Catching Up

It has been quite an eventful year and the last few months proved to be the most changing. Thankfully, Ava seems unscathed by it all and we've been enjoying ourselves immensely. She's grown a closer bond to me through all of the changes, especially after I returned back to work, as I have remained the one constant in her life that she can trust to always be there for that familiar comfort she needs. I can't describe how happy I am that she is still such a happy and giggly little girl. Her personality has blossomed so much this summer and her vocabulary astounds me. Some of the phrases that come out of her mouth leave me in hysterical laughter.

To catch up with the last few months, I am happy to report that Ava quickly overcame her distaste for the sand between her toes as we headed to the Jersey Shore a few more times throughout the duration of the summer. Of course, one of her many birthday celebrations was in Myrtle Beach, SC as well.

She took her first official ride in her Radio Flyer Wagon on the Fourth of July as she showed off her patriotism in one of her favorite dresses, her "Apple Dress" which she asks to wear every time she sees it hanging in her closet.

We even headed to Veterans Park later that night so Ava could catch her first display of fireworks. She was a little afraid at first but once Grandma & Mommy explained that it was Tinkerbell Fairy Princess Pixie Dust in the sky she soon started to repeat that mouthful of words as she pointed out all of the different colors she was seeing as all of the fairies glittered above her head.

On July 23rd we hopped on a plane with Uncle Andy to head down to Myrtle Beach, SC to meet up with the family who was awaiting the soon to be 2-year old's arrival! Ava really enjoyed her second plane ride and was very good for the duration of the flight. She even took a nap with Uncle Andy for most of the flight. As soon as we made it to the hotel in Myrtle Beach we had a family reunion of sorts with my moms sister and her family. Ava was completely in awe of "Baby Jasmine" and still to this day talks about her.

We spent most of the week on the Lazy River and in the kiddie pools which was difficult to get Ava out of as she became very attached to the tubes.

We celebrated her Birthday in the party room at the local Friendly's. Ava enjoyed coloring with Baby Jasmine and of course, stuffing her face with cake!

We wiggled our toes in the sand on the beach which Ava referred to as the "sand castle," and even managed a trip to the Aquarium to make fish faces at the fish before heading back to NJ.

When We got back to NJ, we celebrated Ava's birthday for a second time with her Daddy's Family. She had a party fit for a princess and was spoiled with too many presents!!

One of the presents that I gave her was a big wagon full of sidewalk chalk. She wore them down quickly as she left scribbles of bunnies and rainbows and hopscotch all over Grandmas sidewalk.

Sure enough, we had one more 2nd Birthday Celebration in New York. Ava shared her Great Uncle Dave's Birthday Celebration full of Pooh, bubbles and of course, more cake!

Before summer was done we even managed to get in one last swim! And although the warm sun is retreating for another two season, it was a great summer and I'm looking foward to what the rest of fall will bring.