In my next life, I want to be Ava

My life is pretty darn good, but hers is positively fabulous. She spends her days playing on her swing set, splashing in the local pool, and since I never met a toy I didn't like, she has an endless array of colorful diversions that sing, light up, and giggle. Our house is a paradise for the under-2 set, and when we're not at home, things like carousels are eagerly sought out by parents that are still young at heart...

To further make my point, Ava and Ollie recently spent a day at the baby nirvana known as Monkey Bizness. For the older kids, there are rope swings, giant lakes made of balls, and gauntlets worthy of a Richard Gere movie. For the little ones, it's a giant walled-in section full of age appropriate, and soft climb-worthy items that thrilled the target audience. We will be going back. Repeatedly.

One of the faves turned out to be this seemingly boring little 4-key piano. Ava crawled over and made like Beethoven, while Ollie lurked in the background, planning his takeover. It wasn't long before he pounced.

Eventually, they made beautiful music together.

Ava had a blast riding the little foam animals and twirling the knobs and buttons on whatever this big thing is.

She also spent the week getting love from Aunt Marianne.

Ava is starting to really get into eating "people food" so we're offering her everything that looks soft enough for her to tear apart with her three little teeth. The only problem is, she seems to be the world's youngest Junk Food Junky. Here's a perfect example: In this photo we've given her the choice of a cucumber, a whole-grain fruit bar, and a french fry. Guess which one she chose.



She's also shown an affinity for ice cream.

Officially, I'm horrified. Unofficially, it kind of makes me giggle.

Happy Friday.