Can she smile?

Ava has flashed us a big gummy smile quite a bit this last week...it is so stinkin' cute! But every time we break out the camera in an attempt to capture it...well, lets just say it hasn't been successful...

She seriously flashed this huge grin and konked out...

The total opposite face of what I was trying to capture...she looks rather ticked off in this one!

Pretty stinkin' close...Naggy caught the end of one smile!

This one is as close as we have gotten...

Father's Day

Just a week late - but couldn't resist sharing this picture of Keith with his girls on Father's day...

Blog-cation

I took one - I admit it. Last week, I don't think I even took pictures. Sorry, girls. Your Momma just had one of those weeks and picture taking and blogging were not high on the priority list...keeping my sanity was! Perhaps it was the six week milestone. We did make it and we have survived thus far. Two kids, under the age of two. I lay in bed at night often and wander if God is trusting me too much - perhaps this time he gave me a little too much to handle. But then there are times that I know He didn't. It is fun to watch Carli give Ava kisses - and when Ava flashes that big gummy grin - it just melts my heart. The 2 am feedings, the not going back to sleep until 5:30 and Carli getting at up at 6...disappear in those moments and all is well. I keep telling myself to make it to the three month milestone...but then I admonish myself for not enjoying the here and now. I won't lie...this is hard...I knew it would be but it is harder on my sanity than I thought it would be! I understand the stories my Mom tells about taking her "me" time in the bathroom - and having little fingers reaching under the door calling for her...and that was as good as "me" time got...I get it now. Who knew the bathroom would be such a sanctuary? Ha! Who knew that I'd hit up Happy Hour at Sonic, every single day last week - and even got something besides Dr Pepper?! Thank goodness both girls don't mind a car ride every now and then b/c that is my little "sanctuary" at times...

A new week begins...I got more sleep this week than I have for the last 5 months I bet (Ava kept me awake even before she made her grand entrance), thanks to Terry and Tessie being here. Bless their hearts for taking Ava at 4 am this morning and not coming to get me until well after 7. Here comes a new week, with a new start and a new attitude...here's praying it makes it the wkd!

Sisterly Love

In trying to teach Carli how to share her things with "Ba-va" (yes, this is what Carli calls Ava - it evolved from "Baby" to "Ava" to "Ba-va"), Carli has taken the lessons and turned it into Ava should share with her too! Thus, Carli has started climbing in Ava's bouncer and then demanding to hold Ava so they could share the seat. I don't think Ava was very happy about the whole sharing thing...

Sewing with Grammy

While Keith was gone to Ohio for work, we got to spend some quality time with Grammy! Grammy came to our house and brought her sewing machine to make the bedding for Carli's new bed. Grammy could not sew without Carli's help of coarse!

Shopping Buddies

Carli loves to push things around...so it was only appropriate that when she and her Daddy were left to their own devices one day at Toys-R-Us that they came out with a shopping cart for Carli. Carli and her shopping cart have been become fast buddies...

Cousin Day!

Last week, Logan got to come spend a few days at Grammy and Pa's house while his Momma got to go to the Big Apple! Carli was so excited to see Logan and play with him while we were there one day. They did really well together and eventually even managed to share the car...although that took most of the day to convince them that sharing it was a good idea!

We all went to Grandma's to have lunch that day. Grandma was in heaven! She had three of her great grandbabies there!

Isn't it Grammy's job to manage to hold all three of her grandkids at once?

Both Carli and Logan love to pick on Pa, but they managed to sit still long enough for one picture!

I really think Logan was trying to escape Carli. She was picking on him a lot and he wanted Pa to rescue him! Pa called this a Logan Sandwich!

Carli had an awesome time playing with Logan - so much so that they both took over 2 hr naps that day! Thanks Uncle Andy for letting Logan come and spend a few days with Grammy and Pa so Carli could play with him!

Everybody Needs a Sleeping Buddy

When Carli was on the way, lots of ppl gave us lots of awesome stuff and much of it we still are using today or are using with Ava. One gift was non-transferable and that was Carli's froggy that she sleeps with every night and at every nap. We do not attempt to sleep without our froggy. Keith's good friend Lauren gave Carli her froggy as a gift...and when she heard that Ava was coming, she took care of Ava too!

Ava and her little sleeping buddy - Bunny Rabbit

Thanks Lauren for the awesome little sleep buddies...our girls love them!

Time for Some Corn

We weren't able to have a big garden this year. Usually we have one at Grandma's house but the time has come when it was just too much. They have a small garden that they can manage and eat from but not a huge one to put away vegi's for later. So, my Mom went on the search to find us some sweet corn that we could put up...and finally she hit pay dirt over in Huntington. She came home Monday morning with over 12 dozen ears of corn and we sit about putting corn up on Monday. We had to do it all at Grandma's house b/c after all that is where you put corn up!

Despite Pawpaw's recent trip to the hospital, he helped when he could shucking the corn...Carli of coarse was his little side kick.

Ava did really well, she slept and slept and occasionally woke up to eat!

Carli never tired of helping.

Yummy! Cream Corn!

Carli did take a break and played in the sprinkler in between helping silk. Thus, she was just in her diaper...you'd be surprised how much water a Pampers can hold!

Carli even had her own special ear of corn that she snacked on occasionally!

Ava and Carli putting corn up!

It was a bit warm but not too bad! We are very excited to have corn again at the big family events! And it was pretty cool to put corn up again with Grandma and Pawpaw and my girls!

Water Fun

Last year Carli loved the water and we were unsure if this love would continue. It appears that it has and Grammy may have her little fish just yet! We got out our water toys and played in the water a little last week...

Carli spent quite a bit of time helping me water the plants...

And of coarse, Ava had a good time as well!

Spring Cleaning

I'm not pregnant any more - woohoo! And that means I am no longer in need of all the maternity clothes and really was in dire need of my regular clothes. So up in the attic we went and down came all the clothes I had put up when I found out I was pregnant. Carli helped me clean out all my drawers and closet too.

First we conquered the short drawer...

And then the tank tops...

And through it all, Ava helped the most!

And now I have a whole new wardrobe and never even visited a store! That's my kind of shopping!

Riley Turns 2!

Carli is loving all these bday parties! Sunday we went to Riley's 2nd birthday party and Carli had a blast! Carli and Riley are good little buddies. The whole week before Carli would walk around the house with the birthday invitation (which had his picture on it) singing her "Riley" Song - which consisted of saying his name over and over and over. And when I finally got her to part with it, she would continue singing with the "Where oh where Riley?" It was cute, with the cutest part being when she would hug and kiss the invitation "nite-nite" before her naps...

Do you know how hard it is to get two toddlers to be still and get a picture of them at the same time? This was the only picture where you could see both of their faces!
Woohoo! It was a water party, and the kiddos had a blast! Riley was surrounded by girls!

Carli loved the little water slide!

Yeah Carli!

Carli and Allie

Kenzie - she had a blast!

Thanks Mr. Riley for an awesome afternoon and to Mrs Sarah too for hosting such as wonderful party and wearing Carli out so much! She slept until 8 am the next morning!

Two of a Kind

Grammy found these matching outfits for Carli and Ava - so Sunday morning they got all fancied up! Carli was really excited to get to hold Ava. We have yet to get a good picture of them when she is holding Ava b/c Carli is infatuated with getting to see Ava so close!


We kept trying to get Carli to look at the camera and when she finally did it was to tell us to "SHHHH!" Ava on the other hand has yet to not cry when Carli holds her...hmmm...