Sleeping Baby

Is there anything sweeter then a sleeping baby? I think not!

Lately

Oh my goodness it has been a long time since I updated this thing! I will have pictures from Christmas up as soon as I get them all sorted. In the meantime, here are a few pictures from the last month. Life has been pretty status quo. Ava is a walking pro now, saying more and more, and that big personality is getting larger everyday. Oh! and her hair is finally starting to get thicker...so cute. Brent's work is going well, and I am keeping busy with my contract work and little miss Ava.

Ava has a few new favorite places to play.

Enjoying some fun in the snow.

My little outside girl starts to get a little stir crazy when it is too cold to go outside (and so does her mom!)

For all her busyness, Ava still likes to take some time to relax.

Walking!!

It seems like it has taken forever for Ava to start walking. She is such a busy body that I though she would be on the move early. Ava had taken up to three steps at a time, but that was it. I knew she was able, but just didn't have the confidence to do it. But suddenly, one day, she just started going! 

First Snowshoeing Adventure!!

Last weekend, we met up with our friends, Andrea and Jeff, in Vail to go snowshoeing. I had never been before, but Brent and I are on a quest to find a winter activity I will enjoy. We are thinking that if there is something I like to do in the snow, then I won't dread it so much.

It was a pretty cold and snowy day. We forgot Ava's normal hiking backpack, so we had use the baby carrier that straps in the front. She was a little squashed in, but did pretty well with it. Ava was  a trooper with the cold and snow. We hiked a little under an hour one way and then turned around. Right when we turned around, it started snowing and blowing pretty hard. That kind of push Ava over the edge and she cried most of the way back to the car. Luckily, we made good time back to the car.

The good new is, we had a great time! It was fun to hang out with with friends and get to enjoy the beauty of snow covered mountains. Looking forward to doing more snowshoeing this winter!

Driving to Vail....looks so ominous!

Family snow picture

I love how Ava is smushed into that carrier.

First time in the snow! She was not quite sure what to do with it. Every time a snowflake would land in her mouth, she would try to spit it out.

Cute little bundled up baby.

I think she might be a lover of the snow like her Daddy.

Andrea and Jeff trying to push our car out of the snow. Don't worry, we got out.

Ava needed a little snuggle with mom after her traumatic encounter with the blowing snow.

No worse for the wear....just some rosey red cheeks.

Halloween

Ava was a little monkey for Halloween. She did not go trick or treating because Brent and I decided it might look a little like we were asking for candy since Ava is only one and does not talk or walk yet. I still managed to take plenty of pictures though.

Birthday Party!

We had a pretty low key birthday party this year, but I think Ava had a happy day. We actually did presents and cake the day before her birthday because Brent had to work late on the day. We had such fun celebrating our big one year old and remembering what we were doing a year ago. It is a lot more fun having Ava on this side of my belly!

Here is Ava enjoying her new toys!

 

For dinner we had one of Ava's favorites, spaghetti!

Cake Time

From our little bitty new baby.....

To our big 1 year old!!!

Happy Birthday Ava!!! We love you!!

1 year old!!

What an amazing year it has been. We never could have imagined how much we could love our sweet little Ava Claire. It had been so fun to watch her grow and learn!

At Ava's one year check-up she was weighting in at 21lb (50th%) and 29inches (75th%). Still a long skinny girl. She has four teeth, with four more pushing through. Ava has taken a few steps but is not yet consistently walking. She talks ALL the time, although not much of it is actual words. She still loves to sleep, eat, play outside and read. 

Anytime she is playing with something soft, she lays down on it like she going to sleep. I love it.

Loves her bath time. If only she could learn not to pull the drain plug out.

Her new fascination is with the microwave. I think she likes that she can see herself in it.

Finally holding the bottle on her own!

At the her year check up. She completely shredded that paper waiting for the doctor.

Estes Park with the Dixons

The first weekend of October Brent's parents came in town. We all headed up to Estes Park for a few days. The weather was great, the fall colors were in full swing and it was elk season. We had a nice relaxing time, watching the Cowboys game, eating out and hiking. Thanks for a good weekend Dixons!

Snuggles with DD

As always....laughing with Pops

Sweet...love these two

Hiking in Rocky Mountains National Park. Notice the one Aspen behind us.

My little climber at it again!

Another Race...Aspen

Brent and I both had a race this time. The weekend of September 24th we headed up to Aspen with my cousin Emily who was in town from Texas for the race. It was a beautiful weekend and the Aspens were starting to change for the fall. The race was a half marathon through the mountains of Aspen. Really hard, but great scenery. This was Brent's third time to do the race, my second and Emily's first. Emily did awesome, I did mediocre and Brent, unfortunately, had to stop because he was sick. It was still a great weekend and we had so much fun getting to spend time with Emily.

View from the road. Love seeing Aspens start to change.

Ava taking it easy at dinner.

Pre-race

The start...the first mile is straight up a ski slow.

Telluride

The weekend of September 9th Brent had a race in Telluride. This was his second year to do it. The race starts in Ouray and he runs over a mountain pass to Telluride. It is a tough race and Brent did well. After the race we spent the next two days in Telluride. It was beautiful and relaxing!

Here are some pictures of the drive. It is so beautiful and fun to see all the different mountain terrains across the state.

Ava was such a good traveler. The trip is 6 hours and she was hardly fussy at all.

Here is Brent at the start of the race. It was a cold morning!

Ava and I then drove over to Telluride to see the finish line.

The Finish!! So proud of him!

The condo that we stayed in had a broken heater so it was pretty chilly. Here is our sweet girl all bundled up inside.

On Sunday we took a ride up the gondola. Amazing views!

Ava loved looking out the windows.

Beautiful!

Ava and Daddy

Family picture

The last morning we were there we took a walk into town to get coffee. The clouds were hanging low in the mountains and it was so pretty!