Today Ava is 10 weeks old. I have been meaning to write her two month update for the last week, but time has gotten away from me. Ava is becoming such a little person and is changing so quickly, I have to make it a priority to put it down in writing.
Ava starting smiling around 6-7 weeks. She is generally a happy baby when she wakes up, but now even when she starts to cry she will often break into a smile when she sees Mommy or Daddy. She is cooing and making gurgling sounds all the time. She is able to "communicate" and take turns making sound back and forth. Megan is try her hardest to hold off on playing "speech therapist".
Ava's play has changed and developing unbelievably in the last month. She looks for minutes at a time at the toys hanging in the activity gym and has become much more coordinated with her arm movements to reach out and hit the toy. Occasionally, she is even able to grab onto one of the rings. Ava's has also discovered her hands and typically prefers sucking on her fingers or hand rather than a pacifier.
She is able to entertain herself for short periods of time and will lay on the tummy time blanket, in the activity gym, in the crib looking at the mobile, or even on the couch and look out the window. This has improved Mom and Dad's ability to eat dinner or take care of quick tasks while keeping a happy Ava. Ava is sleeping more at night and is now in her crib from 9pm to around 7-8am. She is waking up for a few feedings at night, but certainly picking up on "the schedule".
Ava is now gearing up for her second trip and first time outside of Germany. As a family we are headed to England next week to make a short getaway out of one of Ben's work trips. The short flight will be good practice before our transcontinental flight home to the US in October. Updates and more pictures to follow!