All I want for....

It's a long way from Christmas so hopefully Ava won't have to finish that song but she did lose her first top tooth today. It was barely hanging on last night but she wouldn't let me pull it because she wanted it to stay in until she got to school Monday. Apparently if you lose a tooth at school you go to the nurse and she puts it inside a little plastic tooth container that's on a string that goes around your neck. I guess the "tooth necklace" is a coveted prize worth the risk of possibly swallowing your barely attached tooth in your sleep. Lucky for AJ, after a brief moment of panic this morning, she discovered the tooth on the bed. The other top tooth looks like it will be following shortly. Her bottom two came out last summer so this makes tooth number 3. I can't believe how much the loss of this one changes her looks. Although as you can see from the pics, it hasn't changed her silliness.

My little schemer

So the last couple of times we've been to Walmart, Ava has asked if we could buy chocolate goldfish.  We typically buy the regular ones and the graham cracker ones.  I told her that I don't wanna buy them because she is the only one that likes them and nobody else will eat them so they go stale before they are gone.  The other thing she has been doing lately is having us raise our hands for things.  Like everyone who is wearing shoes raise your hand.  So yesterday we were driving somewhere in the car and Ava pipes up from the back seat and says "everybody who likes chocolate raise your hands."  Rob and I both put our hands in the air.  Ava follows with "everybody who likes chocolate goldfish raise your hands."  I started laughing.  Here was her attempt to convince me that she was not the ONLY one in the family that would eat them.  Interesting how she started out asking about chocolate so the goldfish question could be a little more subtle.  Can't wait to see what this translates into at our next shopping trip.  She's such a clever little thing!

Happy Birthday Sweet Baby Girl

Today Ava turns 4.  4 years ago today we became parents, 4 years ago today I cried when the nurse handed her to me, 4 years ago today I had no idea what I was in for.  What an amazing, crazy, silly, fabulous ride it has been everyday since.  We love you big girl.

We love what a great big sister you are

We love that you love to do anything in the kitchen

We love your silly personality

We love your drama

We love your sweetness

We love how you take care of others

We love your spunk (and your fashion sense)

We love how your personality always shines through

We love how you throw caution (and sand) to the wind.

Ballerina Baby

Ava has been taking ballet since January.  She absolutely loves it and tries to show/teach everyone everything she learns.  Memorial day weekend was her studio's yearly recital.  She did such a great job.  I can't imagine being on stage in front of a couple hundred people at that age but she remembered all the moves and even smiled. Her MeeMaw and Papa came down (we didn't get pictures of them...grrrrr) and our friends the Jones', the Yanelli's, and the Bauer's.  We have such great family and friends!

So excited to dance on stage!

Ava with the sweet girls in her class

Ava and her adoring fans

The Naughty Doll

So some of you read earlier that I was trying to do some homemade gifts for Christmas. Well, I decided to take my sewing machine to Oklahoma with me so I could try to squeeze in a few more. I got this cute ragdoll pattern from the owner of The Black Apple Etsy shop and decided that I could try it out so that Ava would have a handmade gift. I worked on it off and on throughout Christmas Eve and finished it up that night. And I thought it turned out pretty well. Here's a picture.
But apparently the doll was naughty when I wasn't looking because Ava saw it, ran up to it, picked it up and promptly put it face-first in the corner. And that's not something she learned from me either, we're still in the "no discipline" phase of our parenting. After a good solid three hours or so in the corner Ava returned and gave it some "hug-ees." I think it's been forgiven!