Wizards, Witches, and Fireworks- Oh My!

This is going to be a long one folks as we have two months of material to catch you up on!

We'll start with Ava's four-month update (even though technically she's five months old now!) A lot has happened since our last post. Ava can roll over from her front to her back and doing the reverse as well. She also likes to hold her own bottle and we have to hold just the very end of it- where she can not see us holding it- or she becomes upset- very independent! Our bedtime routine use to include a small bottle, a swaddle, and me rocking her to sleep while Michael plays the guitar and singing to her. Now she is swaddle free! We're also trying to wean her off the rocking but I am convinced Michael will be singing her to sleep well into her teenage years. She loves it! Now she has started singing along- and not just at bedtime. If she hears music she will "sing" along. If she's talking or singing and thinks you are not listening she will do it louder!

Vital Stats (four months):
Weight: 12 lbs 14 oz
Height: 24 inches
Remains 25th percentile for weight for age but has jumped to the 50th percentile for length for age!
Her weight for length has dropped to just below the 25th percentile.
She (and Mommy) survived her second series of shots.

For the Fourth of July we headed to Orlando for a brief visit to Universal Studios. We stayed at the Portofino. Of course the first stop on our mini-holiday was the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Islands of Adventure! It had only just opened a few weeks before and the crowds were still pretty thick. But what an awesome job they did! Our friends Jake and Becca joined us for the trip. It has become sort of tradition to spend the fourth with them and it was great having extra hands to share "baby duty."















After her fill of wizards, Hogwarts and Superheroes we moved on to dinner at Citrico's at Disney's Grand Floridian. Ava almost allowed us to eat a gourmet meal without having to eat in shifts. The dessert was fabulous (Even if it was eaten in shifts!)



After dinner we took the Monorail over to the Polynesian to watch the fireworks from the beach. This has also become our Fourth of July tradition. We were worried that the noise might frighten Ava but she loved the fireworks display.





This month we also drove to Hiawassee (via Atlanta) for the annual Johnson-Hicks Anniversary Bluegrass Pickin' Party. It started off on a sad note as Argen's mother, Wink, passed away. She was very special to Argen and we know she would have loved Ava. Argen said her mother is who set such a good example for her on how to be a wonderful grandmother. We agree!

Due to some technical difficulties with the A/C system at the main house, we had the chance to sleep at the cabin with Michael's Dad. We chose to have Ava sleep with us instead of trying to squeeze one more thing into the back of the SUV. Who knew that such a tiny person could hog so much of the bed!!! On our first night she did something very precious; around three a.m. she woke briefly and reached one hand out until it rested on Michael's arm and then reached her other out to grab mine. Once she was reassured that we were both still there she drifted back to sleep. On our last night there she slept in- until 8 a.m.! I can remember the "good ole days" when sleeping in meant ten o'clock.

After saying our good-bye to Aunt Jen and Jay, we headed to Clarkesville so Ava could meet her Great Aunts, Argen's four sisters. After they thoroughly doted on her we headed home. Four hundred miles, seven hours and two meltdowns later we made it home! We've sworn off car trips longer than two hours for a few months.











We are now preparing for Ava's Baptism on the 28th and her six-month check-up. Oh, and our trip to Mexico! We have also finally ordered her birth announcements. We thought it might be a good idea to get those out before she heads to college. I will post one with the next installment.