First day of fall

Sunday morning at our house with Mike and Heidi:

Patting the Big Leaves with Uncle Mike:

Indicating that she would like to visit the Jeep:

Patting the Jeep:

Visiting the holly:

Playing:

Mom collects a fig:

Ava is pleased with the fig:

Uncle Mike and Heidi visit

Spent a lovely Saturday in Annapolis with Uncle Mike, Heidi, Dana and Currie.  

Ava earnestly wished to make the cat's acquaintance:

Uncle Mike facilitates interaction with the cat:

Downtown Annapolis:

Drinking water from a straw:

Blue crabs at Cantler's:

Waving and pointing at crabs in the tank:

Playing with Dana's collection of Little People:

MD house

The house we're renting in Riverdale Park:

Hide and seek behind Mom's skirt

Visiting the white pine in the front yard:

Ava enthusiastically volunteers dishwasher help:

An expressive meal featuring prominent utensil practice:

Dinner break to look at the duck stamp calendar:

Visiting the Big Leaves with Daddy:

Happy baby:

Diaper reorganization:

Chicken pox!

The rash started on her birthday, Sept. 5th and was well under way when Mommy and Ava returned to Princeton on the 7th for her 1-year-old pediatrician appointment hopefully in advance of a baby shower.  No baby shower for us!  We have no idea how she contracted it.  She is otherwise diagnosed as a healthy, bright, tall baby.  Kara took very good care of us during a rough night for Ava, who was grumpy dealing with chicken pox and the discomfort of her vaccinations.  Ava still rallied for her first experience coloring with (instead of just eating) a crayon, playing, and tolerating an oatmeal bath. A week into it now, most of her discomfort appears to have abated, and the blisters are mostly scabbed over and healing.

Maryland move-in

Moved into our new place in Riverdale Park, MD! We're very close to a metro stop to get into DC itself.

Chinese takeout on Sunday the 3rd, our first night there.

Taking some breaks from unpacking to hang out with Grandpa.

The porch is an easier place to feed Ava than inside the house.

Ava on her birthday,  Sept. 5th.

A birthday and a move

Over Labor Day weekend we celebrated Ava's 1-year-old birthday, the beginning of Daddy's new job, and our move to Maryland. Thanks to all the Princeton folks who rallied to help us celebrate, and a huge thanks to Grandpa Lee for heroically helping us with the move.

Ava loves her birthday book from Katye and Sarah--wants to read it frequently.

New sleeping position:

Helping Grandpa break down shelves:

Last bath in the Princeton apartment:

Birthday party in an empty house:

Sharing her carrot cake with Daddy: