Another Apron with Gin the Pocket

If anyone knows me, or heck, talks to me for more than a minute, knows that having kids is what I’ve looked forward to since I was a tween. And ever since I was that tween, I’ve been announcing that I wanted girls. LOTS and lots of GIRLS. And in my single solitary moment of wretchedness, my mother would snarl and me and say “I hope you get 6 girls. JUST. LIKE. YOU.”
And I never took that as the dig I’m sure she meant. I took that as another echo of my wishes.

Flash ahead too many years, and here I was, finally pregnant! I remember sitting on the ultrasound table the big reveal day, dealing with the guilt I was feeling; wishing so hard for girl, but not even caring. That’s how bad I wanted it. The room was quiet, the tech started, and warned us Nemo was in the wrong position for a gender check. (heart sink)
Then as we were finishing up, BAM! I saw it! Those 3 little lines, “a hamburger” not hot dog. I burst into tears, only to hear what was playing on the tech’s small clock radio in the corner… It was Stevie Wonder’s “Isn’t She Lovely” (I swear).

What an amazing moment in my life.

Flash ahead another 3 years and here we sit. EVERYTHING this kid does fascinates me. ANYTHING she says is amazing. She is sensitive, she is sweet. She is funny, and she is habitual and repetitive. She is spirited, she is quiet. She is loud, she is tender. She sings (oh BOY! does she sing!) and she likes to trick you into coming upstairs to “snuggle for a little bit” but what she really wants is company while she has a couple pulls off her binky, and a quick snuggle with her blankies. (“that one” and “the other one”)
She has that freakish memory thing her dad has. She has my sense of humor, and love of music. (Glee anyone?)
While she pretends to hate going to “school” she loves being around other people and learning new things. Tell her something twice, she’s got it. Until she pretends she can’t hear you. Which is often. She’s two. Three.

Favorite toys? Her Princess dress and “clap” shoes upon each wakening. Dino, Sally, doing puzzles, and feeding her babies. She’ll eat just about anything, but still has the remenants of a “texture adversion” where squishy things turn her off. We spend our days playing, reading, visiting Eagle’s Nest or playlands with her bestie, Julia, and the other ladies we love so much. She loves Uncle Bloopers, but they fight all the time. I’m going to have to separate those two. Favorite shows are anything on NikJr, but Yo Gabba, Kai Lan and Bob the Builder get a lot of play right now. It varies week to week. Tinkerbell rules. Period.

I’ve made it no secret that I owe this kid my life. She doesn’t need to know that, and it’s not her roll as a kid. But there’s a reason why I got her first, before all this infertility shit changed our lives. I don’t know why we got the prize first, but it’s made me the happiest barren momma in the world.

She was my little birthday gift. A gift of the most amazing kind. And I cannot wait to see what she brings our way each and every year.

Happy 3rd Birthday, Ava Claire.
You are my (very) best.

Love, Momma

(click for bigger)

The 1st few months of these rocking chairs pictures are right here (click this)
Hair clean? Nail trimmed? Dog washed? Well then, you need something to do.
Here’s her 1st two videos, newborn and the first couple months.
Oh for cute.