Ava is 17 months old!

Age:  17 Months (as of November 6)

Our little strawberry's first time at Boo at the Zoo!
We almost forgot to get her a bucket so we picked this up right before we went to the zoo and Ava loved it!
It was no surprise, though, since she always loves new things to explore.

Clothes:  18-24 months

Boo at the Zoo with Great Grandpa Carl, Great Grandma Judy, and Grandma Julie (Daddy was taking the picture)

Favorite Foods:  Cheerios, yogurt, cheese, grapes, peas & carrots, macaroni and cheese, quiche, pasta with tomato sauce (loves cooked/canned tomatoes), mushroom and beef stroganoff, eggie-weggie (egg and cheese) burritos, raspberries, blueberries, grilled turkey and cheese sandwiches, homemade pizza, quesadillas, Mexican rice, and baked pasta squares.  We have tried pork chops, pot roast, and broccoli and she did not like any of those at all.  Just tonight, Ava used a spoon and fed herself from her own container of applesauce!  For the past month or so she will cry unless you give her a utensil to hold during dinner.  This was the first time we ever left her applesauce container on her tray and she didn't dump it!  She did so good and almost ate the whole thing all on her own.  She dipped her hand into it one time, but then went back to the spoon.  It was awesome to watch!

First piece of candy.  We didn't actually let her eat the Butterfinger.
She didn't know what she was missing out on, anyway.  She was happy to just hold it all morning.

Favorite Words:  Ava talks all the time!  She can be quiet when she talks, so you have to listen carefully, but she still repeats most words she hears.  Some of her favorites are:  walk, cheers (yes, we've taught her how to do this with her cup), bye-bye, off (lights, toy switches), shut (cabinets, doors, etc.), night-night, cheese, whoa (when she feels like she might fall), daddy, mama, trees, hi (constantly says this to strangers), hop hop (she has a baby bunny that she calls 'hop hop'), no-no.

Ava loved Boo at the Zoo.  She smiled so much!
Here she is all smiles in the petting zoo.

Favorite Activities:  have mommy or daddy help her walk, reach for things she shouldn't have (mommy's camera, mommy's computer, kleenexes, wipes, mommy's teacher bag).  We went on a short day trip to visit my Grandma on November 1 and I was so worried about the 2 1/2 hour car ride.  I went to Toys 'R Us and got her four new toys!  One of them was a Minnie Mouse microwave.  She loves pushing the buttons and opening and shutting the door.  She still loves to play with her tea set that she got for her birthday from Grandma Julie.  She also loves her V-tech walker that she got for Christmas last year.  After dinner, we take her into the living room to play and she immediately says, "walk" and pulls up on her walker.  Tonight she was turning it around and around all over the living room.  I truly think that if she just let go and try walking on her own she'd realize it's not as daunting or hard as she might think.  Every time I let go of her hands, though, she immediately sits down.

Taking a break with Daddy by the elephants.

Least Favorite Activities:  Our sweet, easy-going baby has morphed into a little toddler that says "no-no" more than anything else!  I ask her if she's done with her food, "no-no."  One of us takes her to get her diaper changed and it's "no-no."  I try to give her a bite of food, "no-no."  One of us tries to pick her up while she's playing, "no-no."  Ava almost always says it in a polite way, but we're in uncharted waters now!  She also used to hate getting her nails clipped, but one night Jimi suggested doing it after bath as we're getting ready for bed, so I did.  She was so relaxed, she didn't cry, didn't pull away, she just let me clip her nails.  Good idea, Daddy!

Cheese!

A sweet, candid moment with Great Grandpa

A new baby is starting at daycare on Monday and I worry about how Ava will react.  She's always received so much attention at daycare and is kind of considered the "baby" there.  I've been talking to her about this new change and saying the word baby to her in the car on the way to daycare.  She will say it back to me, but of course she doesn't truly know what this means yet.  I'll just have to remember that if she's extra fussy these next few weeks it probably means that she just needs some extra loving (which we would be happy to give)!

Love this sweet baby so much!  And those cute baby teeth!