Caught on tape

Snowy Day

After a decade in Portland, we've grown accustomed to an annual one-inch dusting of snow, which is generally given a panic-inducing name like "Arctic Blast 08" or "Snowpocalypse 09." The city shuts down and drivers literally abandon their vehicles on the highway (for good reason).

So while we were in Boston, imagine our surprise when we witnessed more than an inch of snow on the ground with no ensuing hysteria. The mail was still delivered, people went to work, and the sidewalks were shoveled. Inspired by such resolve, we took full advantage of our white Christmas by bundling Ava in a ridiculously large snowsuit, making snow angels, and introducing Ava to snowmen.

Our little snow angel.

Helen, pretending to like the cold.

After getting the hang of walking, we upped the ante by putting Ava in a giant snow suit with no feet.

Christmas: A play in two acts

Act 2: Boston

Let's get one thing out of the way up front. Yes, we were just there in November. And you certainly aren't the only one who thinks that flying cross-country two times with a baby in so many months is a recipe for disaster. Just ask the passengers of Alaska Airlines flight 35.

Our little elves.

Oh, man...does Ava ever love that Ian. She wanted to hug him and squeeze him and poke him to bits.

Unfortunately, Ian wasn't quite as impressed. After a few encounters he was so traumatized that he threw up, on multiple occasions, at the mere sight of Ava.

Christmas: A play in two acts

Lucky girl that she is, Ava celebrated Christmas twice this year. Once in Portland with Grandad and Gran Edwards (plus, not to be forgotten, Brody) and for a second time in Boston with Uncle Tom, Auntie Emily, and cousin Ian.

Act 1: Portland

First let's start things off with a glamour shot by the tree.

Opening presents with the gang. Brody, as usual, looking quite debonaire.

Playing with the first of many toys.

Attempting to destroy things, x-mas style.

Ava's biggest smile of the day came when we lined her up with the stockings, which makes us think we could have gotten away without buying all those gifts after all.

Ava at the keys. Let's be honest, she isn't very good. Next Christmas: piano lessons.

Ava's Eleventh Month

Despite the dismal number of blog posts of late, this has been quite an exciting month for little Ava Cakes. Most importantly, the girl can walk! Sure, we're using a loose definition of the term, but she's taking a few unaided steps in a row and seems very proud of herself. Not nearly as proud as we are, of course.

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?

Busy as a bee

We have a new-found love for Halloween.

Ava's Ninth Month

She talks! She dances! She has teeth (2, on the bottom)! What an amazing little person.

Our Baby's Got Mad Skills

Reading this blog may give you the impression that Ava's life is all fun and games. However, over the last 8 1/2 months, Ava has been hard at work improving some core competencies. Here's a review of her most recent achievements:

Pulling herself up
Ava is wreaking havoc on all of our furniture by using our coffee table as her own personal drum set. She's been pulling herself up for almost two months now and is currently working on "cruising" (using furniture to walk herself around a room).

"Walking"
Brody is still adjusting to an upright Ava, so it's taken us a few weeks to capture this skill on tape without Brody looking and sounding like a menace in the background.

Climbing Stairs
Yesterday we placed Ava in front of the stairs and she started climbing them, just like that. She's a natural. This gave her confidence to turn around and try to climb back down unaided, an area in which she is not quite as adept. This makes us rather happy to live in a one-story bungalow.

Standing
Ava can stand on her own, but not long enough for us to get out a video camera. We'll let you use your imagination with this still shot. Shake your head slightly as you look at this photo for 10 seconds--that's what the video would look like.
Pommel horse
Ava continues to break down barriers with her achievements on the pommel horse, traditionally restricted to male gymnasts. This video is actually from June, so you can only imagine how accomplished she is now.

Bassist Wanted

For the first time in six years none of our adjoining neighbors are in a practicing band, so Ava has taken it upon herself to fill the void. Marking an unofficial Portlander rite of passage, she has started jamming with her friend, Alexander Cash. Granted, they practice in a church school room rather than a basement, but let the record show there's no discernible difference between her drumming and that of our former neighbors.

Next up, a gig as a barista--when she's not on tour.

Ava's Eighth Month

Ava embraced summer's last gasp by roadtripping, playing outdoors with her friends, and spending quality time with her East Coast grandparents. The big surprise for all this month was the early arrival of her cousin Ian Gregory Edwards. They've since become Skype pen pals and she's looking forward to meeting him in November!

Our current project, Operation Plump Up, is in full swing. If you're in the mood for pureed apricots served with butter, full-fat yogurt, and heavy cream, pull up a chair next to Ava.

Ava-cation

Ava doesn't know many people but she is lucky enough to know some with vacation homes. Thanks MacSchweitzers for hosting us in Sunriver for Ava's very first vacation.

Hour three of the beautiful drive to Sunriver. Note the pacifier.

Brian and Helen quickly jumped into vacation mode. Baby? What baby?

Of course we slept in. And by "slept in" we mean "woke up really early."

Tiny baby. Giant bed.


Ava suffers through our trip to the playground.

Wildlife viewing

Ava gets her float on.

Ava enjoys happy hour.

Chilly evenings call for a sensible sweater.

New day. New pool.

Crawl, version 2.0

Ava would like a re-release of her crawling video. She's been honing her skills over the last two months and has a great deal to show for it. She has all but abandoned her downward dog reverse crawl, and now only utilizes the commando crawl in desperate situations.

Behold, the masterful...the incomparable...Ava:

Ava goes coastal

This August the family hopped in the car for Ava's first trip to the ocean.

Sure it's cold on the Oregon Coast, but that sun's a killer. Sunscreen makes Ava angry.

Overlooking Cannon Beach

Getting ready for her first toe dip

Ava does her best seal imitation

Oregon in August. Ava dons her beachwear: jeans and a long sleeved shirt.

See...everybody hates to leave.