Friday, December 31, 2010

7 months


Ava is now 7 months and I realize that I haven't done an update on her in a few months. She is getting so big, but still the tiniest little thing. She loves to laugh and is very ticklish. She thinks Andrew and Sophie are so funny. Her favorite toy is her exersaucer. She LOVES to eat solids. As soon as she sees you getting it ready she starts screaming for you to hurry up and feed her. She pretty much likes all food but avocados and green beans which I usually mix with fruit so she'll eat them. She reaches for everything in sight and usually puts it in her mouth. She now reaches for me if she wants me to hold her. She gives kisses, but not often and doesn't like to cuddle, especially when she's tired. She doesn't like to rock much either, she just wants to be put in bed with a blanket so she can sleep. She sleeps great through the night, but seems to prefer her stomach over her back. We put her to sleep on her back and within minutes she is rolling to her stomach. She's a light sleeper and wakes up as soon as she hears you walk in the room. She sleeps about 12 hours at night. She loves to kick like crazy, loves baths and still loves being held. She still has no teeth and has no interest in crawling or being mobile. She will roll from her back to her stomach or vice versa, but not as a mode of getting around, just to watch the tv, see who's talking or grab a toy. She is our little princess!

Favorites

The kids have been having tons of fun playing with all of their new gifts from Christmas this week.
12.27.10- Ava loves her 1st doll from Mommy & Daddy.
Both of the kids like playing with Ava's new kangaroo toy.
12.28.10- One of Andrew's favorite gifts is the game Hungry Hungry Hippos. He could play for hours, all by himself. Ava even likes watching.

A thing of the past

For about a month or so Andrew has been fighting naps. He has always been a great sleeper, napping 2-3 hours in the afternoon. Around 3 we started shortening his naps because he was having a hard time going to bed at night. We'd put him to bed at 8 and he'd stay awake until 10 or 11 at night. When he doesn't get sleep he has a lot of night terrors and sleeps horrible at night. So it's been a huge battle in our house for several months. About twice a week he would take a nap and the rest of the time he would come downstairs every 15 minutes during nap time. On the days he didn't nap he would fall asleep on our way to dinner or anytime we'd get in the car at night. Just a short nap at that time of night and he'd stay awake until 10 or 11 at night. Since Christmas break he has not taken 1 nap. I am not ready for the nap to go away, but it looks like it's happening. He now has "rest" time but still fights it and comes out of his room frequently. He still seems really tired and could use a nap, but he continues to not take one. He's been sleeping until 8:30/9 every morning so we'll see if once school starts he'll start taking a nap again. Here's to hoping!

12.30.2010- Andrew relaxing in his chair that Papa & Pama Bailey got him.

Christmas with the Mings

Christmas day we spent with my family. My sister & Cory came up from Springfield and we spent the afternoon & evening opening gifts, eating, and hanging out. The dogs managed to get along despite them trying to eat each other's food. Andrew, believe it or not, was a little done with the whole Christmas present thing. I think he was exhausted from all of the festivities so he wasn't too exited about opening presents. We had such a wonderful Christmas and I feel so blessed to have a healthy and happy family.
Andrew and Ava playing with the kitchen set Pama & Papa Ming got Ava. Andrew thinks that every new toy for Ava is also a toy for him.
This picture of them cracks me up. I don't know what they are looking at, but I think it's just the cutest.
Since Andrew is starting to understand the meaning of Christmas this year, we decided to start a new tradition-a birthday cake for Jesus. Andrew really liked singing Happy Birthday to Jesus and we are excited to continue this new tradition for many years to come.
Andrew loved his new golf clubs that he got from Papa & Pama and I think Daddy is just as excited too!
Andrew was tired and not interested in taking a family picture.


Christmas morning

Christmas morning we spent at our house opening gifts, eating Cinnabon and playing with new toys. Andrew slept late that morning so when we went to get him out of bed at 9am we told him it was Christmas and he said that he wanted to sleep some more. We were a little shocked that he wasn't more excited, but he isn't much of a morning person so we gave him space and told him to come downstairs when he was ready. He came down shortly after and we opened our stockings, ate, and then got into the presents. Andrew was pretty excited about his gifts from Santa- a monkey pillow pet & the car he wanted from ridemakerz. Ava got a tea set and some princess books from Santa. Andrew wanted to help Ava open most of her gifts, but Ava didn't mind. Both of the kids loved all of the gifts they got and Andrew played with his new tool bench and Handy Manny house for over an hour. Ava didn't even get around to opening all of her gifts that morning. It was such a fun Christmas morning watching the joy on our kids faces. Nathan spoiled me this year as well, like he always does. Not sure he was too excited about what he got, but he is a hard man to shop for! It was such a wonderful Christmas morning and I'm glad that we have established our own family Christmas just the 4 of us on Christmas morning....it's such a special time for us.
Opening stockings



The kids with all of their gifts!


Christmas 2010- Andrew 3, Ava 7 months

Christmas Eve



After our fun Christmas with the Baileys we headed to Christmas Eve service at our church and then to pizza with my in laws and my parents. Andrew was in heaven at pizza. He loved having so much of the family together and talked a lot. It was too cute!
After pizza we headed home for our own family traditions- opening 1 present (always pajamas), reading the "Night Before Christmas" and the story of Jesus' birth. I got the kids matching gingerbread boy/girl pjs and they were adorable! Andrew wanted to keep opening presents but we told him he could only open one and then he had to go to bed. The kids looked so cute in their matching pjs :)

Christmas with the Baileys

This year we spent Christmas Eve day with the Baileys. It was a fun day filled with lots of food, amazing gifts and great family time. I feel very blessed to have married into such a wonderful family. Andrew had tons of fun opening all of his gifts and several of Ava's gifts.
Ava sitting in the chair Papa & Pama got for Andrew.
Chewing on her new doll.
Andrew loved taking a bath at Papa & Pama's house!
And he also liked his new bike.....but was a little scared of it too :)


12.24.2010- Andrew 3yr, Ava 7 months