Today Ava Loved The Owls

Before flying off into the owls, I can't resist showing you a video from this morning. I came home from breakfast to find you and mom in the living room and boy did you have the story to tell! 

 
Maybe you were telling us how much you wanted to go to mom's game today and see your favorite bulletin board? 

So why did I mention a bulletin board? Well, when we go watch mom's basketball games you have to enter through the cafeteria to get to the gym and off to the side is a bulletin board full of owls that you don't let me forget is there.

Now, all who know you know your love for the Owl. 

The origins of your obsession can be traced back to a pair of Old Navy PJs with owls on the shirt and owl print bottoms. It's evolved so much that we can't even put the jammies on you or when we get the laundry out all we hear is "Owl. Owl. Owl." until we hand them to you. 

The same goes for when we're out in public, if you see an owl - anywhere - you let us know and you want to go see it.

The cafeteria is the nucleus of the school which houses not only the high school but also the middle and elementary schools.

We use the cafeteria as your playground when you become bored with sitting still during the games or you need a break from coloring in the bleachers. 

On the elementary side there is a bulletin board for well-behaved students or "Owl Stars" as the board calls them. Each student has their name printed on a cutout of an owl which is then tacked to the board. 

I can't stress enough how much you love this board and how much I dread the day they change it. It might be the biggest meltdown in history when you realize it's gone.

Tonight, each time we'd walk away you waved and blew kisses to the owls.

Today Ava Showed Affection Towards Cookie

Our cats don't quite understand your version of affection, but they've learned to tolerate it. 

McGee will now lay still when you wrestle him to the ground and lay on top of him for a few seconds. Early on he'd scratch and claw his way out from underneath you. A few times you walked away with some nice battle wounds. 

But now he knows you're not out to hurt him, quite the opposite. 

Cookie is a little more fragile and I think you're understanding that. You treat her differently than you do McGee. Sometimes rough, but more gentle overall. 

Since the first night I brought her in from the cold and rain Cookie has been one to head butt. Nothing hard. She'll just lean her head in to yours. It's how she shows the love. 

You've obviously picked up on this and in a tender moment tonight, you initiated the ritual. 

Cookie was standing on the end table between the couch and recliner - presumably trying to hide from the wild child running rampant throughout the living room. 

Your eye caught her there and you walked over grabbed Cookie around the neck and pulled her towards you. Simultaneously leaning in as you pulled her head towards yours. 

We need to work on the finesse of your touch but it was adorable nonetheless. 

You showed her how much you appreciate her company.

Today Ava Went Downtown To See Fireworks

Fireworks in December? Yep, you read that correctly.

Tonight was the annual "Light Up Downtown" event.

The centerpiece of the evening is a Christmas themed play capped with the arrival of Santa Clause and then fireworks.

We had planned to go to the event, weather permitting, this morning. It didn't look good early on as it rained heavily most of the day but it let up as the evening arrived.

We decided to give it a shot, thinking you might take an interest in the sights and sounds. 

When we arrived, the play was already going on. You were interested, but quickly grew antsy. We decided to move on and just as we got to the street to walk, fireworks erupted.

Your emotions were a mix of intrigue and fear. You couldn't take your eyes off of the light and motion, but the noise scared you a little and you insisted on resting your head on our shoulders. 

Although as mom pointed out later, you might have just been trying to keep the slight drizzle out of your eyes as you looked up. 

Once the fireworks concluded we popped into Subway for a sandwich and to get out of the elements for a minute or two. 

After warming up we explored the offerings for a little bit longer and grabbed a cup of coffee before you forced us to head home. 

You forced us to go home? Sure did. 

When we were at Carpe Diem we were told that in the downstairs level kids were being given coloring books. We found the stairs but at the bottom was just restrooms. Dissapointed we made our way back up but you had other plans. You sat down and tried to scoot down the steps. When mom wouldn't allow it you threw a fit that last all the way to the car and into our garage. 

Today Ava Climbed Up On The Couch

Your growing in leaps and bounds, that's for sure! 

You've been trying to get up on the couch by yourself for the past week or so now. With your face burined in the cushions you reach as far as you can, get a grip, then try and swing your right leg up. 

You've got the concept, you're just not tall enough to bring it all together. 

Tonight, we changed you into your PJs and while mom was in our room changing, I turned my back for just a few seconds to grab the remote from the recliner. When I turned back around you were standing proudly on the couch.

 

Did you grow that extra inch overnight that gave you the edge? No. 

Did mom put you on the couch when I wasn't looking?  Impossible. 

So what's the reasonable explanation here. Surveying the surroundings it dawned on me that your Minnie Mouse couch was butted right about against the big couch. There's my "aha!" moment. 

You figured out that if you use the Minnie couch for the added height, you can finally swing your leg up onto the couch and pull yourself up. 

Of course I called mom into the room and explained to her what happened. 

We reset the scene to see if you'd do it again. 

You gave us numerous demonstrations. Have a look at this one:

Today Ave Got In The Huddle

Each morning after I get up I step into your room to check on you. Most mornings I unplug the vaporizer and put a blanket over you. 

This morning I continued my routine as normal but failed to realize that your arm was entangled in the blanket (or as you would call it - towel). When I tried to lift it from your side to place back over you, it tugged at your arm and woke you up.

6:30 a.m. is an early start to the day.

Why dive into this if we're obviously going to be talking about basketball? 

Because it sets in motion the events leading up to your assistant coaching duties. 

Shortly after I left for work you and mom were out the door as well. She needed to stop into the office this morning to take care of some business and since it wasn't a day for you to be at the sitter, you went with her. 

The office was having their bi-weekly team meetings and mom was invited to sit in. I mention this as well because she was hesitant having you with her if she should sit in on it. the owner of the company assured her it would be okay so you both went in. And from what I hear you were quite the ham for attention. 

Mom told me that at one point you slapped the owner of the company on the thigh and when mom scolded you, you went back over and rubbed her leg to make amends.  

She also relayed to me that when introduced to the agents in attendance that you stood, waved and blew kisses and repeated the gesture to everyone in the room. 

You commanded the crowd from what I hear. 

Post-meeting mom said you were asleep before your bucket was in the car seat - which is why I mentioned you being up so early this morning. It's all circling back now.

As I was stepping into a meeting at 2:00 p.m. this afternoon my phone vibrated and looking down I saw a text from your mom. "She's still out."

It was over an hour later before I was able to respond. "Safe to assume she's up now?" 

Though she commented that she had to wake you up in order to leave for practice, I received this photo as proof of your alertness.

Quite frankly I lost track of time and didn't realize it was as late in the afternoon. So a photo from practice caught me a little off guard at first. You look like a veteran coach ... at 16 months old. 

Later in the evening as mom and I were talking abut our days the photo came up in conversation and she exclaimed "I never showed you the others. You've got to see these."

She pulled up the photos on her phone and I scrolled through about a half dozen or more images of you at practice; observing from the bench and even in the middle of the huddle. 

 

Mom told me that when Jessie is addressing the team, you'll get right in the middle and stare at her, listening closely. 

I've said it before, but if I haven't committed it to paper yet, I'll do it right now. Coaching is in your blood.

Today Ava Used Her Words

I struggled with the subject of this post a little this evening. With each passing day it's becoming increasingly difficult to pick out one singular moment to commit to this journal. 

The subject line easily could have been "Today Ava Fed Dad Breakfast." 

Thinking I would be the one feeding you, I had a large salad fork to cut your waffle and feed it to you. In typical Ava fashion, you wanted to feed yourself. I should have known better. 

As soon as you decided you were full (or tired of) your waffle you turned the tables and tried to put the next bite in my mouth. You succeeded on the second attempt.

Or, the subject line could have read something like "Today Ava Fed The Cats."

While we were waiting for mom tonight (she had a few houses to show) you picked up McGee's food dish and attempted to give him the empty bowl underneath the Christmas tree. He was interested, that is, until he realized there was nothing on it for him to eat. 

Mom later commented on why the dish was under the tree. After I explained the story she said "I bet she'd love feeding the cats treats." 

Great idea! Glad I thought of it. 

While mom finished dinner I grabbed a packet of the treats we bought yesterday and handed a few to you. You really got a kick out of feeding them. 

Don't mind the clutter in this video. We're still getting our Christmas decor put away. 

A third option for the subject could have been "Today Ava Waited For Santa." 

I fed you prior to mom getting home so you weren't sitting at the table with us for dinner. You were keeping yourself occupied by running around and playing with your toys. 

At one point, I looked to my right to see you on your tip toes spreading the blinds apart for a good look outside. 

Not satisfied with that view you went to the window behind me. 

For whatever reason seeing you peer into the darkness made me think you were looking for Santa and his reindeer to come streaking across the sky with all the presents you anticipate him bringing.

And finally, here's why I chose the subject line I did. 

Everyday is an adventure that we look forward too. What is she going to say or do today? There has been a report from Marissa that you said "please" on one occasion at her house and today she told me you said "Andrew." 

You're picking up and absorbing the vocabulary at a rapid pace. Some evenings I try and run through in my head what words you know and understand and I know I fall short of them all. 

Tonight as we were getting you ready for bed mom said "Are you ready to go night night?" To which you responded with an audible "Night night!" 

We asked you a few more times and it's clear you were saying "night night" and that's what you want to say. 

Keep up the good work!

Today Ava Went to Her First Open House

Do we bring you along or do i stay behind with you?

These were the questions mom and I were asking each other as she was getting ready to work an open house this afternoon. 

It's not that I'm not confident your mom can handle open houses on her own, but right now with no other form of protection I feel more comfortable if I accompany her. 

We were sans sitter this afternoon so the decision was made to have a family outing at the open house. 

I was mildly concerned as I knew you would want to get down and run around and had visions of you bumping into something or worse yet, breaking something. 

All was for naught though as you fell asleep on the way to Alliance and slept for nearly the first hour of the showing. 

After that, you were content sitting with me and watching videos of yourself on our phones. I'm okay with it ... this time. Let's just not make a habit of being on our phones constantly. <------ I can't believe I just typed that sentence in reference to a (almost) 16-month old.