Baby Alive

When I was a kid...I had a Baby Alive doll.

Oh, the joy.

I'll never forget the day she arrived. It was Easter Sunday, at my Grandma Clingerman's house. The Easter Bunny brought her. Her skin was soft, she wore a diaper, and when I fed her - REAL food (well, real to a 4 year-old, it came in packets in her box) she actually moved her mouth as she ATE the food!

The JOY!

So when I saw the NEW Baby Alive in Wal-Mart last Friday, I was hooked and thought, "Ava has to have one!"

These marketing folks are smart.

Luckily, she too, is as excited about caring for a baby as I was. That's the nice way of saying she is waaaay excited about feeding her baby and then changing her diaper, because yes folks, her diaper is really wet after you feed her.

So, in the end, everyone lives happily ever after...
Ava loves her too. And I know she's going to be a good mommy to her new charge. We cleaned out her toybox before our trip to Wal-Mart and boxed all of the soft toys she no longer plays with and donated them to the puppies in need of love at the Humane Society.

Life is good.

How to Make a Hillbilly Birdfeeder

First, gather your ingredients: pinecones, peanut butter and birdseed. Then test the peanut butter to make sure it's OK.

Smear the peanut butter on the pinecones. Ok, that's good...

Roll the pinecones in birdseed and shake off any excess.


Tie a string around the top of the pinecone and viola! You're ready to hang this baby on a tree and watch for squirrels and birds.

Under the Sea...

On a whim, Ava and I hopped in the car and drove to Chattanooga to visit the Tennessee Aquarium. The day was beautiful and the drive, just right. Not too long, but far enough away to feel like we were on an adventure!

Our first exhibit was the Sea Horses. We took an escalator down to see them and Ava was so excited with the moving stairs, that after seeing one sea horse, she grabbed my hand and led me back to the escalators so we could ride up. I was afraid we'd paid good money to ride the escalators...

Luckily, there was a looooooooooooong escalator that took us way up to a rain forest. The chirping birds and waterfall enticed her into the wild and away from the moving stairs. We watched otters swim, she climbed rocks to peer at snakes and birds, and walked down some steps to see turtles and trout.

"Where is the baby turtle's mommy?!" she gasped, watching a little turtle swim in the deep water. We found it's mommy swimming not too far away, and she was relieved enough to go on to the Shark aquarium.


I had no idea she'd be so taken with sharks. She ran towards the glass and 'ahhhhed' over the hammerheads. We peered into the tank for what seemed like hours, watching the stingrays, the starfish, the sharks and other large, menacing bug-eyed sea creatures glide through the water.


After the excitement of the sharks, we got chocolate/vanilla swirl ice cream cones and enjoyed our walk to the IMAX theater. We had tickets to "Under the Sea" and Ava hoped we would see Ariel, since Sebastian the crab sings the song ('Under the Sea')in her favorite movie, "The Little Mermaid". We were excited when handed glasses, not knowing we'd get a 3D experience.


It was amazing! Ava reached to touch the coral and seals as they swam by. We made it through the whole movie. Afterwards, I gave Ava the choice of going back to the aquarium or going home. "Let's go home, Mommy."

Not more than 10 minutes into the ride home and she was asleep. It was a fun day together. We'll go back soon, to visit Camp Discovery and spend some more time under the sea!!

Yackety-Yak

I took ava to school this a.m. as Jason is out of town. Her teacher told me that when Ava first started school she was so quiet. Now however, she talks 'ALL the time' and has no problem telling someone her opinion or when she disagrees. She is very 'confident'...

Party Pooper

Saturday night was the Father/Daughter dance at church. We've all been excited in the days leading up to it; Ava practiced her dance moves, I found a cute formal, and daddy got a pink corsage for his date.

After a bath, blow dry and curl, Ava stepped into her clothes and was ready to go.


Until she decided not to.

Jason asked her to show him her dance moves.

"NO! NO NO NO NO NO!!!!!!!!!!! I DON'T WANT TO!!! I DON'T WANT TO GO!!"

We offered candies and treats, a quick car ride to the church to check it out and then leave if she didn't like it, but she was adamant about staying home.

So with her Lammie and binky and juice, she laid down for the night.

There's always next year.

Seriously...already?

It's no secret that Ava has a thing for Nicholas. He's a sweet, quiet 5 year-old who goes to her school.

Last week I asked her how Nicholas was doing and she said good. She followed up this painless, very safe reply with, "I don't like it when Hattie looks at Nicholas!"

Her teachers told me Nick was popular among the preschool girls. He has a younger brother and sister who are in Ava's class, so when he plays with them, he becomes more accessible. Yet he's older, making him a little bit cool. And very cute. And according to Ava, 'he's so smart mommy!'.

I tried to explain how we have lots of friends, and it's okay for even our best friends to have other friends.

"I don't YIKE IT!" she protested.

Yesterday I asked her about Hattie.

"How is she?" I asked.

"I said, 'YOU DON'T YOOK AT NICK-A-YUS' to her!", she replied.

"You what?" I stammered. OMG, she's three, I'm thinking. "What did she say?" I prodded.

"Don't push me!"

"Ava, did you push her????"

"...yes"

OMG! My child is a little bully fighting over boys on the playground ALREADY. God help me. Seriously, Jesus, help me!!!!

"Ava, we do NOT push our friends, do you understand? What did your teacher say?"

"She said, 'Girls, go back to work'."

So it's begun. Already.

She's quick - and I've got to do all I can to be a kind, gentle and loving role-model. Kind of like Nicholas...

Valentine Truffle Gift Box Special

Hey y'all -

In need of a Valentine for your sweetie? I have partnered with Paula's Handmade Memories to offer a unique Valentine Day special. Paula makes beautiful hand-crafted cards that will be personalized for your sweetheart. The card, presented with a heart-shaped box of truffles makes the perfect gift for your special someone.

Please click HERE to learn more about Paula's Handmade Memories and to view options for your personalized Valentine's Day card. Please click HERE to see the Truffle Gift Box.

Snow Day!

While history was being made in our nation's capitol, we were busy making some history of our own in East Tennessee.

With a light dusting of snow and a slick sheet of ice under it, school's were closed today
in Knox County.

Ava and I enjoyed the day out in the snow while it lasted. We both made snow angels, ran in the snow, made shapes with our feet, hands and sticks (Ava made 'trees' by hitting long branches in the snow. I thought they looked like bird's feet but she assured they were not. They were TREES.)

She also practiced her ballet and climbed a dogwood in the backyard.

Afterwards we made cinnamon rolls and enjoyed them straight out of the oven while our new president gave his Inaugural address.

What a day! What a country! What a life!!