The Story of Us: Ava's 5th Birthday :)

On October 15, 2008 @ 7:44pm., 6lbs. 10oz. and 20 in long of a little girl came into our lives and changed us forever. I think about that day so much, I re-read her birth story on every birthday. Feeling all those feelings again. I wonder how I ever got so lucky? The girl that made me a Mama has made me so proud day after day for the last FIVEEEEE years?! How its been 5 years, I have no idea. But, we spent the day celebrating HER! And how much we love HER! She had a wonderful day. And most of all, loved hearing about every memory we have about the day she was born at exactly the same time.

After she was born. She just starred at me with those big blue eyes. She knew I was her Mama. I was all she needed. (... & she still looks at me that way ;) )

1 year old

2 years old

3 years old

4 years old

Happy 5th Birthday, Ava Josephine!

Stats at her 5 year well baby check-up: 34lbs and 42 inches.

Ava wanted to spend the day at home playing with her sisters. Which is no surprise since its her favorite thing to do. We played all day. I played whatever she wanted that day and she definitely took advantage of it. Rick stayed home until she woke, that was she didn't have to wait until he got home that evening to open her gifts. The #1 gift on her list this year that she wanted was Legos. I was hoping that the excitement of "girl" Lego's would die down after Ben went home this summer. But, unfortunately it didn't. I say unfortunately for two reasons: 1. Ive never been a big fan of putting Legos together. Maybe its just because I'm not all that creative or maybe its because its boring to me but either way, I knew her having them would require me to "help". 2. This is really our first "toy" that has super small pieces. Having a baby that just learned to be mobile and small Legos definitely isn't fun for me but it made her happy and that's the whole point of getting them :)

(ahhhh! soooo many pieces!)

(we just did this last week together. It was fun for us both <3 em="">

Ava's birthday muffin with candles!

Our kiddos get to pick where they want to go for their birthday dinner every year and if we are lucky they will pick Benihanas, which she did! Good thing for us, is she loveeees their shrimp!