2 Year Appointment and Stats

Ava had her two year check up today. Of course she's still long and lean :)

Weight: 25lbs 8oz. 50%
Height: 36 inches 97%

She is predicted to be 5'8" or 5'9" as an adult.

I felt like a terrible mommy because I didn't think she was going to get shots this time. I told her all the way there that she was not getting a shot, only to find out that she was getting a shot, a flu mist AND a blood draw. She'll never trust me again :( The good news is she got a giant elmo sticker to put on her leg after her shot. As we were walking out she was putting on the biggest show limping and telling me her "leg hurt, tell daddy leg hurt"

She looks great and Dr. Finnila said that she is a very strong willed little girl (tell me something I don't know!)

Ava's 2nd Birthday

Click here to view these pictures larger

Happy Birthday Doodlebug!

2 years ago today the good Lord blessed our lives with our beautiful little girl.  She is our pride, our joy, our love, our everything. 

 

Happy Birthday Ava!!!

Ava's last week as a 1 year old!

Ava’s 2^nd year of life has been even more exciting and rewarding than the first.  I thank God everyday for giving me the opportunity to be her mommy and for making her such a sweet, bossy, spirited, healthy and vibrant little girl.  I often wonder what I found rewarding before Ava arrived?  Okay maybe romantic vacations, date nights and sleeping in!  ha-ha.

 

A brief summary of Ava’s 2^nd year:

 

Ava started school in the height of swine flu season and survived without more than a mere cold from time to time.  Her first two weeks was dreadful, but she quickly learned to love school and has learned so much!!!  She has a structured day, she gets to play with friends and knows all of her classmates names and who their mommies and daddies are.  She’s learned her numbers in English and Spanish (she can count from 7-10, and knows all of her even #’s from 2-4 LOL!), her colors, some Spanish words, and some of her letters.  She has learned all kinds of songs and how to take a nap like a good girl.  We couldn’t be happier with our choice of schools and love her teachers.  We were very scared and nervous that we were making the wrong decision, so we are happy that everything turned out so well for her.

 

She has moved twice, been to the Deer Lease with Daddy, been to Las Vegas and been a flower girl in “Ceeya’s” wedding.

 

Just a few tidbits of what she learned this year:

 

To talk – especially the word no!

To drink whole milk from a sippy cup

To feed herself with a spoon or fork

How to order the dogs around

Pee and pooh in the potty

When mommy kisses a boo-boo it makes it all better

Daddy is a sucker and is easily manipulated

Time out is not fun

Riding in the car isn’t so bad as long as the air is up and the DVD is going.

People other than mommy and daddy aren’t so scary, especially older kids

We buy milk and juice at the store

Please, thank you, you’re welcome

What a Birthday is

Elmo is the best thing since breast milk with super why and Gabba coming in a close 2^nd.

Most Animals and their sounds (even a flamingo and a zebra)

 

We are busy preparing for her 2^nd birthday party, which I’m hoping we can pull off a little easier than her first!  She is having an Elmo & Abby Birthday party and is very excited about it.   

We are now in the "wear boots with EVERYTHING" phase

Ava loves her boots and puts them on all the time! I put sandals on her and she says "no sandals mommy, Boots!" I think she likes them because she can put them on all by herself. I giggle everytime she puts them on the wrong feet. tee hee

 

 

 

 

Angels for Aidan

Here is the website for Aidan McSpadden.

www.angelsforaidan.com

Steve, Emily and I all had the honor of donating blood and joining the Marrow registry for him on Thursday. The Blood registry staff told us that they had TRIPLE the amount of donors than they usually do. I was so happy to hear that. You can follow Aidan’s journey on his parents blog posted on the website. I should not have looked at the pictures at work because seeing him being such a big boy at the hospital while getting his Chemo treatments made me cry at my desk. My heart hurts for him and his parents. Please pray for him and his family as he has a tough journey ahead.

Also if you would like to donate but are afraid of donating Marrow….I bet you didn’t know that it isn’t what you see on TV. Most marrow donations are collected via a regular blood draw from your arm now! They rarely have to do a draw from your back, but if they did they will put you to sleep! All you will have is a sore back for a day or two. The guy from the Marrow registry said it is really hard to find marrow matches L I pray they find one for Aidan.

Why we keep Ava rear facing...

Steve and I both have received numerous inquiries (and funny looks) about why in the heck we still have Ava rear facing in her car seat when she is clearly over the age of 1. Our answer is because of the facts that our pediatrician drilled into our heads and from seeing and hearing about things like the video below. With us driving her back and forth from Cypress on the freeway every day, we are even more paranoid and worried about her safety. So in case you too are wondering, this is why: