Ava Turns 2!

 

Ava turned 2 last week! I can hardly believe it, but looking at these pictures convinces me a little. One wouldn't think that your life could change that much having child number four, but it has.  Ava's birth has stretched me to my limit. I have had to do a lot of prioritizing and evaluating and letting go of the unimportant things.  She has made me slow down and taught me that I need to take care of myself or I can't take care of anyone else. 

 

Ava is a little fireball. Most of the time she plays quietly and finds things to entertain herself. She really doesn't get into too much trouble, as far as two-year-old trouble goes. But if you tell her "No", or don't give her what she wants when she wants it - look out! She's got a quick temper and is VERY vocal about it. She loves to entertain and get everyone's attention. She is loving and sweet and dramatic.  Basically, she's your typical two-year-old!

 

We didn't have a party this year, we decided to play it low-key. In the morning Todd surprised her with a bunch of balloons which included a balloon from her favorite movie, "Monsters Inc.". Dallin let most of the balloons go later that afternoon when we weren't paying attention. I guess he likes to watch them soar into the sky.

 

After lunch (and her nap) we took her to the Irvine Spectrum and took her on the carousel for her first time, several times. She loved it! It was 90 outside so we let her play in the outdoor water feature until she was soaking wet. Then she got to play on the play structure until she was dry enough to go in the car!

 

When we got home she got to have her gluten-free and vegan chocolate cake and dairy-free cashew mint ice cream. Last year she only had a cake made out of fruit, so this was her first "real" cake. She only had a couple of bites and she was done, but she did an excellent job of blowing out the candles! Then she got to open her presents, (just two). She got a bunch of clothes, she was mostly excited about the socks. She also got a wheely bug to scoot around on and she loved that! We got her a rocking horse too, but it hadn't come in the mail yet. . .

 

Happy Birthday sweet Ava Kat!