This Little Miss...

Is a master train builder.

Has the cutest curls in the world.

Has a million expressions.

 Is not to be messed with.



Little Camera Roll, and an Apology

Let's start with the apology. I haven't updated the blog in...well...let me go look. Two weeks. Two weeks?! How did that happen. Well, there's been another work trip (to lovely Raleigh NC). I've also accepted a new position within my current company. I'm stepping my game up, and my calendar is filling up as a result. My days are BUSY. Which is a good thing. Hopefully once I'm past this crazy learning curve, I can start to have some breathing room again.

Anyway...what's new with Little Miss.
She turns two in less than two weeks! Crazy. If you ask her for her age, she will specifically tell you "almost two". Party plans are in process. This year's party will be much smaller and more intimate, but hopefully out at the lake again!
Her two year checkup is approaching. I always can't wait to hear her stats, plus no shots this time! In fact, we are good to go on shots till kindergarten. :)
New teeth. She's got a mouthful.
Hilarious conversations with Ava. The other day she told me her daddy was 67. She knows her full name. We're working on days of the week and the names of her fingers. She is currently using the word "mice" in place of "mine". So if she sees a toy or snack she has or wants, "that's mice". She asks to listen to Luke Bryan or Florida Georgia Line on the radio. She has a fascination either with our friend and neighbor Matt, or she just loves saying his full name.
Her super smartness continues to amaze me. She now recognizes jet trails in the sky as places where planes have flown, among numerous other observations.
We are taking FULL advantage of the spring weather and are playing a lot outside. Including for hours on end with a bucket of water. The clothing changes haven't been this numerous since she was a newborn!
Ava starts gymnastics tonight with friend Aria (Wynston's cousin's daughter). I can't wait! Cuteness PLUS a way to burn off some toddler energy! You KNOW pictures will follow.

Here's a few pictures.

Jumping in the trampoline on a nice day!

Worn out after said jumping session!

Sitting with Poppy during a Randle Chowning fundraiser concert (from Ozark Mtn Daredevils).

A sweet smile and a sweater I wouldn't mind having in my size!

Sitting pretty in a hat she picked out. It's hit or miss each day on whether or not she'll wear it.

A Recent (Non Rain) Shower

Somedays it feels like little ones are ALL around us. Although Ava and some of her friends no longer qualify as babies, they're still small. And there's the twin cousins. Another Johnson baby girl due to arrive early this Summer. Some friends with babies on the way. They're everywhere I tell ya!

A few weeks ago Ava and I attended a baby shower at my in-law's house for a family friend. Another Casey, in fact, who was very nice and excited to be a first time mommy. Here are a few pictures from that fun afternoon.

Little Miss eyeballing the cupcakes.

She snuck one down while we weren't looking.

This dress is new and it was love at first sight. Red, with tiny hearts and pockets! There was no way I was leaving Baby Gap without it.

Grandma Cheryl, Ava and the cousin Leonnie (I think, haha). That's a lapful!

Holding hands with the cousins.

Camera Roll

Just a few pictures from the last month or so...

A dizzy, giggly Ava after being spun around by Daddy.

This little table was mine as a child. It's got another leaf that we put in place when friends are over. Right now it's the perfect spot for Little Miss to sit and color at or eat some snacks. Or even just when she wants to kick up her feet.

A visit to Daddy's office. Popcorn was sniffed out and provided.

Singing Happy Birthday to her Poppy.



Some of you saw this sweet little smile on Facebook.



What you didn't see was this cheesy smile I also got that day. Lordy, that girl has some expressions.



 

TV snuggle time.



More, this time wearing her Spiderman shirt, and holding on to Daddy's arm during an intense scene. Lol.



Ava - 18 Months Old

Happy 18 Month Birthday beautiful little lady! Actually, you turned one and half yesterday. I can NOT believe you've blessed our lives for a year and a half now. Life without our Little Miss seems like such a distant memory. Ava brings joyful smiles and prayers of thankfulness to me and Wynston daily. She is sooo smart and such a funny little thing. Here's some fun facts about Ava right now:

• Ava weighs 22-23 pounds. Her weight hasn't changed much in the past 6 months. She has grown quite a bit though, so she's losing some of her cute baby legs and belly.
• She still wears 18-24 month clothing. I LOVE buying her outfits right now and they all look so darn cute on her. She wears a size 6 shoe. Ava is especially funny when she wears her squeaky shoes, since she enjoys jumping around in them to make them squeak.
• Little Miss is a pretty good sleeper these days. About a month or two ago, we experienced some sleep regression, but those days are (thankfully) over. Ava takes two one-hour naps a day, and bedtime is 8 pm(ish) and she wakes up around 7. We recently went through Daylight Savings Time, which was obviously NOT created by someone with a small child. :)
• Ava is also a pretty good eater these days. She eats more during the day, and less at night. She has started some pickiness, but that goes in phases. She loves crackers and pretzels, and anything sweet. She also really likes the word PIZZA, and eats it pretty well too. Her all time favorite though seems to be Ice Pops. On almost any day, its the first thing she asks for in the morning.
• We have begun preliminary potty training. Ava is still in diapers (size 4), but we have purchased a potty and it has been used! Since Little Miss is so aware, and at times vocal, about her...umm...bodily functions (!), we decided to buy a potty. The plan was to just have it out, where it could be seen and talked about. However, Ava brought it upon herself to use this potty three times now; all on her own! We still have a LONG ways to go, but there's no rush since she's still so young.
• Ava talks. A LOT. Her vocabulary is pretty impressive for her age. I won't even try to list out all her words. She is now up to 3 word sentences (I got you! I want pizza! Lily go outside!). She knows LOTS of names, and has a good memory. Ava can sing part of her ABCs, Row Row Your Boat, parts of You Are My Sunshine, and a Carrie Underwood song with lots of "Ohh Ohh Ohhs" in it. She can count to 10 as well. This kid is smart! :) She will repeat back just about anything you say to her, so it's time to start being aware of our conversations when she's around.
• Little Miss is becoming more handy around the house. You can hand her items and ask her to thow them away, and she'll take them to the trash. You can ask her for a towel from the kitchen, and she'll bring you one. She understands soo much.
• Ava loves to play. She is affectionate with her stuffed animals, enjoys her play kitchen, still loves being outside, will sort and count her toys, is constantly building things with her mega blocks, and wants to watch Despicable Me several times a day. "Watch MOOBIE!" is heard around here often. She'll get the remote, hand it to you and make her request. :) Ava is also pretty fluent in her animal noises.
• Ava still has 10 teeth. We haven't had any new teeth in a LONG time. Like almost a year. This is something I'll ask the doctor about at her next checkup.
• Ava is BRAVE. She is a climber. She loves standing on the back of the couch (against the wall) and can climb into her high chair all on her own.

In honor of her one and half year day, I thought Ava should wear a cute big girl outfit yesterday. I dressed her up and took her to a Pampered Chef party, where she enjoyed playing with lots of other children. I almost died from the cuteness of her in her little leather jacket. I also wish those leggings came in my size.   :)

Waiting patiently for our Oriental Inn, which is almost a guaranteed stop when we're in my hometown.

That's My Girl

Last night we did some Halloween costume supply shopping. We made a detour at a store where several months back I'd spied some totally adorable toddler boots. Turns out not only were the boots still there, but Little Miss LOVED them. I put them on her to make sure they fit, and she decided they were NOT allowed off for the rest of the night.

Ava loves her mommy and daddy's "boots!", now she has a pair of her own. And I heard about them the entire car ride home. :)

Getting that security tag off the boot was...interesting!

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!"

The Great Evader

Little Miss has caught on to my picture stalking. She is now a pro at not letting me get a straight shot of that cute little face. Case in point, a recent trip to a children's playarea:

This little cutie does an excellent photo bomb.

How cute is the back of this shirt?!

Gotcha, stinker!