Today Ava Saw Family

You had a busy day today.

Uncle Joe came over today and hung out with you for a bit in the afternoon to start it off. 

Showing Uncle Joe how my toy works.

He's in town because tomorrow you'll be Baptized at Most Pure Heart of Mary Parish in Shelby, Ohio and we tapped him to be your Godfather. 

Your mom and I chose her home Church for your Baptism because we were married in my home Church. We thought it a great way to incorporate her home Church and hometown into your life. 

Your mom relocated to Canton from Shelby for college and remained here for me once we met during her senior year. Being a few years older than your mother I already had roots established here - a full time job at the Hall of Fame. When you read this, ask us the story of how we met. It's an interesting one. All you need to know right now is that it revolves around a game of shuffleboard. 

We'll fill in the details someday.

Anyway, back to your Uncle Joe, being a pilot in the US Air Force, he's vary rarely home. We had to postpone your Baptism once because he was sent on a two week mission and couldn't guarantee his presence for the Sacrament. 

Well, this time it worked out and he drove up from his home in Charleston, S.C. to see you. He stopped over this afternoon and we grilled some burgers and brats, hung out and caught up. 

I'm very close with my brothers, we talk and exchange text messages daily. It's difficult having them on opposite sides of the country, so when either or both of them are home I try to spend as much time with them as I can. 

He's becoming more comfortable with you. You should have seen him the first time you met, he was rigid, stiff as a board, fearing he might break you. This time, it took a few minutes but he came to understand that you're pretty tough. After all, you are your parents daughter, strong in stature and in will. 

Hanging with Uncle John and Aunt Kelly.

Once Joe left for the day we packed you up and headed to Shelby for the evening. Rather than wake up early and risk forgetting something before your Baptism we felt it would be better to head out this evening and stay the night at your Grandparents house. Before settling for the night though, we grabbed dinner.

Uncle Joe wasn't the only out-of-town guest arriving for your special day, your Great Uncle John and Aunt Kelly came in from Saratoga Springs, NY. A 9.5 hour drive for them.

We - along with your Grandma, Aunts Casey and Holly along with Uncle Shawn - met them at Cheddar's for dinner. 

After dinner, it was time to crash, due to the news from yesterday your mom and I didn't sleep much the night before. 

Sleep well kiddo, you've got another long day ahead of you tomorrow.

Today Ava Was What We Needed

No matter what's going on in our lives, we can always count on you for a smile. 

Always good for a smile.

Your mom got the news she had been anticipating this evening. 

You can mentally prepare yourself for unfavorable news, but no matter what, when it happens, it stings. 


You're an infant, obviously making you oblivious to stress and adult responsibility and this has helped us tremendously these past few weeks. 

That's why, for us, we're blessed to have you in our life. When the going gets tough, you come through with a cheeky grin and momentarily we can escape reality. 

Today was no different, you've been a happy baby all day.

We're going to look at this setback as an opportunity for us to select our next path and make the most of it. What lies ahead, we don't know. 

What we do know is we'll be better of for this experience and make sure you (and any future siblings) enjoy a fruitful childhood. 

We're smart, resourceful, we'll be just fine!

Today Ava Was a Klepto

Let me begin by saying I feel a little guilty after writing yesterday's journal. You proved me wrong. Marissa said she had "A totally different Ava" today.

Could you have snapped out of your funk? We sure hope so!

You were the happy cheery baby we've come to know throughout the evening. 

What I'm going to take from today is your "klepto" tendency.

Victory is mine!

This morning as I was getting ready, you were rolling around the kitchen in your walker. You've become quite good at maneuvering your ride, from rolling to steering, you make it go where you want it to go. 

I was packing my lunch and turned around to see that you were rolling around with the kitchen towel in your hand waving it around as you went.

I was dumbfounded as to how you got it. I put it back on the cabinet holder and didn't think anything of it. 

Right away you went over to it, reached out, and stole it once more. I laughed as you and your getaway walker pulled away from me, fleeing the kitchen. I took it from you once more and rather than put it back where it belongs I set it on the counter. Out of sight, out of mind, right? Wrong.

In a moment of "I'll show you," you made your way to the stove and swiped one of the three towels hanging there.

This continued after work as well. I'm hoping this means you have the mind of an elephant and remember everything. You're a smart girl. 

Your mom was able to capture this video showing your blitzkrieg on the kitchen towel later in the evening. This time rather than run, you cornered mom trying to show off your prize. 

Today Ava Was Not Herself

It wasn't just today, honestly. You've been off for nearly a week now. Not the typically happy, bubbly Ava we've come to know over the past eight months. Something is bothering you.

Ready for this weather to break
so we can cruise!

Your mom and I just wish we knew what exactly it is.

You seem happy when you're home with us but reports from Marissa tell us otherwise. She's been saying your cranky and needy during the day. Are you becoming more aware that we're your parents and there's some separation anxiety? As flattering as that thought is, I pray it isn't the case. Marissa takes great care of you and she enjoys having you there during the day.

So what could it be? I've consulted many of my parent friends to get their ideas and scoured the internet for answers. This is where you being the first child is a disadvantage, we are unsure of what could be bugging you.

Here's a rundown of what might be possibilities:

Pearly whites? You insist on chewing on anything and everything that is near your mouth or within reach.  Even when you finish bottles you'll chew on the nipple for a bit.

Ear infection? You'll tug at your ear while taking a bottle, or when tired. I chalk it up to sleepiness or not knowing what to do with your hands while eating. You even play with my ears from time to time.

Sleepy? We're being told you don't sleep much throughout the day - an hour tops while at the sitter. And you refuse naps at home. You've been staying up later, no matter how hard we try we can't get you to sleep until 9:45 p.m. Tonight, it was 9:50 when you finally simply gave up. Without warning you laid your head on your moms shoulder and it was lights out. 

The sleep doesn't last long at night. The past few days you'll wake up (4:40 and 2:15 a.m. respectively) and take a bottle. Once the bottle is gone and I think you're back out for the night I'll lay you in the crib and you immediately begin to scream. It isn't until I pick you up that you'll instantly lay your head on my shoulder and be back out. You won't sleep until you're laying on my chest. Most of the time at an incline. Such was the case tonight. Your mom and I were exhausted so we brought you into our room and set you between us with a bottle. The moment the milk ran dry you began to wail. I placed you on my chest at an incline and you were out again. We laid there for nearly a half hour before I was took a chance and put you back in your crib where you went back to sleep.

Acid Reflux? I consulted a friend about the sleep issue and he suggested acid reflux as a potential cause. Said that sometimes if infants lay flat when taking a bottle they can get reflux which would explain the discomfort following the bottles. 

What's difficult for us is that you cannot communicate what is bothering you. We're trying to keep you comfortable and our happy little Grav-O.

Hopefully it's simply a phase as you grow and it'll end soon. If it continues, we'll head to the doctor to make sure it isn't serious.

Sleep tight kiddo. You need it.

Today Ava Was Grown Up

Only a few days old and already a diva.

"She looked ... grown up." 

Your mom mentioned this to me as she was sitting with you on the couch. You flashed a grin that she hadn't seen before. 

I was sitting in the recliner so from my vantage point I was unable to see what she was talking about. I moved to the opposite end of the couch in hopes you might repeat your new smile.

It didn't take long. 

By now we're able to decipher your mood by reading your expressions or figure out what it is you want, but this was something new. 

She's right, it did make you seem more grown up.

It was a fleeting moment so I wasn't able to capture it with my phone, but its one that I wanted to put into words here so I could remember it later.

Not much has changed.

I may not have described the look in detail for you to comprehend later, but all I need are these words to act as the catalyst for the memory. 

Something else that has been occurring for the past few days is the return of your "duckface." This face first appeared a few days after you were born and quickly became one of my favorite photos of you. I mean, I thought you'd be a teenage before you graced us with this phase, not a mere handful of days old. Is it a sign of your impending attitude? I hope not.

It seems to me that this time around the duckface is appearing because you are stuffy and when you show it, you're breathing hard through your nose to try and clear it up. Ask us to demonstrate some time.

Your also growing up in the fact that this morning while I was at the gym your mom heard you in your crib but you weren't making your usual noises that let us know you were awake. 

Busted

Normally we hear a groan or a slight cry letting us know you're breaking free of the sleep cycle. When we look at the screen on the monitor you'll lift your head, look around - lather, rinse, repeat - we know you're awake and one of us will go get you. 

What she heard was you slapping something and stomping your feet. When she turned the monitor on you were standing at the edge of your crib slapping the side rail and stomping your feet on the mattress. 

I can only think that this is partly my fault because one of my favorite things to do when I come into your room in the morning is stand you up inside your crib against the rail and come down to your level. I'll say good morning to you and you'll pat me on top of the head. Maybe this morning you substituted my head for the crib rail.

Needless to say, before you went to sleep tonight, the crib mattress was lowered. 

Today Ava Sat With Me

The subject line should make you gasp or question your health. Were you not feeling well, were you tired? 

In the zone!

Those that know you, know you're a busy body; I've talked of it at length in earlier posts. You're a lot like me in the fact that you refuse to sit still. 

Crawling has not only multiplied your curiosity but it has also exponentially lessened your desire to stay in one place. 

You've been getting your hands into everything, cat dishes, folders and papers, books, your toys, anything and everything. If it's within reach it's in your hands and eventually your mouth ... 

We've even coined the term "Ava-lanche" to refer to when you rifle through your toys and they are all over the floor - seemingly in the blink of an eye.

Tonight, as we were winding down from the day, you sat with me. It may have been due to the time - it was getting late - or the cartoons on the TV, but as I sat on the edge of our bed and you on my knee, you stayed put. I'll take it. 

Those moments are few, and hey, bonding like that is wonderful.

One other thing to add from the day is that when I got home from work you voluntarily gave me kisses. I began to loudly kiss your cheeks in a playful manner and you laughed and kept coming back for more. 

Your mom got a few seconds of it on video: 

Today Ava Enjoyed Easter

Today was your first Easter. As we are nomads of sorts in the Church department we went to Little Flower to celebrate Mass. Seated in folding chairs in the front of the Church, you seemed to entertain the congregation.

Since we were in folding chairs and not pews, we had to kneel on the stone floor. Rather than hold you, we let you stand up in front of us, you began to laugh and smile as you thought this meant we were going for a walk.

Baby's first Easter dress.

We had a few people come up to us and mention how you kept their attention throughout the service. 

Side note - it's painfully obvious that I grew up with brothers as your mom noticed that I put your tights on backwards after changing you. 

I suppose seeing the tag in the front should have been my first clue. 

Following Mass we packed our things and headed to Columbus to have Easter dinner with your Aunt Holly's in-laws. It was enjoyable as they are great people and the food was excellent. 

You were entertaining as you were crawling about and wanting everyone to walk with you throughout the condo. Comments were made that we wore you out, but I think you wore yourself out. 

You slept nearly the entire trip down and on the way back. I wish we could say the same for the night.

You didn't go down for the night until about 9:45 which is really late for you.