Ava's 4th birthday

My firstborn turned the big "4" last week and we had a very exciting time celebrating miss Ava J! She is so beyond loved by so many and we had a blast

this year as she totally gets birthdays and parties and blowing out candles, opneing presents, and themed parties. 

We started the celebrations on the Monday before her actual birthday, as dad took off work to spend the day putting together (with Steve) her present from NeeNee and Steve...a trampoline!! Mom and I did our part to keep Ava distracted from coming out back for the 4 hours it took the guys to assemble the trampoline. Ava had no clue what was going on! When it was finally ready we took her out back and she was in total disbelief. She couldn't believe there was her very own trampoline in her back yard!

On Tuesday it was her actual birthday. She had school that day so we opened presents and did a small cake and ate Rosa's for dinner. That was Ava's pick and Aaron nor I argued with her choice. Ha! She had a fun time and was super excited to get a princess scooter from us.

LOVE THESE TWO BABIES SO MUCH!!!

On Saturday we had her birthday party at a local bounce house place. This is the second year we have had it here and it's just super easy and Ava loves it. Win/win for us all! The theme this year was Strawberry Shortcake and so of course we had to make Ava her very own Strawberry Shortcake outfit. She was so proud of it. Sweet girl!

 Party favors. I got the strawberry baskets from Garnish.

 I decided to make the cupcakes this year as I am not a fan of store bought cupcakes and I wanted strawberry flavored ones. They turned out okay I must say. Think I may do this every year! So much cheaper and pretty easy.

 I can't believe we didn't get one single family picture on this day! Here is the only picture of me and the birthday girl. Stink!

Happy 4th birthday to the little love of my life, the apple of my eye! Love her to the moon and back!!  

Our weekend ( just a few days late)

We had a busy last weekend in our house! Fun, but busy! We started our Friday off by driving to Dallas and staying the night with Aaron's sister. I always love staying with her because we eat at Mi Cocina for dinner. It's my favorite mexican food ever!

Judd was up past his bedtime and we were off our normal routine but he was still so good. I always get nervous when my babies are off their schedule or away from home. It's definitely more stressful for me when they are infants (I am now realizing since I am on child #2). Anyway, he did great during the night too! He did wake up more than usual but went right back to sleep. Sweet baby!

Ava loves to visit "Auntie". She was super excited and on her best behavior. Doesn't she look happy? Love this girl!
On Saturday the girls went to see Disney's Princess on Ice while the boys stayed home and napped. Ava has been obsessed with princesses since she turned 2 and I just knew we needed to get tickets to this event. She had the best time!
Waiting to go inside the venue, wearing her Cinderella dress made by yours truly.

Please notice the necessary accessories. The crown, wand, and princess cell phone. This girl cracks me up with all of her flair!

Ready for the show to begin! I thought they did a great job with it and Ava was enthralled from beginning to end. We had a great time! Ava says her favorite part was the Cinderella act where the mean step sisters were dancing with the Prince at the ball and acting all silly. It was pretty funny, I have to agree! My favorite part was the Tangled act.

On Sunday we made our way to Forest Park for an Easter celebration with our friends. They had an egg hunt, lunch, and a visit from the Easter Bunny! Ava (as always) was so excited to sit on the Easter Bunny's lap. My girl LOVES anything in costume. It always makes us laugh.

She had fun hunting eggs and really "got" the concept this year! Her age is so fun because she fully understands and gets into the various holiday traditions. I'm enjoying reliving my childhood through her eyes:)
Judd didn't get to hunt eggs this year, so he just sat around looking cute. He is teething something fierce this week and you can tell in this picture!

I love the spring time and all that it brings! Hope you all have had a great week and Happy Easter!

Judd {5 months}

5 months, Judd. How in the world did that happen? You are almost half of a year old!

STATS

21.2 lbs

not sure on height?

You wear 9 months and 12 months in clothes. You can even wear some 18 months! You are a HAAS!! This month we introduced solids to you because milk just wasn't filling you up. You now eat two meals a day and take 4 6 oz bottles and an 8oz bottle at bedtime. Your favorite foods are sweet potatoes, green beans, and pears. You do not like oatmeal or bananas. I have noticed that you have a strong gag reflex.This should get interesting as you begin to eat more textured foods!

You still will not take a paci, and yes, I still try to offer it to you. You spit it out across the room and it is quite entertaining to do again and again and again. You don't suck on your fingers as much anymore either. You do chew on your fist from time to time, however. You have began soothing yourself to sleep by saying "ayyy ahhhh ayyyy ahhh"  outloud until it lulls you to sleep. It is just the SWEETEST sound ever.

Your sleep at the beginning of this month was not so fun! You woke up multiple times a night and would scream if I wasn't holding you. Eventually it got better and by the end of the month you were sleeping from 7:45-8:45 with one bottle at 6am. Your naps are really all over the place and you aren't on a great scedule during the day. It's just nearly impossible to keep you on a strict sleeping schedule with your sister's school schedule. I am learning to be flexible and not worry about it since you are sleeping through the night. I am also learning that the more flexible I am, the more flexible you are!

You got a TOOTH on March 27th! The right tooth on bottom. You also got an ear infection the same day. You are a trooper and barely complained!

Ava is becoming your favorite person this month. She walks into the room and you will squeal SO LOUD to get her attention. You laugh hysterically at her. I love to see you both interact.

Your nicknames are Judley, Juskey, Judster, and Jud Bud. You are so content and smile all day long. The only thing you aren't too fond of is your carseat. You are so ready to sit up and not slouch. It makes me sad because I can tell you are going to be the type of baby that wants to do things super early, which means you will grow up faster than I'd like. 

Everyone that meets you talks about your size first, and then your beautiful dark eyes and lashes and your dark complexion. I am your momma so of course I think you are the most beautiful baby on the planet, but you do get lots of compliments on your adorableness, so it must be true.

I love you sweet boy and have enjoyed your first 5 months of life.





Bedtime prayers: Ava style

Ava has been on a roll lately. She has proven to her daddy and I what we thought all along: she marches to the beat of her own drum.
She has become so incredibly independent lately. She finally hit the stage where she won't let us dress her at all. She has to pick out her clothes, too! And let's just say its scary what that girl puts together.
Exhibit A...


She's also become fiercely imaginative. The way she plays with her dolls blows my mind. I was never so "out there" with my imagination. She wants us to play along with her but we never seem to play the way she wants us to. You see, she has everything all figured out in her head and she can't quite put it all into words and so it usually leads to frustration.
She also thinks she knows it all! This poses a problem and leads to many a tear. Daily!
Exhibit B...
I was saying her prayers (for her bc she hasn't wanted to say them lately?) and she kept crying and telling me I was saying it wrong. I was so confused because we say them the same way every night and have for years! She kept saying "you didn't say it right! you have to start over!" She was nearly hysterical because I was saying it all wrong. Finally I'm at my breaking point and say very sternly "I'm done. You aren't using your words and I don't understand what I'm doing wrong!" Then she says (while sobbing) "you're supposed to say it like they do on Christmas 'Bay-cation' where they are at the table."
Say what?!?!?! My child made Aaron and I say the pledge of allegiance for her bedtime prayer!

So there we stand, at the side of her bed, hands over our hearts, saying the pledge of allegiance in unison. All to appease our 3 year old drama queen.

I shutter in fear when I think of her teenage years.

Side note: please don't judge us for allowing our child to watch Christmas Vacation. The girl is obsessed with Christmas. She begged us and in a moment of weakness we obliged her.

Spring Break Recap

This past week was Aaron and Ava's Spring Break. We didn't go out of town or do anything too exciting.
But we enjoyed working on house projects and playing with our toys



booking summer vacations and swimming at the gym


playing dress up every single moment we weren't leaving the house





working on orders








mostly, we enjoyed lots of snuggles and kisses!






Aaron said this Spring Break was anything but a "break" and he has a little more appreciation for me. Being home with the kids all day long is sometimes no easy feat. It's feeding, napping, changing diapers, playing dress up, going to parks, wiping faces, changing spit up clothes, and much more.
Just look at the evidence...



I think we are all ready to get back to the grind. Ava misses school and her friends, Aaron misses sitting at his desk in peace (ha!) and I miss having the house to myself while Judd naps. Just kidding! Sort of.

How was your Spring Break?

Blog Sale Part 4

29. Janie & Jack button up
Shirt. New with tags. 3/6 months $10



30. Janie and Jack polo size 3/6 months. New with tags. $8




31. Osh kosh chambray romper. Worn once. Size 6 months. $6




32. Navy ralph lauren polo romper. Size 6 months. $9



33. Another navy polo romper (with guitars) size 6 months. Worn once $5




34. Koala Kids super soft romper. Washed but never worn. Size 3m $5




35. Dinosaurs smocked jonjon. Size 6m. Worn once. $16




36. Kissy Kissy footie. Size 3/6 months. $20




37. Petit Ami smocked white newborn set with bonnet. Never worn. Fits more like 0-3months. $26



38. Old Navy plaid romper. 0-3 months $10




39. Petit Ami baby blue and white hand embroidered romper. 3 months. Never worn. $19




40. Mooshu Trainers shoes. Size 9. Both pairs for $10