Baby makes four!

We're happy to finally share the good news that our family is growing again! Baby #2 is on the way and due on January 28th. We had our first ultrasound on Friday and are happy to report that all looks well so far and there is only ONE baby on the way (phew!) We will have another ultrasound in four weeks to hopefully find out the sex. We're both pretty much convinced it's a girl, but you never know! Either way, Ava will be an awesome big sister. She's very into her babydolls right now, and enjoys pushing them around the house in her baby stroller then changing their clothes over and over. She will be a great helper.

Our weekend was pretty low key. It was rainy and we enjoyed just laying around most of the time. We had another open house on Sunday, so we went to our friends' house for the afternoon. I brought my camera to take pictures of their newborn, but I also captured a few of Ava eating a snack. The baby had been placed on a little blue blanket on the floor, so during a break Ava wanted to sit on the little blue blanket on the floor. Too cute.

Selling a house is not fun...

Ok, keeping a house perfect every day is not fun. That's what we've been doing. Our house went on the market a week ago Friday, and we've had 9 showings, two no-shows (grr) and one open house. We have one really interested couple who has visited three times. We're hoping they make an offer this week so I can stop living in a unrealistically clean house.

I mean, I know that real people (us included) use things like coffee makers, toaster ovens, and dishracks every day so I don't know why we have to put them away, but I understand the "openness" feeling one's house has to have. It's just annoying! So wish us luck...

During yesterday's open house we went with our good friends Heather and Jeremy to visit our "hopefully soon to be" house just down the road. I'm not going to share all the pictures I took (of the entire house) because I don't want to jinx us. However, here are a few that give you a feel for the neighborhood. It's a Charleston style neighborhood and every house is a different color (some pretty wild like flamingo pink, lavendar, brick red, navy blue, etc.) The one we want is baby blue with black plantation shutters. It has a double porch as well as a screened in porch. The neighborhood has 9 acres of walking trails, a playground, and a really big clubhouse and pool. Boy, would I use that pool....

That first picture is my friend Heather and her daughter on the rocker on the upstairs porch. Such a nice view. All we need is a glass of "swate tay" and a good book :)


Ava played in the current owners' play room the whole time we walked around the house. New toys are always an adventure. Unfortunately, this will be our office (no playroom) if we move.

This is Ava walking towards the playground which is a just a 3-5 min walk from the house.

Ava and Sienna were very proud of the sticks they found.

More of the playground. It's very kid friendly.

We're finally home. Ava was pooped from all her playing, so we sat on the couch eating apple and letting her watch her favorite show "Pooh!"

Ava the Librarian

So we had a good weekend together. It rained and thunderstormed a LOT but that's a good thing because we're still in a severe drought. We spent most of the weekend keeping the house clean, as it went on the market Friday, and we've had a showing every single day! Keep your fingers crossed that someone likes it enough to make an offer. It's bittersweet, as we really like this home, it's just not for us. The neighborhood we want to move to a mile down the road is a lot more kid friendly. There is a clubhouse, large pool, playground, and nine acres of walking trails. As well, the house we hope to buy backs up into a forest preserve, so it will never be touched as it's declared "preserve" space already.

So Ava's favorite thing to do (still) is read books. We're not complaining - it's a great hobby, but this girl takes it to the extreme. I thank God every day that we've received so many books from our friends (especially the Hopes who know a good kid book when they see one - I guess I should give credit to their daughter Maddie). Ava's favorites right now are "Bad Dog, Marley!", "The Pokey Little Puppy", anything "Winnie the Pooh", anything "Curious George", and of course anything where you can lift the flap. She especially likes the lift the flap Dora the Explorer books the Hopes sent her last year.

I thought I'd take some pictures of the family reading, as we do this at least ten times a day (it feels like anyway.) Enjoy!

Ava "cheesing it up" for the camera.


Normal smile.


Reading her Disney book.



Looking for "mouse"

Where is "mouse?"

Turning the pages.

Daddy reading.

Independence Day 2008

We had a wonderful 4th July weekend. Friday we kicked off the festivities with breakfast at our favorite restaurant "Big Dog Cafe" in Waxhaw. Afterwards, we attended their hometown parade. It was like a Norman Rockwell painting... literally thousands of people decked out in red, white, and blue lined the streets of this little, historic town. Ava really liked it, but wasn't a fan of the firetruck sirens at all.

The rest of the day we just hung out as a family before heading to our friends Eli and Colleen's house for a cookout and fireworks. Ava enjoyed her new bubble gun, and was even intrigued by the sparklers we let her hold (assisted, of course.) We played bocce ball after dinner, then lit off our own fireworks before going to watch the neighborhood show which was pretty top notch!

Saturday and Sunday were spent house hunting, as we are thinking of moving to a more kid-friendly neighborhood (pool, club house, park, walking trails, etc.) Ava did really well both days and we enjoyed playing with all the toys in strangers' homes (she's addicted to any size/shape ball!)

Jim and Ava at the Waxhaw Parade

Ava caught a Tootsie Roll thrown from the County Republicans (go figure).


Playing with her new bubble gun at dinner at the Clarks.

Watching Daddy and Eli light sparklers from afar.

Ok, Mom, it's our turn!

Ava's concentrating on the flame really hard!

Ok, time for some bocce ball.

The fam.

Lighting fireworks in the driveway. Ava loved the little "poppers" that you throw.

Jim and Eli doing what they do best - blowing things up.

Fireworks from their neighborhood.