lights, camera, action!!

Tonight was Ava's very first time going to the movies (or "moobees!" according to her). She was so excited this morning when I dropped her off at daycare. She asked "Mama, Winnie Pooh see me? Winnie Pooh talk to Ava?" :)

Here she is ready to go!

We walked in, and we bought our tickets. $5 for me. $2 for her. This is my kind of movie!!

We got our popcorn ($1) and our drink (also $1). Ava loved the ramp leading to the theater. She ran down the aisle and picked our seat. Here she is before the show.

this managed to be the only picture I could get of the two of us..

She managed to sit through 40 minutes of the movie. Considering she really has never watched a movie at home, i was impressed. :) She decided it was time to go so off we went to walk around the square.

We went in one of the restaurants to get dessert. Ava thought it was necessary to read the menu. Mind you, as she read, she spoke exactly what it said.... in her own little language. :)

And here is what she picked.......

Overall it was a great night. She had quite a few "firsts" tonight. We got in the car and called Granny. Ava begins to tell her all about her night. I am expecting to hear about the moobee or her giant cookie or all the motorcycle we saw .... Nope. Apparently, the best part of the night was seeing the grasshopper on the way to the car..... :) Oh well.... mama tried.

the mind of a child....

This evening, Ava and I started making supper. As usual, I sat her on the counter next to me, and we chit-chatted and played. She took her time asking me what each thing was and then repeating it to me. "What's that, mama?" "A cutting board, baby." "Cut board?" :)

Well, she found a stack of cupcake liners. She called it her little bowl. She asked to get down, and I let her down. Off she ran to the living room. And she got quiet. I hear that with little boys, quiet means trouble. And i can't speak for all little girls, but quiet for Ava usually means its imagination time. This time proved no different.

I turn the corner to tell Chad (who is asleep on the couch) that its time for dinner. And this is what I see....

Yes, she is separating them and setting them each out on the living room floor. And I say, "What are you doing, baby?" One simple sweet answer......

"Flowers, mama."

The Scary Stuff

We woke up this morning as usual. We had to get going a little earlier than normal because I had a meeting. So I scurried around and went through our usual routine. I was running slightly late so of course, I was in a hurry. Chad gets up and (thankfully) gets Ava dressed. As I was walking into the living room, I caught a glimpse of her elbow. It was huge. After inspection, we determined that it was a bug bite. What type of bug I do not know, but as a mom, your thoughts automatically go to "brown recluse!" We were in the garage yesterday cleaning out things that have been in there since we moved in 5 years ago. And Ava was with us. Anyways, we went to the doctor's office. He said it was definitely a bug bite (all that education for that diagnosis, doc?! I kid. I kid.) We are now on "Elbow Watch". Poor Ava must think I've gone insane looking at her elbow every 20 minutes. :) The good news is that there has been no other symptoms besides a very low grade fever. And the bite doesn't seem to have gotten any worse. Either way... its scary stuff when your baby is sick. Take a look at the bites...

a start....

we are home today. unfortunately, ava developed a rash yesterday accompanied with a fever. luckily it is only a virus, and according to the doc, its on its way out the door already. of course, her daddy said it was virus from the beginning. to which i replied with the symptoms of meningitis and proceeded to keep myself up until 1 o'clock worrying. "you are way over-thinking this" he says. common problem with me, i guess.

she is sleeping now in the recliner. i turned on women's world cup soccer, and while it is riveting to me, it worked its magic on her just as it does with her daddy... out like a light. :)

life is great right now. she is at such an amazing age. when people say "they learn something new every day", its so true!!! i am astounded by some of the things that come out of her mouth. she currently can count to 13. i know she can because i've heard her do it. but to her, it is way more fun to just say random numbers so long as we end on 10 or 13. "2,4,8" is her favorite sequence. and i think her least favorite number is 3. she always skips it and never adds it to her number ramblings. :) Her favorite color is orange. i like to think that this is because of her die-hard love for the University of Tennessee. but probably its because its the most fun to say. "onsh" is how she says it.

next up on our list of things to do is potty-training. i'm not looking forward to this. on friday night, i was laying her down to bed when i said "i think next week, we'll start potty-training. what do you think?" and she says, "CHOO CHOO!!" I was so confused. Then i realized that all she heard was "train-ing". Bless her heart. I couldn't stop laughing. the things they say....