Ava was busy this weekend getting ready for Inauguration Day.  Pretty amazing video.  So smart.

Next stop, multiplication tables. lol

Ava at 17 1/2 mos. First 16. Amazing

Only went through them like 3 times.  Don't worry, will show her important stuff too.

This Christmas was especially special for Ava.  It was the first year she had an idea of whats going on.  She was able to open presents by herself and play with her toys.

For more pictures of Ava and Christmas 2008, click here.


Ava playing on her pretty pony

Well, the holidays are upon us and everyone is getting ready for Santa to come!  Ava had fun relaxing with Emmy at Grammy's house and Ava and Maylie look exceptionally cute in their Santa hats! Our tree is up and Ava is having so much fun destroying it!  We can't wait to see her face on Christmas morning when she opens all of her gifts.  She is going to be so overwhelmed (and so are we!).   We are looking forward to spending time with friends and family and to have Ava spend time with all of her cousins.  

Happy Holidays to everyone and best wishes in the New Year! 
         
                                                       
                                                                                  Look..Sami's feet are in the picture too!
         
                                                                        Ok...they don't even look related but they're so freakin' cute! 

To view more pictures of Ava, click here.

Well, we still can't believe that Ava is 14 months old!  She is running around the house, talking up a storm and being mights bossy if you ask me!  Rich and I can't believe the faces she makes sometimes.  She's our little comedian.  She loves to go outside and pick up every leaf she possibly can.  She FINALLY got a third tooth and can finally eat pieces of food that are bigger than a dime!  We are just amazed by her every day.  We can't wait for the holidays to see how she reacts! 

                  

To view more pictures of Ava, click here.

So, Jenn, her sister Erin and I went to the New Kids On The Block concert and it by far, was the best concert we have ever been to!  We couldn't believe the turnout and how the songs just came back to us like we were kids again!!  We even got the old T-shirts from Ebay!!  It was kind of crazy to be drinking in the parking lot of a NKOTB concert since last time I saw them, I think I was 10! We're actually going to see them again at the Borgata.  It was an awesome girl's night out!

                              

To view more pictures, click here.

Rich, Tine, Jenn and I went to Atlantic City for an overnight of fun!!  We first went to the famous pool at Harrah's and it literally made you feel like you were on an island. It's was awesome.  Then, Jenn and I were off to the Celine Dion concert and I have to say, it was awesome!!  We went to dinner at the sushi place at the Borgata and it was by far the best sushi I've ever eaten (and most expensive!!)  We played few poker games and just had fun relaxing and getting away.  Grammy Gerard watched Ava for the weekend so we could have some adult time!



To view more pictures, click here.

On Friday, Rich, Ava, Tine, Jenn and I took a trip to Philadelphia.  Ava went to the Please Touch Museum which is designed just for kids and then we headed to the Franklin Institute.  Ava had so much fun at both museums.  She even got a taste of her first real Philly cheese steak.  We were so happy with the Please Touch Museum.  We didn't think that there would be too much for a 1 year old to do there but we were so wrong.  She enjoyed everything from the Barnyard Room  to the Alice and Wonderland room.  I think our favorite part with the mini grocery store that she could shop around in.  That was way cool!  Even the adults managed to have some fun at the Franklin Institute as you'll see in the pictures!!
 
To view more cool pictures, click here.

Their faces say it all.  Lincoln knows what he's in for as these little girls get older! Let's call them Double Trouble!!


                                  

Ava is officially a toddler!  On Friday, August 1st, we started our day with Great-Grandma and Great Pop-Pop Gerard at Ihop for breakfast.  That night, we had a birthday dinner at our house with Grandma Bates, Grammy Gerard and Pop-Pop Ona (Jackie's Dad).  We had a small cake for Ava with a Dora candle and she ate her first piece of birthday cake (after she figured out what to do with it!) We had such a nice time and we were so happy that Jackie's dad was able to come from Arizona to celebrate with us. 

On Saturday, we had Ava's ladybug themed birthday party at Jackie's brother's house.  At first, we thought it was going to be a complete wash-out because it poured all morning but by the afternoon, the sun came out we were able to go outside and go swimming.  Ava was such a good girl, even with only one nap!  She got great gifts and had so much fun with her family and friends, especially her cousins, Josh, Emmy, Sami, Lincoln and Maylie.  Jackie's sister-in-law, Karen made the most awesome ladybug birthday cake. She even made a personal one for Ava to eat...and did she eat!!  The day went perfectly and by the end of the day, Ava was so tired that Rich took her home and she fell asleep in the car within minutes and he just put her in her crib with her clothes on and she slept for 12 hours!!  She was all partied out. 

We still can't believe that it's been a year since Ava was born.  We love her so much and can't wait to see what this year brings.  She is changing every day and Rich and I can't wait to see how she grows this year. 

Thank you to everyone that was there to celebrate with us and that helped make this party possible.  We had a wonderful time.  

                                       August 1st                                                              August 2nd

                                   Her cake is the top piece                                                   yummm....

To view more pictures of Ava's birthday weekend, click here.

Well, it was a year ago today (in about 4 hours from now) that little Ava Catherine entered our lives.  My time frame may be off a bit but I'm pretty sure it was right about now that i asked for an epidural!!  From that point on, it was much easier to deal with the pain!  I remember the day like it was yesterday; the drive to the hospital was very bumpy and didn't make it easy for me and my contractions, which were only 4 minutes apart.  Little did we know that even though they were so close together, it would be another 12 hours before Ava decided to be nice to Mommy and come out! There were so many people there that day, waiting patiently for her to arrive.  Rich and my mother were in the room with me when Ava was born and 5:37pm on August 1st and it had to be the best day or our lives.  She was such a little sweetheart and she opened up her eyes so quickly and looked at me and she grabbed on to Rich's finger within minutes of being born.  That all seems like just the other day.  It just hasn't registered yet that it's been a whole year.  

It's amazing how much she has changed in one year. Just check out the pics below to see how much her looks have changed.  She's like a different child!!   From rolling over, to crawling to walking at 10 1/2 months, she is just amazing .  And now she decided to start talking too. She's a little girl now and Rich and I are so excited to see her change every day.  We can't wait to see what's in store for the year to come.  I know that everyone says not to blink or before we know it, she'll be in high school!  I finally believe that that is true.  This year flew by.  Happy Birthday my beautiful little girl.  We love you SO much.  

                         
                                         August 2007                                      July 2008                                  
                     

To view Ava's one year birthday photos, click here.