There's Something Stuck to Ava's Mower

Ava has been going through the stage where she wants to be pushed or pulled around the house. It all started with the playmat and has moved to the mower. While she thinks riding is hysterical, we think the pictures are even better.

Magic Carpet Rides

Who says that a playmat is only for babies who play on their backs? Here's Ava's new favorite use for it...

Needless to say, she wears us out pulling her around the house.

The Bottom of the Hole

Well, it seems as if I'm at the bottom of a really really deep hole called 'Blog Hell' and I'm not sure how I'm ever going to get out of it. The past few months have been really busy and I haven't had a chance to update this blog since June. Yes, June. I'm going to try to update it as quickly as possible since so much has happened since my last post. There are a few posts that I never finished, so I'll try to update those first. Ava has changed so much...it's unbelievable.

Although I don't know where to start or how to even begin, I guess I'm taking the first step--realizing that I'm at the bottom and that I need to figure out a way to get out of the hole that I've dug for myself. So, please be patient...it's going to take a while! But, it'll be worth it, I promise!

My Two Cents...

I know, I know, I know...I have about a whole month's worth of fun things, pictures, and videos of our little opossum to put on this blog--and I promise it's coming. I'm just really behind and haven't had the time to post anything. Anyhow, I came across this website and I think it's just great. I've been telling Matt that I wish there were something like it on the Internet (I've only known about websites that help track the best price for jet fuel, not automobile petrol) and low and behold, there is. So, check it out before you head to the pump. We could all use to save a few cents...

www.gasbuddy.com

Just input your zip code into the search box at the top center of the page and voila...the best (lowest) gas prices for regular, mid-grade, premium, and diesel in your area appear on the screen! It's glorious.

I've also put this website over on my side bar as a link, just in case you forget it.

Tired Girl

It all started after our day at the driving range on May 31st. The sun had exhausted poor little Ava so much, so as soon as we got home, we put her down for a much needed nap. About an hour into her nap, Matt came running into the kitchen telling me that I needed to go check on Ava. This is what I saw...

May 31, 2008

Then, a few days later she did it again when going to bed for the night...

June 2, 2008

And then a few days later, it happened again during one of her naps...

June 4, 2008

As you can see, there seems to be a pattern developing...

June 6, 2008

It is just hilarious to go check on Ava and find her sleeping like this. The only thing that Matt and I can figure is that while playing with her blankets and animals in her crib, she just gets so tired that she falls asleep sitting up and her body goes forward. It pains us to see her neck in that position, so after snapping the pictures we lay her down on her back to sleep comfortably. We catch her in this position every couple of days, so we've come to assume that she doesn't mind sleeping so awkwardly. She's just so darn precious.

Trip to the Orchard

On Thursday, June 5th, Matt and I took Ava on her first tip to an orchard. I know you're probably thinking, 'An orchard in Las Vegas?' and don't worry, we thought the same thing. Earlier that week while watching the news, we heard a snippet about a small local orchard finally opening back up to the public for the season. After doing a bit of research to find out more about the orchard, we found out that it happened to be about 10 minutes from our house! So, in accordance to Matt's and my goal to give Ava Holt as many life experiences as possible, we loaded up the Camry and headed to the Gilcrease Orchard (the cool weather (low 80's) was an added bonus).

Right now, the only things that we could pick were apricots and zucchini. The rest of their crops (apples, pears, tomatoes, melons, winter squash, and pumpkins) aren't ready to be picked just yet. When we got to the orchard, it was packed with cars and people. I'm not sure if it was due to the nice weather or the fact that the orchard had just re-opened two days prior, but it was full of people...not what we were expecting. Since we didn't really need any zucchini, we stuck to the apricot picking.

The reason Matt was able to go with us was because he was night flying that evening and didn't have to go in to work until around 3pm (he didn't get home until 5am the next morning!). Both Ava and I were so excited that he could go with us.

Anyhow, we had a great time out in the orchard. Ava had a blast sitting on top of her Daddy's shoulders touching all the different trees and leaves and even managed to pull a ripe apricot off the tree all by herself. Matt opened up a few apricots for Ava to try (no skin, just the flesh) and she wasn't quite sure what to think about the new treat. Her outfit was a bit stained by the end of the picking, but we didn't care...it was a great life and family experience. I can't wait until all the other fruits and vegetables ripen and we can return to the orchard. As for the nature of the fruits and vegetables, the orchard only uses garlic water to deter insects, so they're pesticide free...which makes me happy.
Oh, and as we went to leave the orchard, Ava tried to drive us home. It didn't work out so well...she couldn't reach the pedals...

Ava and the Diaper Cake

Now that Ava's mobile, we forget that there are things down on her level that she can get into. In this instance, it was the diaper cake that was given to us when she was born...

Big Girl Pram

On May 30th, we finally converted Ava's bassinet into a big girl seat for her pram. Now that she's mobile, having her sitting up in her bassinet isn't so safe anymore, so Ava said her bye-byes to her bassinet and hellos to her new seat. The main reason it has taken us this long to convert her bassinet into her seat is because Ava has really loved being able to play in her bassinet and then when tired, lay down and play (or sleep).

Here is a picture of Ava during her LAST ride in her bassinet (on the 29th)...

And here she is during her FIRST ride in her big girl seat...