I had a motherly scared-in-the-pit-of-your-stomach experience today. Before Mass, I dropped Ava off in the church daycare. This was her 3rd visit. I got my pager, she cried, I waited out in the hall till her cries subsided, then I was on my way to the sanctuary to celebrate Mass without a squirmy toddler. I made it till about the Eucharist before I decided to go get her. When I went downstairs to the nursery room where I dropped her off, I eagerly looked inside the room from behind the baby gate, but I did not see her amongst the kids. (Let me now say that I failed to see and hand-written sign taped to the door frame that said something like "3-5 years.") My heart started to beat FAST and I clumsily tried to get the unfamiliar gate open, while I was saying to the two women in the room, "Where's my daughter?" They looked at me kind of strange, but didn't say anything. I repeated my question as I still tried to get into the room. Then finally someone said something about a room next door. (The two other times I had been there the "room next door" was not a part of the childcare equation - I had no idea it was in existence.) I rushed over 5 feet to my right and tried the knob, which was locked. I looked through the small window and saw an older woman holding Ava (THANK GOD) and tapped on the window...forcefully tapped. A young woman opened the door and I said, "Can I have my daughter?" I was trying to sound calm, but in fact I was on the precipice of being terrified. The woman who was holding Ava said, "Ok mija! I'll be gone next Sunday, but I will see you soon." She was very sweet and gentle with her, which I found soothing for myself in that moment.

In the car on the way to the Waffle House, I drafted an imaginary letter to the church that said something like "establish better communication between childcare providers and parents," "don't switch the rooms the kids are in as it leads to confusion and unnecessary stress," and "I would like to volunteer as a caregiver" (so I can fix all your problems and stay with my daughter instead of have to leave her again). Alas, all of this washed away as Ava and I shared a waffle.

Yes, I will take her back to our church daycare again, but not without having a conversation with the women who run the operation. (It doesn't help that the other night I woke up in a fright after having a nightmare about my child being snatched out of a daycare....)

Ssssssssssssssss........

There was a snake in the garage a few days. It was small, but continually tried to come after us and wouldn't stay out when we put him out. The little bugger had pretty big aspirations.

Today I found another (dead) snake in the front lawn. Totally different color, but same size. What a strange coincidence. Two snakes in 3 days. Hmmmm....

Thursday I took Ava to the Harbor for the weekly concert. She had a great time running around the grass, jabbering to everyone she passed by and dancing to the music.

Today I bought her an antique toddler bed that after MUCH refinishing and TLC will be her next bed. It's really cute. I'll do before and after pics...if I ever make it to the after part.

Biscuit Basker Raider

I guess Ava is taller than I give her credit for.

I had made turkey chili and biscuits for dinner and she especially loved the biscuits, of course. (Yes, Auntie Caroline, Ava likes "white dinners" too!) My new goal is to forgo the dishwasher and wash all my dishes by hand, dry them and put them away after every meal. (Only because I'll run the washer, then I'm not motivated to unload it so I procrastinate, and then I have to hand-wash dishes anyhow...) So as I was preoccupied with my dishpan-hands, I notice Ava walk into the living room with what looked like a biscuit in her hand. "That can't be," I thought. "I had set the basket of biscuits up on the counter out of her reach." Just then I spun around to find the basket on the kitchen floor and the biscuits scattered about. I don't know how she did it, but somehow she got the basket off the counter, pilfered a biscuit and ran off to the living room to enjoy it, and leave enough crumbs for the vacuum to dine on. Remarkable.

Commence tooth grinding...

Big news - we have a molar! Tonight I spotted the tip of her first molar erupting. She doesn't seem to notice (for the time being...), but I caught a glimpse of it when she was screaming because I was putting her in her high chair. (Side note- this is why she generally doesn't eat in her high chair anymore!) I reached in there for a little feel and my finger confirmed what my eyes had seen. You can't stop progress!

Today Ava enjoyed her second story time session at our local library. The childrens librarian is just wonderful and Ava enjoys her stories and activities, and especially likes checking out the other little kids. She was pretty shy the first time we went, but today she was more curious and let down her guard and had fun. It was really sweet.

I finished her reading nook today. I made a pink curtain and hung it to separate the area and make it feel special, and I finished making flannel pillow cases for the plethora of pillows that she enjoys flopping on. She loves to get a book and sit up against a pillow and read to me in her reading voice, much like her phone voice, which is loud and babble-y. I'm reading her Little House in Brookfield and while I read to her she pretends to read along from another book. Cute is an understatement.

Sunny Days

This past weekend we enjoyed the (somewhat) cooler weather. This picture was taken at an outdoor mall. This was also the day that Ava discovered she likes ice cream...although she still won't eat it from a spoon....she won't eat anything from a spoon, only a fork. But she dipped her finger right in it and decided it was something she was interested in. It was pretty cute to see her sneaking in her little finger for progressively more ice cream.

Ava loves to carry around her little Fancy Pals from grandma. It's a little pony in a denim purse, so perfect for her new life out in the country in TX. "Fancy Pals" was on the tag, and the ring to it is so cute, I can't give it up and call it plain old pony bag. I snapped this picture of her today as she was meandering around the house.








This is wet baby, all curly-haired and dewy post-bath. The tattered old bear on the chair was the teddy bear mom and dad gave to me on my first Christmas eons ago. I think I stole that little sailor dress off one of Jenny's bears. Sorry Jen. Oh, and the Winnie the Pooh was mine too. He still has one of my original diaper pins on his shirt. Once he was lost and I recovered him years later, rescuing him from a room in a house that was full of...... well, mom you probably remember the story. :)


And just in case word hasn't travelled fast enough yet, Lucy's having a girl. I'm spillin' the beans Luc!