Happy Mother's Day

Mother's Day weekend was spent at Mawmaw's and Pawpaws in Nashville. I got to celebrate Mawmaw's birthday with her, hang out in the sun with cousin Isaac, and blow raspberries with Pawpaw. I also got to go to my "Aunt" Rachel's baby shower. Then Mommy and Mawmaw insisted on spending a day shopping - so they wore me out as usual. Napping in my car seat ain't what it used to be...












Isaac and me in matching outfits - made especially by Mawmaw!
















I discovered my tongue Pawpaw!

Reunited with my gal pals

This past weekend I got to spend some much needed quality time with my girlfriends - Kaylee, Scarlett (Harper was napping), and Jordan. But I got a little irritated by our snap-happy parents. All they wanted to do was take photos of us. Let us play, please!

Got Rice?

Is it just me - or does this kid get cuter every day?

Here she is thoroughly enjoying the attention she is getting in one of her hippest outfits. Thanks Uncle Glyn and Aunt Kate!

My name is what?

Ok, so Dustin and I chose to name our daugther Ava Leigh ostensibly because we loved that name. But I rarely ever call her Ava. These crazy nicknames always spill from my mouth whenever we play. She entered the world with not such pleasant names, I admit. Bucket was one of her first nicknames. Short for Fuss-Bucket because she cried so much at first. Then Bucket turned into Button, short for Button-Head because she has such a tiny little head. Every week or so a new nickname emerged: Cheeky, Avers (I got close once), Buttercup, Suger-Girl, Shoogy-Girl, Shoogy-Woogy-Boogy-Girl, Shoogy-Woogy-Shoo-Shoo-Girl, Shoogy-Bear; to name a few. Every nickname eventually gets shortened. She's often just Shoogy (apparently Shoogy and any variation of that name hits the spot for me). But the latest has been Sugar Pops. I guess I kinda like that one because she's had it for a while. Maybe its because she's just so adorable - she inspires lots of cute nicknames. She's my Sugar-Pops-Girl!

"The Outfit"

Some of you have noticed that all I seem to wear anymore are tanktops and gauchos. It's true. I'm addicted to shelfbras under shelf bra tanktops (see blogs below). I have various colors that I enjoy coordinating with matching gauchos. They are cheap, comfortable and easy to nurse in (the tops that is). I crave ease and comfort. I have become the proverbial low maintainence housewife, I admit. But I do wear other things on special occasions - hence the picture I've included. See, I can clean up nice sometimes.

Playdate Blues

Although Dustin and I had a good time yesterday during our visit with Georgia (see blog below), Ava decided she didn't like the sudden lack of attention. Our attempts to get a picture of her "sitting like a big girl" on Robin's couch turned sour as Ava clearly did not want to play our photography game. So I picked her up and tried to keep her occupied by bouncing her gently in my arms. I was shocked when Robin told me she was asleep - she has never fallen asleep with me holding her. Well at least not since she was about a week old.

Georgia Marian

Georgia Marian finally arrived on April 13, 2006 at 4:30am - 13 days late! She weighed 7 pounds 10 ounces, and was 20 inches long. Momma Robin and Daddy Dustin (no, not my Dustin) are thrilled by their healthy and beautiful baby girl.

Proud Momma

Yesterday at exactly 12:17 pm Ava hit a major milestone - SHE ROLLED OVER! I just new it was coming. Over the weekend, while in her crib she had been fiercely kicking her legs to her side after I would lay her down for bedtime (I frequently peek in on her until she goes to sleep). Dustin also found her sleeping on her side when he peaked in her her early Saturday morning. So yesterday during our floor playtime, I was intensly watching as she was throwing her legs to her right side while laying on her back. I wanted so badly to tap her right on over - but she didn't need me to; SHE DID IT HERSELF! Not surprisingly, at 1:30 this morning I awoke to her cries, assumed she wanted to nurse, and found her stuck on her belly. Guess she'll quickly be learning to roll the other way. Today she has been rolling over almost effortlessly. I lay her on her back and she immediately starts kicking until she's on her belly. This is just too cool... I can't get over how exciting parenting is.

Easter

Ava endured a great many pictures this Easter weekend. Here she is with her Momma and Daddy in an Easter dress bought especially for her by Grammie Wright.
Grammie and Grandpa have loved having another granddaughter in the family - two hasn't been enough. Hopefully there are lots more to come!

More Easter Fun

Ava turned five months old this Easter weekend (the 16th to be exact). Grammie and Grandpa Wright drove all the way from Maine to visit with their sweet little granddaughter. She absolutely loved all the attention she received. She returned the favor by displaying her new skills of blowing raspberries, attempting to roll from front to back, and grasping for everything within her reach. As you can see from the photos below - she has become very animated!
In addition to looking just like her Daddy when he was a baby, Grammie frequently comments on how strong Ava is. Her favorite activity is wildly swaying back and forth while standing - which is very tiresome for the person holding her. I definitely enjoyed the extra hands to help hold and entertain Ava this weekend!
She gets so excited now when we interact - her whole body wiggles with delight.
Ava has got to be entering the teething phase. She drools constantly eagerly accepting any and all objects in her mouth.

Easter at Mawmaw and Pawpaws

Despite the horrific tornados in Gallatin, Easter was celebrated a weekend early at Mawmaw and Pawpaws. Dustin and I headed out early Saturday morning opting out of driving Friday night. Thankfully, Mawmaw and Pawpaws house was left untouched.

Ava showed off her new skill of grabbing at everything within her reach. She has also mastered the art of standing with assistance, but hasn't quite learned to role from belly to back. When laying on her belly, her arms stick straight out like an airplane. If a toy is placed in front of her, she grabs at it but only for a moment, preferring to stick her arms out like she's flying. Another great "skill" is lip smacking. Everything she does anymore is so cute. We act like she's the first child who has ever done such adorable things - falling all over ourselves everytime she smiles, laughes, coos, or basically any action at all!
Ava also got to spend some quality time with her Aunt Tawnya and Aunt Rachel - both of which are due with a little one this year. Rachel is due with a boy in June and Tawnya is due with a girl (I think anyway) in September. Playmates for Ava!!!!!

I tryed to get Ava to cheese it up a little for the camera - but she was a little worn out at this point by all the attention. She still looks adorable. Well, right now she could be doing anything and still look adorable in our eyes.

Adventures at the Museum

On Sunday, we all enjoyed a visit to the Creative Discovery Museum in downtown Chattanooga. Madison had an especially great time. Ava eventually got a little wild eyed with all the stimulation - so she enjoyed a nice walk outside where she napped peacefully in her car seat.

Grins and Giggles

Everyday gets more and more fun with Ava. She grins and laughs so easily - Dustin and I just can't get enough of her. I am feeling especially good since she has finally stopped wanting to eat constantly throughout the night. We're down to one feeding!!!!!!


 

Picture Perfect?

Ooooh, what fun we've had since Aunt Dana and Cousin Madison have been in town visiting. Madison (14 months) and Ava (18 weeks) are sporting new sundresses in these photos, compliments of Aunt Lauri (thank you!!!!). When working with an infant and a toddler, as expected these photos were hard won. Just getting the babies simultaneosly awake and happy was a job. Dana and I decided we would like a nice "back drop" but couldn't quite get Madison centered behind Ava - she insisted on standing behind her head. Madison continued to exert her burgeoning independence refusing to interact with Ava. Then she accidently knocked over an entire bowl of potpourri (which can be seen scattered throughout the photo.) At one point I just lost it, laughing at how silly Dana and I must have looked trying to get these kids to pose perfectly for our much desired photos.

And now I look at my collage on this blog and notice their heads are cropped; oh well, this is as good as it gets for now!

Party Girls

Ava and I went to a friend's baby shower today. I brought my camera but didn't get around to taking any photos so I snapped this one after we got home and put on our jammies. Funny how much I once stressed about her adamant refusals to nap in her crib - insisting to nap reclined. Turns out its been a blessing (for now anyway) - she naps anywhere I take her. She fell asleep in her car seat at the shower granting me an hour of carefree adult conversation. Then she awoke eager to eat - so we quickly dashed home for a wholesome meal. I enjoyed showing her off at the shower. Everyone gushed about how adorable she was. Needless to say, I humbly agreed.

Who She Adores

Note the tears hanging pitifully under Ava's eyes. She has a tendency to sway her head wildly when she is tired and fussy. I have gotten very skilled at averting her blows; however, Dustin found himself once again unprepared recieving a swift blow to the chin. After a brief moment of silence, Ava responded with a puckered lip and a heart-wrenching wail. As soon as she saw me she grinned. Seems in the past few weeks she has gotten very attached to me. For example her eyes follow me everywhere, especially when someone else is holding her - even her daddy. It's almost embarrassing, but Dustin doesn't seem to mind. I've been told to enjoy this while it lasts; some day he will be on the other end of her abundant adulation and I will be left wondering what happened.

Happy Saint Patty's Day!

Ava and I have had an especially festive Saint Patrick's Day. We put on our favorite green outfits (well, the only outfit with green that fits - an ensemble Mawmaw bought in Aruba especially for Ava), danced a bit in celebration to our favorite tunes (currently Harry Belafonte's Day O and Jump in The Line), and then decided a photo opportunity was definitely in order (one day I'm gonna get in a shot with her - when I don't look so haggardly;)

As they say in the reality show Top Model - Here's her best shot...

My Little Cherub

I love this photo of Ava. I just can't stop kissing those chubby pink cheeks!

Doting Grandparents

These past few weekends have been great fun for Ava. Mawmaw and Pawpaw Ragsdale visited the weekend before last and Grammie Wright was in town last weekend. Ava loved all the fresh attention she recieved - refusing to nap longer than 30 minute increments (she napped her usual 2 - 3 hours Monday when no one but Ma was around). At almost four months old, she is already showing definit signs of extroversion. We enjoyed Sabbath school and going for longs walks with Grammie Wright. Mawmaw and Pawpaw Ragsdale worked hard on the house (as usual). One of these days they will visit and have nothing but visiting to do. Daddy was out of town skiing last weekend and we're glad to have him back. Having had family and friends visit for the past three weekends - we may not know what to do with ourselves this weekend. Maybe we'll just chill...