Ava is talking

Christmas Tree Is Up

Emma woke Kyle up this morning to tell him to get the Christmas boxes down. She wants Christmas to be here now and doesn't understand why we have to wait. I just keep reminding her that Santa is watching her and she keeps reminding me that Santa is bringing her a pink kitchen.

Ava

Ava is such a great baby. Last week at the doctor she weighed 11 pounds. She is so smiley and easy going. She loves to suck on her hands. Ava has just realized that Emma is fun to watch and will stare at her as long as Emma remains in view. Oh she is growing too fast.

Leafs

Saturday we had some family fun raking the leaves. The hill on which our house, along with our neighbors', resides is surrounded by trees, but the majority of leaves happened to land in our yard. It took us a few hours to rake all of the leaves and it was very cold outside, but we had fun.

Hair Cut

On Monday morning, a week ago, I came in to the family room and found hair and scissors. She was so proud of herself for cutting her hair, but I guess it could be a lot worse.

Ava's Blessing

This was my blessing dress which we also used for Emma.

Kyle gave Ava a beautiful blessing.

Pumpkin Lot & Halloween

We don't have pumpkin patches here in northern Virginia. They are called pumpkin lots.

Here Emma is carving our store bought pumpkin. The ones at the lot were between $10 and $20.

Emma on Halloween making a mummy dog.

Ava just hanging out before we head out for trick or treating.

Our pea is not too happy.

Emma aka Tinker Bell.

Happy Halloween

She loves the Doctor

While we were visiting the west coast, Emma and I came down with a cold. After a few days I decided we needed to visit Urgent Care. Emma was thrilled, she talked about it for days like we had gone to Disney World.

I think her love of the doctor may come from all of our trips for my prenatal visits. Shes loved going with me, but she learned too much. One day I walked in the family room to find Emma

pretending to pee into one of her toy stacking cups.

Amtrak

After spending almost a week in Puyallup we headed to Portland. But there were too many of us to fit in mom's car so we took the train. It was very relaxing and Emma had a great time.

Grandpa Emma and Grandma

The Beach

Almost 2 weeks after Ava was born we all hopped a plane set for Seattle to visit family(Nick my brother had just returned from his mission in Mexico). We spent 3 days at Grandpa and Grandma Marecle's Beach.
Emma hated the boat ride.

Picking black berries with Grandpa. Those same black berries came back up on the ride home.

I have so many memories of the beach from when I was a child. It was so fun to watch Emma enjoying those same things.

What is better then a peaceful morning at the beach. Thank You Grandpa and Grandma we had a blast.

My Amazing Wife

The New York Yankees are moving to a new stadium next season and I had one last chance to travel to New York to see them play in that stadium. That chance happened to fall exactly one week after Ava was born. But thanks to my amazing wife I was able to leave her home alone with the two kids(one being a newborn) in a lot of pain and with no sleep. I sure owe her. Thanks Lindy

AVA Update

We were at home for 3 days when Ava's doctor called and said her bilirubin levels had not gone down. The levels were too high so Ava was admitted that nigh to Fairfax Children's Hospital. Very stressfull time and I am so glad it is over. The first time I had to put her in there she cried for 2 1/2 hours(and so did I) before it was time for me to feed her. We were in the hospital for 2 days. I was so grateful to be leaving with my healthy baby.

First bath almost 2 weeks and still yellow
3 weeks old
First smile but not a very good picture.
Almost rolling over at 4 weeks.

Her new love is the mobile.

A New Addition to the Family

I'm pleased to announce that Kyle Jr. has matured from a Tropical Storm to a full blown Hurricane and will soon be kicking butt and taking names in New England. Keep checking back often as I update little Kyle's Beaufort Scale as it attempts to destroy the Red Sox.

Random pictures from the last week

Sleeping so peaceful DURING THE DAY!!!!

Grandma Summers With baby Ava. Grandma and Grandpa arrived on the 18th of August and baby did not arrived until the 23rd a week and a day after my due date. We came home from the hospital on Monday and Grandma and Grandpa had to leave the next day. But we are so grateful that they we able to stay with Emma while I was in the Hospital. Sorry no picture of Grandpa some how he got away with out having his picture taken.

Cute Feet

Ava Lynn Summers

Born August 23rd at 3:16pm
7lbs 5 ounces and 21 inches

Labor was okay but very different compared to what I experienced with Emma . We are all doing well adjusting to our new family. Kyle was on maternity leave last week (what a lifesaver that is living away from family) so this is my first week on my own. I think I am doing well so far no major melt downs. Sorry this post is so late but I will try to keep it updated.

Monticello

While Grandma (Renae) was visiting, we were able to take a day trip to Charlottesville, VA to visit Thomas Jefferson's home. The house is very interesting on the inside, but definately not my decorating style. Sorry no pictures of the inside because photography was not permitted. I guess you will have to come visit us so you can see his decorating style for yourself.


Here is Emma throwing pennies on Thomas Jefferson's Grave. Grandma gave her pennies to throw as it looked to be the tradition. As we walked away my wise husband helped me put two and two together. We should have been throwing nickles being as Jefferson is the President that is located on the nickle.

Look I am almost as big as the 200year old trees here at Monticello.

Emma's Style

I will start off by saying that it was a 95 degree day when she chose to wear her rain boots. The pants are capri and the shirt is getting a bit small (not her style I guess just her mother being lazy). Then to top it all off are the retro sun glasses and the suit case.

Pajamas are the majority of accessories in this look (Thanks to her once again mom). The gloves she found in a box of old clothes and I guess thought they would be good for the 90 degree weather. The necklaces were randomly picked, but oh how they complete the outfit.

One thing that seems to be a running theme in each outfit are the sunglasses. Maybe this is were she gets her passion for creative style.

I would call this her shy schoolgirl look. The glasses once again but today they are a bit crooked if you look closely. She is also wearing the retro shorts to match the glasses. The backpack worn around the neck makes a statement that no one will tell her how accessories are to be worn. Then we have the lunch sack to finish off the look.

There is a definate lack of accessories in her look here, but she is able to work the camera with nothing but her natural talent and her retro sunglasses.