Back On Track.

Oh, dear. That last post was ugly. Just all over the place and not up to my full potential. My apologies. As it were, our technical team is gearing up for changes. We've ditched the ol' computer and are strictly mobile now. Except the Blogger app is worthless as I cannot see any sort of layout. We're working on that.

Lately, things have been moving for us. Rafal decided he didn't want the burden of the Danger Ranger as he called it and sold his truck. The good wife I am, just nodded my head and gave him the documents he needed. He plans on getting a bike as in bicycle. Really, I'm just nodding my head. Bless his heart.

The house is coming along. I'll leave it at that.

                                      



In The Interim.

My computer is broken. A little piece that has some thing to do with the charger or battery is missing. I don't know much or anything at all about computers. Luckily, Rafal bought the iPhone so as I'm learning the ropes on this device, let these instagram pictures hold you over.

Assize Of Bread And Ale.

A stay at home mom's claim to fame can often be baking. It's true. It started back in the middle ages when housewives took their dough to the town's gigantic oven and the baker tended the oven and baked their bread for them. This is me in our house. My mom asked me to make cookies for some school function and Rafal loves rice crispy treats so I wanted to treat him.

Ava likes taking the contents out of pantries. See how I baby-proofed the cupboard that she isn't suppose to get into? That's called improvising.

Her mess.

My mess.

Yes, my crispies are green. I had extra coloring from when I made St. Patrick's Day sugar cookies. These are delicious!

Picture Of The Week

So let me set this one up for you.

We're at my friend Amanda's house warming party. She and the man in her life bought this gorgeous house in the Descanso area. It was pouring rain so everyone was inside eating, drinking, and partaking in merriment. Everyone including Amanda's cat, Dak. Dak is infamous for being not so friendly to humans as he likes to bite and claw. But Ava didn't mind. Once she layed eyes on the kitty, she made it clear she wanted to play. Surprisingly, he was a friendly feline to my girl.

Here they are together. Girl and Cat, enjoying each other's company. Longing for the great outdoors. Dak would paw at the door, wanting out. Ava would knock on the door, mimicking him. Then she wanted to take his paw in hopes he would scratch the door once more! Oh, people seemed to enjoy this short lived friendship!

Props to Amanda who took this picture. You see, I was helping myself to the food at this time and watching from afar!

Mother Nature Rears Her Ugly Head

Once again.

My poor, poor Ava. If only she had a mother who liked sloshing around in the icy, frigid snow. But she doesn't. So the better part of her day will look like this. Still in her pajamas because they are the most comfy and warm. Trying to keep her away from the fire place. Watching her feed her snacks to the dogs. Listening to Michael Buble. Walking with her around the house. Giving her plenty of kisses.

Screwed Up The Match Up.

Referring to my last post about the kitchen cabinets and how they are so blatantly mismatched, my mom and I (more like my mom) made a big stink at the store about how this is a huge mistake and they must fix it at once! My mom wanted them to give us a 1000 dollar credit and granite counter tops. Basically, she wanted them to finish our kitchen for us!

As per their policy, the lady who sold us the cabinets and a rep from the cabinet company itself (these big chain stores don't actually make the cabinets, they contract through another company) wanted to come out and do a inspection. My mom, Rafal and I were all planning what we will demand for this catastrophe and we were all in agreement that it better be a good chunk of money or they fix it for free.

So, the ladies came. And took of a door from the upper row and put it next to a door from the lowers.

And what do you know?

They MATCHED!

The lighting in the house is just so ascew that it appeared as if the kitchen cabinets were two distinctly different colors. I don't want to pull the picture, you can see for yourself in the post prior.

Anyways, you would think I would be embarrassed but no, more like relieved that we won't have to rip into anything or delay any more projects.

It's back to laying tile as usual for Rafal!

Little Things.

This past week was ugh for us. It was a mix of highs and lows and loud voices and baby cries and sleepless nights and eating burgers and lots of Emergencee and my husband telling me to calm down.

First it was the pediatrician visit and the 6 shot debacle and then fact that jalapenos peppers made me totally sick (it might have been because I ate 7 bacon wrapped cheesed stuffed penos). Oh, I seriously thought I was dying and Rafal's response was I tried to help you out (with the baby) a little bit. Any other mothers feel like their house and baby look a little disheveled when they are sick? Luckily, my mom steps in and picks up what I'm puttin' down.

Anyways, for a few nights, Ava refused to sleep. Like crying every time she was layed in her crib and tossing herself around in our bed until she passes out down by our feet. I feel for her. She is living like a vagabond as we stay in Lakeside 2 nights a week when I have class and maybe another night on the weekend when I may feel so inclined to see my husband. I keep thinking that this is only temporary and soon she will have her own, beautiful room.

Then Rafal started laying the kitchen tile which is always arduous, back-breaking work. And I feel for him also. He ended up laying 3 tiles before I begged him to take us to the park (my poor man, he has so much to do and he always makes time for his needy wife)! We went to Shadow Hill park which is quite lovely with kids and babies galore. I ended up leaving my cell phone on a park bench and when I finally realized it, I thought it was a goner. But a fellow park goer and good samaritan found it and is holding on to it until my husband (another thing he has to do for me) is able to pick it up!

Then, when we return home, I was standing in our kitchen and my stomach dropped. I called for Rafal and asked quite frantically Do you notice our upper and lower kitchen cabinets are two different colors? He looked at me then looked at the cabinets and replied Ohhh, ya... they are! The uppers are cream and the lowers are white. I could have just cried. Let me say, the cabinets were delivered on Feb. 14th and packing slip clearly stated we have 7 days to inspect each box and make any returns or adjustments during this time. Rafal and our contractor (who is not cheap) put up the cabinets over two weekends and did not notice the slight color difference. No one noticed. Not me, not Rafal, not my mom, not our contractor, not anyone who came over. I feel so dumb because now when I look at the cabinets, it's all I can see. So now, we are the process of dealing with the company who sold us the cabinets (who I won't name because I didn't have a good experience with them) and either getting new uppers or a nice refund (personally, I would like matching cabinets. This will bug me for the rest of my life). Of course, they blame us for not noticing it when we were installing them and that doesn't sit well with Rafal since he installed them! Honestly, this breaks my heart. We are trying so hard to make this house beautiful in a significant about of time and this is just a disheartening set back.



See? It's so obvious!



The rest of this post is the reason why we are still smiling. Rafal and I are completely taken with Ava. She is a reflection of our love. She is our soul.



Ignore my finger. I'm a novice.





Nakie Butt!





                                              Love.



Walk This Way

This week Ava had her 14 month appointment. I know, there is no such thing. It's either a 12 month or 15 month but this is how scheduling at her pediatrician works (or doesn't work).

Oh, you missed her 12 month vaccinations so we'll just double up with her 15 month set. Says her Dr.

Anyways, we talked lengthily about how Ava is not walking yet. She really has no desire. My theory is that Ava is a diva and would rather be held or knows she has perfected the crawl and doesn't mess around when she wants to go some where. But the pediatrician was rather concerned for a lack of a better word and gave me a few pointers to get this baby a walkin'. Ditch the walker and get one of those push toys being her main point of advice. I agreed. I don't necessarily mind that she isn't walking as I am firm believer on letting babies do and venture on their own however, I want her to keep up when it pertains to her development milestones.

So then the nurse came in with the tray of shots. By the way she was a mess at this point (she had fallen asleep in my arms and when the Dr. and her 3rd year med school trainee tried to wake her to check her diaper and leg muscles... you should have seen the melt down!)

She will be getting six shots today.

Um, WHAT?  Six?

I felt helpless. I don't like vaccinations. I feel off about them but I don't know enough to decline them which is what enevitably I would like to do. I only know what I 'hear' from other people which is foolish to base my opinion upon. I know that there are links to Autism but also they have been disproven. So I let her get the shots. I held her against me as she sat on the table (as the nurse suggested) and she got 3 in each leg. It felt so wrong but I couldn't speak up. I told Rafal about the 6 shot ordeal and he swore that she'll never get a shot again. He has no problem denying vaccinations and said that next time, he will go in there with me. (We all know that's not happening as he can get quite rude when it comes to his daughter. Talk about daddy lion protecting his cub)



As of now, Ava is current on her shots and we will keep getting them until I feel comfortable declining them.

And we are helping her along with her push toy.



See my hand? This is totally the type of mother I am.



Ava's Statistics

                                                  

                                                Weight: 20.3 lbs.              25 percentile

                                                Height: 30 1/4 in.              60 percentile



Ava's Adventures.

In Ava Land, spending time with Oma is the norm but last week more than usual. We (momma & poppa) had to run to home improvement stores as the house renovations are really starting to pick up now and a two seater truck is needed. Oh, how I long for the days when family time isn't a trip to The Home Depot, BTW. When with Oma, Ava spends a lot of time outside, in the dirt, eating it.

On a warm afternoon, we are all about Viejas. Outdoors with food and a baby store where Ava always gets something from Oma. What a sweet lady. We also went on a mission to find ice cream that was so rich and decadent that our stomachs later hated us for (I actually had to throw mine away, which my mom wasn't happy about).



Her first ice cream cone experience.

Tired baby in her car seat.

Jet Settin'

Not really. More like on a AirBus in economy class.

Either way!

We are going to Germany, people! I couldn't be more excited. My Oma and Opa are going to see Ava. Ava is going to eat bratwurst (the good kind not this American junk). And I'm going to be in my happy place. Tickets are booked. And now it's passport time. Turns out, for a international travel overseas, Ava needs a legit, expensive, passport. And the notarized permission slip from her father allowing me to take our girl out of the country.

I took this myself in 2007.

This place is a big part of me. I spent many summers here with my maternal grandparents and I am so excited that Ava can experience the beauty that is Kulmbach!

We aren't leaving until the summer and yes, Rafal isn't coming. Some one has to stay home and take care of our love nest. Plus tickets aren't cheap.

Anyone has any tips and tricks for traveling with a toddler? Send them my way. I don't travel well these days. It takes a physical toll on my body so I'm sure I'll be sedated.