Ava is a party animal

Ava loves jamming to music., especially with her dad. David turns up his techno music (it's all out in the open now, David) and they have a good time. She sits on the floor or on the couch and waves her arms around when she gets really happy, in a repeated "wax on"motion. Simultaneously, she makes sounds in a sing-songy "eh eh eh eh eh ". A couple of days ago, she decided she could make very deliberate movements with her mouth, like an open mouthed biting motion. Shortly after said discovery, she started saying "da da da da da". She's so adorable when she babbles and moves her mouth like that. These same deliberate mouth movements have been applied during nursing and it's not quite so cute then.

Ava isn't crawling yet. She is quite content to sit and hang out. She doesn't really like to roll over much either. I kind of prefer Ava taking her time with doing tricks. I'm sure I'll be chasing her around the house in no time, so I appreciate these last few weeks/months of her being laid back.

Ava takes on the month of April

Nothing better than Oprah and a toe in the mouth

Getting ready for a nice snack

Lovin' the big toe

Toolin' around in the exersaucer

Look mom, no hands!

Ava is serious about her hair

Ava doing her best Rocky Balboa 

Playing footsies with dad

Ah, guys - enough with the photos, I'm freezing here

Ava loves bath time

Get some clothes on me, stat!

 Fl"ava" Flav!

Rocky Balboa down for the count

I don't know what I am doing

Well, who knew motherhood would be so tricky? Ava is about 7 months old now and I thought I was getting the hang of things...until something new pops up and kicks me in the butt. Ava was sleeping for 8-9 hours straight at night until about a month and a half ago. Half the time she ends up in our bed at midnight, at which point I am relegated to the edge of the bed and she kicks David in the back all night. Then I started her on solids and her face got all scabby and crusted from who knows what. So she's off solids completely for the time being. It just breaks my heart when I catch her scratching her face. She needs a straitjacket. I got a cortisone cream from the dermatologist (who was completely dismissive of my ramblings about Ava's skin, by the way...hasn't she met a panicky first time mom before?). Even changing Ava's diaper is a challenge. I've come to dread that rancid, sour smell that emanates from her sweet cheeks. As soon as I get a whiff, I know I'm in for good times. Poop somehow has travelled up halfway up her back and you have to be Houdini to take her clothes off without the poop smearing all over her. Then it's time to hose her down!!!!

Nervous mom talk aside, Ava and I are having a blast. We take walks in the afternoon, go to music class, and enjoy going to playgroup. Some days we don't even leave the house. I've been trying to cook more, which I believe has been possible only because I discovered Trader Joe's.

Alright, Ava is blowing snot bubbles right now. I better attend to the little snot princess.