Archive for April, 2006

Okay, this is a little late, but Kate and I put a video together of Ava doing some of her fun things like walking and playing Paddy Cake. We actually meant for this to be an Easter video so that’s why I say it’s a bit late. But it doesn’t change the fact that she’s the cutest thing on the planet, and this video proves it. If you’re having problems with the YouTube version above or want to download the higher-quality QuickTime version, click here.

Remember those bushes that I have been “going to tear out” for the past two years…well they are finally gone. Saturday was the day. We had a few days of rain so the ground was wet…and out they went. We planted some boxwoods in their place. I also transplanted some hostas but it will take a few more weeks for them to open up. I will also put some annuals in around the shrubs in a couple weeks when danger of frost passes. We also re-seeded the grass around the sidewalk. I think it is going to look great as it fills in. Much better than those half-dead old things. Whadda ya think?

The weather was great again this weekend. We enjoyed being outside. Luckily I got a few photos of Ava before she fell on the concrete steps and got a goose-egg on her forehead. Now that she is toddling around accidents are always right around the corner. Good thing they make our skulls tough.

Love her, love her, love her!!! Need I say anything more?

What a busy day. Ava had her 9 month check up today (30 1/2 inches long, 20 lbs..right on track in all areas). Then, we went to eat Japanese food tonight. We went to our favorite restaurant, Akai Hana (formerly known as Restaurant Japan). Ava ate their food for the first time. She had a pretty good meal that included miso soup, sweet egg (egg cooked with a little sugar and fish flakes), cabbage, and of course, tofu and rice. She really liked everything. She LOVED the egg and miso, and ate all of the tofu too. The pics are from our outing yesterday to the park. The weather has finally turned here and today and yesterday it was in the 60s finally. It feels so good to see the sun again. It is amazing how it lifts your spirits after a long gloomy winter. We made it to the park for a little swing time to pay homage to the sunshine. Too fun.

I recently had to go to Washington DC for a work conference. We got to see some of the memorials and monuments and it was really cool! I really liked DC a lot. I had been there as a kid (8th grade) but it was so much more poignant for me as an adult. I really felt patriotic while visiting there…in the sense of imagining how our founding fathers really worked hard to set up a country where freedom was central to all that we did and government for the people was key. Seeing all the places where such historical events had taken place made me feel as though as a country and a people we can endure and we can overcome. Wars will come and go, presidents will come and go, religious opinions and political battles will come and go…but America will stand patiently, like a strong mother waiting for her rebellious child to grow into an adult and come around…waiting for time to smooth the edges and heal the mistakes we have made along the way. I felt lucky that as a woman I was born in this country with equal opportunities to be educated and seek the lifestyle I choose. I know that we have a long way to go to deliver the promise of freedom for all Americans (and it seems lately that we have taken a real backslide) but I know that the ideals we set forth some 200 years ago are still the foundation of the country and we will persevere as a people. The conference was good too…but I missed Ava terribly. I was gone for 5 days and it was the first time I have left her. Dave did a great job of being Mr. Mom and she was even a little skeptical to have me back for the first few hours (which only broke my heart more). After a few days of being home we are back in the groove again.

Can you believe that Ava is now 9 months? Hard to imagine how fast time is flying. She is standing on her own and walks all over as long as she has one hand holding onto something. She is into everything already. This weekend she discovered the toilet paper roll.