Today Ava Dipped Her Toast

You might become a little grossed out when you read this, but for now, you really enjoy a little ketchup and mustard with your toast in the morning. 

Let me backtrack a little. As you know you're a regular on the Saturday morning breakfast run with me - have been since the day we brought you home from the hospital. 

Last week when we got home mom asked how you ate. I said you did great including the toast with "red dippy do" and "yellow dippy do." 

I think mom may have threw up in her mouth a little after i told her that. 

"Gross! She dipped her toast in ketchup and mustard?!" Mom asked. 

"Sure did, refused to eat it without it" I replied. 

"That's disgusting" said your mom. 

I agree, but hey, you ate it not us and if that's how you enjoy your toast, so be it.

Fast forward a week. 

We met Grandpa Bernie and Keith at B&K like we always do and when the food came I cut up a piece of toast for you and within seconds you tried to reach across the table and asked for "red, yellow dippy do?" 

So last week wasn't a fluke. 

Of course, I had to get a pic or two for mom to show her I wasn't making this up. 

 

Kinda making my stomach turn as I write this ... how about yours as you read it?

Today Ava Was A Sloppy Eater

I guess I should just start by saying how thankful I am that you ate? Even if it was just a small bowl of salsa and a few chips. 

And most of the salsa found your dress instead of your mouth. 

You eat a little too much like me sometimes. More worried about quantity consumed than quality of the outcome. 
 
We're just going to have to see if the "Shout!" laundry spray is as good as advertised when we get home.

We stopped at El Camp's tonight to take Grandma out for a quick meal as a thanks for coming into town today so mom could go into the office and get some work done. 

I must mention Nathan, the little boy in the booth behind us. He was with his parents after a baseball game and entertained you until both families had to leave. 

You were shy at first, but really began to get a kick out of his antics. He was making faces and pretending to fall in his booth which drew belly laughs from you. 

I think his parents were a little embarassed at first until they saw how much you were enjoying it. 

He reminded me a lot of myself at that age. I would do similar things growing up just to get a laugh out of complete strangers. 

Soon it was time to head back to the house and say goodbye to Grandma.

 
And ... the night wouldn't be complete without a little jumping on the bed. 

Today Ava Asked "Why?"

"Yeah, she started saying that today" Mom told me as we were all in the kitchen trying to narrow down our dinner options.

"What?" I asked.

"Why?" your mom responded.

Then it dawned on me that you did ask "why?" when we were all standing there. I heard it loud and clear it just didn't register.

And now we embark on a new era. 

Coaching ain't easy!

You're so good at repeating everything we say that sometimes I get lost in the new words of your vocabulary. 

There's nothing better than hearing that sweet inquisitive voice. 

You'll learn life lessons as you get older and one that I wish I realized early on was to never stop asking questions. You won't always get the answer you seek or expect, but never let that discourage you.

Don't be me - the quiet kid in class that never spoke up. Now in my thirties, I'm finally speaking up and asking questions. 

Today Ava Had a Steel Trap For a Memory

Sometimes the smoke pours from my ears as I try to recall what I did ten minutes ago, which is why I started this journal for you. I don't want to forget the ups, the downs, the laughter and the tears of raising you. And I want you to be able to better share in those memories with us as we all grow older. 

After what you displayed today, a blog won't be necessary for you to recall your childhood. You're storing everything internally quite well. 

There was two instances tonight in which you amazed me. 

The first was at PetSmart. We ran a few errands before mom got home tonight and while we were in line to purchase our fish food a couple with a very pretty husky got in line behind us. 

I pointed the pup out to you and you said "Big puppy" a couple times and then out of the blue followed it up with "like Kylah." 

Say what? Like Kylah? 

"Yeah, big puppy, like Kylah." 

I could certainly see the similarity in the two but that surprised me. 

You haven't seen or heard about Kylah for at least a few months.

I was floored. 

Then, once mom got home we quickly ran out to get some cheap gas in the Mazda before the price went up - all of the stations except for the one down the street jumped to $3.95 today. This station was still at $3.59. 

After we fueled up we made a quick pit stop at Taco Bell so mom could get a little dinner. She forgot her wallet on her way to Strasburg for summer ball so she was a little on the hungry side when she got home. 

As we were waiting in the drive through we both heard "Uncle Dees has grey hair." 

Well that was random, but again showed your tremendous memory. 

Earlier in the week Keith called me in a panic to explain that he found grey hair in his beard and how serious of an issue it was. 

I tried to get you to say "Uncle Dees has grey hair" but you didn't oblige. Until now. 

Just amazing kiddo. That little mind of yours is going to take you places!

Today Ava Was Jumping On The Bed

Grandma came into town to watch you today so mom could continue basketball camp and I could go to work. 

We're very appreciative of her willingness to make the hour and fifteen minute drive into town and hang out with you. And I think you enjoy it as well. 

Unless mom relays something noteworthy from the day many of my posts take place early in the morning or later in the evening. Some day I'll be able to capture moments from midday. 

Anyway ... tonight we had you in your jammies and were trying to settle in for the evening when you got the bright idea to ask to go to your room. 

I assumed it was to read but you then began to climb the outside of your crib trying to get in. 

Perplexed, I wondered why you might want in your crib. It certainy wasn't so you could lay down and go to sleep. We missed our opportunity with that about a year ago. Now, you won't fall asleep unless I take you back to our bed and lay down with you. Once you're out I then transfer you to your crib. 

Maybe when we convert the crib to a toddler bed you'll be excited enough to fall asleep in it.

I lifted you into your crib and you began to beam with excitement. 

The is why:

We've already begun pricing out trampolines for your birthday ...

Toda Ava Used Me As A Launching Pad

Summer basketball camp begins this week for mom so you and I were just hanging out doing our thing tonight when suddenly you asked me to come to the floor from the recliner. 

"Daddy sleep." 

Up until now this phrase has meant that you want me to lay down on my stomach so you can climb onto my back and jump off. I'm your spring board of sorts. 

Expecting this, I began to lay on my front but you had other ideas. 

You resisted and actually had me lay on my back with my head against the foot of the recliner. 

I jokingly took your pink blanket and placed it over myself telling you how warm and soft it was. 

You got a kick out of thi and brought my your purple blanket as well. 

I was very confused about what you wanted from me and then suddenly you climbed up onto my chest and stood up and gained your balance then launched yourself onto the seat of the recliner. 

I was your launching pad. 

At the very end of the above clip you slipped and your chin met the hard part of my eye socket. 

Not to worry, though, you were un-phased. A few seconds later and you were back at it. 

Of course we had to show mom the fun we had when she got home and she was able to capture the moment from a better angle.

I'm telling you, we might see you on the X Games someday.

Today Ava Experimented With Body Art (Again)

Today began with a 7:00 a.m. picnic, followed by an art session, hard nap, and concluded with a little cheese (sorry, you have exactly 19 years and 2 months until you can enjoy wine with that cheese). 

"Downstairs?" I heard as you looked up at me with those big brown eyes and sly little grin. 

"You want to play downstairs?" 

"Okay!!!"

It's never too early for a picnic, right?

Still in our PJs we headed to the basement to play with the clock barely falling into the 7 O'Clock hour. 

Our fun was interrupted by a necessary diaper change which was met with cries of "Nakey Ava?" 

I caved on the request in an effort to keep you a little quieter as mom slept. 

Since you were already striped down to your diaper I brought your high chair and paints out to the living room for a little portrait session. 

Everything started out okay, but somewhere along the line the paint spilled from the canvas to your tummy ...

... and then your arm. 

But hey - we just let you go so you can explore your creative side. Maybe you're on to a new genre of artistic expression?

A quick dip in the tub to rinse off then it was time to meet the day head on. 

And by head on, I mean head on my shoulder. 

Mom was scheduled to work an open house with Karen but had double-booked herself with that and basketball camp. 

I told her we'd go hang out with Karen to keep her company while mom she took care of her basketball obligations. I hung out while you slept. 

From the moment we pulled up to the house until about five minutes before it concluded you were out like a light.

As the day turned into night and we were all lying around the house relaxing I laughed when I looked over to see you practicing good hand-eye coordination. 

One hand in the bowl of cheese cubes with your eyes trained on the iPad and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.

Impressive.