Ava is now seven (almost 7.5) months old now and it seems that it month it gets more difficult to remember to write down what she is up to on the first of the month. This month we have an excuse though, as we were just coming to the end of our two week trip home back to the US. We had another great trip and Ava was loads easier to travel with at six months than at four months. She is a sleep champ and took the jet lag in stride switching over to her normal naps and night sleep within a day. That seems to make everything about traveling just a little bit easier! We enjoyed traveling along 95 again with a flight into NYC, two nights in Baltimore, first Christmas down with my family in Richmond, second Christmas in DC at Ben's sister's house, a little more time in Baltimore, NYE with the Smith's in MD, and then we closed the trip spending a night with the Rynn's in NYC. As with each trip we arrive home exhausted, but realize that it is a good thing that we have such wonderful family and friends to keep us busy.
So Ava's Seventh Month in brief:
Sleep: Ava is still taking 3 naps each day and sleeping from 7pm-7am most nights. A recent change here in January was that Dad lowered her crib as she is going to be pulling herself up to stand any day now. Also the mobile didn't stand a chance as little fingers were grabbing at it constantly!
Play: Ava loves a new stacking toy that she got for Christmas. She is also becoming an expert "peek a boo" player which is only to Mommy's dismay during diaper changes when she wildly kicks her legs while covering up her face. She is also very motivated lately to grasp for toys out of reach. This gives her good practice going from sitting to tummy to back and even a little "pre crawl". Ava can stand up when holding onto someone's hands or holding on to a toy. She is even standing on her own on the rare occasion for a second.
Food: Always the lover of food, Ava tried pouches over the holiday (they became necessary going to so many different houses!) and there wasn't a food she didn't like, even green beans and corn were a hit. She is drinking water out of her sippie cup and milk from an occasional bottle. Thanks to new bibs from Nana for Christmas, clean up is easier than ever.
Ava seems to have learned in the last month the general meaning of "mom" and "dad". No one could have explained what a fabulous feeling it is to have her little head rest on your shoulder or watch her face light up in a big smile when she hears our voice. We know as soon as she is crawling things will change yet again, but for now, I think we will keep her!