Well, this has been a long time coming. I am going to try to squeeze this blog in before Sleeping Beauty wakes up from her golden slumbers. I am starting rather late into her napping time slot. Sooooo, I'll just type until I hear her start to whisper her sweet nothings through the monitor. Usually by me just thinking that wakes her up. You moms know what I mean. Your thoughts jinx your peace and quiet. So I will wait for a second............................................................okay. I'm still good.So, what's new in life in the Woods? Well, as you can see from the above picture. I am now the proud honorary mommy of 5 precious baby birdies. They live out on our front porch. I just love having them there. I love seeing them all nestled in tight during a rain storm. I love hearing them tweet away while I am on the computer. They looked like they were about to jump out of the nest yesterday. I wasn't ready for it! So I kept knocking on the window so they would hunch back down. I am so nervous for them! At night, the mommy sleeps in the nest with all of the babies, and daddy sleeps on the other column. I was thinking maybe he got the "couch" that night. Five kids though. He's smart for sleeping on the couch.
Ava has a couple of news stories. First and foremost: We have pig tails. Yes, all you "my child could be in a Pantene ad" mommies. I know. These aren't pig tails. But I have waited for 19 months for this child to grow hair. At our house, they are pig tails.
Ava also is finally getting two new bottom teeth. I was starting to think she was going to be a little hillbilly for life. Those teeth were never going to come in! I scared the living day lights out of her last night. I took a peek and screamed "Ava! There they are!" Poor thing started balling.
This isn't new. Ava has always played her own version of dress up. And yes, she has underwear around her neck. About 10 pairs of 'em. And she leaves them on. I call them her "mink wrap." Ava keeps her mink wrap on until it has to come off for her bath. It's just what happens. If I have to go in the closet for something, my little shadow is right behind me ready to open drawers. Getting her out temper tantrum free requires her to exit with a full ensemble of her mink wrap, Ugg boots, a few bracelets, and sometimes a headband or two. What can I say? I pick my battles. And I am also fully aware that someday soon, my child will be the one in Walmart dressed just like this. And I will hold my head up high. I might be wearing sunglasses, a hat, and a trenchcoat, but my head will be held high.
Ava's new tent was moved from our guestroom to the living room for a couple of days. Ohhhhh I had to just suck it up and ignore the voices in my head saying "Emily, owner of the cleanest, most organized, most labled house on the block....your living room has a TENT in it!" I had to get the voices to stop so Ava could enjoy herself, so I cleaned the kitchen. I'm really not that bad. Most of the time. Sometimes. Every once in awhile.
And here is the Naughty Chair. This baby is new....ish. This darling little chair was a yellow potty chair that my dad used when he was little. Then it became a red potty chair that my brother and I used. And now, it is a green naughty no-longer-to-be-pottied-in chair that Ava will use daily I am sure. Here, Ava's books are taking a time out. Lots of things visit the naughty chair. Elmo Live has had a visit. Daddy's shoes have had a visit. Ava has had many voluntary visits (just because this chair is so cool.) I introduced it to Ava weeks ago. Then yesterday, it happened.
Ava was throwing toys over her head. There seems to be something incredibly fascinating about throwing something and having it end up on the floor behind you. Farm animals, okay. But when she started to reach for her grocery cart, I thought I would nip it in the bud. So Keith and I both told her multiple times to stop throwing her toys. She gave us the look and did it again. I very casually asked her, not really thinking she was going to know what I was talking about, "Ava? Do you need to go to the naughty chair?" What did the little know-it-all do? She walked over to that naughty chair and sat herself down. I wanted to just buy her a pony.
Happy belated Mother's Day to all you mommies. A special one to those who are first-time Mother's Day mommies.
Thanks for reading.
