everyday life

A year ago we were doing this...

Seeing this pictures makes me so grateful for our little girl!  She is such a fighter and has been through so much.  She will be a great example to Bailey!  I know how many people don't get the happy ending that we do with Ava.  We were able to take our sweet girl home and return to our normal life.  Some people don't get that chance.  What we've been through seems so overwhelming sometimes but in retrospect, we are so blessed that it isn't any worse!  We have not seen the inside of a hospital for a year and that is truly something to be grateful for!

I know that we are never given more than we can handle.

 

I love you Ava.  I would do anything to take away your pain.  love, momma

A sweet face

Just some random pictures of a sweet face!  We were trying to capture the smile but she was not cooperating!  It might have had something to do with the 3 yr. old smothering her!  Enjoy...

Not my best photography but you get the idea....she is cute!  Ava is feeling better but not back to normal.  She is still napping away the sickness and we missed church today because she was so tired and just waking up!  Poor thing!  We did get outside this afternoon which was good for her.  I'm hoping she has a good nights sleep so she can go to school tomorrow.

Oh, and I just was looking at the 5 day forecast.  It is supposed to be 101 degrees on Tuesday!  Oh my goodness.  God Bless air conditioning!

A Day of First's

Ava has been sick all week and we could not figure out what was the problem!  Today's Doctor visit there was finally something there....she has an ear infection!  She has never had an ear infection before!  Poor thing, she has been so out of sorts with no explanation.  It's nice to finally know!

Another first is Bailey - SHE SMILED AT ME!!!  I was beginning to wonder when she would.  It was so sweet - she was sitting in her swing and as I was talking to her she just grinned and wouldn't stop for a few seconds.  Oh, it was so precious!  I can't wait to see more of those sweet smiles!

That's all!

Happy weekend everyone!

Easter (the uncensored version)

Easter.  What can I say?  It was not the day that I pictured in my head.  The morning was so horrendous that I can't even pretend it didn't happen.  All I have is pictures to prove how yucky it was.  The afternoon turned out to be quite nice and the Egg Hunt was a lot of fun but the morning....not so much.  It really is my fault, my expectations are way too high.  My big mistake was forgetting that I have a 3 year old who is still transitioning to life as a Big Sister! (rookie mistake)  All I wanted was a few pictures with my sweet girls who had matching Easter Dresses....that's all I wanted!  I have darling pictures of Ava every Easter for the last 3 years.  It was not the morning I had planned!

Here is the only shot of Ava in a somewhat decent mood....

Bailey cooperated beautifully!  An angel all day long!

Ava refused to be in this picture and is standing off to the side pouting!

Can you even believe that face?!  I'm mean really!

So, what did I learn from all of this?  I mean there has to be a lesson, a "take away" otherwise we are bound to repeat this nightmare!  This is what I got....I do need to lower my expectations.  I need to take into account the fragile place that Ava might be in as we are being loved on and visited by so many people and that might seem a little much for her.  I need to be more respectful and less demanding of her little brain.  I don't think there was one more button she could have pushed that morning.  All I wanted was a picture and what I got was just that.  Not so cute but very, very real!  Ava is doing well with Bailey but I think some days are harder than others.  Easter was just a hard day and I probably expected too much of her all morning and she let me know right when the camera came out.  Oh, well....life goes on!  We had a nice afternoon at church and a nice Dinner with family.  Ava had a fun time hunting eggs and we all enjoyed some time outside in this beautiful weather!  We seemed to pull it all together towards the end of the day.  Ava ran into the kitchen while I was getting dessert ready and said "Happy Easter Momma" and ran to give me a hug.  That is the sweetness that I wanted to capture, that is the love that I wanted to see.  It didn't happen that way this year but I have learned a lot!

Traveling with 2

Ken & I were invited to the Mountains about 3 hours north of where we live for a nice long weekend with some good friends.  It was the first time we all traveled together.  It was a great time and we are so lucky....we have 2 kids who travel REALLY well!!!  Lucky!  I probably complain more than both the girls! (honey....no comment please)  It was absolutely beautiful in the mountains, about 45 degrees.  It was fun to get back out the Ugg boots and sweatshirts for some outside play.  We rode quads, Ava found the last patch of snow on the ground, played outside, ate too many treats, watched General Conference and just enjoyed the fresh air!  So fun!

Ken grabbed the camera for an unflattering picture of me sleeping while the girls slept on me!  Ava is proving that she still needs a little daytime sleep (I took away the official nap) so she crawled up on me and I think I fell asleep while I was kissing Bailey's head!  It was a nice nap!  :)

Ava was freaked out on our first quad ride....by the next day it was all about "faster Daddy, faster"!  No joke!!

Our good friends, who are just as goofy as we are! 

Our little family....

It was a nice break for us!

Now, I need to go do more laundry and some dishes.  My sister arrives tomorrow and I am so excited!!!  We have some fun things planned and of course, it's Easter!

We're actually on the charts!

I'm trying very hard not to compare my children to each other but as we are experiencing some things for the first time with Bailey, it's hard not to!  I never let Ava here me so don't worry!  Bailey had her 1 month check up yesterday and she is actually on the growth charts!!!  She weighed in at 7lbs. 13.5oz.  I was so excited I could hardly stand it!  Each of my girls have their own set of challenges but growth will not be one of Bailey's!  She is such a good baby and developing some good habits.  She eats well, sleeps well and is handling the constant touching from an excited 3 year old very well. 

Last week Ava wanted to share some of her things with Bailey.  A picture of herself and a card with the letter B.  Very sweet!

And yesterday I took the girls to the mall to make sure I had their Easter dresses.  Ava wanted some new sunglasses....she was so proud (and so cute!).

I think one of the things I'm most looking forward to is watching Bailey respond to Ava.  As Bailey grows I can just imagine what she will think of the crazy fun personality her sister has.  I can't wait!