Ava is 1- Happy Late Birthday Post!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AVA REESE!!

I can not believe that you are one years old baby girl!  It seems like just a little while ago that daddy and I were driving home form the hospital with you, our little bundle of joy!  Time has flown by so fast and you change and grow so much every single day!  You have brought endless smiles and laughter to our home!  You are just so stinkin' cute!  You have way too much personality for your own good and I know we have not even scraped the tip of the iceberg in that department! 

You are lovable, so sweet, determined, funny, a flirt, curious, studious, and sassy! 

You are  walking all over the place!

You LOVE to laugh and giggle! 

You like to play, "I'm going to get you" by running away from mom and dad.  You run a little ahead and then stop and shrug your shoulders up and wait for us to tickle you and kiss your neck! 

You give high fives.

You give kisses!

You give hugs when we say "can we have some love?".

You are now blowing kisses! 

You flash a big grin when I say cheese or give us a smile! 

You look forward to bath time every night.

Your hair is growing and really starting to look as if it is going to curl!

You are a good eater!

You LOVE your sleep! You always let us know you are ready for nap or night-night by walking over to us- lifting hands up to be picked up- and waving bye-bye with bunny in your hand! 

You love your daddy- yall have so much fun playing together!

You still do not crawl but get up from a laying or sitting position via the bear crawl! 

You are beginning to repeat more words even if just once. 

So far you have said or do say, Yaya-Papa-Mama-Dada-Jo suh( for Josiah)- Aba (Ava)- Dut (duck)- hot- Pup or Puppy- Ba Ba(bottle)- Bye Bye- Hey!  That is all I can think of for now!

You LOVE to read!  You like any books and I find you reading them all the time!  However, flap books provide that extra measure of fun!

You are very social and like people! 

You still have a seriously high pitched squeal/scream when you get upset! 

YOU ARE SO MUCH FUN!  We love you and can't wait to see what adventures each day holds!  Happy 1 Year Birthday baby girl!

We had a GREAT 1st Birthday Party with the family in Houston this past weekend!  Thank you everyone who came and made Ava's day super special!  I will post about the party with pictures once I get some.  They are all on Mom and Jamie's cameras!

I think I am a big girl now....

Yesterday we took our first trip to the indoor mall playground!!  Since Ava has not been mobile on her until now we have not had the opportunity to do that.  Now that she is walking we decided to give it a go!  OH BOY - did we have fun or what?  

Ava has absolutely no fear and was just walking right up in the middle of all the older kids and it was crowded!  She just kept walking around to all the different areas, parents, other people's strollers, other kids, etc..  She has no concept of being leary of strangers yet- lol!  She had a blast. 

We also experienced the bully type kiddos!  One little boy took his palm on her forehead and just shoved her head backwards which of course knocked her over.  Then another little boy wanted where she was and just completely body bumped her right out of his way.  It was hilarious because both times I am dying inside at these kids treating my baby that way- how dare they- right? LOL.  Ava on the other hand doesn't cry, get upset, or even look for my help to defend her.  She just looks at both of those boys with this face that could have only meant one of two things-

1. And exactly who do you think you are?  (this response cracks me up- I love it; hoping she will be resilient and hold her own)

OR

2. She was studying the situation trying to understand what just happened, because all she was doing was trying to play and these people aren't playing very nice!  (this breaks me heart:( tear) 

Anyhow, all in all a GREAT experience for Miss Aves, especially considering the bullying didn't seem to bother  her a bit!  SHE FELT SO BIG AND JUST LAUGHED THE ENTIRE TIME!!

Playground pics!

A few more random pics from lately.......

One last thing....

I came home this morning from workout to this- WONDERFUL!

I am off for a weekend with friends and playing volleyball in Dallas!  Can't wait! 

Have a great weekend!

On the go....

So, since Ava's first steps she has steadily starting walking longer distances more often with encouragement and then the little distances on her own accord.  However, today Ava's walking mobility progressed dramatically.  We were at a friends house and all the sudden she was just taking off almost anywhere and everywhere!  She was so loving exploring a new place and "chasing" (as fast as she can) after Millie, a very sweet and kid friendly yellow lab! 

When we got home she kept at it, going in circles over the house, walking longer distances here and there, and talking up a storm.  We were then on the phone with YaYa and when I hung up and said bye-bye YaYa, Ava turned and looked at me and clear as day said YaYa! She has been saying it for awhile now but never as clear or contextual as that!  Then we called my mom back and she started saying bye-bye Ava and Ava said bye-bye several times. She also continued to say bye-bye all through her bath time tonight! 

She is too darn cute and growing so fast!  We love you Ava girl!

Ava's 1st Steps..

So Ava has been taking a few steps at  at a time recently as I have said, but the day after Christmas she took her most ever!!!  She took between 3-8ish steps several times:). Of course as it goes I don't have the best ones on film!  Oh well, here is our shirtless wonder taking her first steps!

Hope you all had a Merry Christmas!  I will post Christmas with GJ sometime over the next week!

Christmas with YaYa and Pappa Bear!

This past weekend was so FUN and special:)!  Mom and Dad came into town very late Thursday night or you could just say wee hours of Friday morning to spend the weekend! 

Friday we spent the day just hanging out at the house in our PJ's and enjoying time with Miss Aves.  She LOVED having YaYa and Pappa here!  She couldn't get enough of their attention- precious.  Then Friday  night we had one of my former players come over and watch Ava after she had gone to bed so we could go out as adults- babe free!  It was the first time since Ava has been born that we have done that where all four of us were together.  It was FANTABULOUS!  Even better- we were celebrating mine and Dad's birthdays.  Mine was Thursday and his Friday, so we went to Belle's Chicken Dinner House.  Not a heart healthy meal- but delicious fried steak, mashed potatoes, corn, green beans, gravy, and rolls!  Oh yeah- Go Big or Go Home- haha!!  Anyhow we had a fun dinner out! 

Saturday- we all hung out together for parts of the day (Jason was working) and Mom and I left Pappa Bear in charge of Ava Reese for several hours while we ran errands, did a little shopping, and went to the grocery store!  Pappa wears Ava out- they always play so hard! 

Finally it was Sunday and time for our Christmas celebration!!  It was Ava's first Christmas celebration and she was precious through it all!  She only opened gifts from YaYa and Pappa since we will be doing Christmas from us and GJ on Christmas Day at her house!  Ava tore her wrapping paper and smiled big every time she realized that there was actually a toy beyond the fun crinklyy paper!  She got a baby doll, books, a shape sorter, a puzzle,a special scripture ornament for the tree, and a riding-walking-scooter zebra toy!  That morning she played with all of them quite a bit and has ever since!  However, I will have to say that the Zebra walking toy was the hit and she was ALL over the place with her new assistance to mobility!  Thanks YaYa and Pappa for my Christmas gifts, coming all the way to see me in Abilene, and loving on me all weekend!  It was GREAT!

I will have to say the first 24-36 hours after they had left she was a tid bit fussy wondering where all the attention and her playmates had gone:(! 

Look at that little smirk as she eyes her presents

Giving baby kisses

Tearing Paper!

Before our outing Friday night

Great Grandma came for a short visit!  So full of life at 92! (picked all 25 lbs of Ava up from floor while sitting on couch!)

In addition to Christmas- tomorrow is Ava's 11 month Birthday!

Since my last update on Ava's tricks if you will, she is now....

Cruising super fast and all over the house at a whole new level! 

She has started standing all by herself for up to a minute or so at a time throughout the day.

She has begun semi-leaping and taking super fast steps between objects when she is not holding on to anything for balance.

Finally rolling around often! 

Pulling herself up on anything. 

Still refusing to crawl. Instead she lunges forward enough to get her feet planted on the ground and pushes up into a bear crawl.  From there she pushes back and then sits down- she is so silly!

She is "sharing" everything with those around from toys to paci to bottle to bunny, etc...

She has begun teasing us as if she is going to share.  The minute we reach for the object she smiles, turns her head, and pulls the object away from us.

These days when I ask for a kiss I normally no longer get an open mouth but a shy smile preceding a batting of the eyelashes and her sticking her cheek out for me to kiss!  - Seriously?  ADORABLE!

Cruising her way to her high chair and reaching up when she is hungry.

Saying- Mama, DaDa, BaBa(bottle), YaYa, PaPa, hot.

Attempting to say - Duh-Duh (duck), cold, and boom.

Signing more or all done at the end of meals to let us know which it is! 

I am sure there is more but that is good for now!  You brighten our lives Ava Reese!  We love you so much- you are just PERFECT! Happy Birthday-  can't believe you are almost one!

This would be early morning random bundle for warmth on patio

Ava Loves Christmas Music....

So the past week or so anytime we have played Christmas music at home or been out shopping, Ava immediately starts to dance!  And for the last couple of days she literally has spent a substantial amount of time at our stereo player at home.  She plays with it, turns it on and off, dances when it comes on, sits next to it and plays with empty CD cases, etc...  If she gets fussy at all, I can turn on Christmas music and she is soothed!  It is SO FUN!! 

Needless to say we have been jammin' out to Christmas music!  This time next year will really be EXCITING!  She will be almost two and I am sure have alot to say and some serious moves to entertain us with:)!!

On another note, YaYa and Pappa are coming to spend the weekend with us this weekend and do Christmas!  WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A BLAST!  We even got a sitter for Friday night so the adults could go out and have a good time:)! 

Have a great day!

Happenings at the Campbell's

Thanksgiving

We went to Sugar Land for Thanksgiving!  It was so great to see everyone.  I feel I don't get to see my family enough already, especially my cousins and their spouses and kiddos!  We had a great time:)  The men visited and watched football.  The kids all played games and watched a movie in Mom's bed.  And the women sat around and talked until we decided on a game of spoons to end the days festivities! 

Ava and I stayed extra and had great relaxing time with Mom and Dad as well as knocked out some Christmas shopping!

Ava

She is just growing up so fast! She will be one year old is 6 weeks! CRAZY!!

She is a cruisin' fool! She makes her way all around our house, cruising from surface to surface! She loves it:).

She has started dancing to any upbeat music by bouncing up and down or shaking side to side.

She "sings along" to a Jesus Loves Me bunny that my parents have!

She will kiss or give love to anything- including Jason's house shoe and wait for one of us to recognize her and say "Aww- so sweet!" And she does it over and over and over again!

She weighs 23 lbs 10 oz and is 29.5 inches long!

Ava, your personality continues to reveal itself and we love everything about you! Even your frustration and passionate screams:).

Jason

Jason is doing well. He is an excellent Daddy and servant to Ava and I both. He is playing his last night of softball for awhile right now. His job is still going well but he is ready for a change.

Lindsey

I am doing okay. I have been struggling a little bit lately. I kinda had stopped any of my good habits like eating well, working out, etc... In addition I am just lonely here sometimes. However, I have started eating healthy again and have gotten back in my workout routine this week. Several of my friends schedules here should be calming down soon- so that should help as well.

I am loving all the precious time and moments I am blessed to have with Ava. She just makes my heart swell with joy and happiness!

Christmas Time

I LOVE THIS TIME OF YEAR! I love the lights, the music, the hustle and bustle of excitement, the cold air, the fires that make homes so cozy, the kindness that tends to pour out of people, and the family time it brings! Most importantly, I know that the reason that all of it takes place is because we are celebrating the birth of our Lord, Jesus Christ!

Last Thought

Jason and I just recently celebrated our 4 year anniversary! We had a great night going to dinner, hanging out and talking, roaming the mall babeless, and then going to a movie! It has been an incredible four years! This last year with the addition of Ava has been INCREDIBLE! We love having our own little family. We are learning and growing together as parents and it is challenging yet rewarding and FUN! We are stronger than ever before and we both shared the same sentiment in our cards that night about the blessing it has been to watch one another be a parent to our sweet baby girl! Thank You God for the last four years! We can not wait to see what all you have in store for the ones to come!

Anniversary Date!