two years

Mike and I have been together for two years. Wow. So much has happened in that short time, I'm not even sure where to begin. I'll make it easy on myself and everyone involved by leaving it at this: I love him more and more every single day. Thank you for being you, babe. 

squinty eyes

Ava loves her crib. She absolutely loves it. After her naps, she'll turn on her belly and play with her bunny or scratch at the bumper. I'll walk in, surprise her, and we'll play this little game of peek-a-boo through the crib rails. I love the way her little squinty eyes, all smiles, peek over the top of the crib.

rice cereal aka "nastiest stuff i have ever tasted"

Mike and I finally, FINALLY started feeding Ava rice cereal. Yay! Her first solid food! I have to admit, it wasn't a disaster, but it was one of the funniest things I have ever seen. Oh man, the faces this child makes are absolutely priceless. I have to agree with her obvious distaste, the stuff is pretty bad. And when I say "pretty bad", what I really mean is even if you offered me $100,000 I wouldn't touch it with a ten-foot pole. Yes, it's really that bad.

toofers

Ava sprouted two little chompers on her bottom gums probably about a month and a half ago (so what, 4 1/2 months?). Poor little babe cut them within two days of each other, and boy, did my heart feel for her. I cannot wait until her teething misery is over. 

As excited as I was that she grew herself some teeth, it was nearly impossible to get a picture of them. It was nearly impossible to even see them in person, for that matter. The second I'd touch her mouth to get a good look at them she'd stick her tongue out at me or try to suck my finger. So naturally, when I stumbled across this photo (that Mike must have taken), I was surprised and elated to have proof of her teeth! 

Geez, that smile.

I just finished the Twilight Series, and let me tell you, I have never been so depressed while finishing a book. I hastily read through Breaking Dawn in about a day and only towards the end did I realize that this is really, truly the end. The end of knowing what will happen of Edward's and Bella's forever. Perhaps it is because the story implies that they do indeed last forever that I am so sad. I wish I could read, forever and ever, of their happily ever immortal after.  



I have to admit, Stephenie Meyer, as much as I cannot stand her terrible writing skills, her over-usage of the words 'chagrin' and 'facade' or her god-awful 'thank you' at the end of each book, knows how to suck you into a romance. She knows how to send a flurry of butterflies through your gut and give you feel that puppy-in-love feel all over again. I'm sad to confess how much I've really come to love the Twilight Series, and even more sad, or rather embarrassed, to admit that I will most certainly read them over and over again, for as long as I shall live.

Numero Dos

Ava's two-month wellness check-up was today. Here are her new measurements:

11 lbs 3.5 oz, 22.5 inches long

Her weight and head circumference (lol) are in the 50-55th percentiles, while her length falls *short* in the 34th percentile. She's gonna be a shorty,  just like her Mommy and Daddy! 

Also, apparently she has a broken collar bone. Ten seconds later, when our hearts started pumping again, we were told "not to worry, it most likely happened during birth, and it'll heal itself and she'll be perfectly fine". She's supposedly not in pain, but I'm still being cautious, hoping it might heal itself a little faster. There is a noticeable bump on her left side where the scar tissue is forming. Poor baby. 

She was supposed to receive immunizations today, but they were out of one so we decided to wait until next week when all shots were available. I secretly wish that vaccinations were just a bunch of hulabaloo that we could skip on, but I am not so lucky. For now though I will be happy with having been able to postpone them one week. But oh, how my heart will ache.

Things I have learned during month two:

If they're fed and dry, it is okay to let them cry (but only for a few minutes!). 

Handicap bathroom stalls are the gatekeepers of public changing tables.

A smile is the most precious expression.

It is okay to have a bad night. Don't take it personally, in the morning things will be good again.

Don't feel guilty about going out for a few hours and leaving the baby safely at home (with a sitter, of course ;)).

Ava loves having her diaper changed. Or maybe she just loves being in her birthday suit? Either way, less fuss = lucky me!

Baby carriers are absolutely genius. 

I need to be taking many, many more photos.

Ava, thank you for sharing a little more of your sweet, sweet personality this month. I can't wait to see what else you have in store for us!

Oink Oink

Roger and Linda gave Mike and I an adorable piggy bank for Ava several months ago. We all poured our change into it, and Mike and I kept adding to it over the months. This evening Mike and I decided we would empty and count it every year on her birthday, including once before she's born. Because it was pretty much full, we decided to count it tonight. It took us just over an hour to roll everything, but once we did, we had over $200 counted. We figure that an annual piggy bank deposit along with our monthly savings transfer will set up a pretty little savings for her in the future. The feeling of selflessness I am feeling as a mother is already overwhelming.

My husband is marvelous.

Mike and I had been craving pizza all week, so last night while we were downtown we decided to stop into our favorite joint and pick up a couple of individual slices to bring home for dinner. As I was taking mine out of the microwave, the plate bent and my slice flopped face-down on the floor. I shrieked and picked it up as fast as I could, but it was already ruined and dirty. I cried about it for a while and Mike cleaned up the mess. He then insisted on eating his piece, and that he would eat something else instead.

Now that's love.