Frozen Pumpkins

Pumpkin patch time seems like a lifetime ago seeing as how our pumpkins are now covered by a couple inches of snow, but I thought I ought to chronicle our adventure to Reeger's Pumpkin Patch at the end of October anyway. When I say "our" adventure I am referring to Courtney, Riley, Pap Pap, Matt, Ava and I. Reeger's had more than just pumpkins. There was a plastic pipe slide, a barn tour, (This turned out to be a bust. A dollar to get in only for Ava to see a horse, a bunny, a couple barn cats and a cow that mooed and freaked Ava out), a corn maze (Riley and Ava were too little for this), a hay ride (very cold but fun and heart warming) and various other fun and festive activities for little tikes. The hay ride took us to the patch where the kids were able to choose their favorite pumpkin. Pap Pap kept telling me that my pumpkin was lop sided and I should pick out a more round one. I liked my pumpkin with unique character. Pap Pap wasn't sold. I know I'm a little late, but these pictures are still cute.

The pipe slide.

Ava and daddy on the hay ride.

Ava at the patch.

Pap Pap's most perfect pumpkin.

What! No Party Hats?

You would think that a great grandmother turning 82 wouldn't need party hats. However, the 3 1/2 year old attending her birthday insisted upon it. When Riley found out noone had party hats for Grandma's birthday he was more than upset. He cried and cried over the party hats, insisting that we needed them and demanding that someonme go buy some. Bruce, in an attempt to quiet the room and appeal to the craftiness in Riley, crafted a party hat out of newspaper. Riley continued crying. It did not look like a party hat. He threw Bruce's creation on the floor. I picked the hat up and placed it on Ava' s head to show Riley how cool it was and how much she liked it. Bad move. Riley got jealous, ripped the hat off of Ava's head and placed it on his own. More tears fell, but this time they were Ava's because she no longer had a hat. Bruce quickly folded another hat so we could get on with the pie, icecream and present celebration. Things were calm, but a little shaky in this photo. Riley was now happy with his hat and Ava was recovering from her crying spell by clinging on to blankey. Poor Grandma just wanted to eat her pie.

Happy Homecoming

IUP's Homecoming Parade was October 13. This was Ava's first experience at a parade. She seemed less than impressed at the start. I think she was more confused than anything. Marching bands, majorettes, drunk fraternity brothers, funny men in small cars-- it was all just so much for her curly head to process. She finally got into the spirit when the parade was nearing its end, proclaming more, more! We would have turned into popsicles if the parade were any longer.

Ava Bean vs. Green Bean

One would assume that the most imminent threat to her 19 month old child would be sharp objects such as corners of furniture, corners of crown molding (Ava and the molding had a wrestling match at age 12 months resulting in her 1st trip to the ER), scissors, pencils, screw drivers and the like. Ava has somehow made a can of green beans a weapon. I suppose she inherited her mother's gracefulness. This can of green beans met Ava square between the eyes leaving her with a horizontal, swollen, blood seeping, purple wound. How? She handed me the can of green beans at 10am in the morning hoping to have them for breakfast. After telling her no, she went to grab them from me, pulled too hard and the can of fresh cut green bean goodness came crashing down on the bridge of her nose. Many tears and screaming ensued (from both Ava and her mommy) after a very long silent pause. After such a fight with her opponent, she needed a much deserved rest. You can see her in the photo below sleeping sitting up. She couldn't even make it lying down before passing out. You might be wondering when exactly this fierce match up occurred. Judging from her attire you might think it was late summer. It was actually October 6. Mother Nature granted us with an unusually warm day thus the sun dress she wore only one other time. The evidence is clear-- Ava lost. The can of green beans was victorious leaving its mark on her gorgeous face. Luckily it healed rather nicely. There is only a faint line across the bridge of her nose now.













Poor Ava Bean

Trip to St. Louis

Enjoy some cuuuuuuuuutttteee pics from out trip to see Jujin, Headid, and baby.

Encore Presentation

I am happy to report that the little pooper pooped in her potty again today! It was almost an accident on the floor, but we made it in the nick of time. I asked Ava if she had to go potty. When she told me yes, I took off her diaper and she took off streaking down the hallway. I was still in the bathroom waiting for her to come back. When she was right outside the bathroom door I could hear her making a slight grunting noise. I quickly scooped her up, set her on her potty as the poop hit the plastic potty. Pwwehhhh. But then she was trying to get up as she was still going, saying no, no, no. I transfered her to the big potty instead. She sat quietly and finished her business (I guess we're skipping the potty chair altogether). Just like yesterday, Ava looked at her poop in sheer confusion. I praised her up, down, backwards and sideways. She smiled a little. As I dumped her business in the big toilet, she looked at it, pointed and said, "mommy's poop." Well, judging by the size it could have been, but I corrected her. We said our farewell to the poop as we flushed the toilet and immediately called daddy to share the good news. It is funny how so much of our conversations revolve around poop these days. Stay tuned for more on the poop diaries.

Holy Shit

Today was a day that will go down in the history books. No war broke out and no war has ended. No one has even been elected president, but Ava pooped and peed in the potty!

We were out at my grandmother's house today for a visit. Ava watched me pee in the potty as she has done day in and day out. As we were getting ready to each lunch, Ava walked into the hallway pointed towards the bathroom and said "pee." I asked, "Ava do you have to pee?" "Okay," she answered. She toddled in and I toddled after her expecting her to sit for a moment only to announce done after nothing happened. Today was different. Today was just the day she felt ready to tackle the big white porcelain hole. I sat her on the toilet, clutching her underneath her arms so she wouldn't fall in. "Are you going to pee Ava?" With a look of concentration and determination she said yes. A moment later I heard the tinkling of her pee meeting the bowl of the toilet. My face exploded with sheer delight. I made such a big deal. I clapped. I smiled. I sang. I shouted. I gave her a high five. We walked into the kitchen so great grandma could give Ava her due praise. Ava smiled from ear to ear. She was proud of her new found accomplishment. I told Ava to tell mommy if she had to go potty again. About an hour later Ava announced "potty!" I took her by the hand into the bathroom. Surely lightening can't strike twice in one day, but I indulged Ava with her request. I held Ava over the toilet again. I waited and I waited. I propped my arm up on the edge of the tub to relieve some of her weight. I thought-- there is no way she is going to pee again; she just wants to sit on the potty. I asked Ava, "Do you have to go potty?" "Yes," she replied. I waited another minute. I was just about to call for my grandma to bring the training ring when........ plop, plop, plop. Ava pooped in the potty! Holy shit, I thought! "Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Ava pooped in the potty," I explained excitedly. Once I helped her down off her throne, she turned to look at a job well done. She seemed sort of confused. She looked puzzled, like why is it floating in there?; Why can't I feel it on my hiney like I usually can? I reassured her, "Ava pooped in the potty! Good girl! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!" I wiped her hiney, put her diaper back on and proudly announced to great grandma her newest feat. More cheers, hugs and excitement ensued!

I know this is the first step in an upward climb, but I think it is an explosive start! Two times in one day with one time being the big deuce! Our daughter has mad skills! Kudos to Ava. You're a big girl now sweetie. I think this deserves a champagne toast or a mango margarita. I'll consume the latter.