google

We call Ava "google". And "googley goo". And "gurgley googley goo". And "gurgley google baby". And just about anything else you can imagine along those lines (she gurgles up lots due to her reflux). When Ian calls her "Ava", Max interjects with "her name is not Ava, it's gahley gooley goo-le, that's what mom calls her and we have to call her that too..." They argue about what her real name is on a regular basis. The more time goes by, the more I like her real name. Even if it is super popular. Even if there will be like 10 Ava's in her kindergarten class. I'm over it. I think.

more pics here

family photo

We took a family picture with the whole Scoville family last week. I still haven't seen a copy of it. Someone post it on flickr or email it to me please! The color scheme was black white red. Coordinating outfits for family pictures is not my forte. Luckily my children have exactly one red item of casual clothing each, because I did not have the time/energy to go shopping. Here is a quick family shot we took afterward. Seeing ourselves in so many pictures this week has prompted both J-P and me to take diet/exercise more seriously. Yikes.

rachel's wedding

ava + lilymax busting a move

snuggling ava

getting down on the dance floor the chicken dancegirl cousins

boy cousins + the beautiful bride
family photo

Rachel's wedding was fun. And exhausting. We stayed up way too late last week sewing, talking, ironing, making handmade ties for the little boys, and hair flowers for the little girls. Max had the time of his life dancing and twirling the night away with his cousins. We had a fantastic time hanging out with all (six) of J-P's siblings and their families.

installation art?

Max has been getting in touch with his artistic side lately. I found this in his room today. I'm pretty sure that tiger won't fit into the washing machine.
I spent most of last week sewing around the clock to make table runners and the like for my sister-in-law's wedding. Every once in a while I took a break and sewed something for myself. I can't get enough of the flowers and ruffles that are everywhere.
Today at the mall I inspected every petal on the shirts and belts at j crew and Loft so I could come home and try my hand at it. Oh, so many projects, so little time...

firsts

A few days ago Ava rolled over for the first time. I know it was a fluke (she is only three months old), but it was so cute to see her laying there with her arm stuck.

friday fun

Two minutes after I finished sweeping + mopping I turned around to see this:Ian, our resident two-year-old, is the mastermind behind most of the messes here at chez scoville. If he disappears, I start sprinting through the house until I find him. And he's quick. The other day he managed to open and distribute an entire bottle of fingernail polish all over my bathroom in the 30 seconds that it took me to find him. And he must be strong because today he managed to rip the door off of the kitchen we just bought him (so he would stay out of mine). Sigh.

(this is what happens when I request a smile)

bits and pieces

Things I want to remember about this weekend:

-Max came up to me and sheepishly asked for a "bar" (kids cliff bar) while his daddy was getting him ready for bed. I was not sure if his teeth had been brushed, so I sent him to ask his dad. He batted his eyelashes and said, "no, I want to ask you because daddy says no."

-How Ian called everyone strange animal names and then laughed his head off..."you're a platypus mommy!"..."you're a rhinoceros max!" And how Max got so upset and said "No Ian! I'm not a rhinoceros, I'm just Max."

-When I picked up Max from his primary class at church, his teacher told me that they were talking about all the things that Jesus made and Max made sure they did NOT forget about dinosaurs.

-Ava discovered her tongue. She used it to create the cutest cooing conversations to date, and to taste her toys. She loves her toys. She "talks" to them all day long.

p.s. she is feeling much better

breathing treatments

I took little miss ava back to the pediatrician yesterday. He doubled her albuterol dose and increased the frequency to every two hours--around the clock. We are all exhausted here at chez scoville. I have an unwanted buzz from holding her too close while giving the treatments. Now I put her in her swing and stand back. The boys follow me into our room and get into EVERYTHING while I give them to her. Oh how I miss sleep and a clean house.

p.s. my quaint sewing corner has been evacuated and replaced with J-P's office. it's totally messing up my bedroom zen. one of these years we'll have a bigger house.