9 Months Old

Ava Brielle, you are getting so big! I can't believe that in just 3 months you will be a 1 year old!! Mommy and daddy also are already planning your birthday party, which will be on April 20th! We picked out the cutest theme and already ordered some decorations! Now lets talk more about you. Your appetite grew a little more this month! I'm can tell you got heavier, but we wont know for sure how much you weigh because your 9 month appointment is on Feb. 5. You wake up now around 3 times a night. You normally go back to sleep after we go in your room and pat your back. Around 2 weeks ago, you started crawling up the stairs. Now you are a stair climbing champ.  I swear you can probably get up there faster than I can. A few weeks ago you also started standing up unassisted. I'm so proud of this! I'm sure walking is just around the corner. You cruise around the house so fast, holding on to the wall to walk around. Your getting so big, it's bittersweet.. Last night your 5th tooth started to poke through. Finally a middle upper tooth! I will miss your little vampire smile though! Now for some 9 month pictures...

That tongue is still always out

Big girl bouncing on the couch

She's nuts

Always smiling

"okay mom I'm done"

Cutie

you got really excited

standing up like a big girl!

Cousin Quality Time!

The day after Christmas we headed over to Liz's house to eat dinner with her and the fam. It was great! I love it when all the girls get together. They are so close in age so I'm sure they will stay close over the years!

Feasting on puffs lol

"here Ava you can have one"

I can see them sitting like this one day talking about boys LOL

Ava really wanted some of Ash's fruit snacks

Ava talking to her Uncle Frank

Ava was being entertained by her Auntie 

Ashley was loving on Pete, SOO cute!

Towards the end of the night Ashley put on Ava's coat, and she ROCKED it lol

I had so much fun having a night like this. I'm sure we will do this all the time when we move back. I'm so excited to watch the girls grow up together and have a great relationship with each other. I love you all!

Gingerbread men!

Every year Sexy Mama hosts a gingerbread man, or gingerbread house party!! This year I was able to go and bring Ava. She's still too young to make one, but she got to watch her big cousins! She also got SUPER upset that she wasn't participating!! She has quite the temper. Don't worry sweetheart, I'm sure you'll be able to do much more next year!! 

Niyell and Jason hard at work

Jason was so focused. He hardly even spoke lol

Niyell was being the "boss" she always is. She makes other people do things for her LOL. That's my girl!

Niyell's creation. She said she gave her blue eyes like Ava 

Jason gave his glasses

Ni and her little cousin. She's so close to her and so hands on. 

"here Ava follow me"

Ava noticed the presents and she was GONE

I love these two so much!

Them opening gifts before we left.

Thank you so much for having us over sexy mama. I enjoy spending time with you and your family, and you treat us all amazing. Can't wait to see you more when we move back up XOXO

Ava's First Christmas (Part 2)

WOW! I know it took me a long time to get back to this, but once again my little baby girl has kept me busy! Anywho,  let's get right back to Christmas. After we left my parent's house, we went straight to my in-laws house. As soon as we got there I couldn't believe all the gifts I saw under the tree. Guess that's what happens when you have 3 grandchildren! It was also a great time because Nona Nona was able to come up!! 

Do you see all the gifts behind her!

Soon after we were there for a bit, Liz and the Bea fam headed over, which means it was time to open gifts!! 

Nona Nona opening some gifts

Ashley and Ava getting into trouble lol

Dewey playing with 2 of his granddaughters 

Nona with 2 of her girls, Ashley is sooo hard to take pictures of, she's all over the place!

This was the best picture I could get of Nona Nona and her great grandkids lol.

After we were done eating the rest of the family came over and we all had dinner. It was AMAZING. 

Ava and JoJo trying to figure out how to open up Candy Land

Mya telling them very nicely to leave it alone LOL. 

This picture lets you know just how tired Ava got that day.

Overall, it was an amazing Christmas. I'm sure it will only get better over the years when Ava will learn the REAL meaning of Christmas and we can all celebrate together.

Ava's First Christmas! (part 1)

This may have been the best Christmas I've ever had. Being a parent makes this holiday so much more fun. I'm sure it will be even more fun when she gets older and really starts to understand the real meaning of Christmas. I was very happy that we were able to celebrate with everyone in NJ. Ava was so much more friendly this time around and she got to really enjoy her family.She was a bit angry because she was getting her 3rd tooth on the trip home (she now has 4 teeth). The ride home was HORRIBLE. I'm so jealous of the babies who actually sleep during car rides. She might have slept 55 mins the whole 10 hour drive. She's nuts. Here is a picture of her doing what she did the whole ride..

watching Brave. Such an adorable disney movie

We got to my parents house around midnight and went to sleep right away. I think we were all exhausted. Of course Ava had to sleep in the bed with us. Before Christmas we visited lots of people. We got to see Ava's godparents' Shannon and John. She did good seeing both of them. The most important thing we did was sign the lease to our future apartment!!

I made Pete park here cause I'm a loser LOL

On Christmas Eve we dressed Ava up in this adorable Elf outfit that Pete picked out. She was so stinking cute!

Ava with her great grandmother, mom mom.

We also got snow, which is exciting because we haven't seen any in North Carolina! So of course Pete ran outside to make a mini snowman, and then bring in a little snowball for Ava to see.

Here is the mini snowman

Holding her very first snowball!

When I was younger, I always used to wake up super early to see if Santa left any presents under the tree. On Christmas morning Ava woke up an hour earlier than she normally does. It's like she already knew! Here are some pictures of us on Christmas morning..

I love her dimples!

My little family

She was very excited to see everything

benji loved his presents

Ava always wants what isn't hers...like my hat she has on LOL

Ben and his stocking

Ava and her stocking!! 

Ava and mom mom

Ava and grandma

After we opened up all the gifts we took her upstairs and got her dressed for the day. 

Love how this headband looked on her

helping grandma text

She just finished singing with grandpa.

Then my sister come over with the kids and we opened more gifts. I wasn't able to get any pictures of them that day, but I do have other pictures of them that will be in another post.