Ava's Big Girl Room

Ava has started sleeping in a big girl bed about two months ago.  She loves her big bed and tells us that cribs are for babies.  She is growing up so fast.  We still loved her nursery and didn't want to completely change it.  We decided to add some darker pink accents to make it for the big girl she has become.  I have been busy making the curtains, duvet, and pillows.  I took on the challenge of painting the dark pink half circles at the top of the wall.  It was a test of my patience since the stencil I made did not work.  I had to free hand it.  Ava loves her new room, and I hope it lasts a few years.  Enjoy the pictures!!!

I am Thankful

What a long few days we have had! In the end, everyone is fine.  

We went to Vanderbilt Children's Hospital on Friday and Ava had a nuclear cystogram.  It took about an hour.  Ava was very scared as they strapped her to a skinny board, inserted a catheter for filling her bladder with a radioactive material, and then took pictures.  Greg and I were both allowed to stay with her during the entire procedure.  Afterwards, we had an appointment with her pediatric urologist.  Dr. Thomas gave us amazing news-all her urinary issues had spontaneously cleared up, and she had gotten through everything without kidney scarring,  What a huge relief!  

After all the hoopla on Friday, Ava developed a very high fever over the weekend.  The urologist on call was concerned she had gotten an infection while at the hospital or a UTI from the test.  Back to the doctor we went on Monday a.m.  We were relieved once again to find out Ava had an ear infection in both ears.  This is her first illness besides a cold.  She has had a very hard week, but we think we are on the mend.  Whew!

Now, on to our other daughter, Minnie.  Minnie has lost a lot of weight and not barking nearly as much.  After hundreds of dollars and days of worrying, we have been told it is allergies.  We have seen two vets and also a consult with UT vet school.  She is taking an antihistamine and switching back to her old food.  We have seen improvement in the past couple of days.

I am thankful for good health, wonderful friends, and a loving family!

Fall pictures

We have been taking lots of pictures this fall.  Here are just a few.

Halloween Fun Part Three-Halloween Day

We went trick-or-treating in our neighborhood with about thirty people.  We had so much fun getting candy as we walked to the Weenie Roast at the pool.  Ava was Belle from Beauty and the Beast.  She rode in the wagon with Benjamin, the firefighter, when she got tired.  She ate two hot dogs and more candy that I could keep track of that night.  Isabella was a bumblebee again this year, and Minnie was Minnie Mouse.  We did not torture the dogs by making them wear the head pieces to complete their looks.  The last picture shows Ava at school for her Halloween party.  She got to trick-or-treat at the church offices, had a party, and decorated pumpkins.  It was a huge day.

Halloween Fun Part Two-Ghouls at Grassmere

Benjamin and Ava at the Nashville Zoo Ghouls at Grassmere.
Ava loved dancing at the Monster Mash right after this picture was taken.
Ava loved the candy!!!
Greg and Ava had fun being silly!

Halloween Fun Part One

We had fun painting a princess pumpkin at the Stamps Pumpkin Painting Party.  I am not sure how I missed getting a picture of the pumpkin. Hmmm.
More fun at the Stamps house.
We had a lot of fun meeting Drew, Jess, and Michele at the Pumpkin Festival in downtown Franklin.
Ava got to ride a horse for the very first time.  I despise those horse rides that go in circles, but she loved it.
Shannon, Ava, and Michele at the Pumpkin Festival.

Random Stuff

Ava and Greg spent a weekend together while Shannon attended a conference about the International Baccalaureate program.  Notice what Greg always picks out for Ava to wear.

Ava had her babies lined up and used the dog leashes as their seat belt.  She and the babies went on a plane trip to get Daddy.  Greg was out of town for a few days last week.  The imagination of a two year old is unbelievable.

Ava chasing poor Minnie again in her ballerina outfit.  She puts this outfit on every time we watch Dancing with the Stars.

Ava loves to hug on Minnie.  She doesn't seem to be able to catch Bella too often though.

Ava loves to "drive" the car.  We went out to the Bradley's new house last Sunday so Greg could help Mike work in the yard a little bit.

Pumpkin Patch

We went to the Pumpkin Patch at Walden Farms last Saturday with the Bradley family.  Ava and Benjamin has so much fun playing in the corn, running through the corn maze, climbing on the hay, feeding the animals, and riding the tractors.  Benjamin picked out pumpkins to take home.  Ava already had her pumpkins we had gotten the week before.  You know me. I just can't wait.  Gotta have them when I see them.  I wish it had been cooler.  It was so hot!

School Carnival

We all went to my school carnival and spaghetti supper a few Fridays ago.  Carrabba's catered the fantastic food.  Ava got to play a bunch of games with her tickets.  She liked the prizes she got to take home.  It was a fun night to enjoy the cooler fall weather.

Disney on Ice

We went to see Disney on Ice.  We got to see Ariel, Tinkerbell, Cars, Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy, and Simba.  We had so much fun at the show.  Ava was really excited to get to see all the princess dresses before the big show.  She also picked out a Belle doll to take home.

First Days of School

Ava started school on August 25.  She will be going Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays this year.  After  a few tearful mornings, she is excited to go each morning.  She loves her teachers, Ms. Mandy and Ms. Carla.  She already talks about all her new friends and is even using the potty at school.  Maybe she can help teach the other kids?  The first pictures are from the meet and greet the Friday before school started.  The following pics are from the our big first day.

Labor Day Weekend

We had a relaxing weekend.  We went to the library for "Sky Bear," a marionette show, on Saturday. We then watched the Florida/Hawaii game at a kid friendly sports bar near the house.  Ava loved all the cheering.  We had to tell her not to cheer for Florida though. Apparently, the Florida Alumni Association was having a party.  Ugh!

Sunday, we hung by the pool in our neighborhood with friends.  It was so much fun to see some of our pool buddies we hadn't seen since Ava started school last week. Sunday night, we went to a jazz concert at a vineyard near the house.  We ran into some friends Ava took gymnastics with last year.  That was neat to see the girls reconnect.

Monday, Greg went kayaking and Ava and I hit the pool again.  Our next door neighbors were sweet and invited Ava and I to dinner.  Ava and Drew had so much fun playing together.