Big Sisters are the Best!

Jasmine acted out a bit when Ava was born. Her behavior left a lot to be desired and I struggled for a while with it. Even though sometimes she was unbearable, she has always been good with her baby sister, Ava. She has always been loving, kind and protective and she is a great helper with Ava as well. Ava really responds to Jasmine. She will immediately calm down if Jasmine is singing and always gives a huge smile when Jasmine is around.I know that sibling relationships aren't always perfect but I hope they always love each other and remember that they sisters no matter what.
Here are some pictures that have captured some of these tender moments in the recent weeks. I had to throw the last one in of Jasmine at the bakery in her special chair playing her V-Smile. She looks like a little lady and I had to snap that photo when she wasn't paying attention.

Fiddler on the Roof

My best friend Cindy came out of hiding to perform on the stage again. That is how we met about 6 years ago - on the stage doing Evita. After having her precious Eleana and starting her home daycare business, she hasn't had a lot of time for performing.
We decided to make the long drive in the outskirts of Maryland to watch her perform. I love this musical. I played in the pit orchestra for it when I was a freshman in high school and I always wanted to perform in it - I don't think there is a song in the show I don't like.Well, Cindy was great and the show was excellent. It was very much worth the trip. We left Jasmine behind with her grandparents and we took Ava as she is still nursing and she would have missed 2 feedings. We had a romantic dinner at McDonalds before the show and when the show was over, it was pouring down rain.It was all worth it to see an amazing show and my dear friend. Maybe one day soon I can grace the stage again with her and w can relive old times!

Ava Rosemary is 4 Months Old!

Our little Ava is growing so very fast. She is cute as a button and a joy in our home. She has been traveling a lot in her first months of life and is doing things that we love to see. She is right where she needs to be developmentally and it is fun having another beautiful child to watch grow and to nurture.
She had her 4 month check-up with the pediatrician and they were very happy with her progress. She is in the 50th percentile for height and in the 20th for weight and head circumference. She only weighs about 12 pounds. She is still in a size 1/2 diaper.
Ava can now babble a bit, roll over, grasp toys and put them in her mouth and she is sleeping 8 hours straight through the night. She is still nursing about 5 times a day and she loves her family and recognizes them. She loves to watch her sister and she loves to be held a lot.She has gotten over her dislike of tummy time and now relishes lifting her head. We just adore this little bundle and couldn't imagine our lives without her amazing smile.

Ohio Adventures - Day 2

We didn't want to drive back right away and since the bakery is closed on Mondays, we decided to stay through Sunday and drive back on Monday. We needed a day of family time where we could hang out together and not be rushed by schedules or feeling like we needed to see things.
We had brunch with Amy & Steven in the morning and then they had other commitments so we had the day for ourselves.
The first order of business after our late morning/afternoon brunch was to go to Graeters and have some ice cream. Graeters is my favorite place in Ohio to have ice cream and they are famous for their amazingly creamy ice cream. My favorite flavor is the Black Raspberry Chip and I always get that flavor. This day was no different. It was delicious as always and Jasmine, true to form chose chocolate - Lorne had a flavor with the chocolate chunks in it too although I don't remember which he had.As we were driving around, a large field full of cars caught our eyes and we realized that the Ohio State Fair was going on. We decided that would be a very fun thing to do as a family, so we went.
It was indeed a good time. We saw so many things and ate too many things. We checked out the arts and crafts, the cake competition (of course). Jasmine had a great time petting the animals and feeding them at the petting zoo and riding rides.We also watched the teens pig competition and saw some mighty fine pigs. Jasmine was the one who insisted that we stay and watch the whole competition. It was interesting - I had never seen something like that before. Jasmine was enthralled by the sheep shearers and we saw lots of fun animals including geese and chicks.We saw a great butter sculpture that was truly something - a work of art.Ava was a sweetie throughout the whole thing - she was either strapped to Mommy or Daddy and she was a perfect angel.The best - or worst part was what we ate. We took in so much State Fair food it was embarrassing. We had fried cheese on a stick, mini fried donuts, a giant eclair, Fried Smores on a stick, cotton candy, pot roast sundae and more that I can't even remember. Combined with the earlier ice cream, we were hogs and fit to be shown at the fair! Boy did I pay for it that night - I had never had indigestion before and so I didn't know what it felt like. All of a sudden I got this burning pain in my chest that wouldn't go away and I was scared that I was having a heart attack. Lorne informed me that it was not a heart attack, it was indeed indigestion and I hate that feeling...I made a note to self that next time, I go easier on the toxic stuff...Despite that, we still had an amazing time together as a family and I loved our adventure to the Fair.

Ohio Adventures - Day 1

No sooner had we said goodbye to Washington and The Childs and Menzies and come back to Virginia, that we were unpacking and packing again for another trip. This time to see Amy and Steven Solis. Amy is a dear friend of mine from my Ohio State days and was a bridesmaid in my wedding and I in her first one. Since her first marriage didn't stick so well, she went back for another chance and she found her prince.They were married in a small ceremony with family only and then had a reception a few weeks later for the rest of us to attend. Amy asked me to do her wedding cake or cakes as it were and so the night I got back from our Washington trip, I worked late into the night to make these two cakes for them. Marcia also helped!Friday night, the 31st, we packed the girls, our things and the cakes in the car and drove into the night to arrive on Saturday morning at 5:30 AM with the cakes having survived a 7 hour drive. We were relived, checked into a hotel and slept for a few hours before delivering the cakes safe and sound to the reception location.We spent the day running errands as a family and preparing to attend the evening reception. It was obviously Hawaiian themed and so we dressed in our best Hawaiian clothes. Even little Ava got in on the Hawaiian action.The event was fun - we had good food, they cut the cake, they danced and we took pictures. It was so nice to be able to be there and experience the happiness my friend was feeling with her. I am so pleased that she is happy and that she has found someone that makes her heart sing. I like her new husband a lot and I look forward to seeing them again and spending more time getting to know them as a couple.