Getting Up To Date

I have to say that it is so much harder these days to find time to blog. Most days when I have extra time I am using it to shower, exercise, or sleep. Yet, today I have found it in me to blog. I have always enjoyed keeping all my family up to date, and if Ava keeps napping well, perhaps I can blog every once in a while. Speaking of which, she is sleeping through the night here and there. Waiting for her to do so has been a long ride, but momma is feeling much more energized nowadays. Ava is just growing like a weed, leaning new things, and eating new things all the time. She has new favorite foods like: peach popsicle, watermelon, cheerios, bananas, chicken and rice, prunes (weird huh??), and crackers. She also loves to swim in the pool, go to books and babies, play with her baby doll, and observe her surroundings...especially other kiddos. She also enjoys night time walks and feeding the duckies in the mornings...(Dave would tell you that feeding the ducks is more for my enjoyment than hers...I can't help it the baby ducks are so darn cute) We try to get out as much as we can, but are pretty limited with one car, and hot weather, yet we make do. :)

Our little miss also likes to do things ALL by herself, can you say "autonomy"? Apparently her momma was just as independent growing up... ;) The newest thing she is doing is sitting up all by herself, getting mad when you take toys away (or anyhting she shouldn't be playing with for that matter) and pulling herself up on things!!  She seems to surprise me everyday. For example, I have been working with her on waving to people for a while now, and today she has been waving all day! And I LOVE how she giggles when she does it because she is so proud of herself! I think she is officially becoming a little girl, or easily put...she is no longer a little baby! And you know what?? I LOVE IT! The baby stage is cute and I understand there are some people who love it...but this older stage is definitely for me!! :)

Now only time will tell to see if she will even crawl....maybe she will just walk which she seems to have a keen interest in! I am kind of excited for her to be mobile...the mommy train is getting worn down! She also abuses the mommy train, so I think I am probably slowing down her ability to crawl. She gets frustrated sometimes when she is trying to get a toy that is just out of her reach...and so she will try to crawl up on my lap so that I can help her get it! I could go on and on about our little cutie. We just love her to pieces. In any case, here are some pictures of what has been going in our lives recently:

Brigham Young University Idaho Graduation

David and I both graduated from BYU-Idaho. David graduated with his BS in Neuroscience and I graduate with my BS in Child Development! (Now I can put that degree to use and raise a super awesome baby! Yes, I LOVE being a SAHM... ("stay at home mom")  I wanted to do the whole cap and gown thing because this was a huge accomplishment for me at this point in my life. I plan to go back in the future but for now I am being a mommy, something I have always wanted to do! David wasn't as interested in walking and so he is going to wait until he finishes PA school. I cannot wait for us to be all done and move past being forever students! Also, Jeremy, Rach & Jaden came up  from Utah to support us...I miss having them close!! Ava and Jaden really enjoy one each others company, and I really enjoy Rachel's company. She is like my sister from another mother. Maybe in the future life will put our little families close together again...

Mother's Day & Mother's Day Dinner

 

Having Ava out of my belly and here with us this mother's day made it complete! She gave me all sorts of kisses, and let me dress her up for church! (I love playing dress up with her!) Then I got to enjoy a wonderful dinner with the family. Dave's mom is an amazing cook...if you didn't already know that then the secret is out! She knows all about cooking and how to do it right. Yes we are spoiled, and yes you should be jealous! We has Shish Kabobs, Fruit Salad, Rice Pilaf, some super yummy broiled asparagus, and 7OC for drinking! Also this was their 30th Anniversary!!! Happy Anniversary to the most amazing in-laws a girl could ask for! (I really am so lucky...)

Father's Day

I have a wonderful husband and this year we celebrated his first father's day! He is my other half, my prince charming, the best daddy, and most of all the love of my life. He makes me laugh, smile, and still get butterflies. More than anything though he leaves me smitten when I see him as a Daddy. It is one of those feelings where everything just seems to be right in the world as I see him with Ava. On Father's Day this year my heart was so full!  It is one of the most amazing feelings to know that he and I together get to be parents of our little angel. I love to see him light up each day when he comes home from work, picks up his baby girl, and loves on her. She loves her daddy, and frankly he is absolutely smitten by her! When she gets upset she often cries for daddy it sounds something like, "da da da da da da da...." It is just precious. I always pictured David being such a wonderful father, and I just happened to be right. He is my forever love...

Fourth of July

Yes she slept right through the fireworks, yes we saw them from a secret AMAZING spot, and yes they were breath taking. I love everything about the fourth of July. It has been ingrained in me from when I was young....and we will always celebrate it! I am so grateful for the independence of our country, and for all those who serve and protect us.

Ava's First Haircut

She was getting a little bit shaggy.... also the picture on the left is one of many that came from Ava and her run in with watermelon. That will have to be the next post though... isn't she a doll?!