Pint-sized princess

If thin is in, Ava is one stylin' baby. But there's no need to get nervous about Ava's small stature (What if she's full sized already?! What if she has to go to her seventh grade dance in a booster seat?!). Being petite has its benefits:

• Cost savings. We don't really have to buy Ava new clothes. Look through the blog, she's worn the same outfits for months now. She just grew out of her newborn onesies.
• Pound for pound, she's the strongest baby around. She's a wiry powerhouse, just like her poppa.
• She's more fun than the heavyweights. Ava's like that tiny cheerleader that you throw on top of the pyramid. She can do all sorts of tricks you would be too scared to perform with a younger baby and would be just physically impossible for most 10-month olds.
• People assume (correctly, of course) that she's very advanced. Ava weighs less than the average five-month old, so imagine the gasps when she toddles around and talks. We just hope the praise doesn't go to her freakishly small head.

Can you hear me now?

It feels like only yesterday Ava didn't know how to use a cell phone at all. She hasn't started texting yet, but we assume it's only a matter of time.

Ava takes her show on the road - part 2

This past week we had a great time introducing Ava to her first cousin, Ian. Lacking any evidence to the contrary, we will say they got along perfectly. Ava was quick to help with rocking (pushing, bouncing) the baby to sleep, stroking (slapping) his face, and kissing his forehead (something that, for Ava, involves teeth). We soon learned that Ava is highly vigilant, as she took to studying him intently whenever she remembered that he existed.

We think they're going to grow up to be very good friends.

If you look closely you will notice Ava is pulling Ian's ear. Quite the prankster.

Ava was shocked to learn that babies come in such small sizes.

Not as shocked as when she learned that, though 7 months younger, Ian was only 3 pounds lighter than her.

Ava rocking. Ian trapped.

Ava's Tenth Month

Ava takes her show on the road - Part 1

Last week Ava took her first trip back east to meet her 10-week-old cousin Ian Gregory Edwards. Her first plane ride (cue heart attack) came complete with her first emergency landing (we should add that Ava was not responsible). Fear not, we all lived to tell the tale.

Ava was remarkably well behaved for a 15-lb spitfire contained in a 10 square foot area for almost 8 hours. Much better, in fact, than the two-year old in front of her that made Ava look like the little angel we know her to be. Thanks go out to that child for completely losing it.

Note the emergency vehicles in the background. How exciting!

One of Ava's many nap fake-outs. She crawled into this position when she saw the blanket. Awwwww.

Reaching out to touch the child seated behind us. Awwwww. Am I right?