Today Ava Smiled

I have a feeling that over the course of this journal, you'll see this subject line a lot. You are a happy baby.

There's very few moments in the day with you that I do not look forward too – poopy diapers, or you sleeping in so long I don't get to hang out and play for long before I have to go to work – but one moment I look forward to each day is seeing your mothers car in the garage when I get home. Not because I think dinner has been started (I like food, you'll soon learn), or other household chores are underway, but because she started a “tradition” - if you will - of sitting with you at the top of the steps and greeting me as I come in the house.

Today you had one of the widest smiles I've ever seen when I came around the basement corner to come up the steps.

Your mom sits on the top step holding you by the hands as you stand on the first step in anticipation of who's coming up the stairs. As soon as I round the corner and come into view I light up. You always have the cutest smile and will wiggle with excitement. Today was no exception. I hope these days continue for a long, long time.

Today Ava Took a Break

Ava, today we didn't have any major breakthroughs in your development, or milestones achieved – and that's fine. But that doesn't mean there was nothing to take from the day.

You insist on sticking your tongue out, giving you this cute, but ornery look, letting us know that inside your developing mind something is brewing. Just by looking at you we can tell you brain is acquiring countless new wrinkles. You're working overtime as you become more cognizant of your surroundings and try to grasp everything that is within reach and even items just out of arms length.

I described how rocking you to sleep is what I look forward to at the end of the day, well your mom has a similar cap to her day as well.

Tonight, when you started shows signs of being tired – rubbing your face, putting your hands behind your head – your mom took you to our room and laid down with you on the bed. She turned the lights out, no TV, and turned your turtle on. Turtle? You see, your Uncle Joe gave you a sleepy-looking green turtle with a blue transparent plastic top that when turned on, projects a wave-like scene onto the ceiling and walls. It also emits relaxing waves sounds or a surf-type music.

From the first time we turned the turtle on you became more relaxed at night.

I laid down in the room with you and your mom prior to this entry and within minute you had your thumb in your mouth enjoying the evening's dreams.

Chatting with your mom she told me that this is her zen. Lying with you in the room and watching you fall asleep is what she looks forward to. A chance to look, to reflect, to think, to forget.

You see, Ava, you are our stress relief. It is through you that we have found the way to escape our daily troubles.

Today Ava Cleaned Up

By looking at the subject line you can guess it was bath day. I used to loathe this time for about the first two months of your short life because you hated it. I'm not saying you disliked it, or that bathing was an inconvenience; you HATED it! You would scream and carry on as soon as as that first toe dipped into the water.

That's why your early baths lasted all of 30 long seconds. Get her in, get her clean, get her out, get her happy.

Gradually you would cry less, the screams would die down and you grew to like bath time.

Tonight, we had another “milestone” if you will. You've been sitting up on your own since shortly before Christmas (somewhere around the 21^st or 23^rd of December). Another reason why I should have started this journal the moment you were born – I'd know the exact day. I digress, but you've outgrown the little bath center we had and so for the last two baths you've been sitting in the tub and using a portable bath seat we received from Marissa, your baby sitter.

I was preparing meatloaf for dinner and your mom began to give you a bath. A few times I heard “Honey come here you have to see this!” and “Grab the camera, this is too cute!”

Once I rinsed the meat mixture from my hands, I went to investigate. There you were splashing around and checking out the water coming from the spigot. You were so intrigued by the cascading water. Your little arms and hands kept reaching for it and playing in it.

It reminded us how far you've come in nearly six months and just how much you've developed.

We know you're becoming more aware of your surroundings but this was pure joy to watch. Remind me to show you the video and photos someday.

Speaking of photos – and you'll probably get a little red in the face for these on your graduation day – we took the obligatory “Baby Butt” photos in the bath. We stood you at the edge of the tub while it was filling and you just watched the water flow and fill it up. It was prime opportunity.

On a side note – as you were standing there naked, and I was grabbing the camera, you peed. I only mention this for the humor of it. All I heard from the other room is “Ohh no, oh no, oh no!” and when I returned your mom was sitting there holding a diaper underneath you so it didn't make a mess on the floor. We're glad we didn't miss this photo opportunity.

Today Ava Rocked

Tonight, I was able to rock you to sleep; something that has been at the top of my list since you were born. Having you curl up in my arms is a feeling only a parent can describe. It's not easy to put into words, but as a dad, it makes me feel like you're safe and all of the problem of the world slip away as you drift into peaceful dreams.

I've never been one to live in the moment, I've always looked ahead, whether it be the near future or something off in the distance.

Tonight, I drifted a little, but relished the moments of you resting your head on my shoulder and fighting sleep as long as possible. It's inevitable that nights like this will soon be a memory as you grow and become too big, too old, too cool to have your dad rock you to sleep. So for one of the first times in my life, I lived in the moment. I simply watched you as we did our little evening dance and sleep eventually got the best of you.

Today Ava Modeled

Sometime before Christmas your mom purchased a Groupon for a free portrait session at Sears Portrait Studio that included a free 20x24 print.

We scheduled the session for as close to your 6 month birthday as we could. We've never had a family photo taken as I am usually behind the lens taking your pictures.

We arrived at the Belden Villiage Mall studio just before 4:00 p.m. for our appointment. A few people were picking up their images so we got started about 20 minutes past four. We began with the family photos and then went into a few individual shots. 

Aside from clapping, your new talent is sticking out your tongue. Absolutely adorable. The reason I mention this (look at the photos) is because our photographer (a biology student at Akron University working towards her Veterinary license) kept trying to capture images where your tongue was not sticking out. Each time she would set up the shot, you would pop that tongue out just as she clicked the shutter.

We couldn't have been more pleased with the images. You looked, as we kept saying, “Super cute!” And the pictures with your mom and I didn't come out half bad either.

On a side note – and you won't be happy with me for this once your old enough to understand – we had to change two poopy diapers. One just after the shoot concluded and once again when we were reviewing the images (you ate prunes for dinner the night before and it showed!).

We finished up and grabbed dinner at Chop It Salad Shop in the mall. You were out cold and your mom and I ate our wraps and went to Aldi to get groceries.

You had been congested since the day before with a nose running like a river. Sleep was a little difficult for you and it was tough to send you off to your dreams, you woke up at 1:30 a.m. and again at 3:30 a.m. The first time, up for about 45 minutes Your mom took the second shift so I don't know how long you were up that time.

Today, Ava Clapped

Ava Michelle

I'm 173 days late in starting this … Ava Michelle, you were born at 12:01 a.m. on Aug. 8, 2012. The events of that day are forever etched in my mind, so the details are not necessary here as I'm sure by the time you're old enough to read this, we've recounted to you numerous times. The reason for this journal is to record memories that I fear over time will become distorted, diluted, blurred, and forgotten entirely. Not by my own choice, but due to the natural weathering of time.

Though this journal is about your daily activities and growth, I feel a little background into its origins are necessary.

During a Day Out With Dad event at the Pro Football Hall of Fame, I was photographing Hall of Famer JoeDeLamielleure talk to the crowd. During his welcome speech he told the audience of fathers and sons and daughters that he kept a daily journal of one thing he took from the day with his kids. He did this for each of his children and recalled that they would open the journals yearly and read excerpts.

I told myself that if I were ever blessed with children that I would do something similar.

When you was born I thought I would remember every move of your tiny little hands and feet, each cry, feeding, etc. All the good, and all the bad. I realized how wrong I was and remembered what Joe D had said that day. So, here goes.

Today, Ava clapped

This may seem like a nominal thing in life, but I have been working with you on this for weeks. I would stand behind you at home and at your mom's basketball games, and hold your wrists and clap your hands together while singing “clap, clap, clap, clap your hands” over and over.

You would smile and giggle.

It took a while for you to open your hands up, at first, you would clap your fists together.

We would do this almost every day. Today, as I lay on the couch and you stood on my belly, I supported you by holding you around the waist and started singing “clap, clap, clap, clap your hands!” Much to my surprise, you grinned and began to cap. Thrilled with this breakthrough I quickly texted your mom, who was with Walsh University Women's Basketball team at Hillsdale College in Michigan. It was a Daddy-Daughter day. I was eventually able to capture your feat on video with my phone.