Great Aunts and Uncles and lots of cousins!

Ava finally met her Great Aunts, Uncles and cousins from the Green side of the family - my mother's siblings, their children and their children's children. My mother, known as Grandmother Catherine to our nieces and nephews has five sisters and one brother. None of our nieces and nephews ever had the chance to meet Grandmother Catherine because she died many years ago - in 1980 when I was 12. However, we have taken every opportunity to keep her memory alive and to tell the nieces and nephews stories about her. Also, it is important for Ava to know her Great Aunts, Uncles and cousins on Grandmother Catherine's side of the family. This past weekend Chris, Ava and I traveled to San Antonio for my cousin's wedding. We had a fabulous time! It was a much overdue family reunion of several Great Aunts and Uncles and many, many cousins (first, second and third) to Ava! One of the cousins, when asked her favorite part of the wedding said "Baby Ava and then the cake!" That's right...not the bride or when the groom kissed the bride, but baby Ava and the cake! Gotta love it!

Keeping up with Ava

Ava is 7 1/2 months now. Once we hit the four month mark time began to fly. Ava started moving and grooving. It all started with her ability to roll over. Then, she started to get around the room by getting up on her hands and knees, thrusting forward, perfecting the caterpillar crawl - throw in a roll or two and whalla...the girl can get to anything. The other day I turned on the TV monitor to check on her and to my surprise she was standing in her crib - slightly leaned over chewing on the rail. I almost fell over and gasped. That night, needless to say, Chris lowered the crib four inches! However, it is adorable to see her head poking over the crib rail when she is ready to wake up from her naps and first thing in the morning.

Ava makes magic!

Ava and I spend time in our home office every morning so I can answer emails while she gets floor time. We have a sofa with fringe that she loves to chew on! It's a no, no...so I have to keep a close eye on her. Without a doubt, I have to redirect her at least twice every morning - although she has a stack of fabulous toys to play with. On Monday morning of this week I turned around to see what she was doing and she was sitting up staring at me. I was very surprised and so happy for her! She just sat there...smiling...drooling...staring at her mommy...long enough for me to snap this photo to share with all of our family and friends.

She also gets up on her hands and knees, rocks back and forth...can make a tepee (stand on her toes and hands with her bottom straight in the air!), is a professional at the caterpillar "crawl" and can roll, push and catapult herself anywhere around the room. We're thinking...any day she will figure out that she needs to alternate her knees and hands to begin "real" crawling. Not that I want my baby to grow up...but it sure is precious to watch her master these baby skills!

Here comes Peter Cotton Tail...

The Easter Bunny made a visit to the Hajdu home and left some fabulous surprises for little Miss Ava - a pretty basket full of goodies to eat and play with. AND...she actually got to meet the bunny. She loved him and stared at him...probably wondering..."what the heck"? Then, Ava got to hunt eggs with the other children. The lawn was roped off in sections for the different age groups. Ava was in the youngest group for ages 0-1. Her only competition was a cute little fella named Cash. He was 1, five months older than Ava, but did not pose a threat to her. There were plenty of eggs to go around for the two of them, but Ava's daddy strategized with her before the hunt began! The five year old section was mayhem and over in seconds - while our little section was peaceful, quiet and could have lasted all day.