Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack...

We took Ava to her first baseball game a few days ago. Being the sentimental parents we are - always so excited about every "first" - we packed up everything Ava owns and headed to the ballpark with big grins on our faces. I'm not sure why we were convinced that she was going to enjoy sitting outside in the cold watching a game she doesn't understand while 10,000 drunken strangers screamed around her, but naivete' is one of the great joys of first time parenthood; you're able to walk into any situation genuinely believing that it will be wonderful. The reality was that our beautiful little girl chewed on her daddy's ticket for 3 innings, then let us know in her own special way that it was time to go home. She may not be a sports fan yet, but nobody looks cuter in a ball cap.

Grandma Sally and Grandpa Mac came to visit for a whole week and spoiled our little angel rotten. Ava got so attached to Grandpa I was afraid she was going to learn to talk just so she could ask to go home with him. I love watching how much they love her. She is such a lucky girl.

Ava still hasn't learned to crawl, but that isn't stopping her. She rolls over and over until she hits furniture, or makes her way to the hardwoods where she's figured out she can make up a lot of ground by sliding around on her belly. I'm considering attaching a Swiffer pad to the front of her shirt so she can do a little cleaning while she's down there. Is that wrong?

And Ava's first word is....

MAMA!! I'd be lying if I said I didn't campaign shamelessly for this, endlessly repeating those two syllables while we played, demonstrating how she needed to move her little lips to make it happen. I wasn't about to settle for "Hi". (Which, incidentally was my first word. It's so 1976.) And I wasn't about to play second fiddle to something lame like "baba". She actually said it for the first time on Tuesday, but I was waiting to make the announcement until there were multiple repeat performances and an eyewitness so I could prove it wasn't just wishful thinking. If you need verification, please call Andy.

Ava started swimming lessons last night, and she was so cute. She wasn't thrilled for the first few minutes when she realized that this was not bath water, and therefore not at all warm, but once she warmed up she really seemed to enjoy herself. She's the youngest kid in her class, and didn't do much but kick her feet a little and chew on the pool toys, but just getting her used to the water will make pool time this summer so much more enjoyable for her. Plus, Andy and I think it's really fun. Here are some pictures and a short video of our little guppy. Enjoy!

It was involuntary monitor-cide.

I had to buy a new baby monitor this week after I accidentally dropped our old one into the washing machine. While it was running. I'll pause here for a moment while you ponder how I managed to do that. I'd tell you what really happened, but whatever's going through your mind is probably more amusing than the truth.

It was Ava's first Easter on Sunday, so of course the Easter Bunny hopped by and left some toys in her basket. I'm pretty sure she didn't have a clue why we handed her a basket full of stuffed toys, but she was awfully happy about it nonetheless.

We spent the afternoon hanging out with the lovely Lassars, eating good food, drinking good wine, and taking advantage of their uber-cool swing set. There's a climbing wall, slide, picnic table, and a small condo that overlooks the yard. Keep your fingers crossed that Ava never asks for one of these things - I'm pretty sure she'd have to choose between that and college.

Hope everyone had a terrific Easter! What was in your basket?