Yes, We are Still Here!

Hi Everyone. My apologies for not posting until now. I barely have time to check my email, let alone post anything on our blog. Scott's parents are here this week to meet Ava for the first time and also to come for Emma's ballet recital and kindergarten graduation. I am so happy they are here for a visit. It is nice to have some adult company and some help with the girls. Scott has been gone for one month now, only 2 1/2 more to go! In the mean time, the girls and I will pack up the house hold goods and move to Kansas around the first part of July. My mom and Paige will come out here mid-June to help with the girls while I deal with the movers--thank goodness!!! Scott can't miss class, so their help will be priceless!

Emma's ballet recital was awesome!!! She did so well and is looking forward to finding a new ballet school in Wichita. She graduates from kindergarten tomorrow afternoon. She has to recite a poem and informed me this morning that she is very nervous because there will be a lot of people there. I plan on videoing everything so Scott can watch it when he gets home. Emma has had a great year and has done so well with the kindergarten program. She is looking forward to her new elementary school in Kansas too! Everything will be new, even her house!

Ava continues to do very well adjusting here at home. She is still throwing up a couple of times per week. Unfortunately we do not know why. She seems to feel just fine, eats well, and is full of energy. We cannot pin point any one food that aggrevates her system either. We will find a gastro specialist once we get to Wichita and get to the bottom of this. We found out that she is allergic to sunscreen, so we are searching for something that she can tolerate without breaking out into a rash. She was running a fever all day yesterday, but is just fine today. She is walking better also--just needs more practice and I think she will be fine. Here are some quick things about Ava:

--She is a great sleeper now! She loves going to bed in her crib every night and sleeps all night--no crying at bedtime. Just a happy girl that gives kisses good night and falls asleep by herself--AMEN!!! She still only takes a short nap, but hey, at least she's great at night!!!

--Ava loves her sister Emma, but is ready to defend herself and claim her territory in a split second. She can be pretty mean to Emma--hitting, spitting, and now pinching. We are working on this!!! Last night she pinched me too!!! She can also be really sweet giving Emma hugs and kisses and playing chase, painting the sidewalk, and taking a baths.

--Ava will put herself in time out--too funny. She knows my tone of voice when I am not happy and I will say, "do you want to go to time out?". She will shake her head no, and then go sit against the wall. I try not to crack up, but it's so funny to see. This time out thing seems to work for discipline for her. She doesn't like it, so most of the time she will stop her bad behavior if I threaten time out.

--Ava loves water--drinking it, bathing in it, swimming in it, splashing in it--you name it, she LOVES water.

--Ava is very friendly and goes to everyone. Her new favorite person is my father-in-law, Papa. She will even call him Papa. Of course, he's in heaven right now with this little girl giving him this attention.

--Ava is very independent. She wants to dress herself, feed herself, brush her teeth, comb her hair. She loves to throw away her dirty diapers, trash, etc. She wants to put her milk cup in the fridge by herself. Sometimes it's easier to do it myself, but she doesn't want me to--very stubborn, this one.

--She is picking up the language very quickly and seems to understand most of what we say to her. She said, "I love You" today.

Here are some recent photos of the girls. Enjoy.

Gene