Ava: 18 months

Ava continues to surprise me on a daily basis. I keep thinking about what life was like when Austin was her age and ask myself, "Was he doing all this? Was he talking this much?"

Seems like Ava is talking up a storm. Maybe it's just that I can understand most everything she says. The good and the bad come with an older brother. The good thing is that he teaches her so much including so many words. The bad thing is that he teaches her so much including so many words.

Monkey see Monkey do. She follows her big brother everywhere and does just about everything he does. With the exception that this girls loves jewelry, loves to hold bags or purses on her arm, and loves dollies.

She still tries many more foods that Austin won't. She also eats more than he does. Hopefully he doesn't teach her his bad null eating habits.

She loves being chased around. She giggles so loud and hard that it's unforgettable. Although I know that's not true. I can't take enough pictures or videos to capture all these moments and as much as people say that phrase 'They grow up so fast', it's unfortunately very true.

I'd say she's a Mommy's girl because she is practically my shadow. I have been trying to hold her hand more rather than pick her up, but she won't stand for it. I probably baby her..... but how can I not since we did the baby thing so fast!

She definitely has a special relationship with Daddy. She loves to play a silly game where they go back and forth saying ...."Da-DDY!"  "Pea----NUT!" It's likely much cuter in person than in this blog.

I've noticed that she's easier to bring to tears than Austin. I barely yell at her and here come the waterworks. Just like when I was a little girl. A threat was all it would take from my mom and I was putting myself in my room! Even when I don't mean to yell "OUCH!" so loudly when she pinches me or does something to hurt me, she starts wailing. I guess this is what it's like to have a girl AND for her to be the baby.

She's so sweet. She kisses many of the animals in her board books and gives each page a hug. It gets old when you are on the third book before bedtime, but how would you have the heart to tell her to stop!?

As much as she loves to be around Austin, he certainly rules the roost with her. He really doesn't know the word gentle. When she takes his toy or vice versa, it seems like he is quick to hit her. He shoves or bumps her out of the way. He fights for my lap for books or movies.....and many times she just tolerates it. It's guaranteed he did something to her whenever she randomly cries. And he's also found out that she hates to be chased with his toys, especially the large fire truck. He figured that one out quickly and uses it to his defense lately. Siblings will be siblings.

She's still our 'Aba' around the house and it's hard to believe she is already 18 months. If we were having another child with the same timing as Austin and Ava, that little one would already be two months old. PHEW! good thing we are happily done! I can't wrap my brain around that one. Even though Austin and Ava flock to newborns and are so gentle with them....it's not happening you two, so stop being cute around babies!

The Great Outdoors

I've finally made it to the third and final post on the cabin. These are the random pics that help tell the story of why the three hours that were rain-free were so much fun.

We took Austin on a walk down to the dam while Ava was taking a nap. It took him all of two seconds to find rocks and start throwing them in the river.

Ahh the dam....aka The Shower, if you ever came up to the cabin with me. Definitely a place where you want to make sure you wear your flip flops or you might find some new friends on your feet when you get out.

This was a perfect place to grab some photos for around our house. We still have lots of wall space that is screaming for some beautiful photos.

My buddy just hanging out. Literally.

Lily loves the cabin. She gets to be a free range pug.....for the most part. She sticks close by but at night we gotta keep her around so she doesn't bump into any cougars. Although I heard she could hold her own quite well. Jason and I took the kids home after the one night of craziness but my parents stayed up and kept Lily. Apparently she scared off a labradoodle from stepping on her turf.

love

He just couldn't get enough rocks to throw in......I love the small things that entertain toddlers.

I couldn't have been happier that Jason was able to come. He has been sooooo busy with this and that...mostly Army schools. But the kids needed his attention bad. The smile says it all.

love take two!

Old railroad car. I tried not to edit it very much at all cause otherwise it seems you could easily take away the true character. I just need to figure out how to arrange all these pictures that I love from the cabin and throw them on a wall somewhere. I have some ideas in my head but the execution part of me gets lazy in the evenings.

Trust me. This pic is wayyyyy awesome-er, yup awesome-er in black and white. I could see this being broken up into three vertical pieces.

This is Sam the Bullfrog. If it looks like Austin is squeezing the life out of him...it's cause he is. Austin loved Sam like he was one of our family members. He held him until we pried Sam out of his hands. Then he caught him again. Then he gave him his very first sky diving lesson into the lake where Sam was stunned into a state of shock. Then Austin caught him for a third time. Poor Sam. He even got kissed.....gross. Austin repeated "That's Yuck!" about 10 times after that kiss.

Is this a commercial for marshmellows? It's like one of those pizza commercials where they lure you in with how cheesy it is! Only you Ava......

 I wish we had a hammock back at home. Austin clearly hates it. He had a blast pushing grandpa back and forth. Surprise surprise.

That's it? Sure is. There are plenty more actually which is surprising since I have made it quite clear that it rained the whole time. At least you'd never know with all these great memories. I made sure to document the grocery list in the journal. Someone writes in the journal every time they visit the cabin. I wrote about how we went to "the mall". The mall is no mall, it's just the only store in Morrestown and it has just about everything in a one stop shop. Here's what Ava and I bought while Austin was napping in the car....don't worry, Grandma stayed in the car with Austin.
Decongestant- Poor Jason just contracted the bad summer cold that flew threw the rest of us the week prior. He was miserable.
A toy gun with three light weight balls that were supposed to shoot out the end- this was a cheap toy that didn't work and caused as much frustration as it did fun. I hate when I buy stuff like that.
Half an apple pie- it's homemade cause what isn't in a small town. Why half? Some speculate maybe it's cause the very large lady that owns the store and likely made the pie, ate the other half while we shopped.
Six pack of Angry Orchard Beer- I needed it. Trust me. I was just as crazy as the kids. I only had one but maybe it was just enough to take the edge off.
A Cheap bottle of Sangria- I was probably salivating when I bought it. I just kept thinking I could numb the craziness with cheap wine. My parents drank it the following night when we weren't there. I don't blame them.
Diet Mt Dew- Maybe Jason thought if he mixed this with his decongestant he would be cured of his illness. I don't know how he could take both of these and then just fall asleep at the drop of a hat. I drink mountain dew at 10 am and I have trouble sleeping at night. I am jealous of his sleep habits.

I think that was it........I wonder why I didn't buy any candy. Oh wait, I did buy Ava ice cream while we shopped. It made it hard to push the cart and feed her ice cream but there was no way she could feed it to herself or the whole bowl would have been on her face. Although I think plenty of it was on her face and all over her jacket.

Till next year.......