She's ONE

My Sweet Little Ava is ONE!

It's hard to believe that Ava is already one. Time flies by so quickly! We've had such an amazing year with this little bug in our lives. She's all we hoped and prayed for and more. She's proof that miracles exist and blessings are abundant. There's so many things we love about her. She's intelligent, funny, beautiful and fun!

Over the past year, we've definitely had a rollercoaster with her health. I've paid 9 hospital bills thanks to ER bills, overnights and tests. She's had 6 ear infections, tonsilitis, pneumonia, acid reflux, choking issues, digestive problems x 10, allergies, roseola, bronchitis and more. It's been intense! Through it all she has been extremely resilient and a very happy baby girl.

The last month has brought more wonderful changes in her development. Here's a look at some of the things she is doing and loves:

She loves music and dancing. She plays the piano and moves her little fingers all over the keyboard. She even sat and played the piano on our stool for 20 minutes on her birthday.

She's standing quite nicely. She doesn't walk yet but she can stand without others helping her. She walks all over the furniture too.

She has mastered climbing the stairs and taken one good tumble down, but has been stable every other time.

She is starting to take a little dairy in hopes that she will be able to get on milk someday. It seems to be OK thus far. Fingers crossed!

She says so many words.....apple, ball, mommy, daddy, what-dat, who-dat, cheese, baba, pretty, thank you (AKA tank you), uh-oh, oh wow. dog, bowl, puppy, down. You think I'm kidding, I'm not.

She doesn't say 'no' but she readily shakes her head ' no' when she doesn't want something. She'll point at stuff and when you hand it to her she shakes her head until you get it right.

She's finally eating meats now. She eats turkey, beef and a little chicken. We don't spoon feed her at all. Actually, we haven't for 2 months. She refuses food from us but will take it at daycare most days. At home she only feeds herself and recently her favorite foods are watermelon and avocado.

She loves the great otudoors and any animal in it. She is so amused by birds, cats, bunnies, squirrels and really anything that moves.

Ava continues to love Olivia but has now discovered Dora the Explorer. She just loves it when they sing!

Ava's first birthday party was great fun. We had friends and family over for a barbeque to celebrate. She really wasn't into her cake but she adored all her presents. She wore a pretty party dress and then changed into a birthday outfit that was suitable for a grand mess, which she really didn't make.

 Denver Science Museum

 Day in the Park

 Hanging with Zoe

 Ava, mike, Zoe and Silas

 Park

 Cousin Hannah and Ava with Silly Auntie Shelli

 Loving flipping ice cubes after her birthday party

 New shoes and hairbow

 Breakfast with the Hunsakers and the Bells

 She loves this spinning chair and got so mad when we took her out

 Enjoying the day at the zoo with Cousin Aimee

 Aimee and Ava

 Auntie Shelli and Ava loving

 It was fun until the peacock got to close!

 Playing the piano before her party

 The best baby girl ever!

 Some of the birthday guests

 Mike had to feed her the cake. She just didn't want it

 Family Time

 A.J and Ava at her party

 New piano from mommy and daddy

 Her new bear that she loves to snuggle with

Now we are on to the second year of Ava's life. We know it will be just as amazing as the first as we get to experience life in the here and now through the eye's of our little princess!