Merry Christmas!

8 Month Photo Shoot

This face cracks me up. Maybe she is feeling her eight teeth. (EIGHT.)

This Week In Pictures...

Family outing to the mall. She was into the carousel. I'll be honest, the second one is just to show how cute her outfit is. :)

Spent the night with Aunt Ann or as Ava calls it "Dog Heaven". She has yet to see a dog that doesn't make her laugh.

Went to lunch with our friend Meimei. There is really no posing when there are two 8 mnth olds involved!

Good Morning.

How she greets us when we go to get her now. Leaves me little hope of her going back to sleep. :)

Won't you be my neighbor

It's hard to find people you like anywhere in life, much less right across the street! A few shots of the neighbors we love!

The Sheriff in town...

I just have to say to all the people who said how greatly our dog would fall in the ranks once the baby was born, you were wrong. We have the most cuddly, loyal, patient, friendly, patient dog on the planet. We love him more today than any day before Ava was born! He is always within six to twelve inches of Ava...despite the abuse. I'm so thankful for our other child. :)

Sick Weekend...

Checking out the fireplace with Daddy...and amused, even though she had a 102 degree temperature!! (Yeah, it's 80 out-we're pretending, ok?!)

Many of you don't know her, but she really hasn't laid her head on our shoulders since she was probably 3 or 4 months old! She is not a cuddler-she's a mover (energy courtesy of mark and wilma dekorne, not me!!)! So-we could tell how sick she was. Mark wouldn't let me use the flash in the last one. They were dancing together and it put her right to sleep.

Grandpa's Birthday!

Grandpa and Opa both had birthdays this week. Wish we could have been in Connecticut to celebrate both! I don't usually write much with these things...but I do feel like I should say a few things about my dad/parents. I just am humbled and amazed every time I am with them at their generosity and kindness. My parents would truly give us the shirts off their backs if they thought we wanted or needed them. I know this, in general, is the nature of being a parent. But college educations, letting Mark and I live with them, fixing us meals, Grandma providing new clothes and toys in abundance for Ava...it is so touching. I guess especially so because my parents have never been swimming in money. They have never had much-but always tried to slip me a 20 dollar bill even when they really needed it. I often ask how I can thank, repay, etc. and the reply is ALWAYS-"just do the same for your kids". We never want anything. Just do it for your kids. So here is my kid. :) She is blessed to have such a great legacy...and I hope I can instill that generosity in her as well!

An oldie, but a goodie

This was way back in June...and Ava won't sleep ANYWHERE but her crib now, but it was fun while it lasted. This was one of my favorite pictures. :)

It's black, it's white...

That way you can't see the sweet potato stains on her onesie. :)

Really???

Changed her diaper, washed my hands, and came back to find her up like this. Then threw her down and made her do it again for the camera. :) Also, found her sixth tooth. Maybe the next picture I add will be her eating an apple!

Thanksgiving...

Baby's best friend, too

If you would have told me that my dog and child would be best friends in a matter of six months I wouldn't have believed you. We are so blessed with a dog who gets his hair pulled, used for a chew toy, and multiple other types of abuse with absolutely no complaints. I guess it makes up for all the bottles he's destroyed. These are not the best photographic works, but I love how it shows their daily tug of war in progress.