Storm a Brewing....

Well we had some much needed rain Saturday night. Ava had just finished her bath and Mike was at work when the dogs insisted that we go out side and watch the storm roll in. So we did. With all the static in the air we watched as the winds picked up and the air cooled off. We watched the wind blow the trees all around and let the dogs go wild. Something about an impending storm and the wonderful energy in the air that made the dogs wild with excitement.





I also realized I had not posted a picture of our newest house guest. Lady (bug) Shelby is staying with us for a while. She and Pat have moved in and have been here about a month now. Ava enjoys a new dog to play and crawl all over. Beau and Lady have always enjoyed playing, but now they actually will calm down a bit. Any one who has been here understands this was a rare occurrence when they just came for a visit. Either way they all have fun and Lady is a joy to have around. She has only chewed on a few of Ava's toys and one leg of my briefcase.

Flash Back Friday

Okay so I stole this idea from a few other blogger out there...sorry. I have decided that I will post a few older pictures from my past. This will not happen every Friday, but today I was feeling reflective so enjoy.


This is Erin and I out on the town for my 22nd birthday (July 2003)


Bella as a puppy the first day we brought her home. July 2004


Beau as a puppy the first day we brought him home....my how small he was and my how big he is now. June 2006


Mike and I in Breckenridge Colorado July 2006


Mike when he first moved to TX March/April 2004


Me my senior year in College 2002-2003 getting ready to go out on the town.

I know lots of random pics with no rhym or reason, but what can I say, I like these pics. Reminds me of my care free days when sleep was not so important to me and I thought I was mostly invensable.

OKC and the not so great Zoo

Well a few weekends ago now, I know I suck at keeping up to date, Miss Ava and I met my mom in Oklahoma City (OKC) for a girls weekend. It was a blast. Ava is finally out of the "I want only momma" stage and is open to all. She crawled around the hotel floor...I know gross. * this was something I heavily debated, but could you keep a newly crawling 9 month old kid occupied with out being on the floor...No* And we even went down and around to Brick Town (better if you are out for a good time to drink and party) but still fun to walk and look at people. We even ventured out in the humid heat to see the zoo. Mom and I had heard wonderful things about the zoo and how it was the best. NOOOOOOOOO. Sorry OKC, but your zoo sucked. The elephants had been transferred to Tulsa for mating or something like that and all the other animals were hiding out. When I was not trying to get Ava to look at the animals she was snoozing in her stroller. Trust me this was nice to find that she could sleep in it, but not the way I wanted to learn it. Oh well maybe when she gets a bit older it will be more fun. The trip was not a total loss. I no longer have to make the sock monkey, Grandma bought her one!!!! Yeah, you are my hero mom, you have no idea how much I suck at sewing...I had even thought about having Mike make it. LOL

Well enjoy the few pics of the animals we (mom and I saw) since Ava was out cold.

Sleep!

Okay so I did lots of Internet research...even read a little in a book or two about this and it mostly worked....what am I talking about you ask. The cry it out method. I do not agree fully with this method so I did a mixture of the controlled crying and a little of my own soothing method for teaching Miss Ava to sleep. It took four nights of crying off and on before Ava realized that she was okay and that I would still come and see her, but that I would not pick her up. It also took four nights for me to break my habit of picking her up every time she cried. Of coursed I picked a weekend that Mike had to work to start this and if it were not for Pat distracting me with Internet movies and chatting I would not have been able to get far at all. I will not go into all the boring details but I must say after 1 week Miss Ava is sleeping much better, she is able to soother herself much better and all is right with the world. Or as all who have kids knows it is okay for now, who knows when they will buck the system and make up some new rules.

I must say that I loved it when Ava was a baby. Rocking her, holding her, her needed me for everything, but 9 months old is wonderful in a completely separate way. She is so independent. Learning to play and crawl. She goes all over the house now getting into everything. Yes I actually had to do some baby proofing to keep her from getting into to much. Right now she loves to chase the cat. Chew on dog bones and play tug with Beau on the red bone. More and more she is growing up in to the little independent person. She is trying to feet herself and the dogs. Who will know what Missy gets into next.


Ava after feeding herself. What a mess


Ava yelling at me she is done.


Smiling!


Ava just noticed I have a camera, what a ham.


Coming to get momma.


I'm getting closer to getting you momma.


Gotcha

9 Months old oh my.

Well today was Miss Ava's 9 month well baby check up. Her current stats are:
Weight 21.5 lbs (90%)
Height 30 inches (97%)

So we know she is going to be tall. Each time the doctor measures her and goes over her percentile he looks at us and lets us know she will most likely be taller than Mike and I. Mike looks at me every time and says she must have gotten it from your side.

Oh I forgot to say so, but Ava is mobile. She can crawl. Friday I was working from home and just happen to take a break when Ava decided to come to me. Her little dress did get in the way a bit, but she made her way over to me. This whole weekend she has practiced going further and further from us and around the house. There is no getting away from her now. Funny thing is she is much happier now that she can come to us and move her self about.

Okay so I will try to post a video of her crawling soon. Also keep your fingers crossed Ava does not discover the dog food.