October

Ava putting together her potato head pumpkin--thanks Aunt Jenn!
At the pumpkin patch with Ben
Check out Ben's pose, how cute is he!
patiently waiting for the tractor ride
kissing her boyfriend good-bye
We went to a fall festival and Bob Bob was there, she loves him and I don't know why!
Her other passion, riding horses. She won't go on a carousel but the real one is fine
Ava was pretty convinced she could carry any pumpkin
Checking out her witch hat in the mirror...

My little Abby Cadabby
Trick or Treating--I cannot believe she is big enough to do this!
Out and about with the big kids!
Ava with her buddy Mia and friends
Ava was so cute, she would thank people for the candy so they would give her more!
She loved looking at other kids in costume, at one point there was a moment when she tried to rip her Abby dress off to be a dragon that she saw passing by
"Come on you all, we have plenty more houses to hit!"

Taking a break...
and we're off again...
Ava loves pumpkins
Starting to get the zone look, she was spent!
Second wind back at Mia's house, she loves this horse! Santa needs to make more $$$!
Too tired to walk
Ava did not want to take her costume off so we compromised--she kept the Abby doo
Out in a flash with Roby on the way home
lounging around with the pilgrims
Quite a sinister look in her "Mr. Potato Head" glasses!
Reading to our friend, Susan
"mom, don't make me wear this marshmallow fluff jacket!"
Ava with her fairy wings and skirt...a birthday present that she feels goes with everything!
If you look closely there is parmesan cheese all over her face! She eats it right out of a bowl
Ava's new obsession, yo gabba gabba, especially her Roby
one day she was talking to Roby and I heard her say "you my friend, I love you"

looking spiffy for Church!


Ava loved Halloween. She got to run around with her big friend Mia. She was so cute and it was so fun to do this with her. She did not really care much for the candy, she liked seeing people more.

My baby is so not a baby anymore! She is two and very much two...making mommy nuts at times. Doing what she is supposed to be doing I guess. She is so funny at times when she is being bossy that I have to hide the fact that I want to laugh out loud. She is definitely her own person! Her favorite thing to do is to put her little hands up to her mouth, bend at the waist and yell "no" over and over again. Or she won't like when you tell her no so she will calmly walk over and swat you. Or she will bite and snap into the air towards you if she doesn't like what you have to say...lovely! Now she is not always being this way--she has her sweet moments to that make all the above worth it. She is so in tune with people emotions for her age. It amazes me. She will point out people and tell me that they are sad or happy. If anyone says anything that she perceives to be distressing she says "Are you okay?". It is so sweet. If she thinks you are hurt she will say "You need medicine?" and she will put some on you (it's really hand cream!) and then she says "All better?" and she will kiss your boo-boos. She also constantly says "loves you". She is getting such a sense of humor. She often throws her head back in laughter and says "that's funny" or she'll gesture with her hands when I do something silly and she says "momma" as if I'm being totally ridiculous!

Ava did not walk until she was good and ready at almost 18 months old. Well the potty will be on her time too. I had started putting her on and keeping her busy, painting her nails, she painting mine, etc. and nothing. Then one day she announced she was going to go potty, she unzipped her sleeper and she did just that! It was on November 9th to be exact. She was so excited, she looked at me and put her hand to her ear and said "momma listen". She also when trying yells "come out pee-pees, hurry up". She has gone several times now. I don't push it, it is more following her lead.

We saw Santa the other day. I cannot believe he is out already! She loved him last year but I thought she would be scared this year. Nope, not her. She started yelling "ho ho ho" from the parking lot. When she saw him in the mall she literally ran to him yelling and waving. Even he was shocked! He asked her if she wanted to sit on his lap and she said yes. She grabbed his finger and walked with him, I wish I had my video camera. She sat on his lap and told him that she wanted toys and surprises. She skipped happily out of the mall showing off the coloring book that he gave her. A couple of days before he arrived she saw his seat and she sat down and said "I wait for ho ho". She is a character!

Ava is chatting away like crazy and singing too. Still the dancer and performer. She loves to make people laugh. I am always thankful for her but in the recent sadness in our family she brings such happiness and I am even more thankful for her . She is so opposite of grief and death, she is so much life! She asks for Grandpa and looks at his pictures. It always breaks my heart when she calls for him but at the same time I am so glad she has a memory of him. It is hard for me right now to look at pictures but I do it with Ava because I don't want her to ever forget him. I have to believe that he can see her even though she cannot see him.