Wednesday-Halloween Photo Shoot

On Wednesday afternoon, Ava and I went out hunting for a field to take some pictures of her in her Dorothy dress. (This is the dress that Nana made for Ava for her birthday/Halloween.) You can tell how our day was going by the conversation we had before leaving the house.


Ava: Am I going to play Dorothy at the photo shoot?


Me: Yes, Ava, you are going to play Dorothy.


Ava: Then Momma you will be the wicked witch!


Thanks, Ava!

Anyway, we finally found a nice little field close to a cemetery/memorial and I got a few good photos before we were literally covered by mosquitoes. Ava had fun though and was very intrigued by the "magic beans" growing in the field.

A Few Pages That I Am Filing Away

In all of my cleaning, I found some scrapbook pages that need to be filed away. So, I took a few pictures to share with you all. I really need to get hopping on some recent stuff... and especially on the one for Baby Boy...

I thought I had posted this one before, but it is from Ava's first Christmas.

One from last year's Halloween Photo Shoot

A Double Page Spread from last year's 4th of July

A closer look at the butterfly embelishment that I made.

A layout for Baby Boy's album. This will probably be his title page.

Tuesday-A Week in the Life

Tuesday-October 6th

• Woke up to a rainy day.



• Ava watched Care Bears while I got ready for a doctor's appointment.

• She was eating a chocolate Pop Tart and came running up to me, "Mommy, I spilled Pop Tarts in my bed!" It was just crumbs, but chocolate Pop Tarts are known as "Pudding Pop Tarts to her.



• Ava found some decorations I had bought for her room and loved playing with the letter "A".



• Dropped Ava off at Nana's on the way to the doctor.



• It rained all the way on our drive to the doctor.



• The doctor said, "Well, you're pregnant!"



• Bradley and I ate Chinese food for lunch in Union City.



• When we got to Nana's house Ava was watching Little Bear on OnDemand cable, which she loves!




• While I was working on pictures Ava came in and said, "Mommy, I brought you a coin. Put it in your pocket. It's a booger coin!" Yuck!



• Ava pooped and peed in the potty. Yay!



• Ava and I snuggled in her bed, I love that she has a full size bed now!



• A package with photo samples arrived.



• While opening a box of Halloween decorations I found some things we had purchased on clearance sale last year. New goodies=fun surprise!



• We hung up ole' Jack Skeleton on the door.



• We visited with Nana and Pop before they left for vacation.



• It was late so we ran through the McDonald's drive-thru. In typical Ava fashion, she had to have her window rolled down so that she could talk to the workers.



• I worked on pictures until bedtime.
  

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• Our bag of goodies and Potato Head we found.
  

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Monday-A Week in the Life

Well, it's that Fall Break time of the year. The time when I try to catch up on all things that I am behind on. I decided to do another Week in the Life even though this is far from a typical week for us. I still like seeing the week and the things that Ava and I get to do. So I have been trying to take tons of pictures, but I have also been hugely busy with photo sessions. If you haven't been to my photography website lately, you should check it out. Lots of new goodies going on.


Anyway, here is what Monday was like at our house.

• On the first day of break, Ava woke up at 8:00.


• Ava watched Peter Pan while I worked on photo orders.


• We worked on various clean up jobs (the main one being my craft room).


• Ava is absolutely enthralled with Max and Ruby. To the point where it is utterly annoying!


• Ava made a train of Little People and various items.
  
• I worked on catching up in Ava's baby book (better do that before the next baby arrives!).


• Ava spent time cooking at her kitchen.
• Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup were perfect for lunch on a gloomy day.


• A picture prop I ordered made its way from Hong Kong.


• Headed to town and stopped at the post office, the mall where we bought Ava two pairs of shoes (her foot measures 8 and 1/2 to a 9), Sweet Peas (where Nana called and wanted to meet us at the mall to buy Ava some shoes, lol), back to the mall where Nana bought Ava some light up princess shoes and some Dora boots.


• I had a chiropractor appt where Ava proceeded to spill a whole bag of M & M's all over the waiting room.


• Ava wanted to see Daddy at work so I let her stay there while I ran to Hastings and bought the Nov. issue of Creating Keepsakes and a baby book for Baby Rogers.


• We ate leftover chili.


• Ava modeled her new shoes for Nana and Pop.


• During DWTS Ava threw a fit, so we put her to bed, and then continued watching DWTS.

Typical of what Ava wants to show me when I want a picture:

I think she is really saying, "Woman it is too early to have that camera in my face!"

True to form, we spend a lot of time in our underwear lately...

I bought this baby book because it is the same artist and artwork from some of my favorite Golden Books.

Ava modeling her new princess shoes and petticoat from Hong Kong.

Ava with her new black shoes on. I think they really complement those panties!

Ava's Big Girl Room

Yesterday we finally made a dent in our to-do list. We finally got our guest bed taken down, Ava's big girl bed set-up, and Baby Boy's crib ready. We have been working hard! Well, Bradley and Joe worked the hardest while I gave directions, Ava threw some fits, and I worked on some of the tons of pictures that I have taken lately (for other people, not for here!).

By the time we got done, it was getting pretty late. I tried to take some good pictures, but with Ava's pink walls and hot pink bedding, they aren't the greatest! She did sleep the whole night in her bed and said she loves it. I am glad she did well. We are still organizing and adding to her stuff, but I will take pictures when we get more done.

Here she is laying down for the last time in her little bed.

Hanging out and watching TV.

Getting ready to go to sleep.

10 on Tuesday

10 things about me right now:

1. This is the last week of school before 2 weeks of Fall Break. I am looking forward to a glorious period of rest and relaxation and marking things off my to-do list. And hopefully that will mean more posting and more pictures!

2. Speaking of the to-do list (and Bradley will tell you that I love making lists!), I feel like I will never get it all finished before Baby Boy Rogers arrives.

3. Ava has been such a drama queen lately. I’m not sure if we will survive the 2 weeks together!

4. Baby boy’s stuff is coming together. Slowly, but surely. My goal for this next weekend is to get his nursery set up, but in order to do that we have to get Ava’s bed set up, and the list goes on. Here is a little peak at his bedding, thanks to my in-laws and sister-in-law. Thanks so much for the bed and bedding!

(Not his actual bed)

5. If you are an attendee of the Rogers’ Annual Halloweenie Roast, please note that the date this year will be October 17th this year.

6. I am so sore from two photo shoots this weekend that I feel like Baby Rogers is about to fall out. I know he’s not, but today, he is weighing very heavily on what I am convinced is all of my vital organs.

7. We have started decorating for Fall and Halloween! I love it!

8. My computer is in the shop again so I am working on my school laptop again. I wish we could find some competent people to fix it. I am fed up with this!

9. Ava and the potty have been doing well together. This past weekend we had no accidents in the panties with the exception of a few minor dribbles. We have discovered that as poo-poo time approaches, if we make her run around naked, she will go to the potty. The downfall: I am not so sure this would go over in public places….

10. I am now 31 weeks pregnant. I am now in the single digits as far as weeks go…. However a week or two early would be great for me….

One of the Cutest Things I Have Ever Seen...

(fyi - computer in the shop again, so posting is sparse)

One of the cutest things that Bradley and I have ever seen was this little girl as we were leaving Disney World. Those little stubby legs pulling that suitcase. I wish I had it on video so that years from now, I could look back and laugh. I also think that as we are in these "terrible three's" it would be good to watch at the end of a rough day and remember some of those sweeter times. It just reminds me of someone so little trying to do something so big and succeeding. It reminds me of the little things that make me smile and of how much I love her even when I am frustrated and worn out. Note to self- When angry try to picture those baby legs...

Ava and Daddy

Two new favorites of Ava and her Daddy. These were taken at Reelfoot Lake. Unfortunately, the ice storm tore up the walkway so you can't walk out to the water and see all the Cypress Trees anymore. Hopefully they will get in repaired soon, because I miss those beautiful walks and photos.

Ava at the Park

On one of our cooler recent days, Ava and I made a little trip to the park. Ava has always enjoyed going, but lately she has become skittish about the slide and would rather climb back down the ladders than go down it. I did get her to pose for a few pictures, but she was way too busy. While we were there she made a friend, but in true Ava fashion, she wanted to be the leader. This little girl was clearly a couple of years older and tried to get Ava to play along, but Ava did her own thing and led the playing. I did laugh when the other little girl asked Ava two things and here were her responses:



q: Where is your daddy at?




Ava: He's at home in bed with a hurt leg. (what??????)




q: Where is your older brother?



Ava: In my mommy's belly.



Funny girl!