Time Flys and Summers Gone

So many things have happened since our last post. We went to the Gillespie Country Fair in Fredricksburg, visited Aunt Ludy in Santa Anna, helped Aunt Hayde and Uncle Chris move back to Texas and started walking! Well with her walker anyway, but that's walking!

So at the Gillespie County Fair Ava got to see roosters, pot belly pigs, sheep, goats, baby cows, and the biggest bull ever! She loved the animals but the merry-go-round was her favorite part so she rode it 3 times. There were also horse races which would have been more fun but it was very hot that day so we only saw one run. They went by so fast Ava hardly saw what they were but since the fair she knows exactly what a horsey says.

Sprouty also got to visit Aunt Ludy Jane in Santa Anna where she met her pet goat, Martha. Did we mention she loves animals?! Aunt Hayden of course brought Lucy and Moto the cats so Ava had a ball chasing them around the new house in Roundrock. Lucy actually gave in at one point and let Ava pet her! The cats weren't the only interesting thing in the house. Sprouty loves her little cousin Jack! She was very sweet and wanted to share her book with him. She also tried sharing her juice, her pacifier, toys and anything she could find on the floor. You can see she is Jackson's favorite cousin.

Then there was this walking business! One day she just up and took off! You can see in her video she is already moving at the speed of turtle so we all know what's next. RABBIT! Good thing Chris and I need some exercise because were going to be running for the next few years.

Happy Birthday Ava!

Ava had the best birthday a one year old could ever have! All her friends and family came to play, eat and witness the cake mess and since pictures are worth 1000 words (and I don't want to type that many) here is a slide show of her birthday party!

Thank you to everyone who made it and I have to say I could not have pulled it off without Heather, Jay, Daniel, Darren, Jennifer, Mimi, and Grandma! You guys are the best and I will remember that next year when we get ready for Ava's 2nd birthday!

Ava traveled East

Oh my goodness where to begin?! Last Monday Ava and I took off to the Big-D to prepare for our trip to see Hayden, Chris and Jackson. We had errands to run and people to see so Ava was almost worn out by the time we were heading to the airport on Wednesday. I have to say I have no idea how single parents would ever travel by themselves! Heather was a GIGANTIC help and I am absolutely positively sure Ava and I would not have made it without her. To start the trip we had the stroller, car seat, 2 big check-in bags and 2 carry-on bags each. (Let's just say on the way home somehow our suitcases grew.)Ava was very interested in all the new people at the airport and enjoyed waving and talking to everyone. Thank goodness on the 1st flight we were able to save a whole row of seats so Ava could have her own. She enjoyed crawling back and forth between me and Heather so when we had to share our row she was not very excited. She liked looking out the window, but after a while the plane hummed her to sleep so the rides were pretty relaxing.

At both Aunt Heather's and Aunt Hayden's she had stairs to climb and boy she did. Every time you put her down she would run for the stairs! It was amazing how fast she got by the end of the trip. She would be up the stairs in seconds where as the first few times it took her a little bit. Ava loved Moto and Fat Lucy but I'm pretty sure they did not love her quite as much. Although Moto grew braver over the week she was still not convinced Ava was not going to hurt her. The cats were also the cause of so many trips up the stairs because they just thought they could hide from her under the bed, but I guess she's just too smart for them.

We tried to take Ava to the beach one day, but we happened to pick the day it rained. So instead we took her for a ride with a dinosaur. She loved it! We didn't even have to put quarters in it she just wanted to sit and steer. I don't think she wanted to share the car though because she kept trying to push the T-Rex out.

We had lots of fun in Delaware with baby Jackson and in a few years him and Ava will be into everything, but so far she was not real interested in him. She mostly just wanted to trade pacifiers and take his toys. Jackson does have some pretty cool toys though.

After all was said and done Aunt Hayden taught Ava a new dance and Aunt Heather had her sticking her tongue out at everyone on the plane. She grew a mile while we were gone and I'm told her hair is getting thicker although I can't really see it. I know we are both very glad to be home and even more happy Jackson is moving just 2 hours away! We can't wait!

Brownwood Rodeo

As you all know Ava will one day be a Rodeo Queen so she can ride around the arena looking pretty and waving at everyone. She is destined to at least love horses because she wasn't at all afraid to sit up on these 8 foot Clydesdale's. (They were probably more around 7 feet for those who are counting)
To celebrate the rodeo in Brownwood there is a big city parade with all the Queens, clowns, cheerleaders, high school band, and this guy. Of course next year he will have some stiff competition since we have already started planning the family float!

Country Girl

This week Ava mowed Mimi's lawn. (She loves to mow!) And then took Mimi for a spin in Papa Keith's big truck. She is definitely going to be a country girl.

Ava's Daily

I just wanted to document a day in the life of Ava. She doesn't realize it now but later she will be able to see she had it pretty good as a baby. Well I imagine as long as there are grandma's and Mimi's in her life she will continue to have it fantastic for as long as she will remember.

So in the mornings we get up and going with some Cheerios. Of course when I say we I mean Ava and Mekah since she's figured out throwing them on the floor makes dog come over. After breakfast there is play time where Sprout crawls all over the house getting into things she is not supposed to. She has definitely figured out what the word "no" means and is starting to find out how she can get around it. I think she has also realized not everything she finds on the floor is good to eat. After snacking on a few rocks and clumps of dirt she is now just handing them to me. Pretty helpful if you think about it.

After play time it is of course nap time when we change the channel to CMT Pure Music and lay on the couch together. She slowly drifts off and will usually manage about a 2 hour nap as long as I lay next to her and cuddle. After nap then it is time to eat again. Usually a hot dog for lunch but if we're lucky we sometimes get leftovers from the night before. As you can see in her video hot dogs are pretty fantastic. After lunch there is more play. Then after more play there is "Daddy's Home!" She usually insists dad hold her for at least 30 minutes before he can do anything else. Then after they bond the chase is on. It's all about chasing Daddy and Dog wherever they go. It's not too long after that we start the getting ready for bed rituals.

Bath time has become so fun its turned to the phase where it's never time to get out. She crawls back and forth, sticks her face in the water, throws toys over board, splashes and just has a good time. Then after bath it's off to the rocking chair to be smoothed to sleep. It usually doesn't take long for those heavy lids to close and drool to start pouring out. So you see she has it pretty good, not a care in the world. As it should be for Grandma's only granddaughter and Mimi's only grandchild.

Panhandle with a BANG!

Ava and I drove up to Panhandle to visit Murr and Dandy for the holiday this past weekend. We visited friends and saw family, got a drug store coke, ate some La Fiesta and managed to sneak in Taco Villa a few times. Ava loved getting to crawl to some new places and hang out with other kiddos. Jayden was very helpful trying to teach Baby A to put on her shoes and catch a ball. Neither of them got it down yet, but by next year they will be thick as thieves! We managed to make it by the Panhandle City pool for a dip and Sprout just watched Rylee and Aiden swim all over the pool. You can tell she's ready to be out there adventuring with them.

To celebrate the 4th all the kids dressed up in proper red, white and blue to go watch the traditional parade on Main Street. Dandy rode in the veterans float, Pokey the Rodeo Clown drove his funny car, and Rylee drove her Escalade we decorated for her. Ava and I even got our toes into the patriotic spirit! I would have to say the best part of the parade was of course the horses! Sprout couldn't get enough of them! We definitely have an animal lover on our hands. After the parade and festivities at the court house it was time for a long nap before the fireworks started.

We went over to Jennifer's house for BBQ and music both of which were excellent! Ava tried some grilled bologna for the 1st time and didn't think it was all that bad. After her big feast she was lulled to sleep by the band, but quickly woke up when it was time for the show! She ohhhhed and awwwwed at the sparkles in the sky and loved to point at them to make sure we were all looking. Ava's first 4th of July celebration I have to say was a success. She saw horses, watched fireworks, ate new interesting things, played with new friends, and got to be held by both her great grand-parents. Of course after all that excitement mommy's little firecracker was all tuckered out.