CELEBRATING AVA'S 3RD BIRTHDAY!

My beautiful girl turned 3 on May 28th! She is now 23 3/4 lbs and 34.64 inches tall. That is up 1 3/4 lbs and over 2inches from 6 months ago! Still in a size 4-5 shoe and 18-24 month clothes(mostly 18months) but her pants are starting to look like "floods"!
Her three most favorite things are still: jumping, climbing and music, in that order...so mommy's presents were chosen with this in mind.
Her favorite word right now is "No", this started about two weeks ago and is repeated a million times a day!
If she is a "good listener" she gets a sticker...seems to be working pretty well so far...keeping my fingers crossed!
Ava loves to sing, anywhere and everywhere...you didn't know you would be serenaded to "Mary had a little lamb" while you did your grocery shopping , did you!
She's really into counting right now...can only count to 10 so far but actually understands the concept of numbers...she will constantly ask for 5 or ten of everything from number of marshmallows for peeing in the potty to the number of stones in the driveway. If I ask her if she wants some crackers while driving in the car and she says 5, I'll pass her back a couple but she'll keep her hand out until I actually place 5 in her hand. Cheeky little thing isn't she!

Play kitchen from Nana and Papa

Opening more presents

Her Playschool MP3 Player(recommendation from Tiffany and Eliza's blog)

Panda I made with recorded message from "Build a Bear"

Ava and her Birthday Balloons

First taste of her Birthday Cake

Finger licking good

I think she likes it

Wearing the cake decorations

My Happy Girl

AVA'S BIRTHDAY PRESENTS FROM MOMMY!

Since Ava's three most favorite things are still: Jumping, Climbing and Music, these were Mommy's choices for birthday presents. ( Also great choices for the sensory seeking child)



I got the idea for the trampoline from Maissie and Lisa's blog. She had video of Maissie on her trampoline having so much fun...and I knew Ava would love it too. It's an indoor trampoline so I set it up in my laundry room, so Ava can bounce away while I do the wash and fold laundry.


I also got her this play yard as she loves to climb and slide, likes the swings too but really loves the slide! I need to recruit my brother and father to help with the assembly. Will post pics when we get it up and functional.



As music is one of her favorite things, when I saw Tiffany and Eliza post how wonderful this MP3 Player was, I called my friend in Naples, Florida to see if she could bring me one when she came to visit in May as they are not available at the Toys r Us in Canada yet.
Thanks for the suggestion Tiffany...Ava loves it. Now I have to load all her Dan Zanes music onto it.

I think she likes it...what do you think?

More Jumping

Trampoline

BIRTHDAY GIRL!!!

My girl turns 3 today!

Nail Polish....she's hooked!

REMEMBERING AVA'S BIRTHMOTHER

For Ava's Birthmother !

I will forever be grateful to Ava's Birthmother for choosing Life and giving me such a precious gift! Tonight we started a tradition (from Alison and Mali's Blog) of lighting a candle in honour of Ava's Birthmother.

Today, of all days, I especially find myself thinking of Ava's Birthmother and how hard it must have been to let her go. Ava will always have two mothers; the one who gave her Life and the one who gave her a home. Loved by both, just differently.

I love you Ava, more than words can express! Always and Forever!

MOTHER'S DAY 2008

Mother's Day 2008


Ava and Mama, Mother's Day 2008


Ava's gifts for mommy, made at daycare.



Ava's gift for mommy made at preshool.




My Mom, Ava and I.
We spent a few hours with my mom today for a barbecue lunch.
Mom, I don't tell you enough how much I love you and appreciate all you do for me.
I am especially thankful for all the help you give me with Ava, she just adores you!



For Ava's Birthmother !

I wanted to plant something with Ava in remberance of her Birthmother.

I went to the garden centre looking for a Chinese Lily to plant and when I passed this plant the aroma stopped me in my tracks. It has such a beautiful scent and the flowers were quite attractive also. When I looked at the name on the tag I was shocked to see it was called a "Chinese Wisteria"...had never heard of it before...I took it as a sign that this was the plant we were looking for...never did find a Chinese Lily!

3 Word Sunday!

Mastered the Straw!!

Until Ava had her palate repaired in December she was physically unable to suck.(Cannot produce suction if your palate is wide open) I've tryed many times since then to get her to use a straw...but I guess after having to bite on a nipple to get fluids for the first 2.5 years of her life...it was going to take some time to learn how to suck.

Today while we were shopping in Walmart she grabbed my cup of diet coke out of the cart and proceeded to drink it...from the straw! I was shocked to see the coke move up the straw...she just all of a sudden got it! Now she doesn't want to drink anything without a straw.

Her ability to purse her lips together and suck will also do wonders for her speech therapy! She will now be able to direct the flow of air more precisely when forming certain sounds.

FELL!

Fell...out of her crib today!


Other than nap time Ava is in my bed...but I will on occasion, when she wakes up early and I've been on the late shift the night before, put her back in her crib with a half dozen books and a cup of cherrios so Mama can get a much needed additional hour sleep.
She is usually quite happy to sit there with her snack and read "Boo" her books...not this morning...I was barely back to bed and heard a THUD! It didn't take me 30 seconds to get into her room...she was already standing beside the crib whaling!
She has never as much as raised her foot to the crib rail before...so don't know what possessed her to climb out today. She must have rubbed her nose on the wood rails coming down as this "rug burn" type of abbrasion showed up on her nose an hour or so later.


This crib is now history!



Ava's new "Big Girl" bed!(not as far to fall)




Trying out her new bed at nap time





She always falls asleep in my arms in the rocking chair before nap...so not sure how this new bed thing is going to work out if I actually start her in the bed before she's asleep...any hints on how to keep them in the bed!...when there are no barriers to keep them there.






Reading "Boo" a book after her nap!

3 Word Sunday!

FOREVER FAMILY DAY!!!

Together One Year Today!!!