Brute is a Valdez, we aren't "on time" people....

Well if you noticed the ticker on top of the blog has ended its countdown...we are 40 weeks today and Baby Brute still hasn't made her debut. We had a false alarm last night when I had contractions for 3 hours that were 10 minutes apart. Then I had a huge painful contraction and then nothing.....Boo! Don't worry she has been moving around all day so she is in good shape. It was like she was walking out the door, was in the driveway, and then realized she forgot her purse inside. When she walked inside her favorite trashy reality show was on and she decided she didn't want to leave the house anyways. So Greg and I ate a whole pan of cinnabons in defeat last night and made plans to go to the airshow today. Ava loved seeing the planes and trucks on the ground but the jet noise really scared her. She hid in Daddy's shoulder through most of the show. It was a fun day followed by an evening of watching college football. Keep checking back with the blog- we'll keep you updated on Baby Brute's debut plans.

Ava was so excited to see a pink "beep beep"- truck

I would be a cement truck driver if this was my ride

The Delta breast cancer 747. Ava wasn't as impressed with this one.

The put a jet engine on this truck and it raced a plane. The truck actually won!

She was all about Daddy today

She will be much more adventurous and try new things when Daddy holds her hand

watching the planes

Ava would watch until the jet came right by us and then she would hide in Daddy's shoulder

My photography timing skills trump Greg's....

his was a bit too early...

Inside a helicopter

GIANT helicopter

Pilot Valdez

She likes taking the controls

The helicopter was her favorite part of the day

Ava has started to get much better at potty training but she has her quirks. She now never wants to feel left out so she brings the potty into the living room, she tries to get naked, and her baby doll always has to be on the potty next to her. Hey, I'll take weird potty habits over no potty habits!

Ava telling me she wants to talk to her little sister

She is singing to her here

Giving her a kiss

Ava is excited because Baby Brute moved when she was holding my belly.

Listening for her baby sister.

So blessed.

Ava's 2nd Birthday Party

We had Ava's 2nd birthday party at Chesapeake Fun Forest and we were lucky enough to have the weather cooperate! We were so busy that weekend that we weren't able to take any pictures at the party but luckily our family did. I will post more pictures as people send them to me. 

Ava with Grandma Lita

Ava with Gigi

Ava was SO excited for Cake. She was a bit shy when everyone was singing to her and couldn't believe that the entire cake was for her. All we heard all day was- "CAKE MOMMA CAKE!"

She was all about the Funfetti frosting

Christine and Julian ready to dig into the cupcakes. I made pumpkin cupcakes, chocolate and peanut butter cupcakes, chocolate cupcakes, and old fashioned cupcakes.

Emmy and Daddy Suede

9 month old Michael Allen had his first cupcake that day and devoured it! One of the highlights of the party 

Uncle Justin and Aunt Candace made the drive from NOVA and Blacksburg to be at the party

Ava with Aunt Laura and I. 

Eating with Great Grandma Bath

GrandBob and Gigi would never miss a party!

Ava with her Great Grandparents- Bdad and Great Grandma Bath

She definitely loves opening presents now. 

Such a girly girl getting excited about clothes at such a young age!

Opening the stuffed brain cell from cousin Brian. Definitely the most creative gift given!

Chatting with her great grandparents 

Ava was as excited for balloons as she was presents

Birthday Girl! (Thanks for the cute jammies Aunt Jen!)

What a ham

Waving bye bye to the family. The front porch is Ava's favorite place to hang out. Thank you to everyone who came out to help celebrate our special girl's birthday!

Weddings, Birthdays, Parks- a Full October!

I apologize for our absence on the blog but October is our busy month in the Valdez household.  On October 1st we celebrated our 3rd wedding anniversary, October 3rd we had Ava's birthday party (pictures coming soon), October 7th we celebrated Greg's 26th birthday, October 10th we went to Mike and Laurie's Wedding, and October 11th our VA Beach friends had a couples shower for Baby Brute- whew! Luckily we are in the clear and are now just anxiously awaiting the arrival of our new family member Baby Brute. We have been reminiscing by watching all our old videos of Ava when she was an infant. She is excited to meet her new sister whom she still calls "Heidi".  I have an inducement date of October 26th at 8 AM if Baby Brute still has not made her appearance. I pray that she will come before then because I am down to two shirts and one pair of pants that currently fit- neither shirts are long sleeves though and it is getting quite chilly outside! We will keep everyone posted!

The girls at the VA Beach shower/ Brunch and our respective kiddies. A special thank you to the Rubados for hosting such a wonderful event for us and providing us with such delicious Southern tasty treats. From Left to Right- Liz, Patsy, Me, Amy, Arianna, Nicole. Row 2- Megan, Shannon, and Joelle. Kids- Peter, Emmy, Ava, and Michael 

The guys and the baby boys. 

Left to Right- Nate, Jon, Brad, Don, Greg, Wade, Ian. Row 2- Eric and Zach. Kids-  Baby Brenner, Baby Camden, and Michael. 

Grandpa and Grandma Lita watched Ava while we went to the Reda wedding.

Ava showing her artistic skills

Saying her prayers with Grandma Lita

Introducing the Mike and Laurie Reda! Some of our dearest friends.

Beautiful setting at an old mill in the countryside outside Richmond. 

Mike when he first sees his beautiful bride

bridesmaids

The beautiful bride

My sorority sister Bree sang for the wedding. Her singing voice gives everyone goosebumps. 

The groomsmen

Our third wedding this year- the best date! 

First Dance

Being 39 weeks pregnant didn't stop us from burning up the dance floor!

We went to our friend Emmy's 2nd birthday. Her and Ava are only 1 month apart. 

The kids had a blast

The girls were all about the bubbles! (Thank you Aunt Jen for the pretty dress by the way!)

Checking out the duck at the park with Shannon and Michael 

Taking advantage of the weather and hanging out at the park

Playing Hide and Seek 

My goodness isn't she getting big? She grew a shoe size AGAIN this month!