AN EVENING RIDE ON THE GOLF CART

Jeff got a new camera and I have TONS of pictures that he just downloaded to my computer. These are a few that he took of Ian, Ava and I on an evening ride on the golf cart. I just love the different expressions on Ian's face in all the pictures. I think since he turned nine, we don't have one picture of him that he isn't goofing around in. ;)

3 MONTHS A FAMILY

Dear Ava LaLa,

How could it be that it's already been 3 months since we first held you? Time passed so slowly when we were waiting for you and now it's going by so quickly.

You continue to blossom each and every single day. Your such a smart little girl. You just started to say good job as you clap your hands together. This is the first time you have put two words together. Daddy was trying to teach you how to say hello yesterday and you almost have it down. You watch Daddy so intently trying to see how he does it. You also understand everything. We tell you to get your shoes, your toys, your socks, your bathing suit, your cup, etc....You understand it all! You also understand the word no, but you don't always listen. ;)Sometimes we will ask you where something is (you usually do this when we ask you where a person went or what happened to your dinner) and you flip your hand so the palm side is up and make a face that says, "Where did it go?"

We took you back to the doctors a couple weeks ago for your 18 month check-up. You didn't get any taller since you were there in June, but you gained a pound. You really are a good eater. I really think that green beans might be your MOST favorite food of all. When you first came home, you didn't like vegetables. Now, you eat EVERYTHING. You even like watermelon now....You didn't like it and spit it out when we were in China. You love when we go have lunch with Daddy on Thursday's at one of our most favorite restaurant. They said they're going to have to have green beans every Thursday on the menu, because they know how much you love them!

Some of your favorite things to do right now are swimming, riding in the golf cart...Especially if we drive it to get ice cream, taking a bath, having breakfast with mega bro bro, playing in your room with Ian and having Sissy paint your nails. You also like to give Sissy all kinds of hair clips to put in your hair.....Only to remove them immediately. You do so with a devilish grin on your face!

Usually, this time of the year I start to dread the thought of summer ending, but not so much this year. I look forward to the Fall and seeing you dressed in the Halloween costume that I bought for you four years ago! I look forward to spending our first Thanksgiving together...We have so MUCH to be thankful for this year....YOU! I'm also excited for you to see snow! I already know the look you will have on your face when you see those white flakes falling from the sky for the first time! I also can't wait until Christmas! I'd always get sad during Christmas when you weren't here, but thank goodness that's over. You're finally home where you belong and I look forward to so much because you're here!

Happy 3 months a family, Ava! I love you!!

~Mommy

AVA & HER DADDY AT THE PARADE

We took Ava to our little Festival that we have in our town every year on Saturday. We weren't sure if she would love the loud noises at the parade, but she did. This little girl really isn't afraid of much and just goes with the flow. We were about to take a video of Ava watching the parade and realized that our video camera was stolen out of my purse. *sigh* Thank goodness all our China video and pictures had been downloaded on discs or I would have been even more sick about the whole thing than I was. I guess crime is everywhere....Even in a small town.

LALA AND CONGCONG

A little over a month ago I had Ava on my lap when I was looking at some of my favorite adoption blogs. I happened to click on Jenn's blog and was looking at a photo of her daughter Meili. Ava immediately pointed to the photo and then looked back at me with a look in her eye that said, "Hey, I KNOW that girl!" It just so happens that Meili is from the same orphanage as Ava and I just knew that Ava knew Meili by the reaction she had to seeing Meili's photo. Ava has looked at many pictures of other children and has never paid any attention....This even includes children in our travel group that she had met.

While we were in China to get Ava, we learned that Ava had spent most of her life living in the orphanage. Ava did spent the first 3 1/2 months of her life in foster care, but then was sent to the orphanage until she came home to be with us. None of the other babies in our travel group lived in the orphanage. When Jenn traveled to China to get Meili she learned that Meili had also lived in the orphanage. That pretty much told me that yes, Ava DID know Meili.

I had commented to Jenn that I thought that our girls might know each other. I received an email today that confirmed that fact. Jenn was showing Meili a photo of Ava and she said that Meili lit up like a Christmas tree and waved to the computer and said 'LaLa'......Which happens to be what Ava was called in the orphanage! It seriously brought tears to my eyes knowing that Jenn and I have known each other since before we had log in dates for China and little did we know....Our girls were growing up together!

The video below is of me showing Ava a photo of Meili and using Meili's name they called her in the orphanage. Ava has never heard me say 'CongCong' before (and I hope I pronounced it right!) and I wanted to get her reaction. Ava did say 'CongCong' later tonight when she heard us talking about her! Jenn and I hope to get the girls together for a visit sometime. How wonderful that the two little girls who became friends half way around the world would have two mama's that also became friends while waiting for them.

AVA & HER PINK HAT

MEETING MY COFFEE BUDDY

One of the best things (and probably the ONLY thing!) about the wait for Ava was the opportunity to get to know others that were also waiting. Some people you just "click" with right away and Lynn was most definitely one of those people. We first met on Rumor Queen when Lynn's mother sent me a message, in response to a post I made about where I grew up. It turns out that Lynn's mother went to High School not far from where I did. I can't remember how Lynn and I first started talking (as it was YEARS ago!), but we became friends quickly. Lynn was all about the numbers (as was I!) and trying to figure out when we might get our referrals (Lynn's LID was 14 days after mine) and we would send many emails back and forth and have long conversations on the phone....Our phone conversations started to be known as "having coffee together".......And my week doesn't seem complete, unless Lynn and I have one of our coffee dates! We've been together during all the ups and down and twists and turns of the China adoption rollercoaster.....That most definitely creates a stong bond. It's always nice to have someone to talk too that "gets it." FINALLY, we got to meet this Saturday in person. We only live 3 hours from each other and decided to meet in the middle....How cool that the middle happens to be an outlet mall! ;)

Here are two pictures of Lynn, Kate, Ava and I:




Lynn's daughter Kate was reaching over to give Ava a kiss. Ava wasn't too sure about that! ;)

Here is a picture of Lynn's son Chris with his baby sister. Chris is such a great big brother!

I just realized that I don't have a pictures of Lynn's husband. J and Ian also came, but I didn't take any pictures of them either. I think the husbands were good sports to head off to meet more "internet friends" of their spouses and spend the day outlet mall shopping on top of that! But, we knew our husbands would hit it off and we were right.

Lynn and her family received their referral last month for the most ADORABLE little girl and will be traveling to China very soon to get her (Bring on that TA!!). It was so adorable watching Ava and Kate walk down the sidewalk together this past weekend. The only thing that will be cuter than that will be when baby Hope joins them! Here is a picture of the BEAUTIFUL Miss Hope:

It was so wonderful to FINALLY meet Lynn and her family in person. I'm so blessed that during the long wait for Ava I made such a wonderful friend along the way. It's not very often that you find a life long friend, but that's exactly what happened when I found Lynn.

AVA & HER SISSY

TWO MONTHS

Dear Ava,

I can hardly believe that it's already been two months since you were first placed in my arms. Sometimes, it feels like you have been here forever.....Other times, I look at you and I can't believe you're really here! Your brother Ian even said a couple of days ago that he still feels it's just a dream and he's scared that he will wake up and you'll be gone. He asked me to pinch him so he would know if he's really dreaming or not. I gave him a little pinch on the cheek and he was quite relieved that he felt it. ;) You're REALLY here Ava La La and we couldn't be happier!!

Ava, do you want to know the most favorite part of my day? It's when I walk in your bedroom in the morning and I see your smiling face! You always wake up so happy! You're sleeping about 12 hours each night and I have to say, that also makes your mother pretty happy. We have our own little ritual that we do each night before you go to sleep. We have to say goodnight to all the things in your room and if I forget something.....You always point to it and remind me! When you wake up in the morning, you're always showing me the flowers and the bird on your little pillow and your smiling. When I go in your room in the morning, I'm usually joined by Ian and the dogs. The dogs couldn't be happier that you're getting up because they know that when you eat your breakfast, you ALWAYS like to share your food with them!

In this last month you have learned so many new things. The BIGGEST of all is you mastered walking! I'm so happy that you waited to walk until you were home with us! We missed so many firsts for you and we couldn't be happier that we got to experience you taking your first steps. You have also learned many new words. You're now saying: dada, mama, sissy, bro bro, hi, bye bye, ah oh, bo (for no in Chinese), La La (because we call you Ava La La) and Ella (for Bella). You have also learned where your nose and eyes are, but pointing to your nose is by far your MOST favorite!

One of the most favorite things I love about you, is how much you truly enjoy life! I love watching you as you experience and discover new things for the first time. Your eyes will light up and you have the most infectious giggle. You can sometimes be a little timid at first when meeting new people or trying new things, but then watch out.....Your confidence shines thru! You're most definitely no wall flower, my little sweet pea and I love that about you! ;) Some other things I love about you is the way you move your head back and forth when you hear music. Now that your steady on your feet, you even will wiggle your butt too! There are also a couple expressions that you have that I just adore.... One is when you put your fists up in the air and you get this "I'm SO excited I could burst" expression on your face. The other one is when you open your mouth as if to say, "Can you EVEN believe THIS?!!" You did that look the other day after your sissy painted your toe nails and you were showing them to us!

We look forward to each and every new day with you, Ava La La. Life is just so much better because you're here! Happy two months a family, my little sweet pea! We love you.

AVA'S PHOTO SHOOT

PHOTOGRAPHER: Ava's Mommy
HAIR BY: Ava's Sissy
LAUGHING MADE POSSIBLE BY: Ava's brother Ian

AVA GOES TO THE BEACH