Things are going good, same old stuff. We are starting our patio remodel tomorrow and I am kind of freaking out about it. We are turning the patio into another room.



We are tearing out the sliders and putting in french doors. The floor will be raised to meet the rest of the house and we are installing 7 windows so it will be a sun room. It will have a single french door leading outside. We plan to use it as a play room for Ava, since her things are spilling out into other areas of the house besides her room. I am excited to see it finished but just nervous about the construction. My Dad and his guys will be doing the work. Will hopefully have after pictures very soon.

We took Ava to the zoo last weekend. It was fun but hot.

These Days

We have settled into a pretty comfortable pattern these days. We work, then we cook and have dinner together when we get home. We usually go for a bike ride or a walk after dinner, or just play outside. And it's nice.

Ava is still having behavior issues, but I pretty much chalk it up to normal 2 year old behavior. What can you do? She is super sweet most of the time when we are at home. It seems to be mostly when I am working and she is with Giuliana and the kids that she has her bad moments. Not that she never has them with us, they are just much fewer. I think we have been so spoiled by her up to this point that it kind of shocked us. She was such a good baby, really easy. Now reality has set in, and with it brings new challenges.

She said something pretty funny this evening. The three of us were outside, hanging out in the driveway, and I gave Brent a hug. She said, "Mommy, you gave Daddy a hug?" And I said "Yes Ava. You should give him one too." She got of her tricycle and said (very seriously) "I will. I'm going to marry him." Pretty funny. She got that because Giuliana is getting married to Uncle B, and wedding talk is non-stop. Her 4 year old daughter Isabelle always talks about her mommy and new daddy getting married. Just funny to hear it come out of Ava.

Note to Ava

Ava, this is your mother. Your mood swings are killing me. When I say no, you say yes, and when I say yes...you know how it goes. You are two years old, and you are talking back to me, and being down-right sassy. It is driving me nuts. Seriously. Please stop talking back, and try to cooperate and listen to what I say. You cry a lot while we're at work, I think out of frustration. You want me all the time even when I have to work, and that makes it hard. You wake up from your naps and cry for me. You say "no" to Giuliana and Laura, and you are possessive of your toys. I know that they call them the "terrible two's," but I just never imagined we would go through it. I always thought you would skip that phase and grow into the sweet and cooperative little girl that I know you can be and at many times, you are.

So, let's just make it easy and get past this part. Deal? Otherwise, no baby brother or sister, because I don't think I could handle it.

Love,

Mommy