A week of firsts....

Ava has had a big week of firsts! On Monday Ava started day care. We were happy to get into a center that is literally one block from our apartment. The first day was seemingly easy for Ava as she went right to the teacher and seemed pretty happy. Mama, on the other hand, was a complete mess! The next day Ava had figured out that Alan and I would be away all day and she was crying and reaching out for me. So sad, but I know it is just a part of growing up and a reality for our family that Ava is in day care. I am happy to report that by the week's end, Ava was happy all day and I can tell she is really starting to bond with her teachers. Kids are amazingly adaptable!

The other big first this week was Ava's first taste of cereal. On Saturday we got all the necessary feeding accessories...a high chair, spoons, and bowls. Although these are common to our daily living, it was very fun to pick out Ava's special feeding things. I think Ava enjoyed her first couple of tastes of cereal, or at least the breast milk it was mixed in. It may be a bit longer before she is eating large quantities of solid foods, but she is definitely close to being ready.

We took some video of Ava's first cereal, but are currently having some technical difficulties. Hopefully it will work for the next post. Here are a few photos from our week...

Ava has a pretty petite head so all of the hats are way too big. Thanks to our friend Amanda to figuring out how to keep the hat on her head and allow Ava to still see!

It may be hard to see here, but the hat is somewhere between a cowboy hat and something from the Outback. 

 

 

 

Headed out for a walk with Daddy

Super cool in my shades...

We are trying to acquaint Ava with her high chair by having a bit of play time.

Hey, where's the food?

Happy 4 Months Baby Girl!

We can hardly believe that Ava is already four months old! Today she had her 4 month check up and she is really healthy. Ava now weighs 11 pounds 14 ounces and is 25.5 inches long. She is such a little string bean. Ava loves to stand and to take a few steps- with assistance of course. Her core strength is pretty amazing as she hangs out in boat pose quite a bit and is now more comfortable sitting up. We are looking forward to her increasing mobility, starting some solid foods, and of course more chatting. Ava has recently mastered the squeal and may have a future singing opera based on the pitch she is able to reach :)

Ava is so long!

Hello Sweet Girl!

Stories from the Big Sky Country

We had a fabulous trip to Montana to see friends and family and to continue the "Ava Parade". Ava did remarkably well with traveling and meeting all sorts of new people. We had a great time attending family parties, my cousin's wedding, and Ava's baptism. Ava also experienced her first forest fire which was located just outside of Helena. Although thousands of acres burned and 4 houses were lost, we are thankful that no one was hurt. I think I'll let the photos do the rest of the talking...

Good Morning Smiles!

Oh so pretty in her fancy dress.

Hanging out with GGMa

Ava and her godmother Jen

Three generations-Nana, GGMa, and Ava

Ava's baptism

Receiving chrism on her head

A blessing for Ava

Ava and Grandparents at the baptism

Ava and one set of godparents- Jen and Gus...We missed her other godparents Steve and Amanda!

Happy little family

Bath time! Ava loves all of it from splashing in the water to being wrapped up like a "burrito baby"

Ava reading her favorite book. I love how she holds onto it!

Ava practicing some tummy time at Mother Baby hour.

We love you so much Ava!

Our good friend Lil

Waiting at the airport to go to Montana

Cuddling with GGMa

Yummy hand

Ava is one cool little girl in her shades

  

Hanging out with Grandpa Kerry in the back yard

Check out the flowers...

Oh so interesting!

More flowers to check out

Auntie Steph is sure good at relaxing me

Hanging out with Grandma Ivy

Ava meets her cousin Juniper for the first time

Ava and great-grandma carol

Ava has many funny little faces. I often thing she looks like Cindy Lou Who from How the Grinch Stole Christmas

Sitting up so big and tall!

Enjoying some tummy time

Mommy and Me

The big excitement for this week is that Ava got a Wubbanub...what is a Wubbanub you ask? Basically it is a pacifier attached to a beanie baby and Ava LOVES it. It is funny that just a few weeks ago she would hardly touch a pacifier and now she definitely has learned of the soothing nature of sucking on a paci.

Ava is talking more and more every day. She is getting a wide range of coos and ahhs and sounds that seem to indicate joy, frustration, contentment, and sometimes is sounds like she is just chiming into the conversation. 

Lots of pictures of Ava this week and finally a few pictures of Mommy and Ava! A big thank you to my friend Masarah for her pictures.

Without planning, Ava has a collection of giraffe toys. Here she is playing with two of them and trying to decide which one is better to chew on :)

Ava loves talking to her little lamb! Although sometimes the lamb gets in her personal space and Ava gets a bit frustrated trying to get the lamb away. Check out this series of pictures...

 

Just hanging out...

and now we're done hanging out!

Ava and Mama at coffee

Sweet little feet

Ahhh, a little hand.

Ava got to meet Bucky at a graduation party this weekend. Go Badgers!