I’m not sure I’ve ever met a kid who likes swinging as much as Ava. She’s never afraid to go higher and higher. She’s never ready to get off the swing either. She could go and go if only her parents had the arm-strength and the patience for monotony.
Allison took a half-day at work and we made the most of it. 76 degree days in July don’t come often.
She’ll be 3 years old in less than 2 weeks. I can still remember escorting her tiny, helpless little self out of the hospital and being sure that I was going to break her as we went over that first speed bump in the car. I stopped to adjust her head so it wasn’t tilted so far to the left in her brand-new car seat.
She’s not a baby anymore though. She’s not even a baby-kid. She’s just a kid now. A full-on kid. How dare her just go and blend in with those other kids. Dangit.
I took her and mama out on a paddle boat. We spent most of our time watching two teenage girls get stuck in the pull of a grouping of fountains…while texting. They couldn’t figure out how to get the paddle boat to go in reverse and the water current sucked them into a torrential downpour as they tried to cover up all of their pocket electronics. The girls screamed bloody murder as they got soaked and I have to say, Allison and I haven’t laughed that hard in a while. Poor drips.
Speaking of getting soaked - here’s a little sneak peak at a post to come.
Before:
After:
33 Comments
I think the picture of Ava in the fountain with her mouth open just lifted my spirits. I had a great laugh and its such an awesome picture.
I love how children can just be so joyful and live life without barriers.
What to do:
Breathe in the moment,
Dream,
and Believe.
-CA
I love that shot of her with the green crocodile (?) behind her.
Please, oh please, state the settings that you use for your shots?
P.S. I feel the same way about my 3-yr old twins. I still tend to call them my “twin babies” and they get angry at me whenever I do so
Isn’t it amazing to watch them change and grow?
Awesome!
I used to like swinging when I was a child.
Awwww… I love that kid so much. It made me tear up a bit thinking about her being 3 YEARS OLD! Oh my! (and I don’t think she blends in at all, she’s too cute to blend in)
I used to work at Parky’s…please, please, please don’t let your daughter open her mouth in the fountain!!! You know that pond just below with the duck statues? The same pond with the suntan lotion and sweat film on top? Same water…
I’m from Cincy and we were actually there recently for a long weekend / vacation. I’m curious to know where you were for the pics?? I’m not familiar with wherever that is but I’d love to add it to our list for next time!
And I’m very eager to hear more baptism stories!
Ah, you’re at Parky’s Ark! Isn’t that the best waterpark for kids. and ha! Too funny about the teenagers. I hope it wasn’t one of my daughters though. I’m tired of paying for cell phones.
It was a beautiful weekend here, I agree. Glad you could go out and enjoy it.
Ava is such a sweetie…. you have a beautiful family.
*sigh* They do grow up so fast. My boy has the NERVE to be starting kindergarden in the fall. The little punk. And my sweet little baby girl that I just brought home from the hospital is running around the house like she’s grown.
Anyway, can’t wait to hear about how the baptism went!
buddy, i think your Ava is a mere couple days older than my Ava (3 on august 5th…) wild.
That’s the thing with these babies they grow up. Boo!
My oldest just got braces and I’m thinking…wasn’t it just yesterday I was washing all of your sippy cups? sniff, sniff. It can brake a parents heart.
Those pics of Ava are great. She’s a total doll!
Have a great day!
I used to take my boys up to the top of that same slide, help them get seated juuuust right, run around to the bottom, and catch them.
Then we’d walk back up, being so careful not to slip, get situated, I’d go to the bottom, they’d slide down, again and again.
When you are no longer in this phase, you will miss it with a nostalgia that crazy hurts your heart. So do it a million times. And then just ‘one more time’. Because when it’s over, and you see someone else’s child doing the things that you and yours used to love, it will take you right back. And even though you can’t get back there, you’ll know that you did it well.
I just sent my 13 and 14 yr old boys off to church camp in NY for a week for the first time. (We live in MI). That was tough!
Wow. Never fails me, baptism = tears.
Those are some FABULOUS full-sun shots, Ryan!!
What an awesome water park!
Allison looks AMAZING!!
Ava and Allison are two beautiful girls! You are a lucky Dad and husband!
Your daughter is an incredible beauty. I love the photo of her standing alone. I wish I had her hair.
The 3rd pic from the top is fantastic! She looks like such a big girl!! And that hair!!! My baby is 4 now and I still call her my ‘Sugar Baby’ and, of course, she tells me she’s not a baby anymore. Then I say, ‘but you’re still my sugar baby, right?’ Then she gives me a big sugar-baby hug. These days won’t last forever.
That last picture… the ‘after’ pic, brought tears to my eyes. The look on his face is priceless.
The 3rd shot is magnificent! It’s wonderful hearing your memories on bringing her home for the first time.
Such a beautiful child and that last photo is an amazing and touching moment. As always thanks for sharing!
I was just looking at my baby (6 years old) over the weekend and for the first time realized she doesn’t look like a baby anymore, but a kid…a little lady. I brought her home from the hospital two weeks after my oldest turned three…just like Ava and the baby. What an exciting time you are living. Be present!
I don’t think you will ever have to worry about Ava “blending in ” with the other kids - she has a special joy that comes from within!
My “baby” just turned 10 - double digits! He tries to act all grown up and tough; looks so much older - his “baby” cheeks are all gone. He also recently lost his last two baby teeth - another milestone. Just wait until she loses that first tiny tooth! The grin is priceless! He still will come in for a hug now and then though - I am thankful for that!
I watch your blog from afar…
Precious pictures… precious words… thanks for sharing.
You sure are lucky to have such a beautiful little model on call 24/7
p.s. - I love the colors in the baptism photos!!
Your little Ava is so sweet. And from this side of things, still so little. My baby is EIGHT! I had a little emotional fit when I was looking up some information about her and her age was grouped in the grade schooler category. What?! She’s my baby!
I bet you’re thinking “will I EVER be able to love this new baby as much as I love her?” Yes. You will…believe it or not you will. I’ve been praying for your whole family about the upcoming arrival.
Number one,it’s that first shot of her in that sweet bathing suit that made me think, “Wow, she’s a KID, how did THAT happen?”
And Number Two, the smile on that man after baptism is….wow.
I love the pictures of your family - your girls are beautiful BUT
the pictures of the man - the joy on his face and on the faces of those around him. I’m weeping. Looking at them brings back that memory of my baptism, the feeling of renewal, the touch of the power of God…
thank you…
I haven’t been on a paddle boat in a long time but to go in reverse, don’t you just have to peddle backwards?? What da heck?
Those are such great photos of Ava! And the story of the girls in the paddle boat made me laugh out loud! I could just picture them trying to not get the precious cell wet! haha!
Loved all the droplets of water in mid-air… way awesome!
And I disagree about Ava not being a baby cuz she’s still adorable and foofee and cuddly… and I’ve considered all my younger sisters babies until at least the age of 12