Today Ava Gave Her Toys A "Butt Change"

This week Marissa is working with you and Adriana to potty train you both and we're doing the same at home, which means a lot of "nakey Ava." 

I'm not sold that you're ready - I got peed on tonight (but that's another story). I know you'll let us know when you are, but we're going to try diligently anyway. 

So tonight, as we were relaxing you brought out your puppet and told me he needs a "butt change." 

Yep, you're quickly picking up everything we say. 

I said okay and told you to go back to your room and gets a wipe and a diaper. 

You came back with the pack of wipes and I got one for you and you wiped your puppet, even picking up his legs to get his butt. 

Once you were assured he was clean you ran back to your room and emerged with a diaper. 

I helped you put it on and you were happy with the results. 

This triggered a chain reaction and Mickey, baby Minnie and even Pluto had butt changes before the night was through. 

We finally had to convince you that the others didn't need it or we would have changed every one of your stuffed animals.

Today Ava Went For a Walk

First things first. I got you down for a nap today. By myself! 

Mom had an open house this afternoon so it was you and I for a few hours. You were watching Mickey on the iPad when I peered up at the clock and it was coming into the 1 O'clock hour. I figured the time was now for a nap and snatched the device from your grip. 

I expected a temper but knew you were tired when the fight was minimal. 

We made our way back to the bedroom to lay down when you asked for "Mickey on TV?" to which I responded "one episode, kapeesh?"  

We shook on it and laid down. 

A few minutes in and I heard what I thought were little snores. I ever-so-gently lifted my head to look and sure enough you were out cold. 

 

As you would say "I did it!" Of course I had to relay the good news to mom. 

You slept for an hour and a half and awoke just in time to see mom come in the door.

Your wake up process is slow so we let you go for a few minutes before completing our Sunday chores and getting groceries. 

Of which you were graciously willing to help bag. 

Earlier in the day we promised you that we'd get outside and go for a walk.

Tapping on the horn to let the world know you were coming, we crossed the street and headed out into the neighborhood.

This walk wasn't any different from the others - we covered maybe two miles - but it was your enthusiasm that I'll remember the most. 

Your little personality shows itself more and more each day. You were totally content playing in the basement by yourself (under a watchful eye of course) while mom and I unloaded the groceries and showing us your lego towers. 

But during this walk, mom and I got a kick out of how you would hunch over the steering wheel - looking like you were practicing for the Soap Box Derby. 

And the sunglasses! Those sunglasses just kill me everytime. 

Or thrusting your arms in the air as if on a roller coaster at Cedar Point. 

 Much to your chagrin we pulled into the driveway and put the car away. 

It's impossible to deny you when you use that cute little voice and ask to play with your sidewalk chalk.

 

So, we enjoyed the cool weather for a few more minutes and drew smileys and checked out the day lilies growing. 

Today Ava Wanted The Blue Cupcake

We had some more celebrating to do and fireworks to see to tonight! This time at my cousin's property. 

Alexis and her neighbor have a pig roast and fireworks show each year. Last year, you weren't quite old enough to stay up for the fireworks and we left shortly after you received the first and best shiner of your short life.

We joked that it would be a success if we left the party tonight without another black eye. 

Mom and I both thought the party began at 6 so we weren't concerned when you took a late nap and woke up at 5:40. 

I checked the invite again and realized the  festivities began at 5:00 ... 

We hustled to get ready and were out the door. 

We arrived at Alexis' just as food was being served. Mom and I walked down the line with you and asked you if you wanted pork. "No, blue cupcake." 

I was a little confused, I didn't know where you got cupcakes from. No one mentioned them to you.

Did you want some chips and dip? "Blue cupcake." 

Okay, so you're fixed on a blue cupcake that at this point I had no idea if it even existed at this party. 

As we got further down the line and neared the dessert I saw the apple of your eye. If only you'd eat apples ... 

There they were in all their frosted glory, Red, White, and Blue cupcakes both large and small. 

You begged for a "big blue cupcake" but since you weren't eating any real food we compromised on a little one to start. 

We sat down to eat and you licked the top of that cupcake clean. No trace of blue was left. Too bad the same couldn't be said for your face. I think the icing just transferred from the cupcake to around your mouth. 

We tried and tried to get you to eat something else but when it was all said and done the tally was 2 small blue cupcakes and two big blue cupcakes. 

 
We knew a crash would be coming at some point tonight. 

We really thought not that you're older you'd love to see Alexis' horses. Last year you had no fear of them but this year it was a struggle to get you to pet them. 

You were intrigued by them, but didn't want to touch them. We'll just have to take you out to Alexis' more often to see them and get acclimated. Who knows, maybe she'll let you go for a ride! 

Remember that crash I mentioned?  It came during the fireworks show. And let me tell you, for a non-professional fireworks show, this was an incredible display. 

You didn't care though, through the booms and the bright lights, you were out on my shoulder. 

It was a good, but long night. Always an enjoyable time.

 

Today Ava Celebrated America!

We had a full day, kiddo, and you were a trooper.

We started out bright and early this morning sitting in from of the North Canton Library for the Independence Day Parade with Marissa and the girls as well as Adriana and her parents. 

There's a saying - "Nothing's impossible;" well I beg to differ. Whoever coined that phrase never tried to pose four toddlers at the same time. See above. 

Once the parade was underway all focus shifted when the participants began to toss candy your way. 

You were a little timid at first but once we assured you it was okay to run out and pick up the candy you turned a corner and enjoyed the competition. 

The parade closed with a line of North Canton fire trucks rolling by with sirens blaring. You loved it. When they were gone you turned to me and kept asking "More fire trucks?"

We made our way to Wendy's for lunch with Marissa and the girls. I don't even need to tell you what you ate ... chicken nuggets ... 

Then it was home for a nap and eventually dinner before making our late night stop in downtown Canton for First Friday and fireworks. 

What did you have for dinner? 

Watch and find out: 

First Friday was packed but we had a good time with Britney, Roy and Keelie. 

You had a chance to experience your first sparkler. 

Which was great ... until you tried to touch it to your lips. Luckily, I'm still quick and was able to intervene in the nick of time. 

Once the sun went down it was time for fireworks!  

I really thought you'd love them but after seeing your reaction when you heard the first explosion, I thought we might be in for a long night. 

You buried your head as deeply as you could into my shoulder and tightly closed your eyes. 

Slowly you got curious and tried to peek out and look, but the brightness combined with the loud booms was a little much for you. 

 

 When it was all said and done you begged for "more fireworks!" 

All the way to the car and even on the drive home you asked for more. 

You pointed out everything that you could see on the horizon. That's when I realized it wasn't that you were scared, it was just too bright and too loud for ya. Next year I think you'll enjoy them more.

Today Ava Sang Along To Little Einsteins

First things first every morning, "baby bottle" and "Mickey on TV." No exception this morning.

When you were done with your milk, you slid from the couch and found a sheet of stickers and began to peel them and stick them to the carpet.

I joined you but took the stickers and placed two - an A and a W - on your arm, giving you a tattoo of sorts.

It was game on after this and you began covering any exposed skin especially your legs with what stickers you had left.

Not long after mom was up and I had to go shower and get ready for work so she took over helping you with the stickers.

We didn't realize how much stick these stickers actually have and when it came time to peel them and get you ready to go to Marissa's, it was like pulling a bunch of little bandaids off. 

You didn't like that part so much. 

Not long after starting my day at the office I get a text from mom with a video attached. 

 

You had moved on from Mickey to "Little Einsteins," your second favorite cartoon. I'm sure all kids do this, but to me it's still adorable. 

Blastoff!

Today Ava Stacked Pillows

Stacking things. Maybe it's just a phase, or what toddlers your age do? I guess we'll find out when baby brother or sister is your age and we see if he/she likes to stack things like you do. 

Tonight it was pillows. Somehow one of my pillows ended up in the living room and mom said you just happened to wander to the bedroom and come back with it. 

It was my pillow with the blue pillow case. Why do I mention this? Because the last few nights you've taken a liking to my blue pillow and wanted to lay your head on it when you fall asleep. 

As we all relaxed in the living room I looked down to see you lining up the blue pillow with all of the couch pillows to form what resembled a hopscotch game. 

And, like hopscotch, you jumped from pillow to pillow. 

I sat down on the floor to watch and one-by-one you grabbed the pillows and set them up at my back, using me to balance them. At the edge of the pillows you dragged over an empty laundry basket that was upside down. 

Was this your launching pad? 

I turned around and tried my best to help you balance the pillows. It wasn't an easy task. 

You get frustrated when you want to do something and it doesn't work out how you feel it should. The pillows kept falling over if they weren't balanced properly and you began to whine. So, I held them up and sure enough, as soon a the last one was stacked you'd knock them over. 

Not long after you stood on the laundry basket and began to leap into the stacked pillows. 

I also want to share a video mom sent me from earlier this morning. There's no denying you're love of the cartoon "Little Einsteins" on Disney Junior. 

You've pretty much nailed the theme song. 

Watch: 

Today Ava Laid On The Horn!

It was a pretty normal day today. Not too much, if anything, out of the ordinary. 

After a big two-hand squeeze and a kiss goodbye I headed off to work. You and mom got ready and ran a few errands, making a pit stop at Panera right before lunch. 

Only commoners take their sunglasses off indoors! 

When I got home from work mom ran one more errand ... she got the groceries for the week while you and I got the grill ready. 

What better way to enjoy the summer day than with chicken kabobs and corn on the cob? 

Once the grill was started you insisted on going for a drive. Not in mommy's car or blue car, but in your pink convertable. 

Beeping the horn as we went down the driveway you said "Look out, I'm coming!" 

Looking both ways, we crossed the street to the sidewalk. 

As we went up and down the block you tapped away at that horn reminding folks to clear a path, you're coming through!

I could only make a few trips before it became unbearably hot and we had to make our way back inside. 

You weren't happy about it, but it had to be done. 

It wasn't long before mom was home, the grill was ready and we were enjoying dinner. 

Well mom and I were and you were enjoying spoon fulls of ranch dressing ... 

There's more to life than ranch kiddo!