AVA ROSE ISABEL: January 2009

Friday, January 30, 2009

Happy 2nd Metcha Day!

Two years ago, February 1st, 2007, we boarded a plane to finally hold and touch this face!
February 2nd, 2007....our first moments. I can still feel the weight of her in the carrier when I look at this picture
Grandpa and his girl, he loved her so much that it was amazing to witness

The first time I ever had her in my arms...I was so overwhelmed
Blanca had her dressed so sweet...she made her outfit

Sarah, now referred to as "Za-Za" and her little monkey
Grandpa comforting Ava
I loved every moment of the visit trip despite the tears that flowed when it was over

From this trip on the wait to hold this baby again was agonizing
My sweet smiley baby!

I remember it so well! My dad, Sarah and I boarded an early morning plane and we were off. My mom was sad that she could not come but a severe fear of flying kept her back. I was so nervous and so excited at the same time. We got to Guatemala on a Thursday and with our agency you travel by group so all of our babies would arrive on Friday morning. I met my daughter for the first time on the street corner! Blanca, her foster mother, was lost and I saw her from my hotel room and I ran out to greet her. I will never forget her pulling back the blanket to finally reveal my daughter's face to me in the flesh versus a picture. And there she was, full head of hair beautiful as can be!

This year's Metcha Day is very bittersweet for me. With my dad's recent passing anything related to Ava's adoption is very painful. He was part of of every step and it's just too hard for me right now. I know that in time the fact that he was with me will be a blessing and a gift but now it's just sad.

P.S.--Happy Metcha Day to Jamison's family too! They are coming to visit in two and a half weeks and we haven't seen each other since this trip. We cannot wait!

Ava happenings...

Ava is totally obsessed with "Yo Gabba Gabba", we now have all the little critters and she wants them in her jammies
My little elephant at Lauryn's birthday party
This picture just cracks me up
Ava loves costumes so this birthday party was a hit
onto being Tigger...
So cute
My little sweet tooth enjoying birthday cake
Ava and the birthday girl, Happy 2nd Birthday Lauryn!
Balloon chasing...always fun until they pop!
My girl sure loves shoes...especially boots!

Wearing a fudge pop...she calls them "icey chocolate pops"
"all done"
Ava loves her new drum set, she plays them whenever people play guitar hero
she shakes her head to the music and she turns to me and says "momma, do your head"

Ava is doing so much these days! She is definitely a little girl and not a baby. We are almost done potty training--during the day is easy. The sleeping hours are the next challenge. Ava pretty much potty trained herself in one day. We had a snow day so I kept her without a diaper and she just got it. She likes all of her character underwear so she remembers to "not pee pee on Dora". Number two took about a week for her to get comfortable with. You know your kid sees you take too many pictures when she looks at her poopies in the potty and says "mommy take a picture!". Don't worry, I didn't!

She continues to talk up a storm. She learns things in daycare that while are amusing to hear are not great. Her new one is to tell me "it's not funny" to everything even when no one is laughing. She crossed her arms the other day and said "not fair". She got mad at me one day and said something in what we call her hexing voice and it ended in a loud "ever and ever and ever!". Pretend play is big, she takes all of the yo gabba gabba guys and has them talk to each other. Each time we got a new one she would run in the house to show them their "friends" We couldn't find Muno in any local Targets so I told her we would buy him. Thank goodness for e-bay. She was so excited to get him in the mail. Everyday she would say "muno, I want to buy him". I splurged on some yo gabba gabba undies...keep the motivation alive!

I can say pretty much that Ava is finally sleeping through the night. She is attempting to give up nap time so we are locking horns on this one. I love how much she can understand now too. She quickly says "I'm sorry" when she knows she was not being nice. The only problem is she says it for things she doesn't need to. If I drop something, she says "I'm sorry momma". If I say I'm tired, same thing. I'm sure she will get it. The funniest thing to me is how honest she is because she doesn't know better yet! If she gets a time-out I'll ask her what happened and she will tell me blow by blow "I took toy from Danielle, she took it so I hit her and she cried" with an imitation of this poor toddler crying. If something is a mess on the floor she says "Ava did it". If I call her my baby she says "No, I Ava". She finally likes to be called a big girl and remains super independent. One night I was busy and she wanted her pjs on. I turn around she put them on, top , bottom and socks all by herself. I was very impressed!

Ava continues to be very social and friendly. I am so thankful for this. She loves talking on the phone and anything to do with music. She has been painting a lot too. The other night she painted her face, arms and hands and came running into the kitchen making monster sounds and gestures. Too funny! She makes me laugh every single day.