how i spent my birthday
by Ava Marr

my mommy came to get me first thing in the morning and she told me it was my birthday. i didn't know what a birthday was so i just smiled really big like i always do. my parents sang happy birthday to me really out of tune. after my morning bottle mommy took me jogging. i went fast in the stroller and squealed like a little piggie. then we came home and had the real breakfast of champions- cheerios. then i opened the drawers in my dresser and had lots o' fun pulling out my clothes until i slammed my all important sucking fingers in the drawer. next i took an uber-long morning nap just 'cause i could, then mommy let me have tons of veggie booty for lunch. she tried to sneak in some oatmeal, but i wasn't having any of that on my birthday! later we went to the children's museum at the seattle center and i crawled around in the crazy fun baby section. i splashed in some water, crawled up steps then went down a slide, watched the fishes in the aquarium, and played with some big blocks.

my mommy's camera ran out of batteries so she had to take pictures on her camera phone. after my afternoon nap mommy, daddy, and i made an art project with my hand and foot prints.

then daddy and i wrestled on the floor. where was the opening of presents you ask? well my parents gave my my present early if you remember, and i hear there is a rumor about a party for me this weekend with lots of family and friends. now that should be big fun!

365 days


Today is Ava's birthday. She is one year old. I'm having a hard time today with the fact that my baby is technically now a toddler. But then I remember the hilariously fun stage she is in right now, and I start to feel better. She is so active and big all of a sudden. She loves to "sing" and dances to music. Lately she is very much in to petting Astro and continues to explore her surroundings. I'm amazed at the things she has learned to do in just the last month. A year ago she didn't know her hands were attached to her body! And now she can use them quite well. They say it all goes by so fast, and it really does.

Being a goofball on my birthday.

La Nina

Just two short days ago Ava was enjoying the sounds of the ocean while napping peacefully during our morning walk.

We are all sad today to be back in the gloomy Seattle weather. Our trip started out great since Miss Ava took a 3 hour nap on a 4 hour flight. When we arrived we she was in a great mood and had patience to deal with the chaos of international travel, renting a car, etc. By the time we arrived at the hotel we were all ready to soak up some sun and eat copious amounts of Mexican food. The locals loved her fair skin and blue eyes from the start, and paid her more than her share of attention. She ate it up being the ham that she is.

We spent most of our time at the resort either strolling up and down the beach, or relaxing by the pool or ocean. When we felt like venturing out we drove to nearby towns of Bucerias, Sayulita, and Puerto Vallarta.

Ava's firsts while in Mexico:
stair climbing
dipping toes in the ocean
shaking her maracas (literally)
playing with sand
splashing in a swimming pool

crawling in the grass

gift from a stranger- this little sundress

meal at the grown-ups table

We miss you Mexico.