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.