So it let me log on tonight but it wouldn't let me last night. I think our computer is on its way out. Anyway, yesterday was a very frustrating day all around. Ava has been weird about school. One day she'll be fine, the next day, not so much. She only goes 2 days a week, from 9am - 1pm. Ava is a girl who likes order and playing in small groups. She does not like chaos and she is very aware of her personal space. If a stranger violates it, she gets unhappy. Monday morning I was dropping her off, and she was fine until a group of 3 boys kind of surrounded her near the top of the slide, and 2 of them touched the buttons on her shirt. She looked at me and started crying. I was not happy. They are just little kids, but I don't like boys surrounding her. Yesterday she was fine until we walked into her classroom. Normally parents drop the kids off on the playground, but yesterday it was raining so they had all the kids inside, and most of the classroom was blocked off. So all the kids are in the front of the room and it was a little crazy, and it threw Ava off. She got a little clingy. I directed her to some baby dolls in an area that was out of the way, and as I departed I heard her crying. Then when I went to pick her up she was crying. So, school is not going as well as I'd hoped right now. I think it has to do with the fact that her 2 teachers that she had in the beginning, Guilianna and Jessica, both quit. Now there are new teachers, and I don't think Ava has bonded with them very much. The good news is that my bosses, Darwin & Jennifer, hired both Guilianna & Jessica to work at the house with us. Jessica works with us in the office, and Guilianna is the new Nanny to Ava & Max. Ashley is no longer with us (in a working sense). Ava LOVES Guilianna, and even better - Guilianna has a 4 year old daughter that she brings with her and Ava LOVES her even more. Isabel is like a big sister to Ava, and is a refreshing change from playing with just Max. They giggle like little girls and chase each other. Guiliana has been working with us for 2 weeks now, and Ava has been so happy. I never hear her cry or whine during the day. With Ashley, Ava cried just about everyday at some point. Today for example, Guiliana took Ava & Max to her house to play in Isabel's room, then they went to the library, the park, and then came back to the house and went swimming. They dance, and Guiliana (an artist on the side) has them doing art projects and keeping journals, and it is so cool. The only down side is that the house is VERY crowded now, and I wish I had an office to work in. I don't want to leave Ava, but it really is hard to get a lot done with so much distraction. But I am very happy with the child care situation, and so is Ava. The only time she cries now is when it's time to leave! Hopefully, the school thing will work itself out.
Ava's language has really started to develop, and she is really talking now. She sings a bunch of different songs, and learns new ones really quickly. She says whole sentences now. Last Friday night we went out to eat and she was sitting with Brent, and out of nowhere she hugged him and said "I love Daddy." It brought tears to both our eyes. Tonight she was giving me a whole bunch of kisses and for the first time she was actually kissing me, rather than just putting her mouth on my face! She learned to make the kissy noise. On Monday I took her to Publix and they gave her a helium balloon. She refused to let it go, even after we got home. I told her she could let it go, that it would be okay, and she kind of thought for a second and said, "No, Ima hold it now." Everyday when we get home she says, "Ima go in the grass now." She loves to just run around the front yard. She likes when Brent takes her on "tractor" rides (the riding lawn mower). She is also becoming so independant, and she says "Ava do it" when we try to read to her or get her dressed. The other night she pulled her diaper open for the first time, and this morning she managed to open the fridge by herself.

I am rambling now, it's late. Brent just turned off the light so I can't see what I'm typing. I'll post some pictures soon.

Frustrated

For some reason I cannot log in to Blogger from my home computer. As soon as I can figure out what the problem is, I will be posting.

Alissa

Good Times

Brent got a good raise today! YAY! We close on our re-finance on Monday! YAY!! Mommy and Daddy have a fun date night planned for tomorrow night! YAY!!!

All good things.


Busch Gardens pics:

Pictures

Making brownies!








Ava's first high school football game

She is conducting the band




I bought this power wheel at a yard sale for $1.00




The best time to go to the beach is at sunset