Ava Update

Thought I'd use today's photos as a good opportunity to make an "Ava Update" that we can look back on later when she is older. You can never have enough of these. I am always hearing moms say that 

they wish they would have written more in their child's baby book, took more photos, recorded more videos, etc. 

So here we are. 22 months old! 

I know for the non parents out there, it can be annoying to you when parents continue with the "month" ages as they get older. Well, until Ava is 2 it is hard for me to just call her 1. She is clearly not 12 months old. She wasn't even close to walking when she was 12 months old. So I will describe her in months until the big 24 months....2 years old!!! Sniff...

 Ava's Likes: 

"Mimmie Mou!" (Minnie Mouse) 

Elmo

Cat in the Hat

Toy trains 

Soccer ball 

Books 

Recognizing shapes (especially saying "Oval") 

Shouting out letters when she sees them

Baths 

Picking flowers 

Riding in her "car" outside 

Taking off her clothes and diaper while in her crib (not fun for mommy) 

Coloring 

Yogurt with granola 

Frozen coconut oil chunks

Juice Plus+ chewables 

Riding in Daddy's truck 

Visiting her family 

Spotting ducks 

When Daddy gets home from work (she yells, "Daa-deeeeee!!!!") 

Ava's Dislikes: 

Bedtime (sometimes) 

Leaving the playground 

When she loses her favorite Lego man's hat (She calls him "Gooke")

Ava's favorite places: 

Her castle tent in her room

The back porch 

Nana's house 

Her great grandparents' home (Miami) 

Funderdome 

The neighborhood playground 

Ava's bedtime: 8:00 PM 

Ava's wake time: 8:00AM 

Ava's nap time: 2:00PM 

Ava's new words: 

Awesome "awe-shum"

What's up "wassup"

Cool "coo"

Why "Wwwwhhhhyyyy" 

Ava's favorite thing: 

stickers 

I am probably missing a lot of things but that's all I can think of for now... 

We were supposed to head to Miami today to visit my grandparents but my grandmother is still recovering from her most recent back surgery. 

Today, Ava and I went for a morning jog around the neighborhood.  That reminds me...I can't believe that I will need a double BOB jogging stroller soon! AH

After that, we were playing outside quite a bit. She picked a dozen flowers and had fun kicking and throwing the soccer ball. 

This weekend, we will be heading to a family birthday party on the beach and then Ava will hang out

at Nana's while Mark and I head to Slackers Bar & Grill to watch the FSU v Clemson game with the Broward Noles.  

Happy Thursday! 

Love, 

Christina 

Snapshots of Today: Ava Meets the Cat in the Hat !!!

This post is being made ASAP for my mother. She was sad that she couldn't witness this so these pictures are especially for her. (Don't worry, mom... Jessica came with us and got it on video too!) 

This morning, Ava got to meet her favorite character (besides Elmo...or dare I say more than Elmo?!) The Cat in the Hat!!! 

Every day at 6:30 on PBS, Ava knows it is "Go Go!" time! The Cat in The Hat sings a song where he sings "We're going to GO GO GO....on an adventure!" so naturally, Ava calls him "Go Go". 

Her favorite part is the song so she gets all giddy and gets the biggest smile on her face :) 

It is pretty cute. 

So when I saw that our favorite toy store was having the Cat in the Hat come and visit, we invited our friends Jessica and baby Christian to join us. 

I am pretty sure that Ava was the most excited out of all of the kids as most of them started crying when they saw him or just stood there wondering what was going on. haha

Ava wouldn't stay away from him! 

Here are some photos from a really fun morning: 

Excited to go meet "Go Go!"

We strategically positioned ourselves to be the first to see him as he walked out. 

Star struck

Christian is not familiar with the Cat in the Hat yet so he was a little scared.  Such a cute pouty face! 

High-five, Go Go! 

Hugs?

Giving the Cat one of her side hugs

BEST DAY EVER! 

Jessica and her sweet boy

Cute, huh? 

I'm am off to get my 12 week ultrasound later today. I am excited to see our baby girl! 

Hope you all are having a good day. 

XO 

Christina 

It's a GIRL!!!

We are happy to announce that Ava is getting a little SISTER!!!!!! 

We are feeling so grateful that my test results came back showing a healthy pregnancy and baby. I literally took a deep breath in relief when the nurse told me that over the phone. 

She then asked if I wanted to know the gender...and I said, "Yes ma'am! I need to know how to prepare!" 

The nurse happily said, "It's a....girl!!!!" 

I was so happy to finally know and be able to spread the good news to our families and friends. I can't help but think of all of the girlfriends that I have who share  such a special relationship with their sisters. 

I am feeling so lucky to be the mother of two girls especially with an amazing husband to be such a great role model to them. These girls are so blessed to have Mark as a father to show them how to be respected and treated by a man. 

Ava adores Mark so much that I often joke that she prefers him over me. I am sure this little girl will be another daddy's girl too. Mark laughs because this will probably be the case and he just loves that Ava runs to him every chance she gets. He teases me about it all the time. haha.

I am on cloud 9 right now and thrilled to buy more smocked dressed and big bows. Don't worry, these girls will be learning to how to golf, fish, and play the drums with daddy. Mark plans on the girls receiving golf scholarships to FSU so they better get practicing soon! 

(Oh, and for those of you that know my mother...She is over-the-moon kind of happy. Haha. So is the rest of our family.) 

Thank you to our friends and family who have congratulated us! 

Mark has already called and asked me twice,"So what are we naming her?!" 

Ummm I don't know yet! We are only 12 weeks along...we have some time to throw around some ideas!

 (Start sending those ideas to us, friends!) 

Hope everyone is having a great day! 

Looking forward to March 28th (my due date) and meeting this sweet girl. 

Love,

Christina