Charlottesville and Change

Sweet Ava Kate,

You are growing up fast and things are changing around us almost as quickly. We have moved to Charlottesville from Richmond and are working on setting up a new little place as we get ready to start work, internship and school for you soon. You are adjusting pretty well. You are having trouble sleeping at night and want your mommy, but that is understandable with all the changes going on. You love your new room and said "thank you Daddy for my sheeps" painted on the ceiling (they were already there but it was too cute how you thanked him). Grama and Papa were here to help us move and they worked so hard to get us ready and help us pack. We had lots of friends that helped us the day of the move too. It was such a blessing.

We are busy exploring Charlottesville and today we visited your new school. You met some new friends but keep asking when we get to play with our friends from Richmond. Every time we pull up to our new house, you say "This is our new house in Charlottesville" and we appreciate the cute reminder. I often need to remind myself of where we are these days and where we call home. You remind me of how important it is in the midst of change to keep certain things the same. We will remember to say "I love you" often, stay connected with those we love, to call old friends and we all will remember that with each other we are truly home.

Life will change but this remains the same, Ava Kate, with us, you always have a place to call home.  I love you.

Love,
Mommy

Ava Kate's Birthday

Happy Birthday to you Ava Kate!

It was a bit rainy but inside
we had a great time at Ava Kate's 2nd Birthday Party!

Your party hat.

Everyone is here!

Opening up presents

You enjoyed opening up each gift. You wanted to play with each one as we opened them.

The cutest little smile. I love this picture.

Your favorite gift of the day...your bike!

All smiles!

You were so excited to have a second cupcake, which you call "muffins". Super cute!

Your favorite was the icing.

Happy Birthday Ava Kate!

Happy 2nd Birthday sweet girl. You are so loved and growing up so fast. You enjoyed your party and loved having your friends over to your house. You were a bit surprised when everyone started singing to you and I could see it in your eyes, you wanted to crawl into my arms, but you stayed in your seat and blew out your candles. You blew them out the first try! Then you smiled so big as everyone clapped. Your favorite gift was your bike. I know, because I asked you what your favorite thing was about your birthday and you said, "my bike". You wanted just one more "muffin" (that is what you call cupcakes) and you enjoyed two over the course of the day. You had such a great day with your friends and playing with all your new toys. But you were ready for bed after such a busy day!

Each night, we read books, good night moon, pray and sing with you. You love to tell me about your day as we put you to bed. You will ask me questions and listen quietly as I answer you. You want us to sing "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" just one more time each night.

As you wake in the morning, you tell us "I slept okay" and you tell us what you dreamed about the night before. You usually say "I dreamed about puppies and kittens and rainbows" but this morning you said "I dreamed about my bike". Daddy loved to hear that!
You are now wearing pull-ups and using the potty at school almost every time. At home you are not but it will come in time. Today, we changed to pull-up diapers and you were so excited, mostly because they are pink with a princess on them!

As I dropped you off at school today, you washed your hands and gave me the biggest hug and kiss as I left. I can't wait to pick you up tonight so we can play some more with your new toys, especially your bike. And who knows, maybe we will enjoy another muffin after dinner.

Love you always, Momma

A Very Merry Christmas

Christmas SpiritTis' the Season for Joy

...saying "what's that" mommy?
laughing all the way

comfort and joy

sweet as sugarplumsdash away, dash away, dash away, all!

snow flakes fall on trees

Precious Ava Kate,
You are loving the Christmas tree, the lights and all the ornaments. You especially love the snow men. You are enjoying books so much and love to ask questions. We have been reading a book about the birth of Jesus and you love to ask "where did baby Jesus go?" when we turn the page, it is so cute! You also are singing twinkle, twinkle, little star and jingle, jingle happy bells. I love to hear you sing sweet baby. Your hair is getting longer and you are looking more like a sweet little girl and less like a toddler. It goes by so fast. I am just grateful for every moment and the "hi mommy, hi" I get when I get you in the morning. You are also starting to say "morning mommy". Growing up my baby.

The other night we watched Charlie Brown and you now love your Snoopy stuffed animal. You were looking all around for him tonight but couldn't find him, and you were asking "where Snoopy go?".

You still love being outside and enjoy playing hide and seek. You are such a happy little one. We can't wait to celebrate Christmas with you and make many more memories. We are getting you a few toys and books for Christmas but you don't know what it is all about yet. And you don't seem to care that there are no presents yet under the tree.

For now, you will just want to know "where did baby Jesus go?" when we read our Christmas story. And I pray that you keep searching for him and find that he is here. After all, Christmas reminds us that we are not alone. Immanuel, God with us.

Merry Christmas sweet Baby Bear - Mommy