Ava turns 5!

Yesterday marked Ava's 5 month birthday! Luckily, I had the day off from school and Ryan worked from home. We spent the day playing at home and then Ava and I visited Danielle (pregnant with twin boys!) and then Grandma.

On Sunday, Grandma babysat while Ryan and I went on a date! It was wonderful. We left around 3 to head down to Las Olas to see a movie and then drove to the beach for dinner at Aruba's. The weather couldn't have been better and the food was D-lish! We took a walk out onto the pier for an amazing view of the coastline at dusk, along with heat lightening over the ocean.

This morning, Ava and Grandma attended Tales for Tadpoles at the Delray library. Mom said Ava was a star pupil, of course. Tomorrow they might come to school in the morning for a musical performance by two of my favorite colleagues. :)

Not much in store for the rest of the week besides school, vball practice and 2 games. I'm most looking forward to Friday, not just for the usual reasons, but because I'm making toothpaste with the 8th graders! YUM!

Sportscenter time with Daddy.

A visit to Danielle's. She has two of everything, so Ava got to test out one of the boys' Bumbos. Danielle is almost 34 weeks along and ready to pop!

A visit to Grandma's.

This was from last week after I had gotten home from a volleyball game. I love the giggles!

Enjoying time with Daddy.

Since we don't get to see as much of Ava as we'd like to during the week, so we soak up every minute we can on the weekend! Ryan worked from home on Friday and I got out of work early, so we all had a nice afternoon/evening at home. Saturday was time for chores and play. The master bedroom is finally finished (pics to come in the next blog) and looks wonderful. Ryan did an absolutely spectacular job! Ava and I had a date on Saturday at 5 with Grandma. We went to mass and she was incredibly well behaved...hardly a peep at all! Sunday has been a low-key kind of day. Lawn-mowing and football, topped off with sausage roll. A nice way to end the day (hopefully with a Giants win!).

Jim and Coke with Daddy. That's right, we have a drinker on our hands! Well, she attempted it anyway. She loved licking the condensation on Ryan's glass and got to the point where she was grabbing the rim of the glass to slobber and gnaw on.

I love this picture! My two loves.

She is heels over head for Daddy!

Goodnight! I'm off to change into my pjs!

All dressed up from an outing to church with Grandma on Saturday evening. This is such a cute outfit and she looks so old in a skirt! (Thanks Aunt Krista!)

Tubby time!

Tubby time is a personal favorite of mine, and Ava seems to love it too. She takes her baths on top of the hot tub outside. It's not as chilly as the air conditioned indoors and if we splash around, I don't have to clean up the mess!

There was a squirrel running back and forth on top of the fence in the background. She was craning her neck any way she could to try to get a look at him.

Prior to soap and water, and a little bit stinky.

Nice and clean and cozy. She's getting to the point where she's reaching out and grabbing everything. Close up shots are getting tougher to take because she grabs the camera or the camera strap. I'll have to work the zoom from now on. :)

Clean and naked! She likes tummy time post tubby time, because she gets a little bit of a rub down with lotion and she gets to watch the squirrel on the fence. Too cute!

I'm slacking on the pics during the week, so I'll do my best to make up for it once the weekend arrives. It's been great having my mom watch Ava during the day. Most days I don't get home until almost 5, so she and I don't get too much time together before bed.

I hope you're still enjoying watching her grow!

It's almost Friday!

Fewer pics this week, due to me going back to work. It hasn't been as tough as I expected which, I guess, is a good thing. Don't get me wrong, I miss her like crazy all day, but when I'm so busy at school, time really flies.

Grandma has been thoroughly enjoying her time with Ava and they've been doing lots of playing this week. Some of the pics are a little fuzzy (I need to give Grandma a lesson on the camera). :)

Ryan got done with work a little early today and hit the links. And tomorrow, he and I are going to Gulf Stream's faculty party at the beach (I LOVE MY JOB!). A cookout and some games with my colleagues is an excellent way to end the week.

We're hoping for another outing on the boat this weekend. Keep your fingers crossed that the weather will cooperate!

Who is that girl in the mirror there? What mirror? Where?

Now that she's found her feet, she's starting to chew on them all the time.

Caught ya!

Mom took this video today. Another super cute one!

What a week! Whew!

After faculty meetings (for me) and work (for Ryan) on Wednesday and Thursday, we were ready for the arrival of Mama O! She and Carolyn arrived safely Thursday evening, just before Ava's bedtime. Mom had her condo 'interview' on Friday and we moved her in with ease. We had a nice lunch out and then hit up Pub Club with Ava in tow that evening. Our big day was today when we took Ava and Mama O out on their inaugural boat ride in Fla. We drove down to Boca Lake and spent a couple of hours enjoying the sun and the water.

After Skyping with the Irenes on Wednesday.

Taking a bottle from Daddy. Note the finger holds.

Practicing holding the bottle. Ryan's fingers are ENORMOUS!

She loves her Bumbo...

and her feet!

I couldn't resist this one - too cute!

On the boat, driving to Boca Lake.

Gettin' some lovin' from Grandma.

Terrific Tuesday!

Ava and I had a great day. We went to lunch with Giulia, who just recently got back from a 2 month trip to Rome for Latin teachers, or what she calls 'nerd summer camp.' Then we stopped at school for Ava's lunch and to get a few more last minute things done. Tomorrow and Thursday I have faculty meetings and Ryan is going to stay with our sweet girl, while he works from home.

"Look! I found my feet!"

Story time before bed ("I Love You, Little One").

The squeaking video was taken tonight before Ryan put on her pjs. She's such a happy girl all day and then goes right to bed! :)

Note: You might not want to have the sound up too high, or she could possibly blow out your eardrums!