Precious cargo

Ava loves her tower.  Thanks again for building it, Uncle Mike!

She is slowly warming up to the big ball that sprays water.  She is very dedicated to her sunscreen tube, however.  

Making lemon meringue pie with Daddy.  She woke up the next morning and immediately declared: "Pie."

New hairstyle.

We spent Saturday dusting off the kayaks at Assateague National Seashore.  Ava loved being in the boats, both sitting in front of Daddy and in the rear storage compartment.  Those are obviously temporary solutions to the family boating situation, but they'll work for a while.  We got enough clams to make chowder.  The trip also precipitated Ava's first two-word phrase:  "boat in" (meaning "I want to get in the boat.  Now.").  

The return of the camelsucker!

Daddy is digging for clams in shallow water.

Ava helps Daddy paddle.

Hard to see, but on the shore to the right of the boat is a small herd of Assateague Island wild horses.  These were a big hit with Ava, although she was disappointed that she couldn't pet them.

Warm and dry post-kayaking.  Ava is intrigued with towels these days.  She declares them to be "warm."

Crab claws.

Happy Father's Day!

We spent Father's Day at and near the Blackwater Wildlife Refuge on the Eastern Shore.

Looking out of the blind at the birds on the water.

Looking at a barn swallow nest.

Driving!

Visiting an old lighthouse.

Meeting a very friendly calico.

Bubbles

Mommy was away at a conference last week.  Ima and Odie Dog graciously came out to visit for two weeks.

The dinosaur fascination begins.

Helping with dinner.

Ava helped Daddy make pie.

Cleaning up.

Crashed out post-story

The mulberries are gone.

Arlington cemetery.

Nein

Not into a hug.

 Definitely into playing the piano at Jenna and Alex's.

And very into Jenna's woodpecker toy.

Plucked the dill blossoms (with Mommy's help--tough stem), carried them inside, laid down on the rug, and contemplated them.

Odie and Ima are visiting.  Ava is intrigued with Odie's carrier and with walking Odie.

At home.

And at the Arboretum.

She found a Barbie in one of the gardens.  Ava has an owie on her palm, and it must be bothering her, because she took Barbie's hand, looked at it, and mournfully said "Owie."  And she knows the word for "hand," so she doesn't think the hand it the owie.  The owie is the owie.

Learning where the name for "cornflower blue" comes from.

The wooden xylophone.

Running numerous times across the bridge was a big hit.  In the course of the running, I finally got video of Ava saying "Nein."  Tina speaks German to her, and a word that has definitely percolated through is "Nein."  Ava is not in the "No" phase.  She is firmly in the "Nein" phase.