Today Ava Liked the Simple Things in Life

It's no secret that I have a problem when it comes to buying you toys. Every time we go to the store you and I make our way over to the toy aisle and you come home with something. 

To my defense, I don't just purchase toys simply to keep you entertained. I make what I think are wise decisions in which I buy toys that not only hold your attention but are also educational. I want you to stay ahead of the curve and be smarter than I am or ever was. It's my fatherly duty to make sure you're better off than we were, right? 

Yesterday, mom came down the hall from your nursery and into the kitchen with a diaper box in tow. On it's way to recycling it was void of diapers but full of Gravy. You loved it. And once she got to the kitchen she stopped and you just sat in it and played with the cardboard flaps for about ten minutes.

Today you got a "new" toy made of old things and it is genius. You can thank your mom, it was her idea. 

You like things that make noise and an empty water bottle can be just that, noisy. You also like them because chewing on the rigid cap helps with teething. At least that's my speculation. Maybe when you can talk you can answer that for me.

Mom took an empty water bottle that you had been playing with and added some more noise. Rice and elbow macaroni to be exact. 

Now, you have your very own maraca. 

So much for buying toys. I think we're just going to give you recyclables to play with from here on out. Maybe I'll write some math problems and historical facts on them to make them educational. 

Today Ava Ran Laps

Your expanding your reach, that's for sure. Getting very close to being mobile without needing your mom or I to get you from point A to B or use of our fingers for balance.

We've discussed baby gates, we talked about how close you are to crawling, heck, we've even conversed about how you'll probably skip crawling and go straight to walking. 

Today, though, I want to remember the laps you ran. 

Okay, so you didn't run in the literal sense of the term, but you took a number of laps around the island that divides the living room from the kitchen and dining room.Your mom offered her fingers for balance you off you went. 

Smiles and giggles the whole time. It's incredible how infectious your chubby-cheeked smile is. It melts the stress of the day when we see it. 

You're really getting the hang of "walking" and before long you won't need us to get around. As much as we would love for you to stay little we know you have to grow and learn.  We don't want to hold you back at anything. Ever. 

No matter how big you get, you'll always be "Daddy's little girl."

Today Ava Showed Us Her Tooth

Since it broke the surface a few days ago, you've been pretty persistent in your unwillingness to show us your tooth. 

We can sometimes force our finger across your gums and feel it, but rarely are you willing to let us see it. We may catch a glimpse when you smile or laugh, but that's about it.

Today, your mom went rogue and instead of trying to see it while you were awake, she waited until you took a nap - a long one I might add, 2.5 hours. 

Without further adieu,  here's the first public viewing of your tooth. 

Have a look at that pearly white!

Today Ava Got Loosey Goosey

Early this afternoon, when your mom finally got out of bed (I kid) we had an impromptu workout. You see I'm an early riser so I've always joked with your mom - much to her frustration - about how she can sleep in. I'm jealous to say the least. Sometimes it would be great to sleep until I felt rested. I digress, our sleep habits are not the reason for this entry.

A few days ago I started doing "jumping jacks" with you. Basically just lifting your arms above your head, down again, rinse and repeat. 

So this morning, we worked it into "Ava's workout routine." 

Is it necessary for me to say you were happy when we did this? I mean, come on, I've said it a hundred times already, you're always happy. 

Anyway, your mom recorded it and put it into a "Vine." 

Who know the app will be around when you are old enough to understand this, but it is an app where you can record up to six seconds of video and do stop motion, or mesh snippets together. 

It turned out to be your moms greatest cinemographic (is that a word?) moment to date. It's priceless for your reaction if not for my odd voice. Not sure what was going on there. Without further adieu here is the video. Enjoy, we did!

Today Ava Needed Changed

We started the afternoon by meeting your Grandma and Grandpa Fenner and Great Grandpa Fenner at Walsh for the final game of the season against rival Malone. 

The end result wasn't what we had hoped for so the details aren't necessary here.

What I want you to know about as you get older is what happened afterwords. 

The way to Walsh vs. the way home from Walsh today.

We had dinner at Perkin's at Belden Village and your mom noticed you needed changed. I smartly played the "Men's rooms typically do not have changing tables" card and handed you to your mom. She took you to the restroom to change and a few minutes later emerged. 

She rounded the corner towards our table and you were in nothing but your diaper. Not appropriate restaurant attire. Only one word to describe what must have happened: blowout. 

You had messed out your diaper and in yet another rookie dad mistake, I forgot to put an extra outfit in the diaper bag. I told your mom to just put your onesie back on and since it was bath night we could deal with it later. Your Grandpa Waechter always told your uncles and I when we were young to "think before you speak." this was one of those instances where I should have taken his advice. He's a smart man. 

Your mom refused to heed my words and after getting "the look" we dressed you as well as we could, wiped off your little jeans and put your fleece jacket back on. 

On the pus side, your mom took a few photos and a video of your great grandpa playing with you. It was cute. We'll be sure to show you.

Today Ava Went to Bed Early

Your mom wasn't feeling well today, I think she caught a little bit of the bug I had on Sunday.

The cats needed some canned food so I decided to take you with me to the pet store after work in order to give your mom a few minutes of peace and quiet. 

Since it would only be a few minutes we went to Giant Eagle to waste a little more time. We got home just before 7:00 p.m. and you fell asleep in the car just before we pulled in the driveway. 

I only turned the light on long enough to
snap a quick picture.

Normally, the movement of getting you unbuckled and out of your car seat wakes you up. Not tonight. You were spent. 

I brought you upstairs and laid you down on our bed. I didn't even bother taking your purple suit off of you. I figured you'd be awake in a few minutes. 

Again, wrong. 

Around 8:30 we decided it best to get you out of your suit and change your diaper so you could sleep for the night. 

You woke up while we were changing you and you made it for about another half hour before going down for the night. 

Your mother had you on the couch and I was in the recliner, we played a little peek-a-boo. You were enjoying at as you flashed smiles that could melt the coldest heart. 

Adorable.

Like I said, you quickly tired and went down for the night. 

Sleep tight Gravy Pie.

Today Ava got a Tooth

It's just a little white speck peeking out of the bottom left of your gum, but it's there. 

Today, your first tooth finally reached the surface. It was a slow climb, but it made it. For months we have been speculating that you were teething. The constant drooling, continual chewing of anything you could fit in your mouth were just a few of the symptoms. 

I received a text from your mom this morning telling me that she could without a doubt feel your tooth and also see it. 

I was excited to get home from work and have a look myself. 

You were reluctant to show me, I pulled out my bag of tricks to get you to smile or open your mouth so I could look. I think you were on to me, nothing worked. 

I was able to rub my little finger across your gums and yes, it was there. Among the smooth gum was a little hard bump. 

Eventually I was able to get a little peek. 

On a side note, we often speak of how happy of a baby you are. We're serious when we say this. Out in public you are so well behaved, and tonight was no exception. 

I met you and your mom at Walsh after work and we headed to Ellett High School to watch Twinsburg and Aurora play. You never cryed, fussed, or made a peep. You watched the action and sat in the bleachers playing with your toys. 

Only once, when you were a little more than a month old, did we have an unfavorable  experience at a restaurant. We'll tell you about that at a later time. 

The basketball game was near one of my all-time favorite restaurants - Parasson's - and we decided to grab dinner there following the game. 

My long winded explination as to your happiness leads to this video from the restaurant.