Ava's First Trip to the Zoo

Last week we chose a hot and sunny day to take Ava to the zoo for the first time. Too bad those recent mid70's days were long gone. Aunt Carly and Grandma Cheryl joined us for the visit. I think one of everyone's favorite things that day was watching the black bears play together then go for a swim in their pool. :)

"Maybe I can stick my tongue out that far!"

Feeding the monkeys

 

Feeding the hippo

Ava - 15 Months Old

Time for another round of Ava statistics. :)

Age: 15 Months old
Weight: 22 lbs, 50th percentile
Height: 32 inches, 90th percentile

Sleeping: through the night, two 1 hour naps a day
Eating: starting to slack off. Ava's appetite is definitely slowing down, and now the world seems to intrigue Little Miss more than her food does. Don't get me wrong; she's still a good eater.
Teeth: still 10 of them, no new additions 

What else...running, talking a LOT with many many new words, learning everyone's name, waving at EVERY person she goes by, waving at random times, high fives and fist bumps, imitating facial expressions like closing her eyes on purpose and opening her mouth WIDE, lots of dancing, still working on getting those little feet off the ground when she jumps (though she can if jumping in her crib!), throwing rocks into our nearby creek, being chased, hiding behind someone and peeking around their shoulder with a "boo!". So many other things I'm sure to be forgetting.

Here's a couple pictures from her 15 Month Checkup. They always put us in this room that has a little nook by the window...Ava obviously loves it!

Peek a Boo!

"Here Dad, these are for my check up."

Impulse Birdbath Shopping

On a recent Friday, my mom called me and asked if I was working that afternoon. She'd been thinking about getting a new birdbath, and decided that day was THE day to shop for one. So after making some arrangements, my half day of work was completed and we were off. We headed down the interstate about 90 miles to the loveliest of lovely concrete dealers. This place has a bistro where we fueled up, gorgeous interior decor for sale inside and more birdbaths and fountains than you can imagine outside. It had been about 5 years since we'd last visited, and we had a lot of fun that afternoon.

Here's Ava and her cousins enjoying the most adorable little concrete seat ever. We couldn't resist.

All in the Family

If you've ever met my daughter in person, you've probably told me how much she looks like her dad. She does, truly. But as she gets older, I see a little more and more of her momma in her. Here's a few examples:

Ava loves her some moccasins. 

I had my own pair of moccasins that were worn WAY too much in college.

Ava can rock a mean ponytail.

 

Here's the kicker: the girl naturally twirls her hair. 

She started doing this months ago. 

Total momma move right there.

 

But lets not forget that she's still got a LOT of Wynston in her. 

Check out her skills with a flyswatter. :)

When Dad's In Charge

He takes his little girl on walks to the creek between rain storms. 

On the way, they discover many wonderful rain puddles to stomp and jump in. :)

Little Miss Red

I love a lot of colors on Ava...navy, yellow, turquoise, pink, cream/white (so dangerous, lol) but the color I love the most on her is RED. These jammies are so cute, but they are faux footy pajamas... she's really too long for them these days so those are socks keeping those little toes and ankles warm. Don't you just hate when they outgrow something adorable! I may or may not have purchased 3 different sizes of those favorite old camo sneakers Ava owns. :)

The chair must ALWAYS be moved.

Ava sees something!

It's our dog Lily, and the neighbor's dogs coming up to say Hi.

"There they go!"

Mud Puddles

Who'd have thought we would have mud puddles in AUGUST to play in? Most August's here in our area are scorching hot with burnt up grass. But it's been raining here for days. Days I tell ya!!

We recently ventured back to Wynston's family farm where he grew up. This farm has been in his family for several generations and I just love it. In fact (incoming mushiness) this property is where Wynston lived when I first met him...we spent many an evening hanging out at the pond feeding the catfish, he taught me to drive a stick shift here, I learned to make gravy in that kitchen, and many more memories were made at this house. :) While the family still owns the property, it is currently being rented out to some friends who are taking great care of it, updating parts of the old farm house and enjoying country life with their little one!

We even talked the kids (ha!) into playing in the old mud puddle that Wynston enjoyed back when he was a little one!

Aren't they CUTE?!

I love LOVE the back of this little shirt.

When Dad's In Charge

A sight I hope to see again and again. :)