One year pics!

How time flies!! I finally got around to taking Ava in for her one year pictures. Being weeks away from Christmas we did her Christmas pictures too. We actually had to go twice because Ava was having too much fun the first time. She spent most of the appointment running around the set (literally running crazy fast) and then for the Christmas shoot she was fixated on the ornaments on the tree and wanting to pull them off. I sure love my baby girl, boy does she have a little mischief in her eyes lately. She can be the sweetest cuddle bug, but when she is moving she doesn't stop... seriously, for hours she runs circles around the house yelling "Ahhhhhh" ! I love her spunk for sure though!

Pilates Baby

If you ask Ava to "do your pilates" most of the time she will strike this pose. SO, we've made up the pilates game and have had lots of fun. (Honestly, I just needed an excuse to bring back her leg warmers!)

San Francisco

Greg and I had our first getaway since baby girl was born. We had the greatest time in my FAVORITE U.S. city! Here are a few pictures and videos from our trip. You are forewarned that the video clips are a bit cheesy.

MUIR WOODS


CABLE CARS!

TOO much fun, seriously! Out of respect for Greg I have not posted the video clip of him on this cable car singing the full house theme song: "What ever happpened to predictability, the milk man, the paper boy, evening t.v..... Duh Duh Duh NA Duh... DUH! DUH!" We definately acted like class A tourists!

CALORIE FREE FOOD

One of the best parts about vacations is that everything is Zero Calories! Knowing this, Greg and I took full advantage of this magical fact. A good way to describe all the vacation food eaten on this trip is the Shel Silverstein poem "Hungry Mungry," just replace the main character with "Greg" and "Gina." Here are our favorites: Clam Chowder

Look closely.... mini donuts at Pier 39
Ghirardelli Round ONE

Ghirardelli Round TWO

NAPA

The vineyards were gorgeous!

PIER 39

I was SOO happy on this carousel ride that I almost cried! Last time I rode this carousel was in 1988 on a California vacation with my mom and dad. I had the most wonderful childhood and riding on this again 21 years later brought back all those happy kid memories! I didn't care that we were the only adults on it, I was going to enjoy every second!

Mirror, Mirror, on the Wall........... and that wall too, oh and that wall also....AHH!

Yikes! I think I was more scared in this mirror maze than anything... it looks a little Sixth Sense-ish.

Ava-the-Pooh

Ava's buddy Caden came by during trick or treating. What a cute little skunk he was!

Ava got lots of "honey" when she went to Ditty and PaPa's house!

.... and a BOO

PaPa and Ditty

Ava has officially renamed Grandpa to "PaPa." She usually says it in a tiny whisper. On the other hand when she says Ditty it is "di di Di Di Dii Diii Diiii" in an escalating yell! Ha!

Ready, Set... Wrestle! Ava always wins!

Ava's Dedication Day

Our Family Verse:

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."

Jeremiah 29: 11-13

October 4th was Parent/Child Dedication at our church. We are so thankful to know that the Lord will give us wisdom and guide us as parents, what peace! We are also blessed to have a wonderful family and church family to support us. My prayer for Ava's life (actually from the day I found out I was expecting) has been first and foremost for her to have a heart that Loves Jesus, to listen to Him as he guides her life, and to truly love others with God's love.

This day was a very special day for our family. We made our commitment as parents to put Jesus first in our home and lives and to teach Ava by word and example about her loving Father. Ditty and PaPa were there to pray with us at church and Karo and K-Bob were sending their love and prayers from Houston (as they had the swine flu that week)!

"The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love...the Lord's love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children's children." -Psalm 103

Swing little Monkey!

Party Time!

Last Saturday was our sweet friend Deegan's first birthday party. Deegan had a petting zoo come to his house and oh how Ava loved chasing those animals! We had to pull her off the baby goat a few times!