My baby girls

Oh how I love these two.  And even more than that? I love when they love each other.  Charlotte gets such a kick out of Ava these days and Ava gets thrilled herself when she can get any giggles out of her baby sis.

Little Miss Fancy

I can't believe what a big girl Ava has grown into.  My friend LE (who took these pictures) had to laugh at how much fun Ava was having with this photo shoot.  It was even funnier when we compared it to the first time LE shot her as a 9 month old at an Easter shoot.  Ava cried through the whole thing and was terrified of everything.  We've come a long way from then.  Just look at her fancy moves!

I just love this girl!  How can you not?

Ava-isms:

I should be writing down everything Ava says because it's a laugh a minute at our house these days.  Some of the ones I remember from today:

(While driving in the car)
Ava: Mom who's the first that got married?
Me: What?
Ava: The first who got married?
Me: In our family? You mean who got married before daddy and I?
Ava: Yeah
Me: Well, Uncle Brad and Aunt Tara, Aunt Mellonee and Uncle Daren, Aunt Lauri and Uncle Will.....
Ava: No, the first that got married.
Me: You mean the first people ever?
Ava: (a little annoyed) Yes!
Me: Adam and Eve
Ava: Oh yeah, them. (smiles) They're coming to my birthday party.
Me: Um I don't think they'll be able to make it honey.
Ava: Yes mom, Adam and Eve are real.
Me: That's true.  They are real people that really lived but they aren't gonna be at your party.
Ava: (incredulously) Why?!
Me: Because they're dead.
Ava: Oh no! They are? How did they die?
Me: Well sweetie, they got old and died.  Remember, everybody dies eventually.
Ava: Oh yeah, they ate poison fruit and thats why they died.
Me: No they did eat some fruit they weren't supposed to but that got them kicked out of the garden but didn't kill them.  They died because they were old.
Ava: Oooooooh man. Why did they go and die? They knew they were invited?
Me: What?
Ava: They knew they were invited to my party, why did they have to die?
Me: Well sweetie, they died a very long time ago.  They probably didn't even know about your party.
Ava: (quietly to herself) Oh man, I really wanted them at my party.

Tonight after being put to bed, Ava came into my room (she's always trying to find reasons to stay up):
Ava: Mom, when I close my eyes my legs don't hurt but when I open my eyes and unrest (the opposite of sleep apparently) then they start to hurt.
Me: Good.  Just keep your eyes closed and go to sleep and your legs will be fine.
Ava: (dejectedly) Okay mom.

Happy Birthday Baby Girl

To my sweet baby girl Charlotte.  What a charming, loveable joy you are.  You have such a precious disposition, so quick to laugh and get excited.  We have so enjoyed this last year getting to know you and thank the Lord everyday for sending you to us.  You are starting to take a few steps and it will be any day now before you just take off.  You are a mess maker and absolutely love to open drawers and empty them out. You are a very picky eater and have no problem shaking your head furiously at me when you do not want to try something.  You are a terrible sleeper and I am often a zombie in the mornings because of you but you're too cute for me to care too much.  You love to snuggle and would prefer mom or dad to carry you around all day long.  You have started to pick up on the sign language we are teaching you and can, on your own, do the signs for thank you, more, and finished.  You absolutely adore your sister Ava and are constantly trying to join her in her play which usually results in some form of complaint from her for something you "took, knocked over, messed up, etc."  But she also gets quite a thrill over making you shriek with laughter.  I love spending my days with you and hope the coming years are as enjoyable as this past one.  Happy Birthday Charlie girl!

Christmas

Christmas came with a whole lot of craziness this year. We closed on our new house just four days before Christmas and only found out that we were for sure closing a couple days before that. So it was filled with moving boxes, moving boxes and more moving boxes. We got the big stuff into our new house the day before Christmas Eve and Rob went over the night before and set up a Christmas tree. Ava was thrilled because I had calmed her previous concerns about Santa not finding us by telling her that Santa can find anyone that puts up a Christmas tree. So amidst half unpacked boxes and completely bare bedrooms we had our first Christmas in what hopes to be our home for the long haul.

Ava spent much of the moving days playing in this "secret closet" under the stairs.

Ava's first gingerbread house

Ornaments: shiny AND tasty!

Sewing on Christmas Eve. Procrastinator!

Rob was on wrapping duty

I realized I have no pictures of Charlotte unwrapping presents because she was not very interested in the whole process.  We did take video but no pictures.  Guess that's what happens with number two, poor thing.