Santa 2008

Merry Christmas!

Bedtime Buddies

When I went in to check on Ava last night this is what I found. It took me a second to locate her...

A Disney Thanksgiving

I just had a free minute and wanted to update, for anyone who is patient enough to stay with my blog :) Here is evidence of our FANTASTIC thanksgiving vacation to visit Chris' family in Orlando. The trip went by way too fast, but was packed full of incredible memories. More pics to come...

Birthday Bash

A couple of weekends ago several of our good friends came over for Ava's first birthday party. The kids had a great time eating cake and playing together, and it was really nice for the adults to get to visit too. Chris and I are so thankful for all of the awesome friendships we have, and love that everyone was able to come over and help us celebrate. Thanks to all our friends for making Ava's first birthday a blast!

Moments before Ava's introduction to smash cake

All the little party-goers

Opening presents
Yep, thats a snail :)

Family Camping Trip

Here are some pictures from our camping trip on the Buffalo River last weekend. We had an awesome time with the family: hiking, fishing, campfires, s'mores - so much fun!

Cozying up by the campfire with Dad

Mobile naptime

Happy trails...

Robbie, Leah and Sarah (our resident ham), hiking to the old homestead

Happy 1st Birthday Ava!

It literally does not seem possible that a year ago I was in the hospital just getting to know this little girl. She has changed more than I could have imagined over this past year, and has far exceeded any expectations I might have had. Happy 1st birthday Ava, I have loved this time with you more than you'll ever know. I can't wait to to see what next year brings!

Labor Day with Mimi and Poppa

So I'm a little behind in posting these pictures (shocker), but here is proof of our fantastic week with Mimi and Poppa on Labor Day. We all had such a great time, and it was sooo good to get to spend time with all the Fletchers! Here are some of my favorite shots:

Two of a kind

Bass Pro Shop - whats more loveable than a giant fish?

Taste test at Marble Slab...nope, just the spoon :)

Build a Bear - the greatest place on earth!

Soaking up the view at Big Cedar Lodge

Go Razorbacks, beat Alabama!

Water Baby

I'm back now from my 2 month blogging sabbatical, so here are a couple of tub shots of Ava. Starting out slow :)

We take bathtime very seriously around the Fletcher house

Ava's 1st Baseball Game

Some friends of ours, Brett and Debbie, gave us tickets to the Naturals game a couple of weeks ago, and we had the BEST time! Ava was totally in her element - surrounded by lots of people. We couldn't get her to leave everyone around us alone, she thought they were all there to play with her :) Especially this group of boys to our left, they would make faces and tickle her and she was having a ball! But when they turned around to watch the game, she kept squealing to get their attention. I had to give her to Chris so the boys could watch the game, but then she found someone else to play with...so much fun :)

Giving Daddy kisses

The petting zoo for the the kids, we got there just in time to see the baby goats before they took them away. Ava cried when we had to leave...she loves animals (thanks Oakley :)
All worn out

A dog's life...

I love having a baby and a little dog at the same time, there are just so many cute situations that happen on a daily basis. Luckily I was quick enough to get pictures of this one...

Don't worry, I had just cleaned Oakley's kennel and all her bedding. No germs here! Anywhere Oakley goes, Ava follows

Teaching Oakley how to share :)

Memorial Day

Although I'm not doing so hot with updating regularly, I had to stop in the middle of all my cute baby postings to add one about her daddy. My husband and his crazy friends had such a fun time on Memorial Day, and here's the proof...

No losers in this match, they were both so tired they had to stop before someone pulled something :)

Ava's Baby Dedication

I can't believe how long its been since I posted last! It's been a really busy month, so the blog kinda got put on the back burner :) So finally I'm adding new pictures...

We had baby dedication at Pinnacle Hills on Mother's Day, so here is our little family standing up in front of the church. Ava was given a Bible with her name on it from Pastor Floyd, then he prayed over all the families. It was really special, and I was so proud of Ava. When we walked across the stage she turned out toward the audience and started waving her arms and grinning. Quite the ham.

Sarah was kneeling in the front of the church to take our picture (against her will), so I was trying to get Ava to smile for Mimi and Papa in the camera :)

Ava giving Daddy kisses before we went out on stage

Sarah and Leah cracking Ava up in the car before lunch. She loves her aunts!

Sarah and Ava in our backyard, the wind was blowing so hard! Making her giggle :)By this time the wind had butchered my hair, but Ava's grin was so funny I had to add this one

Campout at Devil's Den

Here are some pictures from Ava's first campout, we had so much fun! Mom and Dad brought their RV up to Devil's Den, so we drove out with Leah and Sarah to spend the weekend. It was pretty chilly, but Ava was all snug in her snow bunny suit.

Hanging out by the campfire

Ava got to open her Easter basket from Nana over the weekend, here she is modeling her new sunglasses.

Naptime in the bathtub

Sarah teaching Ava to read

I Heart MB

Ok, so anyone who knows me knows that I am IN LOVE with Michael Buble. Well, at least his music. I've recently learned that he's not the greatest guy, but that's another story that we won't get into right now bc it makes me kind of sad.

So a couple of weeks ago Michael (1st name basis bc we're pretty close) came to Alltel arena in Little Rock and we got tickets. This was my second time to see him in concert, and it was even better this time around. I'm thinking about joining his fan club for the early ticket sales, but Chris thinks that might be a little over the top. In this case he might be right.

Before the concert we went to dinner with Mom, Dad and Leah, then Leah took Ava home while the rest of us went to hear Michael. I ran into a ton of people I knew, apparently the word about Michael had spread. Chris and I had floor seats, and Chris, indulging my obsession, let me sit on the aisle so I could have the best view. What a great night.

We call this Ava's Fruity Drink outfit. Lauren Orr gave it to her, and it's one of my favorites. She looks like a little Pina Colada!