Today Ava Crawled

It isn't your primary source of locomotion, you still use your mom and I to get around, but we've been working on crawling for some time now. 

Learning to crawl is exhausting!

Each morning I set you down in the living room and try to get you to crawl to me. You want to, you really do. You'll usually psych yourself up by clapping for a second or two then you lean over onto all fours. 

The amount of concentration on your face shows us you really want to get this. I think you evven get frustrated with yourself when you fail. That's my girl, don't give up!

You simply lack the coordination right now to put it all together. 

You'll get your hands out, then not move your legs. Or, you'll get your legs going but your arms are like statues moored to the ground.

It's okay though, I'm a firm believer that repetition is key.

Today, after a few tries, you got it all together for a "step" or two. 

We use one of your favorite toys - the blue octopus - as bait. You've loved this toy since the first time we showed it to you at Target. So much so in fact that the one you currently have is your second one. We left your first one in a hotel room in Michigan on a basketball trip. Oops.

This morning I took numerous cell phone videos in hopes of capturing your first valid crawl. I think I got it. 

Baby gates in no time.

Have a look:

Today Ava was Sassy

Well little lady, we're going to have to nip this one in the bud right now.

This photo has no correlation to the post whatsoever.
We bought you an Easter dress today so of course you
tried it on. Cute, right?

Later in the afternoon you and your mom were playing in the living room. You sitting just below the television and mom beside you. Somehow or another an instruction booklet made its way into your toy baskets. 

We have two rectangular wicker baskets that sit on the bottom shelf of the TV stand. Over time they have become your upstairs "toy boxes" for your smaller things. You reached in and pulled out a booklet and put it straight into your mouth. 

You're  a slobber monster so it didn't take long for the the paper to become soggy and began to disintegrate in your mouth. I asked your mom to take it out of your hands. And that's when you showed us some attitude.

You have a strong grip, you weren't about to let go. When your mom was finally able to wrest it from your clutches you showed sass like I've never seen before. 

I mean, you've gotten angry when we've taken things from you, but this time you meant it. You looked at your mom and screamed at her at the top of your lungs. The tone of your scream was different than what we've witnessed before. It showed that your gaining an understanding of the things around you. 

Just know that it may fly at this age, but not for long. We will raise you to be a respectful young lady. 

Today Ava was Tough

Not too much to report from today, really. Your mom went to Columbus for the girls state tournament so I picked you up from Marissa's. 

You were your usual happy self then we came home, got you fed and it was out the door again. We met Keith and his mom at El Camp's for dinner. 

Following dinner Keith came back to the house to hang out. I gave you a quick bath and you came out to the living room to chill. 

One funny thing did occur, Keith was sitting on the floor against the sofa and was playing with you  standing up against his chest. He had his arms around your waist and you bent over and face planted in front of him.

I picked you up figured you might be stunned and start crying. When I picked you up, you turned around, looked at Keith, tuck your tongue out and started smiling at him. All is well.

Your tough like your dad, not much phases you!

Today Ava was Dressed By Dad

By now it's well known that my ability to dress you isn't top notch. Your mom will look at the outfit I've put you in, lovingly tell me it doesn't match, then scoop you up and put you into something that does.

Well, this morning I went for broke and took it upon myself to dress you. After getting you changed and clothed, we walked down the hall towards the living room. To be honest, I was quite proud of my accomplishment. In my eyes, everything matched and you looked cute. 

Loving the ornery look!
I did a good job on this outfit, right?

Let's backtrack a touch. When we first found out we were having a girl, I was scared to death to pick out your clothes. You're void of Aunt's on my side so girl clothes are new to me. 

There was one time when your mom had a recruiting trip to Toledo and while she was doing her thing, I took the car and went to nearby Franklin Park Mall - sidebar to my back story: I used to work at the JCPenney in this mall during my college years. I went into an Old Navy to pick out clothes for you. Well, I went in coaching myself up, saying to myself "You can do this!" over and over again. Probably looked humerus to anyone within earshot - Yes, I was uttering these words aloud. I went in, picked some things out - if memory serves, it was a yellow skirt, white skirt, and a top - and eventually, uncertain of my choices, returned them all about 10 minutes later. It was my first attempt to pick out girl clothes on my own. Unnerving!

Back to the story at hand - when we got within sight of your mom she looked at you and said "A+." Other than recess or study hall, that's the highest marks I've ever received! 

And, since I dressed you, we knew it wouldn't long before the outfit came off. You have a penchant for ruining the clothes I put you in. Today was no different. When I got home from work, you were in a sleeper. 

Like your mom, you must not agree with my style and you have your own way of shedding my choice of outfit.

Today Ava Snuck Up On Me

You can't "walk" without assistance or even crawl for that matter. So how can you sneak up on me? In the kitchen with your walker of course. 

Your mom's back has been bothering her for a few days so I told her I'd watch you for a bit while she laid down on the couch with a heating pad. 

I put you in your walker and began to wash a few dishes. After a minute or so my mind began to drift and it wasn't long until I felt a little tug at the leg of my jeans. 

Slightly startled (don't judge it was jolt back to reality) I looked down to see your arms outstretched from the walker grabbing my leg. 

You must have thought I forgot about you. It was almost as if you were saying "Hey, I'm down here, pay attention. The dishes'll be there when I'm asleep. Let's go play!" 

So play we did!

Today Ava Was Precious

Tonight I witnessed one of the most precious moments of your young life.

We had some errands to run, getting a birthday gift for Marissa's daughter Liv, grabbing a quick (cheap) bite to eat and capped by a grocery run before Aldi closed. We accomplished all of this and still managed to make it home home by 8:30 p.m.

Don't make me do this, mom.

I began to put the groceries away and your mom started to run a bath for you. It wasn't long and I heard some quiet laughter above the running water and your mom called me into the bathroom. 

I walked in to you standing there giving your mom a giant hug. 

She would try to pull you away to get you into the tub, but you would grip her hoody and pull yourself back into her arms. This happened four or five times in what I can only assume was a combination of being tired and a genuine desire for your mom to save you from the impending dip in the tub.

Naturally, I reached for my phone and began to snap a few quick images. From which, came the gem you see here.

You are too much sometimes. I love it and am so blessed to be your father.

Today Ava Let Us Sleep

There's nothing funny or witty about this post. Just a simple "Thank You" for sleeping through the night and letting your mom and I get some much needed rest. 

It's going to be a very trying time over the next few weeks and we'll need to be rested and ready to go. 

The time change helped us out last night as you slept in to nearly 8:00 a.m., a full hour (ironic isn't it?) past your normal time. 

It allowed me to go to the gym and come home get ready for the day. Now, when you read this for the first time, don't take it the wrong way, I love spending my morning's with you. I yearn to hang out, to play, to teach you things every possible moment I can. We just needed a full night's sleep and you gave it to us at the right time. 

It's so much fun to go in the room and get you when you awaken on your own terms.  Since you sleep on your front, you'll lift your head, look around and when you spot me, you grin from ear to ear an your little legs go nowhere at a mile a minute. I'll then lift you up and let you stand against the rail, you continue smiling, stick out your tongue and look around, excitedly breathing and giggling. 

Here's to a great day!