The Things She Says...

Ava, who is now 27 months old says and does a lot of things that you wouldn't expect from a 2 year old...(or at least I didn't).

Some of the things she said recently.
1. Daddy: "Okay Ava, do you want to get your pjs on and get ready for night-night?" AVA: "No, not today." she said very matter-of-factly.
2. Mommy in morning: "Let's change your diaper." AVA: "NO! I don't want you to change my diaper...Ava could die...get ouchy!" (On rare occasion, I've said the word die to emphasize seriousness with dangerous things).
3. Mommy was talking to Daddy on the phone at work, Daddy: "I want to talk to Ava." Mommy: "Ava, Daddy wants to talk to you." Ava: "I'm busy right now."
4.After a long time at Hobby Lobby, Ava: "I ALL DONE WITH HOBBY LOBBY!"
5. Ava: (pouting after Mommy told her No...she's in this pouting and crocodile tears stage) "You made me cry!"
6. Ava: (tell Daddy bye-bye for work) "Have lots and lots of fun!"
7. Ava: (unprompted at the dinner table after prayer) "Ok...let's see..., Daddy, how's work today?"
8. Ava: (mommy changing her morning diaper) "Where's Daddy going?" Mommy: "Work." Ava: "I want to give him a big kiss."
9. Daddy to Mommy at dinner: "She hasn't even touched her chicken." Ava pokes chicken and says, "I touched it."
10. If Mommy and Daddy ever raise their voices at each other, Ava: "Guys, Guys, Stop. Mommy, be nice to Daddy. Daddy, be nice to Mommy."
11. Ava had been kind of yelling at Daddy (a new thing recently). Daddy went into the garage to load the car. Ava opens the door to the garage and says, "Daddy, I'm sorry I yelled at you."
12. Ava speaks in whole sentences and even understands how to use pronouns. At church on Sunday, a little boy showed her a picture and said, "That's Michael (pointing to a boy) and that's me." Ava immediately repeated, "That's Michael and that's you."
13. Ava is also into telling stories and pretend reading books. Here's a recent story: "Once upon a time there was a boy named Nemo. He was a fish. His Daddy's name was Marlin. He liked to swim in the water. The end."
14. Ava also likes to sing songs and knows all of the words (or almost) to: Twinkle, Twinkle, the Barney Song, I'm a Little Jayhawk, Ring around the Rosy, Row, Row, Row your Boat, etc.
15: Ava to Mommy: "I love you Mommy...tons and tons."
16: Ava running in the backyard: "I'm fast...like Dash." (from the movie Incredibles)

A few things she's done recently:
1. Ava loves getting into things and has repeatedly moved chairs or her stool to help her get things. On one occasion, she had moved the kitchen chair all the way through the living room and into the guest bathroom so that she could reach the Dixie cups and princess toothpaste the Mommy had put up high (those two things sure work magic by the way to get Ava excited to brush). On a separate occasion, Ava kept moving the kitchen chair to the cupboard that houses her special cups and some random candy. After the second time, I told her that if she moved the chair again, it was time for crib time (timeout). After a few minutes, things got quiet again. I head for the kitchen, expecting to see a chair missing from the table but they were all there. I turn the corner and Ava has dragged her Little Tikes picnic table from the living room into the kitchen to use as a climbing device. I almost expected her to say, "I didn't move the chair so you can't get mad."
2. I was trying to mow that lawn one day. Gaia had offered to take Ava to the park so I could get it done. While waiting for Gaia outside, I thought I'd start up the mower. I got a chair out for Ava and told her to sit there while I mowed a little. I starting mowing and then noticed Ava was missing. I stopped and went inside to see Ava, a chair moved to the "special" cupboard, the fridge propped open and Ava holding a gallon of milk and a green cup. Luckily, I got to her before the cap come off of the milk. She protested majorly so I gave in and put some milk in her cup. She then spilled it all over the garage...no big deal really. I told her to stay outside. Repeat: Mowing, Ava missing, Mommy heads inside. This time, I see Ava sitting at the threshold of the garage and house, eating jelly beans out of a bag. Mommy: "What are you doing?" Ava: "I'm eating jelly beans." (Duh, mommy) I look inside - chair moved, cupboard open.

I realize that my mommy skills could've been better. I should've only given her one warning before timeout in story number 1. And in number 2, I should've waited to mow until Gaia arrived so that I could've kept a closer eye on her. But then I wouldn't have funny Ava stories.

We love Ava very much. She's really a sweet, caring, expressive little girl. She loves playing pretend, reading stories, watching movies, snuggling and hugging and kissing her baby sister, Elise. We're so happy that we get to be her parents.