Summer Days!

Yesterday was one of those days I dream about all year! The weather was perfect...80's, sunny, a little breezy, just perfect!! Ava and I took full advantage of the day and went to the pool with some of our friends from church. Ava is now tall enough to touch the bottom in the baby pool! I remember the past two summers my sister telling me how big of a difference I was going to notice when Ava was two. We were visiting them 2 summers ago and decided to walk to their neighborhood pool. It probably took me an hour getting everything prepared to leave the house and Ava and I stayed all of 10 minutes once we got there! It was more trouble than it was worth! But Sarah was right (as she always is!) and this year at the pool is wonderful!! Ava wore a life jacket some of the time and water wings the other part and she absolutley loved it!! There was a daycare there at the same time we were (not crazy about that at first) but Ava loved playing with and talking to the "kids"as she always says. After the pool and a long nap, we headed outside for a drippy, messy, delicious ice cream cone! Can't beat days like this!!

Mess #500

I am going to have to think of another way to title these posts...mess just doesn't even do it justice. Sunday mornings at our house are nothing less than crazy!! This morning David and Ava let me sleep late. (Who am I kidding, David lets me sleep until at least 8 every morning. That's why I married him!) Ava had a bath late yesterday afternoon so we knew that was one less thing on the agenda. We ate breakfast together and it was actually looking like we were going to be on time for church. Then this happened...

Somehow Ava got into a bottle of my lotion and smeared it in her hair and all over her face. Thankfully she still had her pajamas on because then she decided to wash it off by pouring water from the bathtub everywhere! I knew something was up when I heard her squealing with delight while in the bathroom alone! We threw in the shower and let her hair air dry on the way to church. Luckily we go to church at our Greenville campus so it had plenty of time to dry! And..we made it on time! Thank you, Jesus!!

Birthday Fun

Tuesday was my 28th birthday! I felt really old and then God blessed me by having two of my patients ask me this week when I was graduating high school! (I could've kissed them for that!) Anyway, I had a great time celebrating my special day starting last weekend with a shopping day in Raleigh and then a yummy dinner at the Cheesecake Factory...

On Monday we celebrated at my parent's house with a pool party! Ava picked out a cake for me...

"A SINOSAUR CAKE"

We had a great time swimming and eating yummy food!!

I woke up on my actual birthday to my little two year old walking in my room holding a piece of cake with 6 lit candles. Very scary sight!! I thought she was going to dump them right on my head! :) She was so sweet and sang "happy birthday mommy" all day! Then during nap time these were delivered to my door...

Oh my were they delicious!!!

Thank you to all my sweet friends and family who made my birthday so special!

Mommy's Helper

Ava is finally tall enough to stand on her little stool and "help" me in the kitchen. Last night she helped me with mashed potatoes and she thought it was great that I let her lick the mixers. Imagine when I'm brave enough to let her help me with a cake??

Aren't her little braids so cute???

Mess!!

My facebook status the other day was this..."I just heard 3 words you never want to hear your 2 year old yell..."Mommy, a mess!"

I know I am only encouraging her by running to get my camera everytime she makes a huge mess. She did the same thing this morning with her Rice Krispys but on the positive side, she now knows how to use the small handheld vacuum cleaner!

Trip to the Movies

My blogs are so delayed lately, sorry! Ava keeps me busy and by the time she naps in the afternoon I follow right behind her! I'll try to do better, though. :)
Last weekend was David's annual trip with his friends to the All Star Race. No I don't have any pictures to post but I hear they had a great time. Ava stayed with Joan and Keith (Nana and Papa) and she also had a great time!! When we all finally got back together on Sunday afternoon we decided to try going to the movies for Ava's very first time. We have been talking about it for awhile and since Ava loves Shrek we decided it may keep her attention...along with lots of popcorn and candy.

She did as good as can be expected for a 2 year old and I would say that we saw about half of the movie before we decided to leave. The movie wasn't all that funny to me compared to the other ones but it may because I couldn't really pay attention with Ava in and out of my lap and running down the aisles. I'm sure we will love it when it comes out on DVD. We saw a sign while we were at the movies for their summer kid's specials and I told Ava we would try again this summer. They have kids movies every Tuesday morning for only $1 and popcorn for $1...you can't beat that!

Mother's Day

We had a wonderful time this weekend celebrating Mother's Day. This ended up being a weekend that I had to work a lot but David and Ava still made sure I felt special! David let Ava pick out my card this year and she picked this one...

If you can't see it very well, it's a lady in a bubble bath with cucumbers on her eyes and a glass of wine. David said Ava picked it because she liked the bubbles and the "crackers" on the ladies eyes. That little girl makes me laugh more than I have ever laughed in my life! I love being her mom!! And for the record I have never, ever taken a bubble bath, with cucumbers (or crackers) on my eyes, drinking wine! :)

Even though I worked we still made it to church on Sunday morning! Our Greenville campus is beautfiful and growing so fast! Here we are before church...

I hope all the mommy's had a great day! Being a mommy is the greatest gift I have ever received! I am honored that God chose me to be Ava's mom!