Christmas 2008

This year we had a full house! My parents and sister and brother-in-law drove in on Christmas Eve and Joe's parents joined us all on Christmas afternoon. Somehow, with 8 adults, a baby and a dog, we all managed to stay sane and happy! There was much food enjoyed by all - and more sweets that many of us are still enjoying! Lots of presents and (hopefully) a good time was had by all! Thanks to Karen for taking such great photos!

Christmas Baby

The happy family

With Grandad

Flying baby!

Talking with Great Granny on the phone


Who needs presents when there are bows?

With her new musical instrument and baby pram.

One of the many Etsy purchases

Name tag

Table greenery

Wine glass

From the iPhone: out and about and at home

Had a busy weekend around the house and out and about. To prepare for a household of people this weekend, we spent some time cleaning the house and making room. The pantry is organized, the bonus room is ready for Karen and Pern (well, more ready than it was yesterday morning), the first floor is a little less cluttered.

After Ava refused to nap in the afternoon, we decided to all head to Michaels and Target for a few things. Had some hot apple cider at Starbucks (my only of the season - it's yummy but sooo sweet) and picked up things to make name cards for the table. Came home, ate dinner, put the babe to bed and then watched "Run Fat Boy, Run" - pretty funny!

Sunday was much the same but with a little less cleaning involved. We decided to go out to lunch today as it was the first day since all having the plague that we felt we wanted to pay to eat out and would actually enjoy it. Off to Mimi's Cafe and then to the grocery store and back to Michaels for a tin for cookies. They had none. Drove around for a while and were very quiet as Ava fell fast asleep in the car before we even got to the store. Guess that'll teach her to refuse a nap in the morning. Or maybe not!

We're only hoping for a full night's sleep tonight. We get most of that each night but for the past week or so, 5:30 has been deemed the new 7am... but is greeted with screaming. It's almost like a baby night terror (although those aren't supposed to start until around age 3), but whatever it is, listening to a grumbly baby at 5:30 - 7 is no fun. Unfortunately it's not a bad habit that we can stop. We just go to bed hoping...

Waiting for lunch at Mimi's

Sleeping baby

A very bad hair day

Ava on Facebook

I think I need to get Ava her own Facebook page. Today's status would be:

Ava thinks oatmeal tastes like stinky feet!

Dale is sighing a big defeated-breakfast sigh.

Friday morning

Handmade dress

One year check up

Seems I birthed a long skinny baby. 31" long (97th percentile!) and 20lbs 9oz (50th percentile).

Got the go ahead for all food groups except nuts; was told to introduce real milk in the sippy cup so that when I decide to wean from nursing, Ava will take the milk from the sippy cup and not refuse it because "sippy cups have only been for water and juice." Makes sense. Right now the milk sippy cup is sitting on the floor. Ava's not a focused drinker; she prefers to drink on the go and revisit any sippy cup she has laying around. Won't work so well with milk, I'm afraid.

She had two shots and so far has shown no ill effect. She ate lunch and is now playing with a baby bundt pan on the kitchen floor.

Ran into Wal-Mart on the way home (probably the 12th level of hell compared to Joe's 6th level of hell: Babies-R-Us). Got buttons and ribbon to finish the dress I was hoping to make Ava for her birthday. It's now a Christmas dress!

Best get cracking if I want the dress to fit her by the time she actually wears it!

With the Christmas Card of Joy

Ava with her new found favorite toy - a Christmas card from our friends Carrie, Simeon and Ana out in Portland, OR. It's the only thing that keeps her entertained long enough to get her diaper changed.

A sweet keepsake

While browsing on etsy.com last week, I found a vendor with goods for sale that were just beautiful. Simple, elegant and earthy. I knew I had to get something from her. I decided on a thin bracelet made from wood, personalized with text of my choosing. Her examples were inspirational (things like: "You are loved" and "Change the world") but I settled on something a little more personal for me - and hopefully one day for Ava as well.

"But how loud is a lion?"

Her first word, aside from Dada and Mama (and the other assorted sounds babies make first) was "lion" - ok, so she doesn't quite have the "l" or the "n" sound down but when we ask her to say lion, she says it. The quote comes from one of her favorite books: How Loud is a Lion by Clare Beaton. When we ask her to find the lion, she makes a beeline to her book bin and promptly pulls it out. We're still working on the "ROARRRRR!" sound but for now the "IO" sound she proudly makes will keep making us smile!

Happy 1st Birthday, my sweet girl!



See more from Paloma's Nest. The bracelet came nestled in a little nest, wrapped up in a little box with a fabric 'thank you' tag and a bow. Beautiful!

Read more How Loud is a Lion and the Books for Africa project.

Big smiles

Video: Stinky feet!

Birthday party!

Happy Birthday, little girl!

From the iPhone: out and about and at home

Ava kisses - nice and slobbery, but the sweetest thing!
Fighting a nap - Joe took this photo. Guess he needs to be connected to the world at all times!
Musically inclined - ever since visiting with Devin and playing with his musical toys, Ava has taken an interest in toys that play music, music in restaurants and Joe's guitar.
Snacktime at the coffee shop.

Little buddies

I borrowed this photo from Cate's blog - here's Ava clapping while playing with Devin.

Picnic pictures

Taken a few weekends ago during a picnic lunch.

Happy 11 months

From the iPhone: out and about and at home