Ava's words

Ava has now updated her vocabulary!
She says:
"Nuno" = Juno
"Oooka" = Luka
"Ooome" = Home
"Nacks" = Snacks
"Please" and she signs please too
"Thank you"
"There we go"
"Juice"
"Baby"
"Ball"
"Ni-night"





She also tries her very best to repeat everything we say. She is trying hard. I commend her on her verbal skills! I think she is able to avoid most temper tantrums because she is able to communicate what she wants. Even when she gets mad, we can distract her or she can tell us in a round about kind of way, why she is mad.
She is amazing! We are so proud of her!




PS This is a not to self; DO NOT GO BLACK FRIDAY SHOPPING EVER AGAIN.

Changes

There have been so many changes in the past year and a half. Mostly on my behalf.
I had a baby. I was huge. I was emotional and tired and drained. Then after several weeks of being able to bond affectionately with my baby, I was pushed back into the work world which, under normal cercumstances would have been no problem. But I had post partum and didn't know it. I felt over whelmed and everyday felt like a struggle. Just as I was catching up on one thing I was now five tasks behind. My life was one big catch up game. It seemed to take me hours to get to and from work. I don't know if I just felt the safe comfort of my parents house and sought out solitude and extra help while picking up Ava or an excuse not to go home so I wouldn't have to be "alone" with Ava while Phil was working. I didn't know what I was doing.
After being diagnoses with post partum everything seemed to make sense. I understood myself a little better. I now understood why the awful thoughts kept coming. I sought help on several different levels.
Since my diagnosis my life has completely changed.
In February I started going to Church.
It took several weeks and several times but I decided to dedicate my life to God. Which in turn led to my participation in the church and my decision to allow Ava to be dedicated in the church on Mothers Day.
Since that day. I realized this isn't my life. This life is for me and Ava and Phil. Our lives are supposed to be together. No matter how many challenges we face along the way, how many obsticles that occure. We are supposed to hang tight as a family.
This summer several of our challenges arose but I still enjoyed all the time I could with my baby. We went on morning weekend adventures. Mostly to take pictures of our little princess. We snuck in a camping trip, some fun hang out dates with friends and even snuck off to the Rib Cook Off with Cheryl and Addison. My time was spent learning the ways of the Beck which was totally awesome! I enjoyed every minute of it.
This fall my life has changed. Its become so completely different.I feel like a differently person entirely. My post partum depression has subsided. I no longer feel like a hamster in a wheel. Every weekend I enjoy activities with my daughter and husband. Our house is clean. I mean clean, clean. I get up early. I go to bed an hour after Ava. I feel like I have some control over my life again. I feel happiness, joy, and I feel inspired. I love being a mom. I love being a wife. I like my job. I am thankful that I am employed.
I think our lives have changed a lot. I feel more grateful for everything in my life. Every little ounce of happiness is just one more spark that keeps me going in my day! I love it! I live off it.

Awesome weekend!

The Wozniaks had a great weekend! Finally!
We had such a great weekend I don't know where to start!
Saturday we woke up to snow, since Ava and I are the first to get up, we like to let daddy sleep in. We usually go on a trip to Starbucks (mommy's addiction), and I took the good camera just in case. So after a nice cup of Hot Chocolate, Ava and I ventured off to Wingfield Springs, to the ball park. That is where all of her monthly pictures are taken. There was some snow there. So I thought it would be fun to take some quick pictures and get back in the car. It was cold!!


Well Ava took a liking to the snow!! In fact, she liked it so much, she enjoyed the crunching under her feet she walked across an entire grassy area! She had fun walking around in the crunchy snow, then walking all over. She loves exploring and being outside. So after about 15 minutes I thought it would be best if we headed back to the car. Ava's poor hands were a little cold. Then she got the bright idea to touch some plants that had snow on them. So we really had to go back to the car. The burning sensation was starting to set in her hands.
We got in the car and headed home.


Phil got up, we decided to go to breakfast. The breakfast place we wanted to go to, was PACKED, so we drove across the street to McDonalds. We got it to go, then I parked in the parking lot. And at the request of Phil. I turned Ava's carseat around. She thought it was awesome! She would say "WHOA" when we stopped. It was funny!

Then we decided to take Ava on another small family adventure. We went to Lakeside drive and to The Look Out.

Phil showed Ava the pretty sights of the city, and we let Ava run around for a minute. She liked walking around and being outside.
We went to the mall and then we went home.
We set up the Christmas tree and then at 4:30 Ava and I left to go to the Christmas Tree Lighting with Cheryl, Dave and Addison and Jackie and Spud. We had a great time!


We got the girls pictures taken with Santa at Scheels, then we walked around Scheels until the lighting of the Christmas tree. It was so neat! What a fun night!



This morning Ava and I went to church and then we saw Grandma and Grandpa for a bit and spent the rest of the day at home! Its been a great day! the house is almost ready for Thanksgiving.

The many SIGNS of Ava!

Ava signs!!!!
She can sign "Food" "More" "Please" we are even working on "coloring" which I made up by pulling her index finger across the palm of her hand.
Wave bye bye and blow kisses.
She is beginning to say quite a few words.
"Dog"
"Cat"
"Two"
"Mama"
"Dada"
"Mo" for more
"Oh cute"
"Oh wow"
"Oh no"
"Uh oh"
"Oh whoa"
"This"
"Yes"
"Ba ba" for bottle
"Whoa"
"Ni Nite"
"Hello"
"Hi"
"No"

Ava is amazing! She is doing amazing! She is such an amazing little person. I love spending all the time I can with her! She is so funny, and so full of energy. One of her favorite things to do is listen to the radio then play Ava pin ball. She spins around and around and around and then bounces into the couch, then falls down and tries to do it all over again.
Last night Ava attempted jumping.
Tonight, she accomplished this jumping task! She jumped up in the air then landed on her butt with her legs straight out. LOL It looks like she was at a bounce house, but the bounce house was missing!
Ava is really good about entertaining herself. She's so freakin awesome!



This week when I came home from work I found my two lovies working on hobbies together! How awesome is that?!