Acting crazy before noticing Gaudi's peepee

Ava has been a little cuckoo lately. She runs and squeals and grunts. She's just like her father.
She also tracks Gaudi's every move. Here she comments on his peepee. She has memorized the spot that he regularly tags. She doesn't miss a beat.

"Ready, Set, Go!"

Ava astonishes me with all the new stuff she says. This was no exception. On her last run down the little hill, she says, "Ready, set, go." She absorbs everything and repeats. (So watch your mouth!)

"Yucky agua..."

Here's a video of Ava taken yesterday during our walk. She's obsessed with all of our neighbor's front porches, especially this one because they have a fountain. But, the water as she says, is "Yucky!" Enjoy.

Long Beach Aquarium (Part 2)

More shots from our awesome (tiring) day.

"Mommy, daddy, mommy, daddy!" Sometimes, Ava will just walk around the house saying that really fast.

Deedee has a bird on her arm!
Daddy, Deedee and Ava weren't too crazy about the aviary.

Playing in the water with mommy.
I think this was her favorite part of the day.

Eating tangerines on mommy's lap while daddy got the car.

Pontificating over what a fabulous day she had.
And, she didn't even fall asleep in the car on the way home! (Sigh...)

Long Beach Aquarium (Part 1)

Last weekend we went to the Long Beach Aquarium to see how it stacked up against Seattle Aquarium. It was, well, different. Not better or worse, just a bit bigger and more high-tech. Either way...Ava loved it. She especially loved Auntie Deedee being there.

Watching bull riding at lunch before the aquarium. She said, "OUCH!"
every time they got kicked off. Don't think she's a fan.

Touching the slimy, slippery eels. Pure heaven!

Forcing mommy to sit down in front of the fish tank. (Sorry for the booby flash.)

Watching the gorgeous birds. She loved the one with the blue beak.

With Auntie Dee and mommy...

"Wow fish!"

Ava loved the Seattle Aquarium. She ran through the halls, squealed at the sea otters and tried to grab the star fish. Here's a super cute clip of her noticing the fish above us - and then showing off her belly. (*Beware if you're around her...she'll ask to see your belly, too.)

Seattle for 4th of July! (Part 4)

We got to take the Seattle/Bainbridge ferry to the gorgeous wedding. Although Ava had been on a ferry before, it was WAY too fast for her. This ferry to Bainbridge was much longer and much more beautiful. We were on our way to the wedding. Ava's and my hair got completely messed up, but we went for the sexy, tousled look.

Noticing the birds above us...

Showing mommy that the birds were flying away. Shortly before these shots were taken we were at the very bow of the boat. We were tempted to hold her up and shout, "I'm the king of the world!", but that would have been way too corny, even for Ava.
*Cool tip: Click on this picture to get a closer look at the Seattle skyline and the Space Needle!

Shortly after the wedding ceremony. Ava's expression is, well, indescribable. I'm not quite sure what she was doing.

Ava running around on the water front, looking fabulous.

Reflecting and asking herself, "Who am I?"

Seattle for 4th of July! (Part 3)

One of Ava's favorite parts of the trip was the Seattle Aquarium. It was a blast seeing it through her eyes. Everything is fresh again. (Wow...I just sounded like a cliche.) Here are some shots.

*TIP: Click on the photo to get a big, crisp view of it.

Ava is much braver than we are! She was touching all the squishy, funny water creatures.

More squishy stuff. She even touched a starfish. She wanted to jump in the water.

Some of the fish were bigger than her head. And she noticed them all, big and small.

She looks like such a big girl here.

After a long day at the aquarium, Ava felt the need to strip off her clothes and put on mommy's shoes. I feel like doing that too, sometimes.

Seattle for 4th of July! (Part 2)

While up in Seattle, we had to do the tourist thing. We visited Pike Place Market, the Space Needle and the Seattle Aquarium. Here are the adventures at the Space Needle!

OK...this shot isn't as crazy as it looks. But, I do get props for my mad photo taking skillz.

An artistic shot by dad, that actually worked!

Ava and me running around, catching the breeze in our hair.

Happy baby girl. She LOVED it up there.

Ava on my shoulders when we got off the Space Needle. I was spinning in circles, which made me incredibly sick and her incredibly happy.

Seattle for 4th of July! (Part 1)

Last weekend for July 4th we took a family vacation up to Seattle for my co-worker's wedding. It was a blast, and way too short. Here are some shots of us downtown, checking out the scene.

With daddy just outside Pike Place Market. Ava is staring at the water, which she is obsessed with.

Running through the blanket at the park just outside Pike Place Market. At one point, Ava's head got caught in the blanket and she got knocked to the ground. She was too happy to cry about it.

Petting one of the many dogs at Pike Place. She offered her sugar snap pea to this guy, but he wasn't too interested.

Perusing the many items for purchase. She was trying to figure out what souvenirs to bring home.

With mommy at the stand where they sling fish all over the place. She's trying to get that "surprised" look for the picture.