Mid November visit from Coley & Dave

See that look on Ava's face?

She thinks Uncle Dave is the silliest person she's ever met! Really, she does! 

This girl is so impatient on Skype with everyone except Uncle Dave. He could practically babysit her while I went out over skpye! 

He is SO good with kids. 

It's hard not to laugh listening to them talk.

I'm so glad to have captured those looks she gives him and that laughter one afternoon while they were playing in her room. And that's just it, I think. Dave still really knows how to play. He's still got kid spirit in his heart and is uninhibited about showing it. I love and really appreciate that about him.

His baby is a lucky little one. Due May 21, by the way!!!

I loved having them out here. It was a tearful goodbye for everyone because our time together was so nice.

We had an almost 70 degree afternoon in Santa Cruz at the University's aquarium. We got to explore the sea creatures and have a picnic outside and hike along the cliffs.

it was an awesome day!

Coley and Ava spotted dolphins out in the Pacific

and then we headed into town for coffee and hot chocolate.

Ava loves her God Parents, that's for sure! (sorry I cut your head off Dave!)

And my big sister, well I love her so much, and I couldn't be happier to share a few months of pregnancy together. We made some pretty yummy meals together while she was here and she taught me how to make pie crust. We made a delicious apple pie!! 

I just loved every minute with them. 

I love you guys! 

Can't wait to see you again in February!!

Early November visit from Nana & Poppi

 My mom and dad came out for a long weekend to visit with us this fall and I didn't take many photos, but I love the ones I did take. Just these few of Ava and her Poppi walking the trails up at Sanborn Nature Center in Saratoga.

There's not very much to say. 

For me, the photos tell the story of the quiet morning there and the sweet trust and love between Ava and her Poppi.

Thank you for coming to see us.

Halloween 2011

As you can see I'm playing catch up. 

It's not that I've stopped documenting life with Ava, it's just that working has kept me so busy I literally don't want to look at another photo when I finish processing a shoot. My back screams at me to go lie down. 

I'm proud that I've uploaded them, at least, and happy to be paying attention to this blog again.

This year, Halloween was so much fun!

Ava wanted to be a ghost so we went back to JO-ANN fabrics and chose her fabric together. She ended up being a sparkly ghost, which also meant that anything she touched became sparkly too. We had a sparkly floor, sparkly stroller, you get the point :)

She was adorable. And I just love that she beats to her own drum. Yes, she loves princesses, but she didn't want to be one. I love that.

We started off the Halloween fun at a pumpkin patch with our sweet friends Beth & her baby Emma.

We played there for a while and saw all the animals, and of course picked our pumpkins. 

Beth carved out a pumpkin and put Emma in it.  I wish I could show you that photo!

We carved up a pumpkin that Ava designed with no help. I did my best to replicate the drawing.

A pumpkin with eyelashes!

Isn't she a scary sparkly ghost?

When Hailey was here, the weekend before Halloween, we took the girls down to the park to ride the carousel at night and walk through the haunted house. Hailey loved it. It was a little too scary for Ava. Hailey was a cheerleader for Halloween :)

And on Halloween at 5pm we took Ava to Johnson St. in Los Gatos, known to be closed down and dedicated to trick-or-treaters. All homes were decked out with Halloween gear. 

It was good timing. We were some of the 1st people to walk the street, which meant that it wasn't crowded and Ava just couldn't beleive that every house gave her some candy. 

Every house we approached she would say in her little voice "Happy Halloween, trick-or-treat". Half the time no one heard her, but I always did.

Brad's face in this photo is so funny. He probably just noticed the grown man wearing a diaper, an Obama mask, and a t-shirt that said "change me. I stink". 

Brad and I loved watching Ava's thrill and excitement. 

As soon as I told Ava she could have a piece of her candy, she was ready to go home :)

I was too. We walked there, which was fun becasue we ran into people we knew, but boy did my feet hurt! Not so smart to wear flip flops, mama :)!
Happy Halloween, 2011.

baby update:

Well, I officially look like I swallowed a basketball! :)

We had a 36 week check up today and saw baby brother one last time on ultrasound before he's here live and in person! He's doing great. He looks very healthy. There is lots of amniotic fluid, the placenta looks healthy, the umbilical cord is in the right place, no concern whatsoever, he's still a boy, and the best news of all...

He's head down! He's in position!

I'm 2 cm. dilated and 50% effaced. (this really doesn't mean much other than he's getting ready. I could still go all the way to due date.)

We've been busy here getting laundry done, things moved around and bassinets out.

I'm really excited to meet him and give him a kiss, but I'm being patient and taking lots of breaks. I know he's happier in my belly. So, 38 week appointment is scheduled, BUT

Just in case, keep your phones on!! :)

xo

My Grampy is 90 today. Happy Birthday Grampy!

It's a special day.

 Call it coincidence, but I was emptying an old box yesterday (yes, we still have boxes from our move a year ago that haven't been unpacked) and I found this photo of my Grampy and I dancing. 

He's a great dancer and I've had the privilege many times.

I just love my Grampy and Grammy.

I was just telling Brad's mom about what it's like for me to step into their home. I can't seem to take a deep enough breath. I love the way it smells. It's like wrapping up in a warm blanket.

I have so many happy, loving memories of spending time with them. 

I'm missing my Grampy today, wishing I could celebrate this great milestone with him.

I'm filled with gratitude to have the experience of having such loving grandparents!

Happy 90th Grampy!

I love you so much!

I miss you and send you hugs from California.

xxoo

more collages from summer in Truro 2011

Taking an after beach bath in the claw-foot tub at Great Nana's

Beach time at Corn Hill

Farmer's market in P-town

Great Nana's house and all its detail. Such a special place.

Blueberry picking with auntie coley and making blueberry corn muffins.
There is no one more into this than Nicole. Sometimes I think Ava could be Nicole's daughter.

Sunsets and beach bonfire evenings at the beach.

see you again in 2012.

missing Truro in the middle of winter....

I'm really in the middle of it today. Just so sad and tearful and I can't really figure out why. I mean, I could think of reasons to cry, but they aren't really why the tears keep welling up. 

 I'm sure it's being 8 months pregnant and full of hormones that just won't take a break. My body is getting prepared to bring another soul, another life into the world. There is something so powerful about it that seems to go unspoken about, but I feel it coming. Physically and emotionally.

Since I know better than to sit and soak in my sadness, though sometimes there is a time and place for that, I sat down at the computer and dug into old photo files from this summer. The place where I find purity and peace year after year, in Truro.

And I found photos of it's beauty, and among them pure joy in my Ava. 

It reminded me there is so much joy and it's so easy for her to feel it.

All these photos I disregard and think aren't special make such a magical collage that show me the truth:

there is light, there is love, and there is sand to sink my feet into that will absorb the unwanted.

the best moments at the beach are these: when no one is there because it's late in the afternoon. Or in the morning, early, while everyone else is packing up their gear to get there.

All you need is your birthday suit and some courage to jump in that icy cold water.

You can't not smile and scream out a little.

Ava is proof of that.

I'm glad I found these.

It was time for an update and our trip east this summer was right where we left off.

Let's begin with this and then there will be more.