Cutie Pie

Tonight when we were putting Ava to bed, she put her arms around both me and Brent, pulled us close to her face and said, "I love you guys." I melted.

After a couple of bad days last week, she has been really good. I don't know what happened last Thursday and Friday, but she threw a couple of horrible tantrums at work. I was kind of freaked out about it, and even canceled some plans last weekend to stay home with her. It isn't like her to be that bad. But since then she has been good. She is such a little adult that sometimes I have to remind myself that she's 2 - tantrums are bound to happen sometimes.

This weekend we are going to Busch Gardens, and next weekend we are going to a pumpkin festival at a farm. Ava already picked out her Halloween costume - she's going to be Tinkerbell. Ever since we saw Disney on Ice, she has been talking about Tinkerbell.

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

Grouch

I haven't been good about posting! Ava has been being such a bear lately that I think the terrible two's came early. Her favorite word is "NO!" and everything that comes out of her mouth is whiney. Actually, she seems to go between being totally silly and playful to the next minute being cranky and whiney. I am working so hard with her on "please" and "thank you" and it is wearing me out. She's pretty good with the "thank you's" but not good at all with "please." One amazing thing is that this week she pooped on the potty for the first time. I'm pretty sure that is baby-blog worthy. At least to me and Brent it is. Saturday we took her to Busch Gardens again and she was a grump. She had the most fun on the carousel, and she made us ride it at least 6 times. She LOVES the rides, and she shows no fear. Sometimes her cousins can go with her, but other times they are too big so she has to go on herself, and she is totally fine with that. She is my little daredevil.

She has been doing a lot better in school. I had a conference with her teachers on Nov.9 and they agreed that the transitions with the teachers has been hard, but they still feel it is beneficial for her to be there. I will keep her there as long as I feel it is still productive for her, and they believe that it is. She has not been crying when I drop her off, and Wednesday they said she didn't cry the whole time.

Ever try these? They are the best cookie ever. Don't look at the nutritional info, you won't like it. They are so chocolate-y you can only eat 2 at a time anyway.

Ava has been so bratty lately. She is having some major mood swings, and I don't quite understand them. Last week she was happy and really good. This week she is happy one minute and throwing a fit the next. She has started this phony crying thing that gets on my nerves so bad, and she drags it out too. Brent says she's just being a typical girl, but I am not sure. I am almost worried, because she seems so moody. She has a really runny nose so I'm thinking she has a minor cold and just doesn't feel good. I just hope it passes soon.

We got rained out of Bush Gardens last weekend, so we ended up back at the Florida Aquarium. Ava was great that day. She is usually great in general. When we go out to eat she is usually one of the best behaved kids there (knock on wood). She liked the aquarium, but we were a little over it since we had been there and to Mote Marine recently. We had a fun day with the cousins though.

No big plans this weekend, but hopefully we'll find something fun. I am typing in the dark since Brent went to bed, so I'd better sign off.