Ava is 2 1/2 years old!

Ava,

You are 2 1/2 years old today! I cannot believe how fast it has gone. As daddy said today, you are half way to 5. 

You area an amazing big sister and daughter. You have the strongest personality. I would describe you the following ways:

Curious/Inquisitive

Silly

Headstrong

Loving

Compassionate

Smart, of course

Tentative/Shy

Your speech grows by leaps and bounds daily. You are good at communicating what you want when you want it. That is, if you are not melting down.

Your curiosity will get you in trouble as you grow up, but for now, you love to listen to daddy teach you about the world we live in. You ask lots of questions and listen intently at the same time.

You are silly-sauce. Once you get a laugh from someone, you will do or say something over and over again. You love to make us laugh. Your fish dance and your booty shaking is what makes us roll on the ground laughing.

You are definitely headstrong. I think you get that from both your parents. If you don't get what you want, you have a tendency to cry as if the world is ending. You hate it when I turn the TV off. Washing your hair is still a battle and so is brushing your teeth.

You love your brother Noah. You are such a super helper when it comes to getting things for him. If he is upset, then you are upset. I know you will protect him.

Today, we put your hair in a ponytail for the first time and it was sooo cute.

You love to read books. It is your favorite pastime. You like Search and Find books the best. You know where everything is, but you still love to do it. You will finish sentences in books that have rhyming words.

You still can't live without Bobo. You still have your paci, which we are hoping to get rid of it this year. We only allow it at bedtime, but you are always trying to negotiate having it.

You are very scared of loud noises. During the monsoon season, when you hear thunder, daddy has to sleep on the floor in your room. Your sleep, in general, in the past 2 months has left mommy and daddy more tired than ever. You wake up more times than Noah most nights. Luckily daddy has your monitor!! You still take a 1 1/2-2 hour nap every day. You have even grown out of using your sleep sack. You must have ALL your animals in bed with you when you go to bed. There are sometimes over 15 animals in bed with you!! Some sleep at the foot of the bed and some sleep on top of your blanket.

This one is my favorite because this has been your demeanor as of late!!

Nana, this one is for you, Ava is ready for her little girl apron..Maybe for Christmas!!!

Your favorite TV shows right now are Dora and Mickey Mouse Club. 

You are the master manipulator and think you can outsmart mommy and daddy. If you want attention, you complain that something hurts. My favorite is "my sideways hurts" What is a sideways anyway!?!?! If you are getting in trouble you will try to deflect it by saying that something hurts. Mommy and daddy are on to you!!

You are truly a blessing in our lives and they are only better with you! Your smile and cute little voice melts my heart. 

You are still a picky eater. You would snack all day long if I would let you versus eating a full meal.  You love your veggies and fruits and the rest is a shot in the dark.

Love your mommy, daddy and little brother Noah....