cinco

How is my first born 5?!?!

I feel like she was just born.

Like she should still be this baby frog:

 

Or this adorable baby:

 

Or this darling toddler:

 

Or this hot-mess of a fluffy little girl:

 

But now she's this beautiful little lady: 

 

And what a wonderful little lady she is.

Avy is patient, helpful, obedient, and has a keen sense of when I'm about to explode.

When I'm in stress mode she'll ask, "Mom, why is your face looking like that?"

and then she'll jump to the rescue and help.

 

She loves dance.

 

She loves to have fun, LOVES to party, loves to create papery/gluey/tapey creations, and loves to sleep.

She says very thoughtful prayers and often pats me on the back and tells me,

"You're a good girl, Mom."

She's very motivated by a reward, and very deterred by a punishment.

She loves school and plans out what she'll take for sharing days in advance.

Girlfriend LOVES to take a shower.

She likes to organize and put things in, "just the perfect spot."

She still changes clothes about 4 times a day on average, and her favorite clothing of choice is a cozy pair of jammers.

 

She loves tuna casserole and requests it almost every night.

She doesn't like meat, but will make an exception for a plain patty from In-N-Out..

A "patty-o" as she calls it.

No bun, no sauce, no cheese, no ketchup...nothing.

Just a plain slab of beef patty.

 

She relishes in our "Girls Nights Out" and once we escape the house, she always shrieks, "Girls PARTY!" 

 

 

 

She's a wonderful older sister.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

She has a love and interest for little novelty knick-knacks.

 

Everywhere we go, she always asks to buy the most random thing.

Today it was a tiny rock dinosaur she HAD to have.

We didn't buy it, but as usual, she said she'll save her money to get it.
And she does.
She saved for all summer long to buy this Marie cat from the Disney Store.

We took her pennies and dimes, all $20 worth, and made it to the store before they opened

 

(as per her request) so she could take part in the unlocking ceremony.
It was precious.

 

She was thrilled and felt like royalty :)
 

 

Avy loves to have fun.

Always up for an adventure.

If there's something out of the ordinary, Avy's there. 

 

 

 

Rarely does she wear a plain-jane outfit.

 

 

 

 

She's such a good helper.

She constantly asks me lately,

"Mom, can I help you with anything?"

 

 

Pretty much, Avy is a dream child.

She makes our home a peaceful, happy place.

Happy 5th Avycakes!

We love you!

 

 

Ashby the 1 year old.

As you may or may not know,

Avy & Ashby share the same birthday.

 

My dr wanted to induce me to have Ashby on Avy's birthday, but I protested & said,

"No way. Birthdays are a big deal at our house & I would hate to be responsible for them not having their own."

So she set my induction for the next day.

However, in true Ashby fashion, she marched to the beat of her own drum & came when she wanted...right on Avy's birthday.

 

And what a great year it's been with her.

She's truly a doll.

Really, she looks like a doll.

She has the silliest personality.

 

She loves to wave at everyone and say either "hi" or "bye".

She's a broken record when it comes to "mom!"
Once she starts saying it, she'll march around repeating it about 100 times.
"mom! mom! mom! mom!..."

 

She's one tough cookie.

 Linc tackles her ALL DAY LONG, and rather than scream, she laughs and laughs.

She LOVES her dad.

This morning when he had to leave for work, she cried and cried. Then she wandered around the house aimlessly yelling, "DA? DA? DA?"

When it's bed time, she tells us.

She cruises around looking for her blankey shouting, "NIGH NIGH!"

And speaking of blankey, she's addicted.

Blankey to Ashby is Kitty to Avy.

She loves to shower or take a bath.
As soon as she hears the water start up, she tugs on her clothes to get nakey as fast as possible.
She's such a busy-body. NEVER sits still.

 

 She says "uh-oh!" only about a million times a day.
She loves to hand me things and say "duh-duh."
I'm pretty sure she's saying "here you go."
She loves to hang with the big kids and does a pretty good job of keeping up.

 

She meows at cats, barks at dogs, and sniffs her nose at bunnies.
I always find her in the most random places:
like sitting in our shower
or snacking in the pantry

or just chillin in her camping chair in the garage

or bobbing over, under, & around the chair legs of the dining room table.
Often when I take a picture of her, she will throw her arms up and say,
 "eeeeeee!" ("cheese!")

Pretty much, she's a gem.
Keeps us laughing, smiling, and melts our hearts numerous times a day.
Happy 1st Birthday, Ash-a-boozle!
 We love you!