It's been too long since I've updated, and Ava has changed so much. She is talking more and more and now says Mama, Dada, dog, and Pawpaw on a regular basis. She can say hi and bye-bye but doesn't say those very often. She waves, gives fives, gives big hugs and kisses, and WALKS!! She started walking a couple of weeks ago right before she was 11 months old. It is so much fun to watch her walk around! She is walking all day and is usually carrying something in her hand. Clothes are her favorite thing to carry around, especially socks. She loves to play games with us and is such a fun baby. She loves peek-a-boo, getting under a laundry basket with Mama, banging on pots and pans, and letting Daddy and Pawpaw "get" her.

Ava will be 1 on March 27th, and I just can't believe it! This year has been the best of my life and has flown by too fast. Ava has changed, grown, and learned so much over this year! She is my greatest joy, and I know I couldn't love her anymore if I tried!

This is how I always find her when she gets up in the morning (usually at 9 or 10). We used this picture for Ava's birthday party invitations.

Here she is with her new "horsey" from Grammy and Pawpaw. She is such a loving baby and loves to cuddle it.

She is eating more and more "real" food and loves to feed herself! This is her first time to feed herself, so of course we had spaghetti! She had so much fun!

Granna and Pops came to visit and babysit Ava for a while one weekend. This is a picture Granna got.

This is another one that Granna got. Matt is one proud and happy Daddy!

Christmas with the Greers

As I said in my last post, we went to White Hall December 22nd to have Christmas with Matt's side of the family. Both our camera batteries were dead so we didn't get any pictures. These are some that Suzie, my mother-in-law, took and was nice enough to send me and let me post! We always have a great time when we are with the Greers, and it was so nice to be back in White Hall for awhile. We don't get to go there often enough!

one happy little family!

This is the life!

Ava and her Pops!

Josh and Ava- He specifically asked to sit by her whenever we were at the table.

playing with her new activity table from Granna and Pops

Ava getting kisses from Granna

wearing her new outfit from Uncle Jake, Aunt Tasha, and Josh
so cute!

Jake, Tasha, and Josh

me and the kiddos

Ava's first Christmas

Ava's first Christmas was so much fun! We headed to White Hall first for time with the Greers. We really enjoyed our time there, but unfortunately both our camera batteries were dead so there are no pictures.

We went to Jonesboro after a few days there and spent Christmas day with my family. Ava was too young to be interested in presents, but we sure did have fun opening them for her. She didn't care for the wrapping paper too much but did get excited when she saw a colorful toy underneath. She hasn't gotten one thing she hasn't played with.

Ava and I stayed in Jonesboror for about a week and a half while Matt had to come back and work. We had a good time, but it would have been better if Ava hadn't gotten sick. We made a trip to the emergency room with Ava having a 104.6 temperature that we just couldn't get to come down and stay down. She ended up having double ear infections, but she was such a trooper and still smiled and played while she was really sick. She's feeling much better now and is finally back to her normal self.

She is really growing up fast on us and has now taken two steps all by herself! She hasn't tried to walk since but can stand up. She hasn't fallen either, but she deliberately sits down. She is getting so close! She can also now wave, raise her arms for the hog call, and guide you all over the house holding your finger. She also gives big hugs and kisses; she is so cuddly! She got her second tooth yesterday and has two more that are really close to coming in. She's the happiest baby and is so much fun! We are so in love with our little girl!Ava in her Christmas jammies on Christmas Eve.

Opening her first present from Mommy and Daddy.

She likes it!

Mollie on her cute new lamb rocker


Grammy loves her new grandkids ring from all of us. (It has all four of her grandkids' birthstones in it.)

Julie and Karen getting ready to open presents


Jackson playing football
He loves football and always wants to play. He's really good too!

Ava in her cute new outfit from Uncle Chad and Aunt Karen


Grammy and Landon having fun

Fall (so far)

It's been too long since I've updated this blog! This fall we have seen family, been to Jonesboro, been to Silver Dollar City, trick-or-treated at Daddy's work, grown, and enjoyed being a family!

Ava is getting so big, but she's not the only one! Her cousins are growing up with her. Here are some of my favorite pictures from this fall so far:

Ava decided to try out her new winter hat, and she likes it!

Mollie is wide awake and ready to play!

Of course these two have to have a matching outfit or two!

This is one of the only pictures I was able to get of Landon. This is one busy boy!

Here's Ava on one of her favorite seats...Pawpaw!

It was really hard to get a picture of Ava looking at the camera with Jackson; she loves to watch him and thinks he is so funny!

Ava's getting some Grammy lovins' in Jonesboro.

Here's our little flower at Halloween! (Thanks, Grammy, for making her costume! It really was perfect.)


Ava and her proud Daddy at his work!

Some of Ava's new tricks:

- She started crawling at 6 months and has really mastered it! She goes everywhere and is in to everything.

-She just started pulling up and is so excited about it! She loves to stand and even stands in her crib now.

-She will try and mimic any sound you are making.

-She can "click" now.

-She babbles all day, and it's so sweet!

-She isn't very smiley at night usually, but is very happy until then.

-She doesn't get fussy very much at all. In fact, she really doesn't cry very much or very long.

-She loves to play with feet, shoes, or shoe laces.

-She chews on everything!

-She still loves to eat her baby food and doesn't really like anything else too much.

-She gets really excited to see babies and children, especially her cousins. She laughs and laughs at whatever Mollie is doing even if she's crying.

Ava is growing up so fast, we have enjoyed every second, and look forward to the future with her!

5 months old

My baby is 5 months old! I just can't believe it. Seeing our new niece Mollie made me realize just how much Ava has grown. I almost forgot how small she was when she was born. It makes me a little sad that she is growing up, but I feel so blessed to be the one to be there every step of the way for her. Ava and Mollie are 5 months apart, and we are so excited that she has someone to grow up with. They are going to be best friends! Ava is so precious to us, and we can't even remember what it was like before she was here. We don't even want to remember. We love her so much and just can't get enough of our little girl!

I thought I would share some of Ava's newest professional pictures.......

I had to post this one. She has the most irresistible cry and pouty face I have ever seen.

This one is Daddy and Grammy's favorite.

Here are some of Ava's newest developments:

- She gets on her hands and knees and rocks back and forth.

- She can sit up on her own now.

-She can get to any toy that is out of her reach by "inching" her way there. She gets on her hands and knees and falls flat moving herself a little closer. She does this until she gets there and looks like an inch worm. We love watching her do this.

-She loves to eat baby food! The only thing she doesn't like is sweet peas and really lets you know it!

-She growls back at us when we growl at her. This gets a smile out of her everytime!

-She still won't smile for the camera. I have tried and tried, but she won't have it.

-She is still cuddly and loves to be held and kissed.

-She grabs for everything!

-She loves the remote control. She smiles and talks to it.

-She chews of everything you let her put in her mouth.

Mollie Anne!

Mollie Anne made her arrival September 2nd at 10:08 am. She weighed 8 lbs. 2 oz. and is 20.5 in. long. She is so perfect and makes the sweetest little noises!

Isn't she beautiful? Look at all that hair!!

Her Daddy loves her so much!

Here's the new family! They aren't very proud....ha!

We couldn't be more happy for Adam and Julie! She's the perfect new addition, and it will be such a joy to watch her grow.

4 months old!

Our little Ava is 4 months old today! She is such a joy! The last 4 months have been the happiest ever and have really flown by. Here's an update on how our little one has changed:

-She has finally laughed! She hasn't done it very much, but it is laughing more and more. It is the sweetest sound in the world.
-She can roll over from her front to her back very well. She is a pro.
-She loves her jumperoo and has mastered jumping and turning to the other toys.
-She still sleeps very well, but is starting to wake up more due to rolling over.
-She looks at us and talks all the time now.
-She "sings" herself to sleep while I'm rocking her and singing to her. We love this.
-She has started eating a little cereal off a spoon. She doesn't really know what to think about it yet, but it is slowly going better.
-She reaches for everything including toys, hands, faces, glasses, etc.
-She loves to chew on anything she can get into her mouth! I think she may be teething a little.
-She loves to sit up and stand up on us while we hold her.
She is really developing, and her sweet personality is showing more and more!



This is the best smiling picture anyone has been able to get yet! She will be really smiling until she sees the camera!

This is her 4th of July outfit! We didn't do fireworks this year but are looking forward to them next summer.

Ava has been swimming a couple of times now. She is unsure at first, but once she gets used to the water she kicks and kicks.

We have been really busy this summer with visiting Grammy and Pawpaw, playing with Landon and Jackson when they were here for a week, going to Jonesboro a couple of times, and Ava spent a whole weekend with her Granna and Pops.

I have been to 2 showers for Miss Mollie (Ava went to 1). We loved seeing all of her goodies and are so excited to have Ava and Mollie so close in age. They are going to love that! We are anxiously awaiting her arrival in September! YAY! Not too much time left...

Matt and I also went to Tunnica, Mississippi for almost a week to celebrate our anniversary. It was a lot of fun, minus the car breaking down, getting it fixed, and missing Ava. We were so ready to get home to see her, but she had a good time at Grammy and Pawpaw's. She was happy to see, though! Maybe next summer she will be big enough to enjoy a vacation with us!

I guess that pretty much sums up what we have been up to this summer. Everyday is so much fun with Ava. She is growing up so fast, and we are so blessed to have her and watch her grow! Life is good!