The Bug

Hold on. Give me a second to listen to this silence. *sigh* I just have to soak that in. Breeeeathe in the peace and quiet and allow it to become a part of me. Ooooooooooooom.

Now, why did I need to do that? Three words: Ava, stomach, and virus. Yeah. She got it. You know, I've gotten pretty good at blowing bubbles. I wonder if I could blow one big enough for Ava to live in. She would be just like a little hamster, running around in her ball protected from everything. I don't know where she got The Bug from. But it was almost a week ago and we are just starting to get over it. Yes, I said we. You mommas know, when baby is sick, Momma is sick. Let's recap! Okay!

So, last Tuesday, Adrian and I were on our way to a play date. We were already frustrated because we got lost. Much like us, my sweet baby was just not happy. I don't blame her. But not 30 seconds after I turned around to her in the back seat and gave her a very stern "Ava, that is enough" -- it started. My poor pumpkin's virus introduced itself into our lives. And it went on, and on, and on. From Tuesday to Saturday. And although her body is doing better, she is just not herself. I miss my sweet Sassy. So, now she is sleeping. But we spent the morning screaming (I screamed in my head only...don't worry). Poor thing even screamed as she ate her waffle. It is absolutely pitiful.

On the plus side, and through the tears, Ava now says, "Apple," "sticker," "ouchie," and "poopoo." Yes, friends, The Bug taught us many things.

So I say while a shake my head and smile, while we were uh, "cleaning up", my mom was cruising in her new BMW and my in-laws were in Italy. How is that for pay back? : )

Oh well....through it all we continue to be so blessed.

Thanks for reading and allowing me to wallow in my self pity.

Playing Catch-up

Suddenly I have Neil Diamond's voice in my head..."Hello, My Friend, Hellooooooo." Keith will be so excited! He is secretly his #1 fan. Not so much a secret anymore. Sorry, Honey. But all that to say, "Hello, again!" This message is being brought to you from my warm bed. I am snuggled in nice and cozy. It's rainy, it's cold, it's gloomy and dark (even though the sun is technically up). It's also garbage pick-up morning, which means I am constantly looking at the baby monitor screen waiting for the noise to disrupt my sleeping angel's sweet dreams. So far, so good.

So let's just give an overall update. Let's see...

Last week, I took Ava to the Children's Museum (why do I always have to spell check that word!?!) Our dear friends Adrian and Jenna joined us and I am SO glad they did. I lost my mind in that place and wouldn't have had them to help me find it! It was an absolute mad house. It didn't help that the event was free. Nor did it help that my little Sassy is so, shall we say, adventurous. If you put her down, she is off. She is an explorer. She is a natural born little Miss Independent. And when there are hundreds of other screaming children and their parents (sometimes screaming, too), it is hard to keep up! I got a work out. But as always, after it's all said and done, these experiences are so worth it. After all, when Ava gets out and does these things it wears her out! (translation in Em-glish: Sassy takes a long nap. Mommy gets an afternoon of peace). We missed Daddy and wished he could have joined us.

How about an update on Daddy? He deserves the spot light! He has just been working so hard for us. I tell you, when he comes home, Ava squeals like a little piggy and just charges at him. That is the best! She loves her Daddy so much. When I am finishing cooking dinner, the two of them cuddle and watch "Max and Ruby" together on Noggin. He is such a good Daddy. And a devoted Wii-er nonetheless! This guy is on something like day #71 on the Wii Fit. He has only taken a handful days off on that thing. I am on day....well let's just say my little "Mii" is sleeping when you pull up the main menu (which I do get a little offended by since I am in the treadmill when Keith is on the Wii. Why doesn't my Mii know that?!) Anyway, go Wii-Fitty Keith! There....if Keith ever becomes a rap star, that'll be his name. "Wii-Fitty."

So, I sent in Ava's picture into Regis and Kelly for the beautiful baby search. Would you know that they didn't choose my baby as a finalist? What?!?!? Yeah. I'm okay. Each day gets better and better and I continue to get stronger.That's why I am really in bed. I am depressed. Kidding! But I am watching waiting for them to flash her picture on the screen among the 300,000 others that were sent in. Next year, friends. It's ours! Confession. I did actually answer most of the "unavailable" or solicitor-ish phone calls just in case it was my friend Regis telling me that she had been chosen. I had a few less Sonic Happy Hour trips just in case they called while I was gone. I had all of my outfits planned out for NY. Bummer. Bubble busted.

Speaking of NY. You may have noticed that I have had a timeline counting us all down to my debut on The Price is Right. That trip for now, has been unfortunately postponed. Date to be determined. You know, honest truth, we have had to do a lot of prioritizing around here. And yes (*grumble*grumble*) my Butterfly Boogie has not been effected by this act of prioritizing. It's still on. But anyway, I digress. A dear dear friend of mine is getting married in October in New York City. So, bet your bottom dollar we are planning on going. Sooooooo, LA will have to wait. Please please please pray that California is still there later on down the road. And although I do prefer my Bob Barker, please please please pray that Drew and The Price is Right are still on the air. So hopefully we will be able to stay in NY for a few extra days and enjoy our time in the city. We were there for our first anniversary (*clearing throat and coughing* When I sang at Carnegie Hall with my college choir....*cough* featured as a soloist *cough* cough*...phew! excuse me!). So, I am pretty pumped about going again. And Keith, boy is he excited! I told him we could drive up to visit our friends at Orange County Choppers. We met Mikey when we went last time and saw Paul and Paul Jr. driving away (with a camera man in the front seat). Yeah, we were such groupies. But now they have a huge new shop/factory that you can walk through and watch the bikes get fabricated. So, he's all about going.

Well, my little turkey is starting to move around so I am anticipating that she might be ready to take on the day pretty soon. I mean, it's 9:30am! Something about the rain...I need to get a rain CD for her room and get her off of that lullaby music! The CD is starting to do funky things from going so much. But, then again, I suppose I do the same thing.

Enjoy the pictures!

Thanks for reading.

Ava LOVES to read! Here she was telling Daddy all about Moses.

She was actually quite comfortable apparently.

Ava and Jenna taking a refreshment break at the Children's Museum.

The Children's Museum is on the Texas State Fair grounds. I've actually been on that thing twice.

There must have been something good down there.

Partners in crime.

This afternoon I took Ava to the Galleria to play. She's started to say "Whoa" a lot. Sure enough, as soon as she grunted her way up onto this zebra, she was saying "Whoa!"

This is a fine example of Ava's signature response to "Ava, smile for the camera!" She always closes her eyes. I guess she anticipates the flash. Silly girl!

Although it's blurry, Ava is signing "All done." So, at that point I had to do as my boss told me and was all done taking pictures.