Gross motor skills are hard work!!!!

Alex is working hard on gaining control over his arms and legs.  It is amazing how much practice and work it takes to master that control.  He is cooing, giggling, blowing bubbles, and smiling all the time now, and he just turned 3 months old!  He loves trying to stand... well he loves it when mommy pulls him to a standing position, allowing him to bear weight on his legs.  He wiggles, he holds on to little objects, and holds his hands together.

I pulled out the little play gym for Alex to see if he liked it, and he LOVED it.  He was pretty intrigued by the hanging little toys, and was working hard to try to hit or kick them.  The concentrated look he had on his face was too cute.  His eyes were focused, his lips were pursed, and he was concentrated on the task at hand - much like the look his daddy has when he is focused.  He seemed to get more excited as he felt and heard the toys move when he made contact, such hard work!

Ava thought Alex might need some company or moral support ;)

Thanks tia Marthi for the painting art supplies!!!

For Ava's birthday, tia Marthi sent her all kinds of painting supplies.  Ava got finger paint, paint brushes, extra large painting paper, and she loved ALL of it!

Mommy was finally brave enough to pull it all out when Alex went down for a longer nap.  We set up shop outside on the back patio. Ava sat at her little table, surrounded by her supplies, dressed in just her diaper and shorts.  Mommy knew that Ava was going to get messy, so what would be the point of wearing clothes?

Ava had a blast!!!  She painted with the brushes for a while, but then decided that was probably a little too neat, too controlled...not as fun as just using her hands.  Besides, Ava LOVES to draw her hands, so finger paint is definitely more fun if you just use your fingers.

A relaxing Sunday morning...

Even though our mornings start way earlier than they did back in the day, they are still great!  Our day starts around 6:30am with everyone awake and ready to go, but that doesn't mean we can't hang out in our pajamas, take it easy, and just relax! :)

getting cozy together under the blanket...

Ava starting her career search by reading "When I Grow Up"

...followed by her FAVORITE book "I'll Teach my Dog a Lot of Words"

Just an everyday outing...

Ava can't help it, she is just too cute.  She makes an everyday outing seem like so much fun, even something as simple as getting a sandwich as a little sub sandwich place.

Ava is becoming such a little girl, moving past being a baby at lightning speed!  I can hardly believe it.  These pictures of her learning how to use the iPhone makes her looks so much older than 2!

Cuteness!!

Ava is becoming such a little girl, not a baby anymore.  She is such a good big sister, always wanting to hold her baby brother.  She is such a good little mommy, taking such good care of her baby dolls.  One little smile from that little girl makes my day!!!  You can't help but smile back!

Potty training and speech development continues ...

Note: Ava's sentences are her own; no extra words nor grammar edits have been made.


Last night, it was time for bed and Daddy had already taken Ava upstairs... then I hear:

Ava: Daddy, I need to do coco.
Daddy: Did you already do coco or do you need to do coco?
Ava: I need to.
Daddy: Do you want to go in the big potty or your potty?

Ava took off running to go downstairs and was able to hold it until getting to her potty to go to the bathroom! 

It's amazing the things that we get excited about these days ... We've been leaving the potty training up to her.  If she wants to use her potty, all she has to do is ask.  It's a little too challenging for Mommy & Daddy to be overly proactive about it. :)

After Ava was done with the potty, she came to the TV room to tell me that she did coco in the potty and was super proud. And forget going to bed, she wanted to sit next to me on the couch and hang out. When Daddy asked her if she was ready to go to bed, this is the conversation that ensued...

Daddy: Are you ready to go to bed?
Ava: No
Daddy: Do you want your milk? We left it upstairs.  Come with Daddy to go get your milk.
Ava: Daddy, go get my milk. I want to wait here with Mommy.
Daddy: Don't you want to come with me to get your milk?
Ava: No, Ava wants to stay downstairs with Mommy. Daddy, go upstairs and get Ava's milk.

Haha! Not much point in arguing with her after that!  The kid knows what she wants, and has no problem communicating it.  Daddy went upstairs and got her milk...such an obedient Daddy...

4th of July

We had a great long weekend!!  Ava and Alex got to get in plenty of pool time, Mommy & Daddy got to have an evening with friends after the kids went to bed (thanks Leslie, Andy, Matt, & Stephanie for coming over to hang out!), we spent time with grandparents, and enjoyed our neighborhood's festivities (pool, BBQ, parade, etc).

Below are a few pictures from our outings:

Ava swimming with Vovo

Absolutely no fear of Pipoca, just pure laughter!

Too much fun playing with the hose!

That's my baby brother...

Smile Alex!

All set to go to the pool...Daddy's bag, Mommy's shoes, Ava's purse :)

Our neighborhood baby pool - thankfully it is covered from the sun!

Ring around the rosie...Daddy never thought he would dance to that song!

This is one kid that LOVES the water!

The neighborhood parade with a 1937 firetruck...

Ava loved the parade, but hated the loud sirens

Our little family of four :)