New Life...New Blog

Friend and Family, We are starting a new blog.  Our adoption journey is over!  Please follow our adventures at: www.letterneaulife.blogspot.com
Can't say enough thank yous for all the love and support posted throughout this adoption blog.  THANK YOU!!!

Back to Blogging

Well, another month has come and gone.  When we first got home, every month was full of changes and firsts. Now, we can actually say things like, 'Wow, this month flew by'.  This being said, I have decided to be more intentional about blogging regularly.  No more of this once a month thing.  I can't promise it will be every week but that is my goal.  I do enjoy it so I'm really going to try to carve out time.

 
General August Update:

August was a fantastic month.  The weather has finally been heating up so we've spent many days at the beach with friends, by the pool, and at SeaWorld Ava is still crazy about arts and crafts and starts every morning by crawling into my bed with her magnetic drawing board.  She's learning more and more everyday...it's unbelievable!  She is surpassing what we think or assume she can do.  Her big accomplishment of the month is that she learned to dress herself.  When she successfully dresses herself she does a little happy dance around the room which is too cute for words :-)   Well, there is the short and sweet summary of August.  Expect more frequent posts throughout the next month.

Fun in the sun and by the water...

Pool

 Beach

 SeaWorld

Some other special events...

Auntie Erica took Ava to paint pottery.  Perfect day for little Ava

The girls went out for teatime to spend some time with Erica before she leaves for another year of teaching overseas in Vietnam. 

Wild Animal Park 

My favorite Ava photos of the month...

July

What an amazing month for our family.  Every month gets a little smoother and a little easier now.  Ava is just so much fun!!!  Update time...

 Therapy and Progress:
Ava just finished her special needs summer school program.   She did great and loved the going each day.  She was excited to see her friends and teachers and by the end of the 5 weeks she was practically pushing me out the door when I'd drop her off.  Every day when she'd come home from school, she would take her work out of her backpack and put it on the fridge.  It was neat to see how proud she was of herself and her hard work.  She got great marks on her summer report card and her teachers were very impressed with her progress.  She even got a special award for sharing :-)

 Ava with her award and a free meal at Claim Jumper!

I LOVE her therapists at CCS (California children services).  We are so blessed by the wonderful therapist that have been assigned to Ava.  She is working so hard and it's showing!  She is getting much better at eating, chewing, and swallowing.  Many people have also commented that she is talking so much more.  People are even able to pick up words she is trying to say !!!  We pray for continued progress in this area every day! 

Home life:
Life at home is wonderful!  I am still home with Ava everyday and there is no place I'd rather be.  Her bond with James and I is so strong and we are so thankful that she's adjusted so beautifully.

 Dressing up is one of our favorite activities

 Daddy is very popular once he gets home from work

 Almost every weekend we head down to San Marcos to visit my parents.  Ava loves her Mimi, Papa, and Auntie and she loves going down to the lake!

Special Events:
July 4th  It was such a special holiday this year.  Ava got to celebrate living in this wonderful country...and boy did she celebrate!  She sure looks cute in red, white, and blue

Family Photos:  My dad took some great pictures of family while James' family was in town! 

Ava with her cousins

James' family!  Well, my family too :-)

And, my family...our family :-)

Monterey Trip
James had a business trip to Monterey and Ava and I tagged along.  We had a great time!!!

Our 4th Wedding Anniversary:

My Crafts! 
Money is still tight as I have decided to stay home with Ava for now.  I am trying hard to sell my crafts.  I work really hard on them and love doing it at home with Ava!  Please pass the word along or order for yourself if you have a gift you need to get!

I hope that you all enjoyed a great month of July!