Into the Third Year II

Playing the piano once again at Aunt Sessie's.  She actually looks like she knows what she's doing.  You wouldn't think that if you heard the sounds she made.

 

Being a little shy with Aunt Renee and Uncle Mark later in the day.

But Uncle Mark is undeterred...

Enjoying a cookie in her typically messy two-year-old fashion.

The cookie was a very big one for Uncle Mark and Cousin Jessie's birthdays that week.

A few days later, with Mommy at the Gazebo in Medina, where she collected some colorful leaves.

...And looking at the Christmas decorations.

...and enjoying a milkshake a few minutes later.

She often refuses to wear what's been set out for her, especially if it's not pink.  That was probably the case the day that this was taken.

On the way to day care on a cold and snowy December 1st.

After a bath, Ava always likes to look at herself in the mirror and giggle for a minute.

The giggles continue (usually) as she gets dried off.

Then it's time to brush those teeth...

And then a few minutes for horsing around with Daddy before it's lights out.  This was the last night for her long hair, as there was a haircut scheduled for her the next morning.  (Self-portrait by Ava...she has me point the camera and then she insists on taking the picture herself).

 

She did a good job staying still for Betty the hairstylist.  Mommy gave Ava some things to play with, too, and it was all over pretty quickly.

 

We kept most of her long bangs...For the most part, it was the length in the back that was trimmed.

 

After that we went to a Hallmark store, where for some reason Ava was attracted this card.  I presume it was the bunnies on it.

 

The next day at the Zoo.  Although Mommy and Ava are smiling here, all was certainly not well this day.  Ava was really in the midst of the terrible twos, refusing to go where we asked her to go, and running everywhere, even though on her first running burst the moment we got there she fell on her hands and forehead--see the strawberry on her head?  And, of course, her Christmas picture session was scheduled for the next morning!

 

Eating and crying a little while later in the Rainforest, which we didn't get to see because, well, we weren't calling the shots!   Note how the red forehead goes with her ensemble...

 

At last, some peace and quiet.  One bruised and sleeping toddler and two adults with migraines....

 

Having a much better time a week later, experiencing the first snow of the year.

 

Waiting for her Saturday lunch to be delivered.

 

Helping Mommy decorate the tree later that day.

 

All done!

 

Christmas morning....Dodger Bean (the cat) watches as Ava starts to go through the presents that Santa had left.

 

A place of her own...A Princess Castle!

 

With Mommy Inside the castle, and wearing her pink princess outfit once again.  We're getting a lot of mileage out of a Halloween costume.

 

Some of Ava's gifts had a clear agenda, such as a potty training book and some big girl underwear.

 

By the Christmas tree with cousins Morgan and Megan at their house later on Christmas Day.

 

All of her first cousins in Ohio were there...including Cousins Brianna and Jessie (not pictured).

 

Aunt Valerie helped Ava look at her Wiggles 3D pictures.

 

A few days later, when I asked her who this baby's Mommy was, she said, "Auntie Val."

 

For some reason, Ava headed straight for this movie when we went to store.

 

Ava now has a blue princess outfit to go with her pink princess one.  Either one works well for popcorn time.

 

One solution to Ava's terrible-twos rowdiness is that Ava stays with Daddy at the library while Mommy does the grocery shopping nearby.  So far, so good.

 

A rare breed of worker...the Princess Handyman.  Note the tongue-hanging-out-while-working technique that seems to come from Grampa John.

 

Mesmerized by one of her DVDs on the computer again.

 

Almost half as tall as Aunt Sessie now.  Everyone was at Uncle Mark and Aunt Renee's house for Cousin Morgan's 8th Birthday in late January.

 

Cousin Valerie had the difficult task of holding Ava for the group picture.

 

Carefully studying her Wiggles twisty toy in the car.

 

Her hair's grown back pretty quickly, no?

 

Another angle...

 

A mosaic picture...Ava is made up entirely of pictures found on this website.  Click on the picture to see the very large thing (3552 pixels wide; 7mb) in detail.

 

And the following day in the car again.

 

Playing with Cousins Morgan and Megan.

 

We all have bad hair days, but not all of us have a person who likes document it and post it for all the world to see.

 

Valentine's Day gifts from Mommy and Daddy...a lot of Princess themed items.  Valentine's Day is her half-year mark--she's now 2½--so it's time to end this chapter of her page.

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