When you're 8 months old...

You can wear leopard print...

And totally ROCK it! Thanks Jane for the cute outfit!

Water Baby?

Since we were camping at a lake I was excited to see what Ava thought of the water. The lake was a little cold but in the safety of Daddies arms she didn't seem to mind.

So next we decided to try out her floaty.... Big FAIL! Oh well. Don't worry baby girl, I prefer warmer, cleaner water too.

Camping 2009

We just got home from Ava's first camping trip with some of our favorite people. She did Awesome! Especially considering we were tent camping. Here's a little sneak peak.

Tiny tooth!

I was strolling around Target today and Ava was chewing on my hand when I felt something sharp. So I go digging around her mouth and sure enough, there is a teeny tiny little tooth starting to poke out! Her bottom right center incisor to be exact. What a big lady!

Happy Birthday to me!

Day three of my Birthday weekend was a great day, because it was my actual birthday. I got to sleep in a little and wake up to a Mocha and breakfast waiting for me. Yum! After that it was off to the barn again. Because after all it is my birthday and I love my horseys.

We started off lunging Joey in the arena. Ava was unimpressed with today's happenings so she nodded off.While Joey cooled down in a turnout and after a quick lunch for Ava, I saddled up my Thoroughbred, Bentley to for a ride.

The view from above.

Ava decided she was ready for her first time in the saddle too so with some help from Daddy, up she went. (Pardon my dusty saddle!)My view from below. This is really what I see when I'm next to Bentley. He is Humongo and I am just knee high to a grasshopper.Look at my tiny baby WAY up there!Ava things the best part of a Western saddle is the built in teether!

After a nap for Ava and showers for us we headed off to lunch at P.F Chang's. We had lettuce wraps and Ava enjoyed her green beans.After we walked around the outdoor mall, making our way to Whole Foods so I could get my Boston Cream Pie birthday cake. (which they were out of! Didn't they know it was my birthday?!) On the way back Ava took her stroller off roading at one of the sporting goods stores.

Overall I had a great birthday spend doing what I want with my 2 favorite people. But apparently being 23 (again) is hard work because day 4 of my birthday weekend I was so tired I could barely get anything done and spend a large portion of the day napping. Graham says it was my lack of sleep and the Stormy weather that did me in, but I think getting older is taking it's toll. Sigh.

Barn and BBQ

Day two of my birthday weekend started out bright and early. We walked for 30 minutes and arrived for Ava to get a little show. Look how interested she is.Because this is going on in front of her.

This is Joey. Joey is my other baby. I bought him as a 4 month old to be my first horse I start without the help of a trainer. I didn't know what I was getting into. Boy, I didn't know. Joey is one wild child. Very smart, but also... well... there is no other way to describe him except he's Joey. Tons of energy and TONS of personality. He gave Graham a black eye for our wedding, that's Joey.

That explains why Ava is even more amazed and has to point out...

This! Joey under saddle! I know it doesn't look it to those of you who have never meet Joey but this is super impressive! Especially considering Graham knows squat about riding horses(hence why he is riding in running shoes). Joey is not trained so I made Graham wear a helmet despite his protests he looks silly in it. I need those brains protected!

Way to go Joe! Of course there are no pictures of me working or riding Joey because Graham doesn't take pictures without being prompted. I was a little busy to prompt.

So after a successful barn trip we walk home and put Ava down for a nap. We all get showered and changed and head out to a going away party for Jen and her daughter Alexis who are off to bigger and better things.

This isn't Jen, nor is it Lexie. Just Dave. I can't seem to find the rest of my pictures. Oh well.

Ava spent most of the day like this. Nothing like a baby girl to peak the interest of other little girls.

Thankfully Ashlyn and Sam were kind enough to share their blocks with Ava. At first she was a little unsure of being put down. She was showing some stranger danger and was being fussy. One her pacifier was popped in she relaxed a little.

Pacifier goes out, block goes in. Mmmm, block.

Sam says "Oh, no you don't. I saw how slobbery you got my last block."

Soon Ava's attention was diverted to these little cuties. TWO King Charles Spaniel puppies. How cute are they? I tried to sneak one out with me, but got busted by their owner. Darn.


Ava liked them too.

OOOooo, whats that?

Got it! The puppy was so good it didn't do a thing while Ava gleefully pulled its ear.
Quick to forgive the puppy came back for more.

See this guy? This is Jeff. Jeff, a year ago was on the kids are cool and all, but not for me plan'. He and his wife were on the same page. Were on the same page. Now he's singing a different tune and Chris is a little more then nervous. He held Ava for a long time, only giving her back when Graham stole her.

Don't worry Chris, their not as hard as they appear! ha! ;)

Home Depot

In our house we have very strict rule about work for Graham. They really are quite simple, no working on weekends. During the week Graham puts in countless hours and the occasional all nighter. When he does come home work comes with him. He spends his evenings glued to his computer working, taking calls and chatting to China. I don't know if he realizes the sun come out during the week. I understand because #1 I'm a good wife. And #2 one of us has to work. Right now the hospital is sloooow so I get canceled, a lot. We joke I have a job, but I don't work. True story. I think my last paycheck had 4 hours on it.

I digress.

Last week Graham had to fly out of town early on a Sunday morning thus breaking the "rules". To make up for it he took off Friday giving him a 4 day weekend (I think that's the longest he's been away from work since we got married!) It was also my Birthday weekend (yep, I get a whole weekend of doing what I want to do.) My first order of business on Friday was to go to Home Depot to get flowers and plants to redo our flower beds.

So bright and early Ava and I proceed to the garage to get her in the car. As usual Graham is not quite ready to go. So Ava plays in the driver seat until Daddy shows up.

Graham "forgets" something inside so I buckle Ava and myself in and wait, and wait and wait. Finally Graham shows up again and we are off.

Grahams first order of business anytime we hit Home Depot is to get a hot dog. How is it that Home Depots hot dogs are so good? My mouth is watering just thinking of them...
this guy in line in front of us apparently think ordering a hot dog is complicated work because he sure took his sweet time! But Finally we get our food and set off to cruise the aisles. Ava steals away Daddies Cheetos. She chewed on this bag for most of our trip. Our first stop is to get some plumbing supplies so Graham can run a water line to our new fridge. Ava thinks the plumbing section is about as exciting as I think it is.
Next we are off to the flowers, which is way more fun!
We get our loot and are on our way.But first a quick stop at the store. In the process of switching fridges we've run low on food and unless we want to make dinner of expired condiments this is a necessary stop. Notice Graham on his phone, sneaking in some work...tsk, tsk.

The flowers of our labor.I love how flowers cheer up a house! I went low maintenance this year with lots of petunias and Geraniums and Day lilies. My goal is not to kill them. Plants in our house seem to die rather quickly. We do still have a few more things to plant, but that will come next weekend.