The Garrison Family: 4/27/08

Friday, May 02, 2008

6 Months Old...

We can't believe it...Ava's 6 MONTHS OLD! The past 6 months have absolutely flown by at mach speed. It seems like it was just yesterday that we moved to Vegas, much less had Ava. Each day passes at lightening speed and it seems like Ava changes by the minute. At 6 months, Ava has 2 bottom teeth, is already trying to crawl forward, can already crawl backwards, can sit up on her own, can pull herself up on her knees when holding onto something, can operate her crib mobile like a pro, and is sleeping soundly from around 8:30pm until 5:45 or 6am.

We are so very blessed to have such an amazing little girl. Ava Holt has vastly exceeded our expectations in a baby and she is far more than we deserve. She is always so happy and has been the best child anyone could hope for. Ava makes life so much more meaningful and she continues to keep us laughing, smiling, and in love with her. She is truly incredible and the best gift from God.

Here is Ava with her birthday 'cake.' Since she's 6 months old (or a half-year old), I made her a half of a cake instead of the standard muffin. The cake, a Chocolate Strawberry Mousse Cake, is one of Matt's favorites and as you can see, a tempting treat for Ava. Maybe next year she'll actually get to eat some of it. As you can also see, she gets her fingers into the cake, which turn into getting chocolate ganache all over her sleep sack...I forgot that she was so flexible!

This was taken right after she wiped her left hand on her sleep sack...

What a frown...

Apparently, I failed to take Ava's picture in her Mater hat, so she made me re-take the pictures...and of course, Matt had already eaten a slice of the cake. In these pictures, Ava was hoping that I was watching how cute she was instead of the fact that she was digging her hand into the top of the cake...

She thought that by sticking out her pinky finger, she would look more lady-like...

The cake AFTER Ava dug into it with her little fingers...

A picture of the inside of the cake...

Here are some pictures of Ava playing with (and eating) her Mater hat...

Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Strong Girl

Since birth, Ava Holt has been the strongest little thing. From holding her head up the day she was born to pushing and pulling objects around, Ava never ceases to amaze us. Here are a few pictures and videos of Ava showing off her crazy baby strength.

April 25, 2008...

April 27, 2008

April 30, 2008

May 5, 2008

Ava managed to pull down her playmat all by herself. I couldn't believe it. I didn't really even hear it fall...mostly because she was in the perfect spot when it fell. What a crazy kid...

Floor Tiles

I forgot that there were some floor tiles in Ava's closet that my mom had bought at the baby store where we bought Ava's pram and carseat when we lived in Germany. They aren't anything special or out of this world, but they are something new and different for Ava. I figured that I would get them out and put them on the hardwood floors so that Ava would have something to roll around on other than the icky floor. Regardless of how many times I swiffer and mop, the floor is perpetually dusty. It's gross. Anyhow, I put the floor tiles out for Ava to roll onto when she rolls off her playmat. When my mom comes back out here, I'll have to give them back to her (as they are hers to begin with!). There is another set that I've found online, so I'm going to order them when I have to give these back! Thanks mom for letting us use the tiles...although you probably forgot that you even bought them. I sure did...until I found them!

Look! No hands...

I love my new floor tiles. I love to taste them...

...and taste them....

...and feel them...

...and lay on them...

...and crawl on them...

...and do yoga (the plank) on them...

...and some upward dog...

...and some upward dog with smirks on my face...

Here are some pictures and video footage of Ava being silly...

Here's some funny video of Miss Ava...

Here's the poor love falling on her face...

About Us...

Matt and I met on April 14, 2001 in Glendale, Arizona. I was in college at Pepperdine University and he was in F-16 pilot training at Luke AFB. We met through my brother, Matt (Goat), who was also going through pilot training at Luke. The two Matts met their freshman year at the Air Force Academy where they were assigned to the same squadron and lived next door to one another. Despite Matt being friends with my brother since 1995, we had never met one another before 2001. I fell in love with Matt at first sight and he fell in love with me shortly thereafter. We were married on October 4, 2003 in the Cadet Chapel at the U.S. Air Force Academy-it seemed only fitting. God has blessed us with almost 5 busy, exciting, and wonderful years of marriage. In that time, we have lived in 3 states, 2 countries, run in over 20 races (combined) in 6 different countries and 5 different states, traveled to almost 30 different countries, and have have been blessed with the most precious and beautiful little girls.

Ava Holt was born at 3:05 AM on November 1, 2007. At 2 weeks early, she weighed in at 7 pounds, 11.4 ounces and was 20 inches long. Ava Holt is a dramatic yet easy going little soul. She loves attention and is always happy. She is incredibly observant, freakishly strong, very independent, and a very fast learner. Her curiosity fuels her day, as she fills her hours getting into anything and everything under 5 feet in height. As much as she loves me, she loves her Daddy even more. She is the epitome of a 'Daddy's Girl' and the highlight of her day is when Matt gets home and she gets to perform, laugh, and squeal for him. Then, when her Daddy gets in her way, her favorite person in the world is her baby sister, Myla Grace. From the moment she met Myla Grace at the hospital on the day we came home from the hospital, she was smitten. There wasn't a jealous bone in her body, only pure love. We are beyond blessed to have the miracle of Ava Holt in our lives. Oh, and did I mention that 'You Are My Sunshine' is her FAVORITE song? The apple didn't fall far from the tree, as it's mine too.

Sweet Myla Grace was born at 5:04 PM on December 2, 2009. At 3 weeks early, she weighed in at 7 lbs, 0.4 ounces and was 19 inches long. Myla Grace is so disgustingly sweet. She is our cuddly little one who prefers to be carried and or held when at all possible. While sweet and cuddly, she also loves to destroy, dismantle, and disassemble most things within her reach...all while flashing the most precious of smiles. And through all of her sweetness, she has the uncanny ability to make you laugh all day long. Maybe it's the mullet she's had since birth, the gummy grin (which is starting to blossom with teeth), or her serious smirks, but whatever it is, we can't get enough. Although Myla Grace was a complete surprise, we can't imagine life without her. She is absolutely Ava's little buddy (whom Ava affectionately calls, 'the little one,' 'Mywa Grace,' and 'Mah-la.'), Amy's cuddle bug, Matt's giggling partner, and the most beautiful little blessing.

Harper Lee was born at 3:28 PM on May 31, 2013. Also arriving 3 weeks early, Harper weighed in at a hefty 6 lbs, 15 ounces and was 19.5 inches long. From the moment she entered this world, Harper has been the happiest, calmest, smiley-est {if that's even a word}, sweetest, and easiest baby we've ever had. She NEVER cries and is so incredibly easy going...to the point that I thought something was wrong with her. And unlike her big sisters, Harper has always been on the tiny side of small. After several rounds of tests when she was 6-months old to make sure she didn't have any development or growth problems, the Doctors came to the conclusion that she is just going to be "petite." So despite being in the 5th percentile for her age, our precious Harper girl is absolutely perfect as the tiny little package that she is. Oh, and did I mention that she is the BEST eater in our family? This sweet girl can mow through food like a 10yr old! I am a believer in miracles and Harper further confirms my faith. Her existence is a pure miracle (not to mention an ultimate surprise) and we thank God all the time for giving her to us. We thought our hearts were complete but we had no idea how big of holes we had until she joined our lives. Her laughter, giggles, rambling babbles, smiles, and 2-finger sucking are constant reminders that we are recipients of so much undeserved grace. At 21-months old, Harper's favorite things are cats (she calls them "nows"--her way of saying meow), dogs ("uf-ufs"), Ava ("aw-buh"), and balloons ("boons").