At the Park

Peek-A....Boo!

Playing on top of the structure.


Carefully crossing the wobbly bridge.

Just what mommy wanted to do.... walk up and down the stairs!
Hopefully it will put me into labor!

Mini-Me

Enjoying the sunshine over the weekend as we snacked on food and watched daddy work in the garden.

Ce-Ce's Kitties

Today Cecelia (one of Great Grandpa Ray's caregiver) brought over her little kitties for Ava to play with. Here is Ava checking out the little kitties...

Ava watching the kitties eat...Ava & Grandma Kathy...

I finally figured out how to add video to the blog! Here is Ava helping Daddy water the plants. Notice the sagging diaper? This was before Jacobe decided to take it off not knowing there was poop in it and deciding it would be easiest to hose her down rather then bring her upstairs for a change. Ava thought it was great! I wonder what our neighbors think about us?!

p.s. I LOVE my new camera I got for Mother's Day that allows me to take high definition video too!!

Daddy's Little Helper

Ava could spend all day outside playing in the garden with her daddy.

Ava's clothes got soaked and she insisted I take her dress off: "Take off mommy. All wet." So here she is running around with her diaper on.

Whistling to the music while working in the garden watering plants.

Mother's Day

What a great relaxing weekend we had! For Mother's Day we enjoyed a delicious brunch with Grandma Kathy and Grandpa Craig (Grandpa Keg according to Ava) as well as a slow stroll to the point to watch people surf. Ava kept asking "Where Uncle Brian?" She doesn't quite understand that Malibu is a little further away. Ava out walking her very pregnant mommy who can go into labor any day...
Chilling on the picnic bench with daddy and her favorite sunglasses...

Trying to find Uncle Brian surfing. All the surfers who were out there didn't make it in this photo...

Ava being daring...

It's too HOT!

Since it was 96 degrees yesterday with no coastal breeze, we went to visit Grandma Kathy for some water play....





Enjoying the pool with little Pugsly.


Chasing poor Pugsly with a bottle brush trying to convince him to get back in the pool.


Filling the pool up with more water. Ava LOVES water and could play in it all day long- rain or shine!

What's For Dinner?

Ava's imagination has taken off within the last few weeks. Yesterday she decided it was time to cook: "Mommy sit. I cook."
She asked for a pot and lid and all the food she wanted to use. Her 1st creation: soup (which was made with left over oranges, celery, pretzels, noodles and marshmallows- which she ate after dipping in the soup). Delicious!

Ava & Tape

One of Ava's new things to play with is tape. She is so easy to entertain!

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