Viva Valdez

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Hunt Club Farm

We decided to reward Ava for being such a great big sister her first week with Ellie at home and take her to Hunt Club Farm. She loved having both Greg and I's undivided attention again (Ellie stayed at home with GiGi). I took her here last year with our meetup group and it is amazing the difference this past year has made. She was fascinated with the petting zoo and was really observant during the hay ride.

Our Pumpkin Girl

This was the section with their "exotic" birds

petting the camel

She thought the tractor was a special "beep beep"

She thought the chickens were hilarious because they were running around in circles chasing each other

This is one old ragedy bunny. He was nice enough to let us pet him.

The goats were the perfect size for her

On the hay ride

Her favorite part- the baby ponies

second favorite- giant inflatable pumpkin

Squealing over the ponies

Daddy's girl

I was showing her how to do the "rooster" dance with the roosters

She thought I was nuts

Telling me that the goats are "night night"

Fantastic Day!

Completing the resume to become a soccer mom....

Every soccer mom needs to have a minivan right? Now we just have to keep brain washing Ava to play soccer and not do ballet. After searching for a few months, we finally found a van that met our needs and price range. Another advantage of having GiGi stay with us was that we were able to go van shopping several days. After looking in Northern Virginia and Newport News for weeks we finally found the van we loved in Virginia Beach. We bought a 2008 Toyota Sienna with only 30,000 miles on it. It is such a smooth ride and we really enjoy driving it. I am nervous about parking and it took me 10 minutes to park in a parking garage the other day. Ava is tickled to have her own captain's chair and be high enough to see out the window now. My favorite feature are the two automatic doors because my hands are always full with a two year old and infant.

The cute "It's a Girl" sign that mom got us

Our new ride!

maiden voyage

Ellie spending quality time with Daddy

Making eyes at GiGi

Every morning when Ava wakes up she wants to go and see her baby sister

Rocking her with GiGi

So excited to hold her baby girl

Friday, October 30, 2009

More Ellie Pictures

Here are some more pictures that my mom took this week. We are so thankful she came and stayed the week with us. She was a life saver and made the whole experience joyous rather than stressful. She spoiled us rotten by cooking, cleaning, shopping, late night Ellie soothing, and spoiling her grandchildren (actually all of us). Thank you GiGi for all the time and energy you gave us, we love you.

GiGi meeting Ellie for the first time at the hospital. The new policy at the hospital doesn't allow children under 18 to visit because of the swine flu so Ava wasn't able to come.

sleeping angel

The jury is still out on Ellie's hair color. It looks red in some lights and after you just wash it. When you don't wash it for a day it looks brown and it is very dark in the back of the head. We shall see. Can Greg handle being in a house with three fiery redheaded women and a porky pug?

Apple of Daddy's eye

Current favorite picture of her

Love those big eyes of hers

Ava and Gigi setting up the house before we come home.

Ava got her baby a sister a balloon as a welcome home present

Ava has two "chores" in the house. The first is to feed Penny Lane and the second is to get the newspaper in the morning.

Everyone wanting Gigi's attention at once

Pen keeping close watch on Ellie. Penny has dealt with the new addition of Ellie much better than she dealt with Ava coming into our lives.

Greg is doing the baby dance with Ellie. We'll have to upload a video of this one because it is hilarious.

Ava wakes up asking to hold Ellie every morning. It is her new favorite thing to do.

Sweet Ellie

Getting her "sun time" at the bay window with GiGi

Isn't it crazy to think this is how she slept in my belly except with her head down. I absolutely cherish cuddling her because I know I only have a few months of this before she is jumping out of my arms and chasing Ava all day.