My mommy is in the hospital since yesterday – she had her appendix out! Just 2 weeks after her brother Tommy had his out… isn’t that funny? She was so excited about spending so much time with me and getting excited about launching the Autumn fragrance line for her Sweet Scents and life was so great, and wouldn’t you know it, she got appendicits, LOL! So I’ve been spending a lot of time with my daddy – he took a few days off of work, it is has been fun with my daddy. We have been visiting mommy and getting a lot of attention from the nurses And I am very, very good at conning my daddy into taking many walks a day with me…

My granny took this picture of me smiling at my yellow and green bunny – I talk and smile and squeal at my bunny a lot! It is only for the past week that I have able to deal with being outside of someone’s arms and entertaining myself, by myself. I’m coming a long way!

Grandma watched me for 3 hours yesterday, and I was all smiles!

I am over 18 weeks old now, look at how big I am. My mommy is so proud of me, can you tell? I am close to 12 pounds now…

Yesterday was an exciting day for my parents and I. We all went to the gym where Bil the photographer met us and took pictures of mommy and daddy in the gym (to show what mommy and daddy do on a “regular” day before Ava), and then more pictures of all three of us in the water babies class. I had so much fun with my daddy – he blew bubbles, he came out of the water like a sea monster, he sang the water songs, he had *fun* with me. It was first real class with my daddy.

Here is a picture of my daddy giving me a bath. He is so VERY tender when he bathes me

Another smile for you!

This was taken a week ago, but mommy thought you would like to see it just the same!

I’m smiling and cooing and giggling now, my parents are so delighted!

I’ve had a whirlwind of two days! Yesterday my development therapist came to visit, and continued lessons on how my mommy can massage me… am I a lucky girl or what? The developmental therapists cannot find a thing wrong with me, so the only thing they can work on is teaching my mama how to make me feel yummy. Not too shabby

Then I went to Gymboree (GymBabies) were we did fun, colorful, music-y things with mirrors, balloons, bubbles, parachutes, etc. I was a little overstimulated, but I was fascinated, too. My mommy is not sure I am ready for this yet…

Today I went for my first swim! Water Babies at my mommy’s gym is SO much fun! I cried 3 times, understandably, but was so good the rest of the time. I do not totally love it yet, but I certainly enjoyed it just a little, and was quite fascinated by the splashes, games, and songs. My mommy looks funny blowing bubbles – silly mommy! Mommy and me had a great time and cannot wait until the next class.

I am still the favorite in the gym nursery (’cause I’m the youngest) and I sleep well when one of the grandmas there is holding me. My mommy has started carrying me on her back a lot more, in a “Frankencozy” that she made herself (and thus it looks really really funny, ha ha) – it is a cross between an Asian and a German baby carrier. That way mommy can cook and clean with no danger to anything splashing on me. Mommy’s back is quite sore, but she does it for me, because I love it so. I am beginning to enjoy one of my swings (mommy says “whew, thank goodness”). I’ve been doing Mommy & Me DVD’s with mommy at home. My eyes are definitely turning brown, and my curly hair is beginning to come in. My mommy and daddy are so thrilled that I will look like my big sis Oliviah, because they think Livie is the *cutest*.

Off to the gym with mommy and then to grandma’s house! Love, Ava