Poo-Poo

It's official! Ava pooped in the toilet for the 1st time over the weekend!!! We are such proud parents! I would post a picture (yes, I actually took a picture) but didn't think people would want to see a picture of poop.

Weekend Adventure

This weekend we ventured to the Oakland Zoo. Ava LOVES the zoo as she was still going strong after 4 hours and no nap! Ava loved pointing to the animals and telling us what they were. Her favorite animal this trip was the elephant. She was still talking about it today.



Ava loving the train ride. She kept saying: "Daddy, more train!"

Petting the old goats in the children's petting zoo.

Ava's 1st Dentist Visit

Being that all of Ava's teeth are in, I decided it was time for a trip to the dentist...

Ava playing with the toys in the waiting room.


Ava trying out the dentist chair for the 1st time.


Ava deciding she doesn't like the dentist chair.


Ava realizing that only she likes to brush her teeth and not other people! Yes, those are daddy's hands having to hold her down! Next visit, 6 months.... can't wait.

Ano Nuevo State Park

This weekend adventure took us to Ano Nuevo State Park to view the Elephant Seals. I haven't been to see the seals since I was about 5 years old (which is a long time ago)! It was a blast! I was a little worried about the unpredictable weather and climbing sand dunes at 6 months pregnant but we all survived and had a great time!


What I learned: Baby elephant seals are called weiners. I couldn't stop laughing!

Male elephant seals can weigh as much as the offensive AND defensive line of the San Francisco 49ers.

Elephant seals are very loud and ugly! This is a picture of the 1st elephant seal we spotted.

"It's only a mouse...."

...So my husband said. Meet Romeo & Juliette (not pictured). After 5 days of trying, we finally caught the rodents! Lessons learned: 1. American cheese slices work better in rat traps then peanut butter, 2. Never allow my husband to leave composting on the deck to be brought down "tomorrow," 3. I was right when I said it was a rat!

The Bounce House

For the past couple days we have been held hostage in our home due to rain and Ava getting over being sick. All of us were going a little crazy so for Valentine's Day, we succumbed to buying Ava her own bounce house to keep us entertained. It has turned into endless hours of fun!

Natural Bridges State Park

Today we took Ava to see the last of the Monarch Butterflies that are currently migrating through Santa Cruz on there way to Mexico. Ava LOVES butterflies and enjoyed pointing them out to us!

Beep! Beep!

Obviously Ava is not aware of the new California law of using a handsfree device when driving.

Rainy Days

Another rainy day in Santa Cruz. Stomping in puddles and eating watermelon- two of Ava's favorite things!

Pumpkin Patch 2008

Another New Trick for Ava

I honestly think Ava is going to be a swimmer! Not only does she LOVE anything that has to do with water, she has now taken bathtime to a whole new level! Not only will Ava lay on her stomach and try to swim (moving her legs back and forth), she LOVES putting her face in the water!

Monterey County Fair

Ava's 1st close encounter with livestock. She didn't even mind the smell and boy was it stinky!!

Potty Talk

Today we started potty training Ava. Being only 14 months maybe it's too soon but I figure why not try?! We have added the "potty routine" to the 1st thing Ava does when she wakes up and the last thing she does when she goes to sleep. Although we have had no success yet, Ava LOVES her new potty (as you can tell from the pictures below). Ava has learned to sign many words so we figure the next word she learns will be bathroom.



Ava loving her new potty.

Getting up from the potty after signing "all done".

Oakland Zoo

One of our many adventures this summer was to the Oakland Zoo with my best friend Kelie (aka Aunt Kelie). What a blast we had! Ava loved looking at all the animals and espically enjoyed brushing the goats.

Ava looking at the Giraffes.

Brushing the goats although she tried brushing her own hair first as Kelie and I yelled "Nooo...." and freaked Ava out.

Enjoying the "Sky Ride" as the whole time I had my arms tightly wrapped around her and praying she wouldn't have one of her tantrums in which she turns into a 25 pound Al Dente noodle. The joys of parenting!!

One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish.

Ava enjoyed many outings to the Monterey Bay Aquarium this summer. She loves looking at the fish in the large tanks! She would often point and yell in delight as her friend Hayes would keep saying "take out, take out Momma!"

Ava and Hayes enjoying lunch.

Jessica trying to figure out how to be 8.5 months pregnant, walk her son with a monkey backpack and push a stroller all at the same time... I'm glad to report Jessica gave birth to a beautiful healthy baby girl on Aug. 3rd!

Ava and Hayes enjoying the water table.

Ava and Grandma Kathy

Ava enjoying the walk up the driveway with Grandma Kathy at the Wharf-2-Wharf.

Disneyland! Part 2...

Disneyland! Part 1...

Our 1st week long family vacation was to Los Angeles this summer to attend my cousin's wedding and to go to Disneyland! We always knew Ava was a great kid but who knew she could tolerate the Pirates of the Carribean without crying, withstand a 30 minute line to go on Dumbo, and ride a Merry-go-Round for the 1st time all in one day!



Pirates of the Carribean... So interested in what was going on...

The next Hannah Montana... We Hope not!

Riding a Merry-go-Round...

Of course... another pair of sunglasses to add to her collection!

Wharf-2-Wharf 2008

O.K.... so I didn't meet my goal of running in this years race... but there is always next year?! What a great time we had watching the people run by...

It's a bird, It's a plane, It's a really fast guy!