Rock-a-bye

So many excuses why I haven't added any new info here lately. Ava's turning 2, mom and dad getting settled, busy, busy, etc., etc. But the real reason is that my "free time" (I use the term VERY loosely, as free time usually constitutes dishes or other household work) at night is slowly dwindling away. I used to get an hour or two after Ava would go to bed before I would head off to sleep, but these days it's not untypical for me to fall asleep on the floor next to her bed while I'm waiting for her to drift off to sleepyland, only to awaken late at night and stumble into bed myself. Once weaning was fully intact, sleep times became a bit more of a drawn-out event. Nursing my child to sleep was a quick and predictable process, leaving me plenty of "me time" (again, me time usually translates into more stuff I do to keep the house running... or at the very least checking email, which I still have many replies that need to be written!). Bed time now takes a bit longer as there is much more reading and snuggling involved, NOT THAT I MIND ONE BIT. In fact, I love it. I dread the day when Miss Independent doesn't want mommy that close. And now since the weaning is a few months behind us, I was safely able to bring the rocking chair back into her room (before, it was too much of a reminder of "nursey-bys", aka nursing to sleep). So tonight, for the first time in a very long time, Ava drifted to sleep in my arms while being rocked in our special chair. She's so big I can barely cradle her in my arms without her entire bottom half hanging over the edge. My belly's already significantly protruding, making long-term rocking a bit difficult, but fortunately she was out in just a few minutes. It was a very precious moment that made my heart flutter. I can't imagine holding my son in that chair. I can't imagine any child except Ava. But then again motherhood seemed quite surreal in the beginning and now my baby is quickly blossoming into a little girl. Someone please slow down the clock.

Little piggies

These little piggies can hardly keep their shoes on these days.
Here is Ava enjoying lunch at Grandma's, where she happily runs around barefooted,
chasing after the puppy Brady and seeing what she can get into to explore!
Hurray for Grandma's house!