The Movie

Art spent his lunch hour playing with iMovie. Below is the finished product. 

Anatomy of a Smile

Lauren: Ava, what are you doing? Come here and let me take your picture!

Ava: Ugh, mom, I'm busy with my new chalkboard. Art wastes time for no man and no lady with a camera. 

Lauren: Smile! Say Cheese!

Ava: Ok, fine. Wait, no, that's not it. Let me try again.

Lauren: What in the world...

Lauren: Beautiful! So sweet!

Ava: Did you get it? I can do this all day. 

Lauren: Yep, got it. Thanks honey.

Ava: Really? Because I'm feeling like you didn't get a good look at my teeth. Let me try again. 

Lauren: Did you have spinach for dinner? 

Ava: Why yes, how did you know?

Art and I think Ava's smile is the funniest thing we've ever seen, including Season 1 of The Office and lolz cat memes (WAY funnier than those). 

Ava's World

When I heard that GapKids was releasing a DVF line, I had to get in line. Ava definitely dresses better than I do. 

(I did wait until it went on sale...I have some common sense)

In other news, Ava got her first car. Art says it's the only car he will ever buy for her. He seems to think she's going to be escorted around in an armored car once she hits her teens. Poor, poor, delusional daddy. 

In a completely unrelated note, Ava loves to pretend she's eating with adult utensils. Whatever works....until she starts banging them on the windows. Which happens. A lot. 

I've got a Yankee Doodle Sweetheart

She's my Yankee Doodle Joy!

I intended to re-enact the Statue of Liberty from last year since I have about 32 red, white and blue outfits plus a Lady of Liberty headpiece. My subject matter had other plans. 

Uncooperative? Moi? 

Happy Birthday America! 

Father's Day

*Art keeps asking where his Fathers Day "homage" is. I guess this will have to do....even though a certain someone received neither a Mothers Day card nor gift. Since we were in Hawaii, I will give him a pass*

Ava had a great Fathers Day weekend with her dad and both Grandpas and Grandmas. She also spent it slathered in SPF 1000 sunblock since we were outside a lot. 

You can tell my parents were not at ALL excited to see her. 

Learning how sprinklers work.

Keeping cool with the water table.

Ava is lucky to have such great guys in her life as these three. Happy (belated, naturally) Fathers Day to the best Dads out there! 

Year and a Half!

Happy 18 months to the little light in my life! 

It's hard to believe that Ava is already a year and a half old. She adds excitement and joy to each day and we love watching her grow. 

She continues to perfect her smile. 

Is constantly on the move....

Is discovering different acrobatic maneuvers..

And has her first boyfriend...Elmo. Which is always pronounced "ELBOWWWWWWWW" at the top of her lungs.  

18 Month Stats:

Weight: 24 lb, 6 oz (52% percentile)

Height: 33" (85th percentile!! I am super excited about this)

Speech: Can repeat most things we say (including the bad words, oops). 

Favorite words- Please (peas), Thank you (ack ee), No way (no way), Elmo (Elbowwwwww), Cheese, Chair, I see.

Funny stories: When we were in Hawaii, Ava stayed with my parents; they have a dog named Honey. Every since she got back home, every dog (including Kate) is called Honey. 

Also (not sure what my mom did to her), ever since she's been home, if you ask her what noise an animal, any animal makes, Ava will inform you that it says "Neigh". 

Obsessions: Elmo, Minky (her "backpack leash"), the bolt cap on the back of toilets that I never knew existed until Ava decided to take one as a trophy off each toilet she meets, carrying around sunscreen, trying to open the oven, cheese, the swings at the park and books. Tons and tons of books. 

Cheese! (it's not cheese)

Art and I had a great time in Hawaii. We enjoyed the beach, the pool, lounging, indulging in cocktails and the total lack of responsibility. But in the end, we were excited to come back. We missed the tantrums, early wake up calls, Elmo, constant games of "chase", and food throwing. But mostly we missed our sweet girl. 

We brought her a little (commercialized) piece of Maui back with us. 

Hasn't noticed she's wearing a hula costume yet. 

Walks purposefully with her briefcase. 

Wait a minute...what is this weird skirt thing...

Save me from the plastic grass skirt! Oh the tackiness! Horror! 

Luckily for me, Ava decided to help me unpack. 

I heard her walking around saying "Cheese! Cheese!". When I looked over I realized she had gotten into my toiletries bag. 

Can you guess what she found? 

To her credit, they DO look like string cheese.