Ava & Mila

Hi there. My silly Ava is now 159 weeks old.

So this is the week that we said good-bye to our house.

But not before one last farewell breakfast with baby Cole. This is the first time Ava ate with just Cole and no Grace. We sat her on the opposite side of the table. Then we noticed her staring at him and we asked if she wanted to sit by him and she immediately relocated herself.

They spent the morning talking about what was on their shirts. Cole was busting out his new word “robot”.

Then it was off to Nona and Dida’s house where she played with Nona Dinka. Ava usually calls around the house for Nona Estera by just screaming Nona. And when Nona Dinka answers Ava, Ava started getting upset because she meant Nona (Estera) not Nona Dinka. How confusing!

And we were there for a PARTY!

A party for the Nonas where they took turns putting on lipstick? Nope.

A party for Nathan who actually ran away from a hugging Ava? WHAT? Nope.

A party for Dida? YES. The big 6-0.

She had been looking forward to this party for a long time. And when the party was over…she was not ready for bed.

She ran and ran and ran with balloons.

Thanks for entertaining us all, little one.

On Dida’s actual birthday, he got a special piece of artwork from Ava.

On top of a special song that she showed him on the computer.

Then it was off to dinner where she finally figured out how to connect the dots!

And ran to Dida’s lap when it was time to blow out the candle and eat the cake.

The next morning we were off for some breakfast at Carrow’s where this kind man gave Ava a bear. And this is the not the first time it has happened either at this restaurant!

Then we were off to visit Dida Slavo who didn’t get to make it to the party. Awesome optical illusion sweater, Dida Slavo!

And then we packed up the car and Ava finally gave Nona what she wanted. Her turn for milky knuckles. It’s been awhile!

Bye Nona and Dida. See you in a couple months! Sniffle sniffle.

We spent the night just across the Arizona border and woke up to this. Cinnamon rolls. Ava resisted them at first. Then did this thing where she barely licks the new food and announces ‘I like it!‘ with a big surprise on her face.

Oh and then there was this claw game. She was sooo excited about it. She was going to win the animal of her choice… just like her favorite movie Toy Story.

Yeah, I can’t wait!

And when I didn’t win, the sad lips came out.

And then the tears. Oh the tears!

Nooooooo!!!!

It took some time but she got over it. Because she had Jessie the Cowgirl and were off to a new place.

Here we are at the most awesome pizza place in Mesa, Arizona. This whole room is a big ass organ. This dude plays songs while you eat. Look at the crowds of seniors! Ava loved it. Especially the songs with the dancing cat puppets and the “shiny planet” (a.k.a. disco ball).

Good job, organ dude! Bye!

Oh look at her! My little Mila is now 5 months old!

And what was she doing at the exact moment she turned 5 months old? She was hanging out in her exersaucer while we finished packing for our crazy road trip.

So what’s new this week? Ummm, can you say super duper separation anxiety? Poor Nona Dinka. She tried and tried to get her to calm down.

But it took Dida’s magic touch to calm her down. (Magic touch = TV.) Hehe.

But the following day, Mila thought Nona Dinka deserved a treat so Mila let her hold her while she took her 45 minute nap.

We were at parents’ this weekend to celebrate Dida’s 60th birthday. And as soon as the party started, Barba Frank was there to play with all the kids.

And Nona Vinka was there to squeeze her.

Happy Birthday Dida! Mila was wondering what the hell Dida was wearing?!?!

And after we sang, Mila stuck half of her hand in her mouth and passed out on Carrie. Welcome to the tired arms club! As you can see, I got a vacation today!

Yes I told you all that I would never dress my girls in the same clothes… but I never said I wouldn’t coordinate!

As soon as it is diaper changing time, Mila is all smiles and immediately reaches for those cute toes.

In the morning, it was time for some relaxation. Mila got an invitation from her big sister to join here in the Dora tent.

And was even propped up by her big sister too.

Yup, I’m one lucky lady!

Then it was time to put some real clothes on and head out for a birthday dinner.

And visit a few more people before we head out of town. (Ava took this picture all by herself!)

Before we knew it, it was time to get in the car seat and hit the road. We are planning on driving to Florida and back…

…and we have no idea how long it will take!

Yeah! BYE!!

Howdy. Our little Ava is now 157 weeks old.

And she is still hanging out with her best buddies. Woody and Buzz.

And look. They will now be hers forever. And that made her (and them) really happy.

She even picked out Toy Story band-aids over Dora and Princesses. And when we went to go buy more pull-ups, she dissed Dora and Princesses again! And got Toy Story ones. Boy ones!!!! With a boy on the packaging. (This is where Dan and I start high-fiving each other. Take that you pink princesses!!)

Ava got to hang out with Jeremy a bit this week too. But did she play Toy Story with him? Nope. Princess jewelry!!! Hmmm…

Then it was party day! FINALLY!!

And she picked an Ariel theme… but was this close to changing it to Toy Story… but decided that Toy Story would have to wait until next year. Phew… because I bought a lot of mermaid crap.

Hello Clubhouse! It’s party time.

Look at my mermaid cake!

Soon enough, everyone showed up to play.

And it was pizza time!

And then it was time for the cake of her dreams.

Say cheese! It took a lot of pictures to get one smiley picture with all the kids. Ava did not like it one bit that she had to share a chair with Nathan. Nona even sneaked a barely awake Mila in the photo too.

Then it was time to bounce bounce bounce.

And when Ava fell, her best friend at school picked her up. Ahhhhhh.

I spent the last 30 minutes actually playing with Ava instead of hosting. It was awesome if you can’t tell.

Then we all went home to watch Ava open presents. She loved them all.

Especially the newest additions to her Toy Story crew. Who ALL had to sleep next to her that night.

And then a little miracle happened. Yoda slept on her bed. For the first time ever. And good thing that Ava didn’t wake up to see this. She would have FREAKED.

The very next day, we braved the pouring rain to step on Hollywood stars and to see Ava’s first movie…

DUMBO!

YEAH!! She loved. There was confetti and dancing chipmunks and movie booster seats and popcorn and Dumbo too. She giggled out loud during some scenes too.

And look what was in the lobby. Oh boy! Hits theaters June 18. I hope she can wait that long!

So we crossed party and movie off of the list. Then it was time to prep for our next adventure. So Ava had a day at daycare. The teachers said she is acting like a big girl and serves herself now at lunch.

And we took her for a second day at daycare too.

Look who insists on sitting in Mila’s exersaucer. Big kid in a little toy.

Then it was time to pack up the Airstream. And hit the road for a test trip.

Bye!

Howdy. Our little Mila is now 20 weeks old.

And really enjoys lounging.

But only as long as I am near by.

Seems like some separation anxiety has begun already.

So this was the week that we had to get ready for Ava’s birthday party. I was super stressed. As usual. So Dada volunteered take a walk with the girls BY HIMSELF for the first time to pick up some lunch so I could finish cleaning the house. YEAH DADA.

Then it was time for the party. Woooo. But this little one slept thru most of it.

But Mila was awake for the movie watching afterward. Toy Story 2. Ava’s favorite at the moment. Mila even got to hold Buzz again.

And then she started to fall to the side since she can’t sit up unassisted yet. Grace thought it was pretty cool.

How sweet is this picture of the girls?!?!

But I must say that this picture is my favorite in the bunch. Oh Cole.

The day after the party, in the pouring rain, Mila got to do something for the first time. Where we going Mama?

The movies? What the hell is that?!?! Who cares! Let’s go!!

Here we are. And there is DUMBO! Mila did great. I was hoping she would sleep thru the whole thing. But no. She watched the whole thing.

Oh my God. Oh my God. It’s going to start.

Hey? How about passing some popcorn over here?!?!

After the movie, we had to rush home because Dada and the girls had band practice.

Mila outgrew her 6 month pajamas awhile ago but her 12 month ones are a little too long. Sometimes in the morning she wakes up and her legs are not in the leg holes. Ava thinks it’s hilarious.

I wonder why Mama keeps calling me Grabby. It totally doesn’t make sense…

Yeah right! Bye.

Hi. I’m Ava and this is my buddy R2D2. And today we are at a Star Wars party!!!

Hmmmm. This doesn’t look like pin the tail.

I’m not sure what I just did but I did something. Yeah. I think?

Time for art and crafts. Who says Anakin can’t wear pink glitter pants? Not me.

Pinata time!

What? No pull strings?

I’m staying far away from Darth Vadar. He’s too scary for me.

But that candy that just flew out of his head isn’t scary one bit.

Can I eat one now? Just one?

Now that I have some sugar in me, who wants some?

Just kidding. I’m a good guy.

Just like my buddy Mikey. Watch out Mikey! There is some dude in tight black pants behind you!

Get him!!

Mikey why is your hand behind your back? Are you a French fencer? Fight like a Obi-Wan!!

Yeah! Present time!!!

Oh no, Cole! Someone use the force to get him free!!

Oh no, me!!! My trusty light saber is pointing the wrong way!

Oh well. Nothing a little blue cupcake can’t fix.

Bye!

Hi. I’m Ava and I have to whisper because I am in church for a wedding. Shhhh.

This is so much fun. Weeeeee! Not.

Mama let me draw on these little envelopes like she used to do as a kid.

Mama promised me dancing at this wedding. I don’t hear any dancing music yet.

Hey! My friend Grace. Look how pretty we look!!

Yup. We know it.

Alright! Time to get this party started with some apple cider fake champagne. Here is my very first sip.

AHHHHH! YUCKY!

My Mama and Dada really hyped up this wedding. Said I was going to get to dance my little heart out.

And I did. Check these moves out!

I had fun dancing with Michelle so much that I told my Mama that I only wanted to dance with her. And I would only dance if the beautiful bride was on the dance floor too.

But what I didn’t anticipate is being left behind by the other big girls. And I got a little sad. Why don’t they want to play with me, Mama?

Luckily my Dada is a kid at heart and played tent with me under the table.

Yeah Dada!

And you know why I love these hotel couches so much? Because when I sit on them my feet touch the ground!

Bye!!

Hello there. Ava is now 31 months old and is so ready to be a BIG SISTER!!! Here is this week’s story.

Soooo, as usual, we take a picture of Ava at 1:34pm. The minute she was born each month. And this time she was not napping. It’s a miracle! We kept her up so we can hit up the fair one more time. We can’t get enough of that Bavarian Cream Funnel Cake!! More pictures from our 2nd trip there next week.

On Friday, we picked up Ava from daycare as usual. And as usual also, she steals crackers from the reception area. One for Dada and Mama and one for herself. But instead of driving home, we went down to Nona’s house. Sorry Dida. That’s just what she calls it.

By the time we got there, it was pizza time. She was very serious about it as you can see.

Topping time!

Ava also got a few gifts from Alaska… like this new gray husky, which we call Alaska too.

And Alaska was special enough to join Ava and her prairie doggy for a nap. Under the covers and everything. Hehe. As of this trip, no more pack ‘n play for Ava. She is way too tall for that thing. The toddler blow-up mattress works great on our trips.

The past couple times I have been to the hair salon, Ava has asked for a haircut herself. So, on Saturday, we took her to a cool little salon just for kids to get her very FIRST HAIR CUT! I know. I know. It was long over due. But those long blond tips are her baby hairs. From when she was a baby. My baby. Sniffle sniffle. More photos on Monday. I’m too sad to post more today. Bye bye baby hairs. Someone get me a tissue.

And what are you supposed to do when you have a beautiful new haircut? Show it off, of course. So we headed over to see Nathan. And just like any other guy, he didn’t say one word about her new hair do.

We also had a ladies (and Nathan) get-together at his house.

And this is where Ava got her new favorite shirt. Her big sister shirt. She insists on wearing it every other day. It would be every single day but I have to wash it on the off days. She’s a messy eater, remember?

Whenever we are at my parents’ place and someone is laying on the carpet, Ava likes to tackle that person. She thinks it’s so silly… especially when the person didn’t see it coming. Thank goodness we have hardwood floors and never lay on the ground… or we would be black and blue all the time.

Over the weekend, the sun was shining and it was definitely time for sprinklers.

And time to show off some of her ballerina twirls.

And all that twirling she did, worked up her appetite. Mmmmm cookies.

Back at home, it was my first official day of maternity leave. So in the afternoons, Ava and I have been watering plants…

… and admiring how one little sunflower seed that some bird forgot to eat, turned into this monster plant. It was twice as tall before Dan chopped it down.

Dan introduced Ava to Pac-Man this week. He found it while cleaning the garage for the garage sale we are hopefully having tomorrow morning. But he refuses to sell it. It is a leftover item from Nicole’s 80′s bash at our house a few years back.

At school, she is still helping the teachers pat the kids to sleep. I can’t seem to get a good picture because as soon as we walk in, the moment is over. Dan and I even hid behind a wall for a surprise photo but the stupid camera wouldn’t focus fast enough. Maybe next week. Oh and if you haven’t seen her cubby picture, it’s the one on the bottom left. The prison wall pose.

Alright… time to go… Yes, another big sister shirt. She wants to make sure everyone gets the message.

I’m going to be a big sister… yeah!!