Today Ava Was Playful

I've been waiting for days like today since before you were born. I think your mom thought I was crazy when she was pregnant because, more than once, I said I couldn't wait until you were born so I could play with you. 

Your favorite pastime? Clapping
two plastic eggs together.

I remember her response "You realize it will be about six months or so until she's able to do that, right?" Deep down, I did, but I still couldn't wait. 

I've embraced everyday I've had with you over the past nine months, but tonight is one I'll remember for a long time. And if I don't - that's why I'm recording it now.

Later in the evening, we chased each other around the house. We have an open floor plan where the divide from the kitchen and living room creates a sort of island. We crawled around and around the island, you chasing me then reversing and me chasing you. 

Babies must have strong knees because mine will be sore for days after this.

You'd get so far, stop and clap, then look around for me. One of the cutest moments I've witnessed to date. It was so much fun. 

I'm going to do my best to remember what it's like to be young and when you want to play, I'll stop what I'm doing and play.

You didn't just play with me, you got your mom involved as well. What's so funny is that she'll pretend to sleep and no matter where you are, you'll crawl over and sap her on the face. It's not nice to slap people, but geeze, we can't help but laugh. 

We experimented and I pretended to sleep, and you couldn't care less about me. Thanks. 

Of course I recorded a bit of it:

Today Ava Got Ready With Dad

Well Chunk-O, it used to be that your mom would prepare you for the day after I left for work. Today was the beginning of a role reversal. You see, mom is embarking on a new opportunity, she began classes to become a real estate agent and the class began bright and early at 8:00 a.m. Leaving it up to me to prepare you for the day. 

Laughing at Dad's outfit choices.
Note: Mom put me in these PJs.

Not gonna lie, I was a little nervous. Your mom is so good at getting you ready for the morning and this is new territory for me. 

She, bless her soul, had as much ready last night as she possibly could. But, I still had some responsibility. I had to get you dressed - let's be real, that isn't a strong suit for me; I can barely dress myself - feed you, prep your bag and snacks, remember frozen bags and other small things and get you to the sitter. 

As I rounded the final turn to get to the sitter's, it hit me, I forgot the frozen bags. You had enough to get you through the morning so I had to make a run home on my lunch hour and drop off a couple more bottles. 

The sitter's kids missed you. The moment I rang the doorbell screams of "Ava!!!" cascaded through the house as the pitter patter of toddler feet got closer and closer to the front door. 

I left - having a little more understanding of how your mom felt the first time she dropped you off. 

I knew you were in good hands, but they weren't my hands. 

It'll take a few days, but I'll get used to it.

Today Ava Was a Chatty Cathy

Holy cow, little one. I wish I knew what you were telling us today. 

It was non-stop!
 

Yard work supervisor.

Before I get into that, though, I must mention that today didn't start where it left off yesterday. You were not the good kid at church this morning.  

We left Church after communion. Not something we normally do. Aside form being fussy and fidgety, you spit up on a chair in front of us - luckily unoccupied - but the gentleman in front of me had his glasses on that chair and I think your spit up splattered on his frames. 

After a short nap when we got home, you seemed to do a 180. The day didn't turn into yours like we promised you yesterday, but it didn't seem like you minded. 

Or did you? Maybe that's what you were trying to tell us. 

All day it was "Dad, dad, dad." with some Bob's thrown in and what sounds like "hubba, hubba, hubba." Everything you say, seems to happen in three's. 

There was also a lot of baby speak that I think only another nine-month old could decipher. 

It continued from the time we mowed the lawn, to finishing the house-hold projects, to running errands, right up to bed time. 

Here's a small sample of your conversations that your mom recored on our way home from the grocery store:

Today Ava Was Behaved

All day you were well-behaved. Not to say this is out of the ordinary, but on the way home from a trip to Lodi, your mom and I both commented on the matter.

The only time you'll ever be a
bench warmer!

Early in the morning we made a family trip to Menard's so we could get some supplies to finish a few projects around the house. I wanted to box in the garden so a few 12' 1x6's and some top soil later, I was good to go. Four corbels for a shelf project, a storage tub for your too-small clothes, wiper blades for our cars, and batteries for your toys and we were good to go. 

We were at the store for close to two hours and you ever complained. Sometimes, you get tired of being held, or simply want to be on the ground crawling around. 

When we got home, you fell asleep. It was as if you knew we needed to work on the projects. You were out for about two hours, the perfect amount of time for us to paint the garden boards and your mom's shelf project. 

Later in the afternoon it was off to the outlets at Lodi. Again, you were perfectly behaved. 

We shopped for a few hours and by the time we left, you were spent and passed out in the car for the ride home. 

We told ourselves since you were so good today and we got to do what we wanted to do, tomorrow will be a day for you to do what you wanted.

Today Ava Was On The Move

I'm about to get skinny. 

Why? 

Look bob, no hands!

Because you're on the move little one! I couldn't be more excited.

Your mom has been working hard with you during the day on standing up. You'll get it for a few seconds then back down on your butt you go. 

This morning, still in your PJs, your training session began. She sent me a pic while I was at work in which you were standing up. 

This is the first time you've stood long enough for her to get a clear photo. It made my day. 

Little did I know you weren't done impressing us yet!

A little later in the afternoon my phone buzzed on my desk again. I check it out and this time it's a video. 

It's of you walking across the living room floor - with the aid of a walker of course. Let's not get ahead of ourselves, here. 

But, I have a feeling it won't be long until the walker is discarded and we're chasing you all throughout the house. 

You've taken a few steps with your walker before, but this was out of the blue. I hope it means that when you put your mind to something, you go out and do it. If this is the case, the sky is the limit for you. 

I couldn't wait to get home and see this for myself. After work, we tried it again and you went 30+ steps across the living room and into the hallway. 

One thing about you, when you're done, you're done. There's no compromise. The you were giggling and enjoying your trip across the floor the whole way, then suddenly, on your butt you were. No warning, just done. 

I'm excited for what lies ahead. 

Gates, anyone?

Cute pic of you and your mom from
our walk in the park this evening.
Just wanted to share.

Today Ava Looked Retired

I had about five minutes left on my lunch hour when we decided to take you outside to your pool this afternoon. This time the water was a perfect temp, but for some reason you didn't want to stay in. 

You kept trying to crawl back out. 

Livin the good life.

I had to leave, so you and your mom enjoyed the warm weather and sun. Not long after getting back to the office I received a pic from your mom of you in your white hat (two days in a row you kept it on!) in which you were sitting against the edge and looking very relaxed. 

I couldn't help but think to myself "Is this what retirement is going to be like?" I have a long way to go to find out, but someday I'll know. 

Before you were born your mom and I had numerous conversations about what kind of parents we'll be. In one of those conversations I specifically recall both of us agreeing, without any debate, that we don't want our children to be inside all day watching TV and playing video games. 

You see that all too often now-a-days. 

We want you to be outside, to be active, to have fun. So, when the weather permits, we don't stay inside.

It seems to us that you're enjoying the outside so far. Let's keep it up!

Today Ava Wore Her Hat

We can put hats on you all we want, but it is monumental when you actually keep it on. 

Rocking the white wide brim.

This afternoon I received a text from your mom with a few pics attached of you wearing a hat. 

See? It's so notable it's worth taking photos and sending them on!

Maybe you were distracted by the fact that we put the hammock out this afternoon and also filled your pool again. Or, maybe you were battling a slight bout of hypothermia as we used the garden hose to fill the pool and put you in before it warmed up in the sun. 

Either way you wore your hat and that's what matters. 

It wasn't a one-time thing either. When I came home from work we quickly ate dinner and went for a walk. I tried to put your hat on you again and much to my surprise, you kept it on. 

It isn't for a fashion statement so much as it is to help protect your head, face and eyes. 

We never had a problem with winter hat so it came as a surprise to us when you wouldn't keep the summer hats on. 

Hopefully it's just a phase!