Walks...

I feel so behind in my posting...and I am sorry that I don't have a picture to post. But I will share a story with y'all.

Today I took Ava and Lily for a walk, yes...quite a feat in itself I know...and for the first time Ava noticed Lily's leash. It is one of the retractable ones - she grabbed at it several times and even put the string part in her mouth a couple times...it was especially cute but I didn't want her to burn her lip when it slid back in. It can be a brutal burn! She thought I was a mean momma though, she protested every time I took in away from her. Thankfully Lily always calms down and eventually walks beside me so it wasn't a problem for long.

The second thing Ava noticed on our walk today was the sunshade on her stroller. When we walked into the sun, I put it in front of her to block the sun from her eyes. Today she was very intent on chewing on the plastic part of it... She is very aware of her surroundings and loves to learn new things. I love watching her explore...it helps me see everything in a new light.

Top Left~

Ava has her top left tooth...looks like she will get them in BEFORE Christmas. I am amazed at how well behaved she has been.

Fun at Daddy's work

Daddy's bank had a customer appreciation day this weekend so we went and took advantage of all the fun. They had the radio station, a fire truck, face painting, a pumpkin painting contest, a petting zoo, a bounce house, and food! It was a terrific turn out ~ and the weather was perfect.

Grandma and Grandpa Shores have a perfect around the town stoller for their use. It was great for being out in a crowd. She is a good rider. I don't think she really knows what to think about the hat and sunglasses I have on her... She had just been asleep in the car though, so I'll call it a delay in waking up. We do stay on the go so I imagine each time she wakes up she has to figure out where she is! :)
Horses seem to follow Ava wherever she goes...she has been to a rodeo, a barrel run, and now she has finally been able to get on her first horse. They had pony rides at the bank so we took advantage - well, for a photo op anyway...not too much riding for this little one today. Grandpa (and Grandma) was a great helper that day, as usual. It's a blessing to have them close, they can watch Ava grow!! I'll bet Ava's cousins Brooke, Halle, Bailee, and Bethany would love to give her her first "real" horse ride...and maybe even some barrel lessons...

Sittin' patiently

Miss Ava continues to demonstrate a very laid back and calm personality...I give her dad TOTAL credit for that!! After her naps, she just sits in her crib and talks...this is how I typically find her. She isn't in a huge hurry to climb or get out, it's almost as she enjoys "her" time. Look how happy she looks. And...she can sit and entertain herself for a good 30 minutes. Sometimes I feel neglectful but she just talks to and laughs at her toys so I let her develop those skills.
Below is her most recent milestone...a sippy cup. We have been trying it for about a month with formula, now we have added some water with ice. She likes to hold the cup and play with it. She is able to get the liquid but she definitely prefers her bottle. Today she signed the sign for milk (1st time) while we were sitting at the table ~ she was in her high chair and I was feeding her squash. I think that she was a little confused and must have meant "eat" but it was enough, I praised her and gave her another bite!

Sweet Dreams

Ava now sleeps with a "lovey" at night. She seems to enjoy having some company :) I noticed tonight that she has it sort of wadded up under her head, almost as a pillow. I am continuously amazed at the revelations she has made in her short 7 and 1/2 months. She is figuring out new things faster than I realize. I guess you do learn all you really need to know before kindergarten...

Trip to Quincy and Hannibal

We had a fun filled weekend with an old friend of Daddy's this weekend. We traveled to Illinois to visit the "country". We saw horses up close and personal. We toured Hannibal, MO...birth place to Mark Twain. We saw the Mark Twain cave and heard the story of all the people in the stories. We also took a short ride on the Mark Twain riverboat. It was Ava's first cave and riverboat. She slept through the second half of the

cave, it was cold and dark...I figure

she thought it was bedtime :)

The boat she enjoyed. She laughed

at everything, even

when I covered her ears with

a blanket and my hand

while the captain sounded the whistle. Here are some pictures with the horses and then one on the boat...I love to see that happy baby!!

Hiccups

Okay, so this may not be funny to many people but I'm the momma and I want it in writing forever!! Today as I was giving Ava her lunch bottle, I got the hiccups. At first I was irritated as I usually am when I get the hiccups, then I was getting frustrated with Ava because she kept playing with her bottle. Once I stepped back from the situation and really thought about it, I realized that she wasn't "playing" with her bottle...she was taking it out of her mouth to laugh - AT ME!! Every time I hiccuped she would take her bottle out of her mouth and laugh! We laughed together today. This was the first time that she laughed spontaneously without being directed by play. It was such a precious moment we could share, all because I had the hiccups. Tears of joy and pride fill my eyes to think of what a sweet little sense of humor Ava is developing. It will be a long time before I can get hiccups without remembering this dreary, gray, Friday that my daughter and I laughed together.