Bedtime rituals

Avi has a good life... She eats, sometimes bathes, always gets a story and a breastfeeding before she curls up in bed with her "lovey" and falls asleep for (this is the best) 11-12 straight hours!  Yes, Avi is finally, finally, finally sleeping through the night!

 Reading with Daddy.  Avi will now say "lap", meaning she wants to sit on our lap to read.

 Uh oh!  Avi is getting sleepy - as seen in the inevitable rubbing of the eyes!

Brush those teeth!  Avi doesn't always have this much fun brushing her teeth.  In fact, we have to sometimes hold her down and even then we can only get a few good swipes at her pearly whites.  She is at a point where she wants to brush her own teeth.  The only problem with that is she often brushes the outside of her mouth better than the inside!

Santa Barbara Zoo with Dorian, Penelope & Brian!

Our friends, who we actually knew B.A. (before Avi), invited us to go to the Santa Barbara zoo on a day trip with them.  So, we carpooled down there and made a day trip out of it.  The weather was slightly drizzling, but that kept the crowds at home.  We packed a lunch and ate on the grassy hill while the kids played in between bites.  They both took a nap in their strollers, somewhere between the rattlesnake exhibit and the gorillas.  They were happy, we were happy!

 One little mokey - the cutest of them all!

 An elephant in the background.

 Mommy and Avi feeding the giraffe.  Fun!

 It cost $5 for 3 small pieces of lettuce!  We figured that this giraffe made about $150 an hour!

 Giraffe eyelashes... now I know where that $150/hour goes: to mascara!

 Giraffe tongue, black and rough.

 Getting suited for the rain.

 Penelope helped rock Avi to sleep in her stroller. Thanks, Penelope!

Avi and mama sad that it is time to leave...

The Shoe Fetish Continues...

Snap shots in Avi's everyday life, #192

 We get to look at this good-looking man all day long!

 Avi getting bathed in Sitti's bath with Daddy next to her.

 I thought Avi was so clever here.  She put TWO straws together and sucked her almond chocolate milk through them both.  Pretty skillful for a 20-month old!

 Everyday, literally every day, Avi puts on her parents shoes.  This always looks so funny to us, but these Ugg boots shots had us laughing the most!

Parent Participation, Part II.

Michael visited Parent Participation with us last week and thus our camera came, too.

 Learning new songs.

 Interacting with the songs and their movements.

 Macy, Tessa, Avi.  They usually look more excited than this photo shows.  

 Macy and Avi.  These two are laughing buddies!  You put them together, and they will start cracking up over anything!  It is absolutely adorable to watch them play and laugh.

 Tessa, Avi & Macy looking at a "rolly poley" bug in Corrin's hand.

 Avi trying to touch the bug.

 Avi in the swing with Cousin Kendall in the background.

 All the girls on the swings!  This was a hard shot to get, and it still isn't that great... Try to get 4 toddlers to look your way at the same time!

 Poster girls for Parent Participation: Tessa, Kendall, Macy & Avi.

Kendall imitating Mommy Sarah by holding her purse the same exact way! Sarah is about 4 months pregnant in this photo.  We just found out she is having a girl!

The Cheese Monkey.

The other day, Avi woke up from her nap and wanted "fooood" as usual.  But this day, all she wanted was cheese, lots and lots of sliced goat cheese.  So, I (naturally) called her the "cheese monkey".  In fact, if I say "monkey" after anything, it usually gets Avi to smile!

Oh My Gosh! Isn't she the cutest!

It was a normal morning this Monday, we got up and got dressed as usual.  But after I put this new shirt on Avi, I had to do a photo shoot.  Poor Avi, I dragged her outside before it was even 8:00am.  She didn't seem to mind, though...

Shirt: hand-me-down from Pacha & Millie, Leggings: BabyLegs, Shoes: gift from Gigi Louise.  Thanks to all who keep Avi fashionable!