Carving. Pumpkins.

Two weeks ago Nanny Kajsa and Ava went to the local pumpkin patch to pick out a pumpkin. They found a good one!
As the weeks came and went, the pumpkin kept sitting. So today, Ava and I decided to carve the pumpkin!


I have never carved a pumpkin by myself. I didn't know where to start! But I started out. I cut a leaf shape on the pumpkin's head, once that was cut, I began scooping out the insides! Ava helped and munched on some pumpkin while she watched. She thought it was fun to play with.


After scooping out all the stuff inside. I separated pumpkin from seeds and I began the pumpkin seed baking process!





I started with the eyes. I had no idea what I was doing, where I was going...and did not trace anything while cutting out the pumpkin.
And what do you know. It turned out to be a cat!


Maybe it was a sign. Because Ava got up from her nap, was roaming around and found out cat and went up to it and said "Kitty!".
She is saying a lot of new words lately!
"Kisses"
"Kitty" (not just KIKI)
"Ball" (not BA)
"Baby"

We had a lot of fun carving our pumpkin today and we had fun on our dress up play date at MMMM Yogurt with Cheryl and Addison yesterday!

15 Month Appointment

Today was Ava's 15 month appointment!
She decided to greet everyone in the waiting room. She talked to kids who were a little older than her. She decided it was fun to run around the chairs and put her sippy cup on the table and off the table.
Finally, after what seemed like forever, we went back to our room. I undressed Ava. We went out to the scale to weigh Ava. She weighs a whole......17 lbs and 4 oz. Which is REALLY small for her size, BUT she is still going strong on her own growth curve. So I'm really excited that she's still gaining weight. She is 19 inches long. She's actually on the growth chart for her length!!! WAHOO! She is at 3%.
The doctor said she is doing really well. The only thing we have to change is her diet a little bit. He wants her to eat more pure and less processed. Which means...she isn't going to get snack on her hot dogs (Turkey dogs) as often as she is used to.


She is vocal and is developing good vocal skills. She is also doing well with walking and those other developments.
It was a good appointment.
Ava got 2 shots (she'll have to go back for her third). She only screamed for about 5seconds and then she was fine. She does really well with her shots. And since it seems that she might be allergic to eggs she has to stay away from the flu shot.
She had a good appointment.
Thanks to my mom for letting me borrow her car! I had to take Ava's car seat out because she threw up all over it and I threw the cover in the washer. So my mom let me borrow her car since she has a car seat set up for Ava in her car.

House Wife At Heart

Over the last year I can't explain the changes in my life that occurred!
Finding out I had Post Partum to being introduced to this totally amazing person who became my good friend and then was willing to watch Ava for a few days a week for a couple of months! My life has been a complete 180!
Everyone who knows me, pretty much knows that I keep a decent house. Decent, not perfect but decent. Well that and laundry were about the extent of it!
Then when I started to pick Ava up my new found best friend, Beck would teach me the basics of cooking. She taught me that simple ingredients could be made into a wonderful delicious masterpiece!
My very first try on my own looked a little like this..

Its supposed to be cake
From there she taught me the art of fondant (a type of frosting used to mold cake).


We tested it out on Ava's practice cake. The same day she taught me how to make Heavenly Balls (aka. chocolate balls). Basically they are crushed up oreos, a stick of cream cheese with melted mini chocolate chips drizzled over it.
From simple desserts I've recently ventured out!


I started cooking. Really cooking. I next tried out her Chicken enchilada with green chili sauce which is oooh so amazing, even Phil likes it!
Next I opted for our family recipe of Pot roast. It turned out pretty well.
Then I ventured on to reading a recipe (Which is dangerous for me...I usually skip steps) and what do you know. I skipped a step! The recipe I tried was called Rocky Road Chocolate Cake (IN A CROCK POT).
My first attempt it was kind of mushy
My second attempt I learned from my first one and didn't miss the step, I missed another step. But then I put it in the refrigerator and it made all the difference in the world!
My third attempt a the crock pot cake was near perfection.



I have been creative with my meals. I make french toast, using the Joy of Cooking recipe. Unfortunately it slipped my mind that Ava is allergic to eggs so she got a bit of a rash after eating it. She sure enjoyed the cream cheese on the toast.

My next cooking adventure starts when we get our first DOOR STOP delivery for fresh produce! I am going to try Sweet Potato Soup. I can't wait!
On Thursday after Nanny Kajsa and Ava pull out the seeds from the pumpkin they picked out last week, I will bake them as a snack for the girls (well mostly Kajsa)for Thursday.
I love all this cooking stuff! Its creative and fun. And I never ever thought I would like cooking. When I saw how easy Beck made it look and how simple she made cooking seem she made it less intimidating! You are talking to the only person I've ever know to catch a crock pot on fire. And burn water. Who burns water?!
I thoroughly enjoy cooking. Its the only thing in my entire life that I don't mind the extra practice!
Thanks Beck!

All About Juno!

Sunday October 10th we had a chance to walk for the cure! We walked for the cure for Diabetes!
Our niece Juno was diagnosed with diabetes at the end of August this year, just before her 1st birthday.
This year a group of us walked together. Pirates of the Cure-a-bean! Billie and Steve did an amazing job of pulling together and getting people motivated to walk! They are amazing parents and they tell their amazing story. I have no idea how they do it but they are such positive uplifting people! They have been so truly honest and they are still such amazing people.


They have the best family. Billie and Steve are so strong then their two adorable little kids! They are the best!





There were a bunch of us who walked in the group. We were handed our pirate shirt and given pirate gear (including a bandanna for the hair, an eye patch.


It was totally awesome! The kids and belts and swards. They were geared up for the walk for the cure! Everyone did such a good job!



It was a wonderful way to spend a Sunday morning. The event couldn't have been more fun, for such a wonderful cause!

All About Ava

Ava is now 14 months!
Actually, now that I think about it, she is going to be 15 months pretty soon! Yikes!
Anyways. She has perfected her walk into toddler running!
If you have ready any of my previous blogs, you know our life has been quite a circus for the past month or so.
Ava has taken the change in stride. I can tell that everything has effected her. Some of major things that have changed in her life:
She no longer goes over to Beck's house. Which is really sad. She doesn't play with Ms T. Ms T and Mr Z very often anymore. But she still loves them and misses them terribly!
We stay at home A LOT more.
Except for work, going to my parents or the store, we don't go out.
I cook!
Like I said Ava has taken the change with stride. She has adjusted pretty well. She seems pretty happy for the most part. Phil and I are able to spend so much more time with her.
Everynight we have a sort of routine. Ava plays, or explores while I get dinner ready. We eat dinner together. We all play together for a few minutes. This week our game was "fetch". Yes...we played "fetch" with Ava. She almost has the idea of grabbing the ball when it comes to her, but it is basically a game of fetch the ball.

After our game. Ava and I sit down at her new little table and we are working on two skills. Sitting in chair (not standing) and not eating crayons and actually coloring with them.
So far..her success rate is about 40%. Next week we will aim for 60%. And we only work on this small task for about 10 minutes. Which is actually pretty good for a 1 year old.

After we get done coloring then we play a game of hide-and-seek/chase. Ava loves this game.
Once in a while I will sit on the floor and she thought of a fun game of sitting on mommy's lap. She will leave, then come back to sit on my lap some more. I actually like this, because this is one of the only times she is cuddly!!
Ava has been a little more cuddly lately.
Our lives have changed. A lot. And everyday we learn something new. Its almost kind of like dating all over again.
I can't explain it. Its hard to incorporate everything. Phil's condition. Making sure he eats every 2 hours. Ava is pretty easy to care for, just have to watch her so she doesn't eat things off the floor or climb on the tables.
Ava is totally amazing! I hope she continues to be amazing.

Short And Sweet

Ok...I wanted to say so much but I'm going to keep it short. And simple.

Phil is doing better. Most days he does pretty almost fantastic in fact! Other days, he stays in bed, waiting for the pain to go away.
Through all this. Phil has become an amazing person.
Every night I come home and cook dinner and we EAT TOGETHER AS A FAMILY. That statement should be the statement of the year. That is something we have not done, unless at a fast food place, for over 8 months. Our house is clean, its mostly picked up.
We now have a nanny, who this week spent three days at our house, and I think, though, he doesn't know it, has taught Phil a really big lesson. Responsibility. Phil has sent the nanny home EARLY two of the three days. EARLY! That means, Phil spends about 2 hours with Ava before I get home. This is miraculous! This is a huge step for him. He plays with her. He runs around with her. He chases her. They play ball and explore the toys in her play room.
This has meant so much to me. Its amazing, that's all I can say.

Since Phil has left the hospital, lots of things have changed. We have learned a lot. Life isn't always what we want it to be. But we make the best of times with what we have. Don't fret the small stuff, there are bigger fish to fry ahead.
God gave us a life, and we must live it. I love God and I rely on him everyday, every moment of everyday. He is what is keeping me going. He is what helps me get through my day.

There has been so much support and I am so grateful. We have had the best nanny a family could ever ask for. She has done so much for us without even knowing it. She has brought us closer with our daughter. We spend time with her. Ava is at home, in her own home, and she is comfortable, she loves it here and she loves us here. She loves seeing Phil working at home. I think it brings Ava a sense of joy. Ava has really bonded with her nanny. The door bell rings in the morning and Ava runs over to the door waving her tiny little hand. Then runs around screaming. LOL
Since we have had the nanny, I cook almost every night. I have stopped going on facebook while Ava is awake. I clean the house, our dishes aren't piled to the window...its a freakin' miracle!

Our lives are still changing and we are learning more about Phil's condition and how it affects not just him, but all of us. We are spending more time together as a family.

I couldn't be more proud of Phil for spending time with his daughter and eating dinner with the family. Its awesome! We love it!