Ava’s Workout

Ava’s mobility means that she now has a bigger world to explore. Now anything we leave around is fair game for her to play with. Just yesterday she started pulling out drawers to our dresser to start pulling herself up.

Mo(m)’s workout bands on the pantry door apparently were a tempting target for Ava. She made her way over to them for a little morning workout…

The pre-workout crawling warm up…

Starting the workout.

Working some abs.

Pausing for a little mid-workout teething break.  

Onto the next exercise with the foam roller…

All that working out makes you hungry. Here’s Ava after cleaning her plate from breakfast…

Later Ava got to be the “package” in our little beverage tub. She seems to like being carried around!

Maybe we’ll have to do a DVD series of “50-second Abs by Ava”?

Playing House and Slo-mo Crawling

Ava is definitely more interested in her toys now that she can reach higher. She’s loves her house – playing with the mailbox, door (learning “open” and “close”) and crawling through the door…

Ava is also becoming more proficient at crawling. A little motivation is sometimes all she needs to really go after something…

Step 1: Getting ready to crawl…and happy about it!  Step 2: Making progress

Step 3:Getting closer …

Step 4: Almost there

Step 5: Phone is within reach…

Step 6: Mission accomplished!

Ava also seems to love standing and banging on the keyboard on her play table. Oh, and she’s pretty good a multitasking – standing, playing, holding a toy, and smiling all at the same time!

 

Week in review

It was a week of firsts for Ava. On Tuesday she had her first swimming lesson. She and another A-baby (Alexandria, 2 days younger) had their swimming lessons – Ava is still a long ways off from making the Olympic team.

Ava started getting into a sitting position on her own on Wednesday. Now she can get to her favorite position without waiting for Mom or Dad to pull her up. It’s funny when she wakes up from a nap and by the time one of us gets there she is sitting up playing with her stuffed animals and dolls.

Thursday was the first official crawl (although she is still improving it). She’s now getting around more to where she wants to be – now that she is getting mobile, our days of being able to take her to as many places are numbered….

Enjoying the springtime weather in the backyard.

Hanging with her pal Chase.

Learning to feed herself.

“Finger lickin’ good!”

On Saturday Ava and Mo(m) went to a baby shower for our friend Renee. It seems like only yesterday we were doing the shower for Ava…it is amazing how time flies!

Mo at the shower for Ava, 7/09.

Ava with another friend, Quinn, at Renee’s shower. 

Easter Recap

Easter was a full day for Ava. The Ohio Easter bunny (aka Ameduri grandparents) brought her a new toy, and the Minnesota Easter bunny (aka Dwyer grandparents) brought her a stuffed animal bunny. She made it through mass outdoors with smiles and compliments from a bunch of other moms.

Ava with her new toy…

All dressed up for church

 

With mom and her new bunny.

After church we went over to some friend’s for Easter brunch, where she played with the other kids (2 sets of 3 year old twins). While she is too young to really get the whole Easter egg hunt concept, she seemed to have just as much fun watching the older kids collect the eggs.

The Easter egg hunt

Ava is making mental notes for next year.

And having fun with one egg…

After the long morning she was ready for her nap. Later in the afternoon we met up with some other friends with their 9 month old twins to spend some time in the park. Ava, Charlotte, and Alexander had fun watching volleyball, playing in the grass, and just enjoying the outdoors.

Ava definitely enjoyed her first Easter….as did we! Next year we’ll color eggs and let Ava hunt for them!

Spring is here!

Spring is officially on Saturday, but with temperatures in the 80s during the day, it definitely feels like springtime in Arizona! We’ve all been out more to take advantage of the nice weather. Yesterday we took Ava on a “hike” around the neighborhood. She loves being in the backpack – the combination of a different vantage point and the gentle motion puts her into her chatty mode – like she is commentating on the scenery as we go around.

Today we went to the pool – the temperature was just warm enough to let her do some swimming. She spent about equal parts watching the big kids in the pool and splashing around.

Here’s Ava in her new swimsuit.

In the pool with Mom before she started splashing.

(Almost) Treading water

Working on her backstroke.

Ava is definitely interested in putting her face underwater, but ends up getting a mouthful each time she does it. Now we need to get her some lessons…

Fruits and Veggies

Ava continues to be a good eater – she love her fruit and veggies, including some veggies straight from the garden. She is now (as of this past Saturday) 8 months old – amazing how she has changed from a tiny little newborn into a much more independent baby. She isn’t yet crawling, but looks ready to do so any day now. Ava loves to entertain herself – everything from paper cups to puzzles becomes a chance to explore and bang things together.

With the nearly spring weather, we got Ava out to the park this past weekend. She loved the swings – both the infant ones that she could ride in, and swinging with Mo on the “grown up” swings.

Ava also went with us to a friend’s poker party. She was the oldest of the 3 babies there. Every one there was enthralled with her – and of course she was happy to entertain everyone with her smiles and laughs! We really are blessed with such a cute, happy baby!

Eating swiss chard from the backyard garden.

Gnawing on a carrot.

Acting like a monkey with a banana.

Playing house (complete with Blackberry)

 

Trying to see what we are doing in the kitchen.

Having fun on the swing.

On the “grown up” swing with Mo(m).  

In her “western wear” mode.

More Fun in Florida

Ava loves the beach (the last time in San Diego she was too young to really do much). Although we are now finding out just how quick she is – she kept trying to sneak in bites of the sand…

Between having fun on the beach and hanging out with her new best friend Romy, Ava continued to wow everyone we saw – from the other patrons in the restaurants (yes even the New Yorkers) to the Canadians swimming at the pool.

Walking on the beach.

Trying to sneak in a bite of the delicious sand.

Watching Dad’s sand castle progress.

Catching a ride up high.

Ava and Romy had a good time playing with each other. Romy kept stealing Ava’s pacifier (or maybe it is just her way of getting Ava to do situps).

We think Romy is either doing a hand massage or a palm reading here…

The two girls having fun…

And after all that fun, Ava is of course worn out…