Ali at 6 Months

Besides celebrating a busy and joyful holiday season with family, we also celebrated Ali's 6 month birthday. December 28th marked a half a year since our sweet little girl was born.

Likes:

Ali still likes many of the same things as last month. Taking baths, watching TV, listening to books and playing with toys. She has showed more interest in toys that make a "crunch" sound, putting everything in her mouth, as well as picking up toys and and grabbing her hanging toys. She absolutely loves to laugh, and giggles a lot when big sissy entertains her.

Ali, post-bath time fun.

Reading books in bed in the morning.

Dislikes:

Ali is such an easy going baby, and there isn't much she dislikes. She tends to get a little fussy when she has a dirty diaper or hungry, but those are pretty normal baby things. Our fault if she is fussy. :-)

Ava and Ali clowning around on Dad.

Sleeping:

Naps are still inconsistent, although we are working on sleep training. Aiming for a consistent afternoon nap and bedtime, but other "cat" naps are here and there when riding in the car or stroller. Over the holidays, the excitement of family and the oncoming of teeth, she is getting up occasionally in the middle of the night to eat. Bedtime is around 7:30 and wakeup is anywhere between 5-6:30 am.

Catching some afternoon cuddle time with Mom.

Eating:

There is a new milestone in eating. Ali had her first meal on Christmas Eve. She started with pureed butternut squash and ate like a champ. She is also eating peas and today will try avocado. We are making all our own baby food so far and plan to continue to nourish her this way. Still getting most nutrition through breastmilk and an occasional bottle in the evenings.

Ali’s first solid food…

Some of which actually made it into her stomach, with the rest on her face and bib.

Click on the image above for a video of Ali's first meal.

 

Firsts:

Still awaiting the first tooth, any day now. She had her first Christmas, and we all had our first Christmas in our new home. On the downside, she also had her first fever this past month, but the little champ showed no signs of being down and quickly recovered after a good night sleep.

Doctor Ava is helping Ali with her fever.

We are definitely out of the newborn phase and into the active and fun baby stage.

Ali with Uncle John.

Note the reindeer on the jammies.

Ali and Pops.

Smiling at Dad.

Click on the image above for a video of Ali doing Happy Baby.

Click on the image above for a video of Ali playing with her blocks.

Christmas Part 2

So now for the (belated) part 2 post of Christmas.

On Christmas Eve, Ava and Aunt Marcy read the reindeer book.

On Christmas morning, Ava was thrilled with all the presents that Santa and everyone else brought.

Ava and Uncle John started with the stockings.

While Ali and Aunt Marcy had fun with tissue paper.

Later Ava and Dad had fun with the giant pipe cleaners (and Ava demonstrated some backwards somersaults).

Ali and John caught a little cuddle time.

Ava loved her dressup clothes . Here’s the Minnie Mouse / Tinkerbell combo.

Ali had fun with Pops and NeeNee.

And Ava had more fun with her cash register and fire truck.

And the aftermath of the Christmas fun (or more likely just a break point).

Ava and Ali will be sad when Christmas is over…

Getting ready for Christmas

The Ameduri household was in full swing during the lead up to Christmas. Other than a little hiccup weekend where everyone was sick (and Ava missed her preschool performance for a second year running), the holiday season has been great.

Ava holding her Clarice reindeer watching the tree lighting at the Scottsdale Quarter shopping center.

Ava had a blast helping to decorate the Christmas tree.

Ava and Ali watching the train around the tree.

Our gym did their annual pajama party with Santa. Ali loved Santa’s beard, while Ava was a bit shy again.

Ali with Santa.

Santa and the girls…

Ava making a gingerbread man.

Ava and Ali were awesome with other preparations as well. Ali had lots of fun with wrapping paper….

While Ava is starting her training as a pastry chef.

Three generations of cooks at work!

We also took full advantage of all the lights around. There were some great ones in our neighborhood – which made it more fun for our family walks.

Ava is pretending to lick the candy canes.

Petting the polar bear.

Ava and Dad joining the snowman family.

One of the resorts nearby also did a great light display. Ava liked posing by the tree while we were waiting for the train.

“Monkey” Ava with NeeNee and Pops while waiting for the train.

Ava the Tumblina

At the beginning of December Ava had her first Tumblina’s performance (a combination of gymnastics and ballet). It was our first chance to see all that Ava has learned in class over the last few months. Although they were a little distracted having the audience, Ava and her friends did awesome!

First up, Ava had a little pre-performance refreshment…

The girls are anxiously awaiting the start of the music.

Ava is of course checking out Mom, Dad, and baby sister Ali.

Once the performance started the girls did great. Here’s Ava in the “sleeping” portion of the routine.

And doing her pirouettes.

Click on the image above for a video of the ballet.

After the ballet performance, we were treated to some gymnastics. Ava is helping her friend Lily to warm up.

Ava did great on the balance beam (maybe all the practice on the curbs is paying off).

And the somersault rolls.
Handstands are one of Ava’s favorite things to do on the walls at home.

Of course like any performer Ava wants to make sure that the audience is watching…

Click on the image above for a video of the gymnastics.

Afterwards the girls each took a turn on the mini trampoline.

Click on the image above for a video of the trampoline.

We’re looking forward to what Ava learns in the next few months!