This means you, Daddy."

"What's that you say? You don't believe I can read yet??! How DARE you!"

Favorite Wine

"I prefer red from the French region of..."

"Wait, is my mom going to see this?? I am going to be in so much trouble."

Favorite Pacifier

"MAM pacifiers. I call them "yahmies". Ya heard?"

"Mom and dad are always having to buy me new ones. SOMEONE, who shall remain nameless (*cough* Kate *cough*) has taken a liking to them."

"So THAT'S where they all went..."

Favorite Ride

"My stroller, of course! And the huge bag underneath has tons of room for Mom's shopping.... (pauses at menacing glare from Mom), I mean MY shopping bags. Yeah, my bags."

"Well, that's all for today. I hope you enjoyed hearing about my favorites!"

"I've gotta get going. See you next month! Peace, love, and sloppy baby kisses!"

XOXO, Ava

Easter!

Ava's First Easter

The Easter Bunny may have gotten a wee bit over-excited for Ava's first Easter. She had four Easter baskets. Yes, four.

"So, let me get this straight. A bunny, like a real bunny, comes and delivers toys and books and candy while you're sleeping? What's that got to do with Easter and Jesus?"

I have an astute daughter.

Ava hasn't quite realized yet that she's wearing a flower on her head to the utter delight of her mom and grandma. It stayed up for about five seconds....

And then collapsed over her face. Cuteness overload.

"Wait, so this Clifford character is a dog that's larger than a house? And you expect me to buy that? Emily Elizabeth is a dolt. Who writes this nonsense?"

"Ah, here we go. This is what I'm talking about. Oh look! Nerds. Mom's favorite candy, appropriately enough! Zing!"

Poor Art, there are never any pictures of him because he's the one taking the pictures. I promise Ava has a dad.

Later that night, when we got home, Ava got to celebrate with Grandma and Grandpa P with ANOTHER Easter basket!

In the Orthodox tradition, we knocked red Easter eggs. Basically, one person starts and knocks their egg against someone else's. The winner bumps eggs with the next person and so on, until the last egg is left standing. Ava won. Of course.

To our American friends: Happy Easter, Christ has risen!

To our Albanian friends: Krishti u ngjall!

To our Greek friends: Χριστός Ανέστη!