~THE END~ Anniversaries and Announcements

A year ago today we were in Kazakhstan and met Ava. As Amber will tell you I get ridiculously emotional when I think about those precious first moments with our daughter. It is amazing to think that it has already been a year - and that it has only been a year. The period leading up to that day in October was at times very hard with the seemingly interminable wait; but that day arrived, and it was perfect. Ava continues to do wonderfully well, and she is the perfect addition to our family. She is truly amazing with what she figures out how to do and how much she understands of what we say (Yes I am biased, but I am allowed). If you want to see how much she's grown, here's some (staged) pictures showing the difference. -Jason

Ava and Daddy

We both get teary when we think about meeting our little girl and how big she's grown already. We could not love her more. I now know what it means to be "in love" with your baby. It is the most wonderful, indescribable feeling. She is an amazing little person. And she is also exactly like us! She is is always doing something that is just like Jason or I do. She does so many cute things. She loves to wear my heels around the house, sing, dance, clean and talk on the phone just like mommy. She likes to tell us long "stories" with tons of gestures. It is adorable. She also loves to give kisses and hugs. I could go on and on about all that Ava does but that would take a very long time. Here are some pictures that show how much she has grown in one year. Look at all of her hair...It's all curls in the back! -Amber

Ava and Mommy

Before and after Pictures

As you can see, she is doing fantastic. At a year to the date of our meeting, Amber & I think it's fitting that we close the blog at this point. Ava continues to take more and more of our time, and the blog is really an afterthought now. I do want to thank all of you who followed the blog, who posted comments, and who just took the time to watch our journey and share a little bit in our joy. The support we received from everyone has meant a lot to us.
Also in the way of an announcement, we're no longer adopting from Kazakhstan (as the blog theme mentions), rather now we are beginning the process for a domestic adoption to get Ava a little brother or sister! So our adoption journey continues, but we now leave you as an overjoyed family of three on our way to becoming four.

Thank you for sharing in my journey, supporting my mommy and daddy and all the love and gifts you have given me!
-Ava

Ava's Re-adoption

This was just a formality but we had to go before the judge and sign some paperwork so Ava could get a NY state birth certificate. She has been ours for almost a year now so it was interesting to go to court again and re-adopt her. She was intrigued by the judge and just stared at him the entire time.

Summer Pictures!

1st District Convention 7/4/08 - 7/6/08


1st Camping Trip 7/31/08 - 8/3/08







1st Family Vacation (Long Beach Island, NJ) 8/8/08 - 8/16/08

1st Fair 8/13/08

Kazakh Picnic (Picnic for families who have adopted from Kazakhstan) 8/30/08

Great Escape

We took Ava to the Great Escape a couple of weeks ago and we had a great day! She went on her first ride (she didn't enjoy), visited the petting zoo and had a blast at the kiddie water park where we stayed most of the day. Here are a few pictures.

A non-pictorial update

So the title probably got some grumbles since the pictures are definitely a hit with Ava's public, but Ava's been home for 6 months now, so I thought an update might be in order. A lot of people ask how she adjusted, how she's doing developmentally, and things like that, so here's an answer. Everything is really great. Really! I don't even think there was much of an adjustment period for Ava. From the moment she was in our arms for good in Almaty she has seemed totally at ease with us. For a while, she would only go to sleep with Amber and she still only wants mommy when she wakes up in the middle of the night (what a great baby), but she runs to us when she goes bump or when something scares her, which is just an amazing feeling.
Ava is very friendly, but also cautious around strangers, especially big groups of strange faces. She remembers faces and people very well though, so even people who get to visit less than regularly she is happy to see.
She's been fairly healthy, a few little colds but nothing major. She's growing really well as you all can see, and her hair is really growing. The curls are especially amazing when she gets done with her bath. She's still mostly babbling, but says a few words now and then. She loves to read too. The books are typically upside down and she starts in the back, but DaVinci used mirror writing, so I'm guessing she's brilliant too. I believe she's reading in Latin as well. She also babbles to me when I get home or call from work. I just agree, say "really?" or "sounds great!". Of course she's probably describing how she's going to kiss boys when she's 3, how much she loves country music, and other things that daddy would find less than pleasing, but what I don't know may kill me eventually.
Teeth are still finding their way to the surface, but that doesn't really stop her from eating and chewing. She eats pretty much everything now with some odd exceptions. Pureed peas? Great! Real peas? Not so Great. Pureed banana? Great! Real banana? Until yesterday - not a chance - much more fun as a toy. She walks (runs), dances, climbs whatever she can, and has recently discovered tippy toes. Very cute.
Truthfully, I think the bigger adjustment has been for Amber & I than Ava. Free time is now that brief period between Ava going to sleep and us passing out. Baby muscles are growing. Amber is even entering an arm wrestling competition (Yes, that is a joke - or is it???). But who would've thought that watching a one year old push her little stroller around the house could be so captivating? Really watching anything she does - sleeping, eating, playing, walking (I could go on but I won't) is now our favorite pastime. Watching her and listening to her is too precious to describe. I wish I had more time to just watch her play and explore.
So yes we are slightly obsessed with our daughter, completely in love, and thrilled to be parents. And to avoid complaints, here's a picture - she loves her boots:

Beautiful Baby

Pictures

Kyle and Ava Meet Again!

Ava and Kyle in November '07

Ava and Kyle Now

We visited Kyle and his mom Sara this week. Ava and Kyle shared the same room at the baby house in Karaganda. Sara was the one who sent us pictures when we had to leave Ava. It was amazing to find out that they live only 20 minutes from us!!
Ava and Kyle ate lunch, took a walk and played together. Kyle is so cute, crawling and pulling himself up on things. Ava, who is now walking, didn't know what to think of his crawling around. She ended up petting his head when he crawled by! Kyle likes to give kisses, they happen to be kisses with his mouth open though! He tried to give Ava one but she didn't appreciate it. It's a good story for when they're older!

Ava's Adventures

CLICK ON PICTURES TO ENLARGE

On mommy's shoulders (mommy looking scary without makeup and her hair brushed)

Climbing through Spencer's doggie door.

Watching Sesame Street

Playing with daddy

First fudge pop, actually it was mommy's and she stole it! She LOVED it!

Dancin'
When we say dancin' she puts her arms back and spins around or tries to anyway. It is so cute!

Sleeping Beauty

Yes, we still have snow!!

Outside in her kitty rain boots. They are way to big and kept falling off! She loves to go outside and gets so happy when say we're going out to play. She's been to the park a few times now that the weather's nice and she loves that too. She cries in the swing and likes the slides, sand box and just walking around watching all the kids.

One of the other new thing she does is hug our legs. She will come up to us and reach her arms around one or both of our legs.

She has also said I love you!!! It doesn't sound exactly correct but when we say it to her she tries to say it back! It's the sweetest thing!

Ava on phone

Little Sweetheart

Here is an update on Ava for all of you who have been asking!
Ava is learning so much and she copies everything we do. She bows her head when we pray. She is playing pretend more and more like pretending to talk on the phone, give her doll a bottle, carrying her "purse" around, dusting and washing things and reading.

She loves to cuddle and will put her head on our shoulder when we ask for a hug. Talk about melting your heart! She is basically a sweetheart.
Also, she loves it when we ooh and aah over her and eats it right up! She is walking really well now too and toddles around non stop.
Ava is having some separation anxiety lately and cries when I leave the room, give her to someone else or put her down. It's not all the time so it may be that she doesn't feel good (teething). She is also still waking up at least a couple times a night but usually (not always) goes back to sleep quickly so I can't complain too much. That's about all for now!

Enjoy the pictures....

Giggling with Mema

Visit with Auntie
"reading" the Bible
Feeding herself yogurt

All Bundled Up
Dusting...I'm teaching her early!
She painted her first pictures and likes to scribble with pencils and crayons. She also tries to eat them.
Giving her moose the bottle

Happy playing

Feeding dolly

Cuddle bunny

BEHOLD!!!! - SHE WALKS!!!

Amber got a nice video of Ava walking around the house a few days ago, so here it is!

Fun being One

Ava has taken her first steps!! She is getting braver and continues to take more steps each day, with prompting and occasionally without. She is getting smarter and bigger each day. She amazes us all the time. She had her second big trip when we went to Florida to visit family. Ava felt the grass on her toes, went swimming and had lots of new experiences.

Our Happy Girl

Ava is such a good baby. Most of the time she is so easy going and happy. She has a little stubborn streak and lets us know when she's not happy though. She has learned a few more things, like "sharing". She hands us everything and smiles when we say "thank you". She likes peek-a-boo. She will duck down behind the coffee table and then pop up and laugh when we say "there you are!". She can also put balls down a "rainspout" on her toy. She loves to walk holding on to our hands or holding on to anything...it's her favorite thing to do. She's going to be walking very soon!

She has also gained 4 pounds since we've been home! And she has 3 teeth now. We think she gets cuter everyday...and we are so amazed at how smart she is. I try but I just can't capture how adorable she is in pictures...of course this is a mom talking. She is truly so beautiful though! We feel so blessed to have her as our daughter!
OK, I'm done bragging!! Here are a few pictures:

A Girl Can't Have too Many Clothes....

or shoes or toys...


Ava has had two more baby showers! A small family one and one at Jason's job. She has recieved some very cute clothes, toys and other items. She does go though a lot of clothes a day and she's growing fast so all of her new things will be used! I'm having fun dressing her up in the cute dresses and outfits too!


She loves all her toys and plays, plays, plays all day! I am glad she has a lot of things to interest her. She loves her musical and talking toys the best, she bounces to any fast music...it's adorable!


She's quite the party girl...here are a few pictures from her showers and at home...

Our Baby is Growing!

Ava is growing! She looks so healthy and happy these days. We are settling into a routine and enjoying our time together as a family! Ava had been sleeping great but then decided that she wanted to wake up about 6X or more a night and be rocked back to sleep every time (by mommy). Also, she had decided she didn't want 2 naps a day, or any naps some days. I was getting very tired but she is doing better (mostly) now! Also, it took 3 weeks but she likes her bath now! We had to very slowly get her used to the water, now she really likes it and reaches out when she sees water running.

Ava is doing new things every day and she said her first words!! They were "Dada" and "Ava"! She has also said, "duck" and "Bye". It's kind of funny her first word was her own name...but I guess she hears it enough! She is trying to say other things too...it's very cute! Here are some more pictures!

Ava's first haircut!

Here's what she thought! Of course her bangs are crooked because she was squirming!

Mommy's helper :)

Reading with Grandma

Playing with her bib & Spencer.

Bath time in the ducky tub!!

With her cousin Ben.

New Pictures

The sweetest face in the world.
Playing Guitar with Daddy!
She loves her playpen! Mommy does too!!
Making Music!

All Dressed Up

Ava dressed up for her first meeting.

She slept through most of the meeting and then woke up and started charming everyone with smiles. She seemed a little overwhelmed with all the attention before we left but she did really well.

More than one baby in the house...

Spencer found Ava's pacifier and was running around with it in his mouth! He thinks he's still the baby.

Visit with Great Grandma

Visit with Great Grandma, Grandma and Auntie (and cousin who is not yet born).

Visit with friends. Ava really didn't want to be held by anyone but me or Jason as you can see. She is very shy and thankfully very attached to us already!

Life With Ava

We are adjusting to life with Ava very well. It feels like we have been together so long...so much longer than a week! We can't imagine life without her! She is such a blessing from Jehovah!

First taste of applesauce.

She pulls herself up on EVERYTHING! We have to watch her every second!

Her new hat. Can she get any cuter?!

Her new walker ($5.00 on craigslist!)

She was so tired after a long day (Dr. visit and blood test) that she fell asleep eating her dinner.