Haircut

Yesterday, with no flair or hurrah, I cut Ava's hair.  I've considered it before but it seemed wrong, given that her hair started growing only a few months ago and is still so short and thin.  My initial instinct was to be patient, let it grow out and see if it evened itself out as it got longer.  However, after seeing the pictures from her birthday party in which her baby mullet was glaringly obvious, I thought it was time to see if I could remedy the awkward hair-growing situation.  That led to a secretive snip during her bath time, which led to an uneven trimming of the sides, which led to a whole-head cut and a shorter but cuter hairdo.  I really do think she looks older without her long straggly ends and a little cleaner around the edges.  Bye bye baby mullet!

BEFORE

Ava's baby mullet at her birthday party, with the added

bonus of bald sides

 AFTER

This one is just too cute not to include.

Ava loves her pockets.

Potty Training Boot Camp Days 4-5

After just 5 days I feel like I can actually say my daughter is potty trained.

On Day #5 Ava is:

• initiating on her own each time she needs to go and having no accidents
• staying dry when we are out of the house
• asking to use the potty even when she has a diaper on (before bedtime and when waking from her nap)
• going once an hour when we're at home but waiting much longer when we're out
• still wearing diapers to sleep but kept dry during her nap today

I am so proud of my baby girl!

Here are some snapshots of our potty training experience:

Breakfast at her little table for easy potty access

Throwing 'Dunkin Duck' into a bowl (one of 

many games designed to keep her in her seat)

And then the bowl goes on the head

 When all else fails: dried cranberries and Curious George on DVD

SO proud of this girl.

Potty Training Boot Camp Day #3

Today was again an overall success, though we had a couple of setbacks.  In the morning we went out of the house for a short while and Ava kept her panties dry for a total of an hour and a half which was very encouraging.  She went on the potty when we got home and then proceeded to keep dry for another hour while we played outside.  I was of course elated and thought I must have the best potty-trainee around.

Then I was reminded that I do in fact also have a stubborn two-year-old.  Both yesterday and today Ava has refused to go on the potty before lunch and then had an accident in her high chair--today we had two accidents back to back after she assured me that the first pair of wet panties meant her bladder was empty.  I was discouraged but I also know that at that time of day Ava is getting tired and therefore more lazy (and stubborn) with this new habit.  She will sit on the potty before lunch but won't go so I may have to change my approach for tomorrow.  She has the ability to hold it as we've seen but for some reason the confines of the high chair will her to wet her undies.

That said, the afternoon and evening were again a huge success, Ava initiating all of her times on the potty and having no accidents.  Hurray!  My overall impression of the Boot Camp style of potty training is a highly regarded one thus far.  For us the cold-turkey method: removing the option of diapers and remaining consistent with expectations, has been extremely successful and rewarding!

Potty Training Boot Camp Day #2

Today was a huge success and I'm still in awe of how well Ava has been doing through potty boot camp.  First thing when she woke up we took off her diaper--she fussed for a new one but when I told her she could pick out a pair of pretty panties to wear she excitedly forgot about her diaper-wearing past.

Throughout the day Ava only had one accident while in her high chair for lunch.  Otherwise she did exceptionally well, initiating almost all of her potty goings.  She is going very frequently (sometimes ten minutes apart, sometimes up to an hour) as she is still used to being able to empty her bladder much more freely in her diaper at the slightest twinge of needing to go.  Already in two days though I am seeing this time expand and expect it to continue to as she learns to hold it longer.  We are so proud of her!

An update on the treat situation
 As I stated yesterday I was skeptical about how Ava would do when I told her she wasn't going to get anymore treats for going on the potty.  Surprisingly it went much better than I expected!  After only a day she is already into the routine and starting to feel like going on the potty is the new 'normal', therefore not asking for treats each time.  Occasionally she did but I was able to get her excited about writing down each time she went (a helpful tool for myself) and that seemed treat enough.  The book also suggests doing a sticker chart type of reward for more stubborn goers.  I did give her a small edible treat maybe twice during the day when she really needed the extra encouragement but I have high hopes that this reward system will soon be a thing of the past as well.

Potty Training Boot Camp Day #1

Today is Day #1 of following a modified version of Dr. Riffel's The Potty Training Boot Camp.  For a few weeks I have been doing the non-committed version as we battled a very bad diaper rash with Ava, aka: lots of naked time, occasional mommy-directed potty sittings and treats and kisses when she would go.

Ava did very well with this lax 'training' and so I thought today would be a relative breeze.  I was wrong, for a few reasons.  1) On previous days Ava might have been diaper-less for up to five hours, but with the option to put a diaper back on if we went out or if she just felt like it.  Today when it was stated that we would no longer be using diapers when she was awake and that she was expected to always use the potty, the taking away of the diaper option was a definite stressor for her at first.  2) Ava is teething, mildly, but the added fussiness and short nap did not helped our potty efforts.  And 3) the Boot Camp style suggests giving your child a drink that is a "treat" to encourage them to drink frequently, increasing the opportunities for a successful pee on the potty.  For us that was a healthy mango smoothie with water added to make a juice of sorts.  I thought this would be great except that twice Ava gulped down a whole cup which meant holding her full bladder caused a lot of pain and therefore anxiety about going.  After dropping the juice approach, she had much more successful sit-downs throughout the day when her bladder wasn't as full.

Despite Ava's very short nap, the afternoon was significantly better than the morning.  She woke up happy, still ready to do without diapers, and she had no accidents.  She went on the potty many times and by the end of the day was consistently initiating on her own (without my having to tell her it was time to try going).  By any standards, Day #1 was an overwhelming success!

Hurray baby girl, you're a BIG girl!

My Day #1 thoughts and what I'll do differently next time
Boot Camp suggests giving a small treat each time your child successfully goes on the potty.  This was of course a great incentive (especially to keep her on the potty, knowing if she goes she'll get a treat), but I'm skeptical about whether moral will stay high tomorrow and beyond when we're supposed to stop the rewards.  Second time around I will try giving only encouragement and applause first and see if that's enough to keep the child going before moving on to sweet rewards.

Boot Camp also includes what they call "drills" after each accident.  Not only do you make them clean the mess up themselves and "wash" their own messy clothes but you also are to take them by the hand and walk them back and forth from the potty to different rooms and back to sitting on the potty ten times.  I thought this approach was a bit harsh for my sensitive girl but wanted to achieve the same goal--making an accident not worth her while so that it was in fact easier to learn to go on the potty.  When we reached the point where she was deliberately having an accident because she didn't want to sit, I did an abridged version of the drills (only three or so repetitions) and called it 'practice' as opposed to discipline or consequence.  Using that word had Ava doing the drills willingly since inherently she does want to learn but still she found the whole process not worth the fight and only had two accidents early in the day.

Ducky

The beloved fourth member of our household, without whom no one would ever sleep again.  After many cycles in the washer and dryer he has lost most of his stuffing but is more loved than ever.  He deserves a post of his own for pulling his weight around here and loving my baby in a wholly self-sacrificing manner. Ducky, if you ever get lost (I can barely bring myself to write it), I too will cry myself to sleep at night.

Luxury

Anyone who has been to my home knows I love everything to do with home decor. When Blair and I got married I splurged on a few throw pillows from Pier One that have shaped our living room over the years and their muted aqua floral pattern has withstood my ever-changing style. Sadly, after many naps on the couch, visitors and toddler play, they have seen better days. I have been on a search for nearly a year, for a fabric to replace my beloved pillows at a reasonable price. If you're willing to spend 70.00+ a yard, there are a few options out there, but alas, my budget is a wee bit smaller. After this long and patient search, I at last have found a mix of fabrics that meet my high standards and reflect my style perfectly. They also accomplish my desire of adding another color into the living room mix--light gray. Here are photos of two of the fabrics I chose.

Now on to the luxury part of this post. I stumbled across these amazing throws in a small shop called COCOCOZY. Her patterns are to die for and she has an eye for the same colors that I love! Tranquil, muted and monotoned aqua, gray and neutral. At 265.00 a blanket I won't be purchasing these ever, but if only I could. I love them!

Here are some more of my design inspirations at the moment, propelling me toward a someday quasi-completed living room.

Ava's New Piano

Lots of new things

Ava has been growing and changing like a weed since her birthday. Here are some new Ava facts:

She wears hair clips! Finally she has enough hair and with some persistence on my part she's now used to them daily. She won't yet let me use a rubber band to make a mini-ponytail but I'm content with a bow for now.

She's afraid. Ava has developed a lot of strange fears as of late, including public restrooms (she's afraid of the loud flush), wind and the YMCA (she thinks it's a doctor's office).

She has words. Ava has been talking talking talking for the last 6 months but some of my favorite words include "kuckle" (couple, as in "a kuckle days"), "coutend" (pretend), "pooh-dough" (pillow), and "coo-eye-in" (crying). I am sure I'll think of five more as soon as I post this!

Story #1

The other day I was eating some leftover pizza for lunch and Ava spotted it. She said, "I hold big one?" meaning, she'd like to hold and eat a whole piece of pizza all by herself. I said I didn't think that was a good idea, that it was too big. She looked at me with her wide, puppy dog eyes and said sweetly, "Mommy, I can try" with sweet inflection on the "try" indicating both question and an air of I-can-do-it. Of course I obliged the cuteness and she enjoyed her pizza slice like a big girl.

Story #2

Ava's bedtime routine usually includes reading a few books and then singing a few songs before she is laid in her crib and we say goodnight. Last week however, I picked her up to sing a song and she stopped me and said, "Down, pack 'n play?" I said, "You want to go down in your crib now?" She said, "No, coutend (pretend) pack 'n play?" I clarified and discovered that she did in fact want to go in her crib but pretend she was being put in her pack 'n play. We then pretended for a few minutes that we were at the beach on vacation, that she was sleeping in her pack 'n play and that in the morning we would wake up and go fly kites with Daddy. She happily pretended this nighttime routine and that was that! No song, no dance, just an adorable, big-kid imagination at work. Love her.

Summer Shoes

One of my favorite purchases for Ava's summer wardrobe thus far!

Unfortunately Ava's affinity for mud puddles today

meant washing them after their first wear.

A Day in the Life of a Blogging Mommy

Month 24

I've decided this should be the last post named by how many months it has been since Ava was born. This, among other things, is the sad (and exciting) reality that we are getting used to with a two-year-old. Now she'll be marked by 6-month increments, she'll be two for about four months, then two-and-a-half for a few months, then "almost three" for the few after that. An exciting switch, yes, but a change nonetheless. Another reminder of her age, Ava decided this week that her beloved Ducky will now be called "Duck". A heart-wrenching, "I'm to old to say Duck-KEY" moment. I'm sure she'll switch back and forth or maybe forget her decision altogether eventually, but when the change was announced I must say, I had a mini-meltdown inside. My daughter is TWO... and she knows it!

At 24 months, Ava is:

• Speaking in broken but very clear sentences
• Much more outgoing than she was at 12 months
• Loving trucks, planes, trains and any other mode of transportation, dresses, doing things by herself, playing all kinds of pretend, singing songs (and making up her own lyrics) and taking care of her baby dolls with all the vigor and detail of a real mommy
• Jumping with two feet
• Constantly reciting songs and books from memory, and repeating everything she hears
• Wearing size 3 and 4T in most clothes and size 6 1/2 - 7 in shoes, wearing size 5 diapers and size 6 at night.
• Finally thinning out a bit, weighing in at 28.8 lbs (68%) and 35 in (81%)
• A very good listener
• A great eater, favorite foods including blackberries (all berries really), grapes, broccoli, yogurt, cottage cheese, colby cheese, mac and cheese (yes, she loves cheese) and dried cranberries
• Wanting three meals and two snacks (most days)
• Sleeping 12 hours a night and taking one nap for 1.5 - 2.5 hours
• Finishing mommy's sentences (truly)
• Switching to 2% milk and getting used to cold milk (as opposed to warm). Yes, it took us this long (gasp). Who wants to give up the ten minute snuggle that comes with warm milk? Not I, so I let it linger awhile...
• Counting to 8 and knows most of her letters, colors and shapes

Personality Traits at 2 Years: She still has a GREAT sense of humor, she is very in tune to and observant of others, and she is careful and deliberate but much more adventurous and gregarious than she was at 12 months. She is very sensitive, loves to be the center of attention, still loves to snuggle, and is soft natured but very talkative. In a group of kids she is definitely the most quiet, observant and least rambunctious, but when she's the star of the show she loves to show off, be loud and run around with the best of them. She wants to know and follow the rules, of course pushes her limits but responds very well to consistency, boundaries and calm.

In a nutshell, Ava is truly a sweet little heart and is a lot like her mommy. She is nurturing, personable, affectionate, witty, detail-oriented, purposeful, imaginative, others-centered (as much as a two-year-old can be) and LOVED!

Ava's 24 mo. Photo Shoot

A Special Day

Ava on her birth day

Ava at her 1st birthday party

Ava at her 2nd birthday party

a thomas party

Ava couldn't have been more excited for her Thomas birthday party this year and I couldn't have been more unsure of how to pull it off. But, after some research and creativity, this is what we came up with! A Thomas the Tank Engine birthday party fit for my girlie girl and a grilled cheese bar fit for kids and adults alike. We forgot to take pictures before the festivities began so here are a few post-party captures. Among our missed photo-opportunities was the grilled cheese bar I adapted from Martha Stewart's How to Throw a Grilled Cheese Party.

Ava's Thomas birthday banner

Some of the spread with coordinating labels

Above the grilled cheese bar hung signs with recipe combination ideas

and "How to Make the Perfect Grilled Cheese"

The cupcake toppers that inspired the decor!

Personalized with Ava's name, age and train logo

Train whistles for the kiddos

Ava was blessed to have 7 kids and 16 adults come to her party to celebrate with her! She had so much fun with friends and family and took a 2 1/2 hour nap afterwards to prove it. We so enjoyed watching the kids play together, spending time with cousins and family and seeing Ava's face light up all day. Thank you for all who celebrated with us!

Ava and Liam playing with Ava's new ironing board

Miles, Ruthie and Ava playing with Ava's new Thomas track

No birthday is complete without a special cupcake for a special girl.

Happy birthday my sweet sweet two-year-old.

a family-of-three vacation

Last weekend we decided to take advantage of Blair's slow work week and take a mini-vacation to Philadelphia. Blair works long hours (which means so do I) and as a family we have been pretty burnt-out lately and in serious need of some together time.

On Friday we set out for Exton, Blair's hometown, and stayed the night at his parents house. Ava opened a few early birthday presents, we enjoyed a little time with Nana and Papa and a good nights sleep.

Saturday we met my sister and brother-in-law and Ava's cousin Miles at the mall and had a great time running around and shopping. Now you might think, what a silly thing to do on a "vacation", but believe me--when you live in a small town, shopping in such a big mall qualifies as vacation-worthy.

In the afternoon we had some great family time at home, took a walk, played outside, blew bubbles, picked up sticks, and Ava had a blast with her new lawn mower from Nana and Papa.

Saturday night we went out to dinner and Ava was enchanted with the balloons and serenaded by the waiters for her birthday. Now whenever we go out she starts singing Happy Birthdayand then looks around and says, "People do it??". Unfortunately I had to break it to her that not all strangers are prepared to sing to her at a moments notice.

Early Sunday morning we grabbed our Starbucks and breakfast sandwiches and headed to the city. Ava was much more taken by the "tall buildings" than I expected and it was a fun car ride as we neared our destination: the Camden Aquarium. We all enjoyed this stop and Ava had a blast running around and seeing all the little fish and big fish. Her favorite attractions were undoubtedly the porcupine and hippos, and she loved standing in the shark tunnel!

After lunch we headed to our hotel for Ava's nap. Unfortunately it didn't go so well, she was exhausted and thrown off by the immediate change of venue and refused to nap. Sometimes she can breeze through a missed nap without much harm done but this was not one of those days. So, we took our distraught baby down to the hotel lobby and proceeded to stroll her around in figure 8's for about an hour before she fell asleep.

Despite the less than stellar nap, Ava did very well sharing a room with us in the hotel that night. Even though sleeping next to a pack 'n play meant Blair and I had to also stay quiet after 8pm, Ava slept through the night without a peep and we soaked in the quiet, restful togetherness.

We thoroughly enjoyed and took advantage of our luxurious hotel room and accommodations. Monday ushered in one of the most delicious breakfasts we've had in a long time and then we decided to head to the Please Touch Museum, a recommended attraction for toddler-toting families. Ava absolutely LOVED it and I too was very impressed by the amount there was to enjoy with an almost-two-year-old.

Even though we only had three short days to "vacate", we enjoyed every minute of it!