Ali’s First Swim Lesson and Fun Around the House

One of the nearby swim schools has lessons for the babies. Inside, with a little warmer water it is perfect for Ali to get more comfortable in the water.

Here’s Ali anxiously awaiting the lesson.

Calm and collected at the start of the lesson.

Having fun playing motorboat.

Ali loved the back floats. She is definitely comfortable in the water…

Click on the image above to play the video.

We should have known that Ali would love the water given how much she loves her bath time…

(Nice and clean.)

Ali is also having fun around the house. Sometimes she supervises Scott working in the office…

Or makes sure Chase has company on the floor.

And sometimes Chase even helps Ali as a backrest.

Ali has also discovered that the jumperoo is fun…of course big sister Ava wants to play with her old toys too.

 

But mostly Ava just likes to hold Ali…especially in the morning when we are hanging out in bed.

And sometimes Ava has to just burp her baby doll like Mommy does with Ali.

Ava has been taking a dance and gymnastics class called “Tumblelinas.”  Hereshe is dressed up in her uniform for class. 

The girls sure are growing up fast!

Arizona Fall Fun

With the arrival of cooler weather we get to spend more time outdoors, whether it be at the park, going for walks, or just playing in the backyard. Ava loves being outside, and Ali seems to really like staring at the trees, sky, and especially dozing during our family walks.

Ava recently had two birthday parties to go to. One at the ranch, which of course was a western-themed party.
Here’s Ava showing off her cowgirl hat.

Feeding the chickens.

Panning for gold.
And of course riding a horse. Note that we had to wait for the brown horse – which was of course the biggest of the horses they had out that day.

The next weekend was a train-themed party at the railroad park. The kids got to play some games outside before riding the train.

Ava loves her little engineer’s hat.
And the girls all had fun on the train.
The cooler mornings have made it more fun for some hiking…here’s Ava from a recent Saturday morning hike.

And of course it is nice enough to ride the tricycle.

And the really big tricycles…



We’ll leave you with a video of Ava on her morning runs with Chase…

Click the image above for the video

Ali at 3 Months

Dear Sweetpea,

Time really goes to fast.  It was just the beginning of summer when you were born, and now we are at the beginning of fall.  3 months of getting to know your sweet and easy going personality. 

This month started with your 2 month immunizations, and you were a rockstar.  You barely cried for a minute, and had no ill effects later.  A few days later you went on your first plane ride to MN.  Of course, you slept the whole time, but that was welcomed by all around us.  You met Uncle John and Aunt Marcy, as well as some cousins and your Ameduri grandparents all for the first time.  Smiles have become a regular occurrence and you laugh at bit at daddy and big sister too.

Sleep has been going well.  We have started an 8:00 bedtime, and you either go all night until 5 am or wake for a 3 am feeding and sleep until 7.  Either way, Mommy gets up more than you do!  Naps are still irregular, but you are always happy to hang out and just watch what's going on around you.  You rarely fuss if tired, and tend to go with the flow of whatever we do during the day.

You are eating well, and growing quickly.  Sometimes a bit of fussy feeding in the evening, but that could be due to being tired and hungry at the same time.  Lots of drooling lately, I wonder if you are starting teething? 

Things you don't like;  tummy time and big sister's loud whines.  Otherwise, you are a very happy baby and enjoy walks outside, baths, being cuddled and playing on the activity mat. 

We can't wait to see what the next month brings! 

We love you with all our hearts,
Mommy, Daddy, and Ava

 

Ali after bath time.

Laughing in her little chair.

Posing for pictures.

Ready to go swimming.

Click the image above for a video of Ali in her bumbo chair

Minnesota (Ali’s first flight)

Ali got to take her first flight  - we spent the first week of September in Minnesota. It was the perfect time to escape the summer heat of Arizona, and let us all enjoy the nice Minnesota weather outside.

After the flight, Ali was ready for a nap…

While Ava had to check out NeeNee’s garden.

Ava’s favorite is always the grape tomatoes.

But she loves showing off the bounty of other veggies that she picked.

After all that work, it was time for some swinging (Ava had to swing at least 3 times a day).

Uncle John and Aunt Marcy came to meet Ali…here’s John with the newest niece.

Ali of course gets to sleep a lot still…

And yes, proof that Ava can wind down…

Pops likes to show that he can still get down to Ali’s level.

And Mom can too…

Cousins Alicia and Maya as well as Papa and Lola came down to see the baby. Ali was all dressed up with her little bootie socks on for the day.

Here’s Ava and Maya in the banana chair.

Lola and Alicia with baby Ali.

All 3 girls were excited for the train to come at the Depot.

Ali still gets dressed up like a baby doll. Let’s just hope that Ava doesn’t start trying to dress her up. Here’s Ali in one of her cool outfits.

Ava and Pops built a little house for her to play in – of course it is a Frank Lloyd Wright inspired house.

Ava wanted to drive the boat whenever she could. Sometimes even with flowers in hand.

Ava also had fun skipping rocks into the creek at the Nature Center.

Of course a September trip to Minnesota is timed to celebrate Mom and Uncle John’s birthdays. Ava was ready and willing to help open presents.

And we did have to take a ride on the boat too. As Ava’s hair shows, the kept asking Pops to “go faster please”!

When we stopped Ava liked walking on the sand barge. Oh, and she also went skinny dipping….

A trip to Minnesota in the fall isn’t complete unless we take some pictures with pumpkins.

Our little girl is getting so big!