a few more random

Here are some pictures with Aliea being our floaty lion.
Avi ready to travel to see her dad in Aliea's suitcase, but first she had to play with Sonja!
Then Avi in a pioneer bonnet for the 24th of July.

Random Pictures

I need to learn how to caption pictures...
There is a picture of...
My mom has some Sleeping Beauty figurine toys, that are not Avi age appropriate- so they were put on the shelf out of her reach. Avi had been eying them, and the day before she tried climbing into her toy box, in front of the shelf to get to the toys. This was a difficult task considering the box went up to her hip, but she finally got her foot over- only to find an unstable surface of toys inside, so she decided not to climb in after several attempts. The next day... I was with her, I closed my eyes for a minute to open them to see she had climbed in and gotten to the figurines! What a determined girl!
Last Sunday, mom had gotten "The 10 Commandments" from netflix so we watched the first half, while Avi entertained herself by climbing on the Pampers box, eating the giant grasshopper's antennae, and getting her face very dirty!
My mom has an adorable Sesame Street train, that when pulled the characters play the drum and bang the cymbals together. Avi loves Bert's hair- when she passes it she likes to put her mouth on it.
Avi loves strings and straps. I have a blue shirt with ties, Avi was happily playing with them, so I decided to put the shirt on her- What a beautiful dress on her!
Finally- the result of a late night and Krispy Kreme doughnuts... I found out I fit in Avi's high chair- I thankfully did not break it!
Side note- Warren, my brother gave her Gerber yogurt melts as part of his gift for her first birthday- She LOVES them! I think she has had half the package today!!

Avi's Birthday!!

More pictures will follow later... so check back!
July 29, 2011
Happy Birthday Avi!!! One year old!!!
The birthday princess is an angel!!! I love her oh so very much! She brings such incredible joy to my life.
This morning Avi had breakfast in bed (okay maybe she gets that everyday...we'll probably start weaning one of these days... when I have enough energy to get up when she first gets up...). We played a bit, she played with her Aunt Emily a while. Then I took her outside. She loves to kick the balls around and I brought her over to the slide to see if she would climb up it again, but she was perfectly delighted to sit on the end, she then brought the volleyball, which was close by, to the slide. She put it up with her, she had some difficulty fitting her and the ball on the slide- and having both stay on, but she was so pleased when she got it.
Gunnar got to call a few times today :). Wow, what a wonderful guy he is!! Avi is lucky to have such a great dad. I am soooo excited for when she gets to spend time with him. Avi will take my phone and say, "da da"- did I mention she also pointed the computer and said "da da" too??
She took a short morning nap. She helped me clean by staying in arms as I vacuumed and crawling around where I had mopped.
She played really well in the bath- she had a blast as I cleaned the toilet and the dusted the light fixtures in the bathroom. She took a good afternoon nap. Then she got changed into her birthday outfit- She looked simply adorable!! Purple really is one of her best colors. I took her to get balloons. We chose out a princess one. When we asked for the plain ones, the lady said it would be a few minutes, that we could leave the princess balloon for her to tie the other ones to, and we could go pay for it and it would be ready for us when we got back. Avi did not want to let go of her balloon. She had a death grip, but we got it from her. She was fascinated by them. We got them home and she played with the balloons for about fifteen minutes, till Kesten and her family arrived for the party.
Gunnar called so he got to talk to Grandpa Max and Teresja, by the time Sonja got here he had to get off.
We had a potluck bbq- everything was great! It all came together perfectly.
Avi got sooo many presents. I was really amazed by the generosity of friends and family. I had put on the invite that their "presence" could be there "present" to Avi, but she got extra love!! Everyone was soo kind, she got such cute stuff!!! Lots of clothes, some toys, cups, a pair of shoes, and to the delight of all the kids- a bottle of bubbles!! Which have been used up this very night!
I did the Korean tradition of having her choose from an assortment of items, each representing different things for her future life- I had The Book of Mormon: she'll be spiritual, Yarn: she'll have a long life, Pen: she'll be studious, Money: she'll be wealthy, Orange: she'll be fruitful. Kesten's boys thought she should choose the orange. There were a couple of votes from the adults she should choose the money. She ended up choosing the yarn, then Malachi gave her The Book of Mormon. He said, "Here this is The Book of Mormon." He told me I could read it Avi. That kid is being raised right!
We decided it was a good combination-the Book of Mormon in a long life.
For dessert we served pound cake with strawberries and whipped topping. Avi's was special to her- it was a muffin Emily had made the day before that Avi loved!! (from the Fiber 1 mix) I put "frosting" (her delicious Yo Baby banana yogurt) in the middle and on top with cut strawberries. The strawberries were the big exciting thing, since it was her first time trying them, but they flopped. She ate a little bit of some- because they came with the rest, but for the most part she threw them to the ground. But she loved the yogurt and muffin!!
She didn't get the blowing out the candle, when she reached for it, I blew it out. Maybe next year!
The weather this evening was perfect. It cooled down just enough :).
A big happy birthday to my baby girl!!

Errands

Today I ran errands. Every errand seemed to take about twice as long as it should, but I was so blessed that Avi took a really long nap and my mom was able to watch her- what a difference it makes to not have to cart her in and out of her car seat and wrestle her while we waited for an oil change that took an hour!
I can't believe my baby is turning one in two days!!(She just maybe has seen her birthday presents I got her today- I am no fun) I cheated today and let her try milk- not her favorite- she kind had one or two sips- at least she did not try to spit it out like she does juice.
I was able to catch Gunnar with reception, which never happens. He was out at a shooting range. It is ridiculous how much my sanity depends on talking to him. I honestly want to talk whoever is in charge of him and explain- I really have to talk to him everyday, please make sure he has time and does call me :). I am sure they would understand....
It was the perfect weather for a walk tonight. We walked further then originally planned- it was just soo nice to be outside. My mom came with us, which was fabulous, because I whimped out at the end and she pushed the stroller.

Support and Doggies

Sunday we watched to rebroadcast of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir's 24th of July Celebration. They focused heavily on those have and are serving in the military. I cried, but it did help me to realize I need to be proud and supportive of what Gunnar is doing.
But it is tough sometimes when I miss him so much.
Happy note-
Monday we were out for our walk when a couple was out walking their dogs. They were passing us when I asked Avi if she saw the "doggies". She perked right up- she recognized the word. She saw them and got very excited. We turned to watch them a bit and then I turned around to continue our walk, only Avi got upset we were leaving the dogs! So I turned around and we followed them for a bit, but thankfully she lost interest and we were able to turn the corner to head home.

Kesten Visited

I am already getting more delinquent in blogging, but Gunnar got the internet, so we have been able communicate more, so I think it okay.
I just finished half of a peanut butter and banana sandwich. YUM. They are lately one of my favorite snacks. Erin was over today and made us one of the best ever pb and banana sandwiches! Kesten was over with her kids and it was her first time trying one- I am glad she got to start on such a great one!
It was so nice to have Kesten and her kids and Erin and her kids over- it made for party time! Jaxon and I went out before Kesten came and passed a soccer ball back and forth- Avi thought it was so cool! She would happily watch, and then try to crawl to the ball.
Later Malachi and Isaiah were playing out in the play house and Avi climbed about half way up the slide! She is really learning to climb- I hope she doesn't do it too much...
I love to hold Kesten's little girl Sariah, 2 month old! I hadn't realized how much my little Avi has grown, until I saw Sariah.
I did not go to work out class, so we took a longer walk tonight- mom started us on an evening walk tradition when Jaxon and Aliea slept over. Near the end of our walk Avi got tired of being in her stroller, so took her out. She is not as little as she use to be! She ended up riding on the adult cup holder area- which she loved.

Aliea and Jaxon Sleep Over

dinner flop

Today we went to work out- Avi crawled around and charmed everyone :) and maybe got in the way of one or two ladies.
I did not feel well so again we stayed in. My friend Elisa came over. I had made a cucumber gazpacho. I was excited for the new recipe, hurray for summer soup, but I spit out the first bite!! I felt bad for my friend- so Mac n' cheese for the second time this week... It was so nice to see Elisa though.
Gunnar has not called...

Avi's doll

July 20
we went to work out class in the morning- cutest moment- We had brought a little doll Avi was given by her great aunt. Avi had put it down and was playing in the boat she had wanted to play with last time, when I little girl, probably around five, picked up her doll. The little girl then proceeded to undress the doll. Avi saw and reached out for her doll in protest, it was like she was saying, "Mom! Look at what that girl is doing to my baby!!" The little girl put the clothes back on and Avi was okay.
After our morning nap, Avi came up with fever. So we stayed in for the rest of the day.

brief

today..
hurrah Avi slept in- I had a long night last night. Warren brought my old computer- hopefully better then mom's... went to Kesten's- she is fabulous!
was locked out, skyped with gunnar, no one home so mac and cheese for dinner. cleaned a bit, played with Avi. talked with Gunnar... oh Gunnar..

Avi Fun and Great Dinner

quick, it is late- I'll add pictures soon
June 18th
Went to a work out class at the church with my mom and Avi. I had some mom indignation because the kids there did not play with my baby, took a toy from her, and wouldn't let her take a turn on the play boat. Boy, I really wanted Avi to beat them up- but she was a good girl and didn't even cry or hurt anyone... I never thought I would want my baby to beat someone up, but the feelings came.
Avi is working on three teeth now!! Wow, what a girl!! the top right has been coming in since we went to Idaho to see Gunnar's family before he left and now two more bottom teeth are coming in. She is working to be an eight tooth baby!!
We went to Erin's, played with the cousins- Avi loves them!!! Went the the Eagle Mountain Splash pad. Avi does not like getting splashed, but she did enjoy trying to pick out the rocks and grass out of the water. Erin has a slide that her kids set up on their stairs, they put it lower on the stairs so it isn't very steep. Avi loved it because she could actually climb up it. She would climb halfway and turn around to go down, She loved it :). I trimmed Erin's hair. We even did a little bang. What a brave sister I have.
I made Bajio Shrimp tacos. Oh, man!! Emily said they were a 5 for 5 and mom said they were a 7 out of 5... and to think Gunnar doesn't really like them!