Yo, yo, yo!

i'm goin' on vaca yo! down to sunny mexico! my new hizat is where it's at yo! check it out.

Zoom Zoom

mommy and daddy bought me the most awesome birthday present! they cheated and gave it to me early, but that's okay 'cause i love it. it's a walker/push toy with not one but, count 'em, TWO spinners! i have been pushing it around my bedroom because it's carpeted so it doesn't go too fast. i'm actually learning to take steps. later, when i'm bigger, it folds into a little car that i can ride around on. 2 toys in 1, genius!

Toddler Eyes

There comes a time when all babies all of sudden seem to become toddlers. Their eyes become big and round, with one little crease underneath. The hair comes in and perhaps starts to curl a bit. They quickly get a mouth full of teeth and become so active. Ava has reached this stage. She has so much hair that it requires a barrett and her cheeks are chubbier than ever. She now sports two teeth, with 2 more just moments behind. She loves to pull herself up onto furniture and then lower herself back down. She looks like she is doing calisthenics! Favorite activites include exploring the house, pulling things off of shelves and out of baskets, taking off socks, and touch-and-feel books.

My Funny Valentine

Here is Ava after unexpectedly waking up from her morning nap today.

And here is Miss Ava after finding out it is her first official Valentine's Day. She dressed appropriately in her red hearts sweatshirt and has been reading her Elmo book.

Wheels

Ava is gaining superhuman speed at pulling herself up to standing. She was peacefully playing in the living room the other day while I was in the kitchen. She became very quiet all of a sudden so naturally I peeked in to see what she was up to. She had pulled herslf up to standing inside her little train. She looked like she was about to push off and take her first skateboard ride through the living room. Needless to say, she was quite proud of herself!

Ava has been spending lots of time in her highchair lately as well. Each meal takes a minimum of 30 minutes, but she loves feeding herself Veggie Booty and drinking from her sippy cup. If the meal involves a spoon she is not interested. She has to do it all herself!

A bunch of sickies

Month 10 of Ava's life seems to have come and gone, but all we did was be sick. Last week Ava was horribly sick with a recurring ear infection on top of a terrible virus. She had every imaginable symptom. I caught the bug from her and now she is on the upswing, but I'm miserable. We didn't even get many pictures taken this month. However, Ava is hard at work at learning to stand on her own. She loves animal sounds as well, and thinks it's hillarious when mommy makes them while she is eating lunch.