Our beach pictures...

I posted them as page elements but some people wanted to see them close up so here they are. We were photographed in September and it was freezing although Ava didn't mind, momma did though! I realized today that Ava is also on their website (http://ontheislandportraits.com/). Very exciting!

Ava is crawling everywhere, sorry scooter fans! Actually she does both. At church last weekend the priest was thanking people for various things and he then said "And thank you Ava for buffing the floors", she is famous for the butt scoot there.

She is getting so big so fast. I have been on the hunt for a daycare facility as my time home is closing in. I am thankful that I was able to be at home as long as I have been but no time would ever be long enough!

Enjoy the pictures!

Just some pictures...

ava is not so sure about this "bear in the box" but she is getting used to it Always happy when it's time to eat!

A new fashion trend--I hope not!

Anyone seen Ava?

I love this little face!

Fall Fun!

"I love my pumpkin shoes"

"Pumpkin picking is fun but the apple cider donuts were my favorite!"

"Grandma and Grandpa came with us"

"I want this one!"

"Me and my momma"

"I didn't know I had a whole Halloween wardrobe!"

"Sometimes my pants make me dizzy!"

First announcement: Scooter may be no more! Ava decided to learn to crawl last night. She was in position so I showed her how to do it and she did. For those of you who are fans of the Ava scoot, do not worry--she prefers it and this morning is right back to it. We'll see what happens.

This weekend we went to the pumpkin patch, she loves them. She carries around a small one hugging it and kissing it. I decorated the house during one of her naps and she woke up and was so excited although I have a witch that she is not so sure about.

She continues to do more and more each day. I love this age, it is so fun. She is sleeping better and now goes down for the night at 8:30 which is significantly earlier than her original time. She knows what she is not supposed to do although sometimes she will do it anyway and then look at me and shake her head back and forth. She is obsessed with my shoes and whenever she sees them on the floor she scoots over and puts them on. She is all over the place and yesterday in church she scooted out of the pew and almost got out of my reach but I grabbed her shirt and pulled her back in. Well I didn't know the priest saw us as we were in the back. He was laughing so hard he interrupted the service to describe what he had just witnessed. I think Ava sealed her fate and will start the nursery next week!

Ava and I would like to wish a very special baby a Happy First Birthday--Mr. Jamison!!! Happy Birthday little man, we wish we lived closer so we could come and celebrate with you! We love you and your family and are so thankful that we met on our visit trip, it is one of the best gifts next to getting you and Ava home. Enjoy your special day and tell your momma to get some tickets to come and see us. Ava is waiting!

More Guatoberfest Pix!

I figured out how to get them off a DVD...too much technology!

Guatoberfest 2007!

We had an amazing time! It was so much fun. It started out a little hectic--our cab was coming at 4:15 a.m. and I was getting up at 3:00. Well I got up at 4:15, the cab driver went to get coffee and came back and then it felt like a mad rush. But we made it. Ava was so confused as to why I was waking her up in the middle of the night for a change! Those of you who know my fear of flying can probably guess that all I kept thinking was maybe I was supposed to miss the plane so my paranoia set in big time. The flight was uneventful. Ava fell asleep before we took off and was only awake for a little bit at the end. She just played and was her happy self.

The hotel was amazing, so nice. We got to Atlanta at 8:10 a.m. so our room wasn't ready. We walked around Olympic park and had lunch. Eventually other babies arrived and that was exciting. I never had the Marriott experience in GC so it was new to me to look out of my room and see other families at any time of day sitting in the lobby with their children. Everyone was really nice and the kids were all so cute! Ava scooted on her backside throughout the hotel and by the end many people were calling her scooter! Poor thing. I know for sure now that this is not normal to all babies because people found it so entertaining and filmed her doing it. I loved watching Ava get to play with other little ones even if it was sharing goldfish and anything else they found on the floor!

We played in the park together and that was an amazing sight! All of these beautiful children--crawling, walking, playing and so loved! I couldn't help but keep thinking about how these adoptions may stop and it is heartbreaking when you look at these kids with their families. We all went to the aquarium and that was a lot of fun. Ava loved it and took an extreme liking to the penguins. Of course she left with a stuffed animal one, as if she needed another stuffie! One of the highlights for me was when all the kids dressed in their Halloween costumes. It was the cutest thing ever!

As we were leaving the hotel the valet turned to me and said "God bless you for what you all have done". He then explained that he too was adopted. We talked about what gifts these children are to all of us and how they make everything and everyday better than before.

We got home at 6:00 on Monday night and we were so tired. Ava slept on the plane on the way home too!

I have more pix but I cannot figure out how to download them form a DVD, when I do I'll post them. A huge thank-you to Julia and Kerry for organizing this weekend and everyone else who helped pull it off. I look forward to next year!