Santa 2008

This year, unlike last year when Princess Aurora had to bring Hailey's Christmas presents, Hailey was really excited about Santa and seeing Santa. So since Ava and I were feeling better from our colds, and Hailey has yet to get this cold, I thought we would head over to see Santa today. So off we went to the mall. The whole way there, Hailey couldn't stop talking about what she wanted for Christmas and what she was going to tell Santa. It was priceless. She even was going to tell Santa what Ava wanted since in Hailey's words, "she can't talk to Santa yet and might be scared". Did you know Ava wants a cup just like Hailey's and a new doll. I had no idea, but apparently Ava told her this last night! ;)
So we arrive at the mall and Hailey is telling every stranger that looks her way that she is going to see Santa! Then we see him! She is jumping up and down saying Santa, Santa... He waves at her and she just lit right up! What a privilege to be waved at by Santa! So no lines, and we get right in. She goes right up to him, cautiously holding mommy's hand, and says, "um hi Santa, i want a pet shop and a scooter." So Santa says, oh the Littlest Pet Shop? She answers, "YES the one with the little bunny." Then he says and a scooter you say, what color. And Common Santa, if you know Hailey, you will know it would HAVE to be RED! So she replies, "a red one, like Annikas (her friend)" So it was so cute, because then he goes on to ask her if she's been a good girl and she says, "yes I try to be a good girl, sometimes I don't listen, but I try" Oh my heart just melted...my sweet girl! So Santa asks her to take a picture with him, so she hops up on his lap and Ava sits with them as well. They take the picture and we are getting ready to go pick up our picture and Hailey goes, "Mommy, I forgot to tell him what Ava wanted!" so she goes back, still a bit cautious, and says, "Santa, my sister Ava (said Aba) wants a cup just like mine and a new doll, but not a big one." She gave a smile, Santa said she was a great big sister for telling him for Ava and off Hailey came back to my side. It was simply precious to see her be so concerned for her sister...she didn't want her to miss out on what Santa brings! What a great Sister and Friend she is to Ava!
So that was our Santa 2008 experience. Such a great one that we may have to bring Daddy along and do it again before Christmas.
Here is a picture of the girls with Santa this year

New teeth and a cold

Ava has had one heck of a week (well almost 2 now). She was visibly teething pretty bad. I'm talking this kid could fill buckets daily with the amount of drool that she was producing. On December 2nd, she got her first tooth. The one corner popped through. With this new tooth also came a ton of congestion. I wasnt sure if it was teething or a cold as I myself had a sinus infection, an ear infection and a just nasty cold all around. So I took her to the pedi. to have her checked out. Good news...just a small cold and teething. She also weighed in at 17lbs 8oz, so her weight was great!
Today I saw that the tooth right next to the one she got is about to come through as well, so poor girl must be just hurting so badly! But once they are in the relief will go and no more gummy smiles. They grow up way too fast!!! So bittersweet!

Ava bug is crawling!!!

At 6months 3weeks 1 day (November 19th) Ava started to crawl. Ironically this is the EXACT same age that Hailey started crawling. She started off slowly and cautiously, but now is a pro and is pulling up on everything, including those things I don't want her to like the TV unit. And if pulling up wasn't enough, she furniture cruises as well. It is wild! She loves the ability to be mobile and does not want to go in anything stationary anymore for more then 5 minutes. This has made for SUPER busy days around here and things not being able to get done. But my little girl is so proud of herself as is her Mommy and Daddy!

She has really enjoyed this ability to be mobile also because she can keep up somewhat with her sister now! She has begun to be Hailey's shadow and it is so cute, annoying to Hailey somewhat, but oh so sweet! The two of them have taken to playing under the dining room table together. I will get some pictures off the camera and post them so you all can see. It is adorable!

Camera Fun!!!

I had been wanting a new camera for quite some time. I wanted the Canon Rebel XTi. So my dear hubby finally gave in and I got my camera yesterday. And YES I already took a ton of pictures, but I have so much to learn still. There are many things I need to learn and it will probably take me a good deal of time to learn how to use the camera to its full capacity! So yesterday and this morning I snapped a few pictures, just to get use to playing with the camera!

Here are a few samples...like I said though, SO MUCH to learn yet!
My Kitty, Otis

My sweet Ava bug enjoying some bread

Hailey

Wild and Crazy Avabug

Hailey and her beloved Taggie

I love this photo of Ava!

Ava bugger

Okay, so this is a serious glimpse of the future! When on when did my girl get SO BIG~?

Rachel - isn't she so beautiful!
So yea, lots of work ahead of me, and lots of learning for sure, but so much fun practicing...and on some amazingly cute subjects too!

The Joys of Hailey-ism's

I felt the need to write this down as Hailey is saying the cutest things these days! She comes out with these phrases and words, that just crack Pete and I up. Some of her latest are:

*"whobody" instead of anybody or who
*"Let I go" - instead of let me go...she says this often when we are playing around or tickling her.
*"In a couple while" - instead of just saying in a little while...This one is hilarious to hear!

She has taken to calling Ava her little donut. I am not really sure where this has come from, but it is so funny...I almost think that it is similar to when I call Hailey my little stinker..its become her own way of saying this about Ava.

Its amazing what will come out of their mouths. Hailey and I just read in a book about mothers and daughters, and one of the sayings in the book was "watch how your daughter talks to her dolls, she's repeating how you talk to her". If this isn't the truth, I don't know what is! Sometimes makes me think about my tone and how I can say things differently! Parenting is more then teaching your child/children, but it is also having your child/children TEACH YOU. Something I hope to do with open arms!

Ava turns 6months!!!

Time is flying by!!!! I feel like just yesterday I was giving birth to my sweet Ava! She is now 6months old and doing SO many new things. She can now sit up by herself, she is just about crawling, as she rocks back and forth on all 4s each day, practicing to keep up with her big sister. She is fully enjoying her solid foods. We've made it through all of stage 1 foods and are now working our way into Stage 2 foods as well as yogurt (entering yogurt very cautiously). She is changing so much each day. At her 6mo. appointment she weighed in at 16lbs 3oz and was 27in. long. That is up from her 6lbs 10oz birth weight and 20.5in birth weight. Amazing what 6months will do!
She also recently had a follow-up GI appointment. We've had to up her reflux medications 2x within the last month, but ALAS I think we have gone into a groove (until I just said that, because you know how that works...once you say it out loud it all changes!). She will remain on the Alimentum for a year and more likely then not be on her reflux medication until a year. Overall the GI doctor was happy with her progress and we will see her again in January, unless we need to head in sooner.

Overall so far, this little girl, whom I call my Ava bug, is just full of joy and has been such a delight!!! When she smiles, the world smiles with her! She lights up everyone and everyone lights up her!!! Her smile is SO contagious.
Here are her 6month pictures!

Hailey turns 3!

So much has happened since I've last updated. My sweet Hailey has turned 3!!! I can't believe what a beautiful little girl she is turning into. She had so much fun on her birthday and told me the next day that she would like to have a birthday again that day...this went on for a good week! Even now, every once in a while she will say I would like I have a birthday soon. Its really cute! Makes for a happy mommy, knowing she had such a special day!

Birthdays, I have come to realize, are not only for the birthday "person", but they are really for their mothers as well! September 9th will forever be a special day for me, as will April 28th! On those days I gave birth to amazing little girls!!!! I will NEVER forget either birth and it really is such a special day for mommy as well.

Hailey's Aunt Dawn and cousin Leif were able to come from Georgia for Hailey's birthday. While here, she took some beautiful pictures of Hailey for her 3rd birthday. Here are just a few of the stunning pictures she captured.

With the celebration of Hailey's 3rd birthday, also came the first day of Preschool (man she is growing up too quick). Thats right, Hailey got the privalege of starting school ON her birthday! What an exciting day for her! As I dropped Hailey off for school I couldn't help but cry a little as my baby is growing up! She on the other hand had such an amazing amount of confidence. Gave me a hug and a kiss and said she would see me later... with that she was off into her classroom playing, didn't once look back. Bittersweet moment to realize that she was ready to leave mommy but also to see what confidence she had in doing so!

My little girl is not so little anymore, but she will forever be little in my heart! Always my "baby"