Ava Starts Pre School

In England, the government gives 15 hours free preschool instruction to all 3 and 4 year olds, even if you're an American citizen. At first I thought Ava was too young and that she should just stay home with me until Kindergarten but after touring the West Row Preschool in April, Ava was hooked! She wanted to start right then and there. So we used the promise of going to school as incentive for her to potty train and by mid summer she was a pro. I signed her up and she anxiously waited for September 6th. She attends every day from 12:30 to 3:30, but is a little bummed that she doesn't ride the bus or eat lunch at school (that's what the kids do on Sesamestreet.org) The program is simple and lets the kids pick and play what they want, with guided instruction along the way. Even though it's not technically "school" Ava loves that she can paint, sculpt, glue, cut, glitter and generally get messy (and I don't have to clean it up.) She has already learned a lot of social skills and can write her name with more confidence. I hope she will learn to play with other children and less by herself but that can only come with time.

September 6th, first day of school lunch

Pizza, Watermelon and Lemon aid

She had waited all summer for this day

I don't think she could have been any more excited!

Grabbed her name on a yellow Lady bug

And put it under her teachers picture (Miss Emma)

Her sweet little backpack on a hook

To make the day just a little more special we celebrated with a "First Day of School Party."

School work books and pretty colored pens

Get busy Ava, you're a school girl now!

Ava liked all the attention on her first day of school so much, that she told me to take a picture of her on her 2nd day of school!

Baby Boy Update

Things have been so smooth for us lately, which is a comfort to say the least. On Sept 5 we had an ultrasound which determined my placenta has moved 4 cm from the cervix and is far enough away to go ahead with a vaginal birth. Baby boy has moved up the charts from a 9th percent growth rate to over 30! Fluid and blood pressure are all great and I feel amazing (very pregnant, but amazing.)

Things that have started to bother me are

Heart Burn: I have never had so much heart burn as I did these past 2 weeks and most likely it will continue to get worse until delivery.

Stuffy Nose: I remember my sister in law Jenn telling me about this but I have never experienced it. I can blow my nose 40 times a day, then I sleep with my mouth open and drool all night long. Not a pretty picture but reality.

Trouble Sleeping: I wake up 4-5 times a night to either go to the bathroom, get a drink because my mouth is dry or just to turn over. Sleeping is getting annoying and I almost try to avoid it.

29 weeks pregnant

31.5 week ultrasound at RAF Lakenheath

32 weeks pregnant with Owen, 15 pounds gained

32 weeks pregnant with Ava

( I had to retire the brown pants already this time around)

34 weeks Pregant with Owen

35 weeks pregnant with Ava

I have set up a Target Baby registry at:

http://www.target.com/GenericRegistryPortalView?registryType=R&pageName=GenericRegistryPortalView

Just type Diane or David Miller and you can see what we need or want for our baby boy. If you choose to purchase something I have our address all set up on line to send it directly to us. Thanks for all the support and prayers we have been blessed tremendously.

Gulliver's Land

When I was at girls camp Dave took Ava to a theme park called Gulliver's Land. I thought she wasn't going to like it since she has a strange fear of rides, but when I got home she wouldn't stop talking about how fun it was. It made me sad to think I missed all of her excitement, so we decided to take her again together this time. Gulliver's Land is in Milton Keynes (a little over an hour away) and is a mini theme park (slightly run down) but oh so much fun for Ava. There are hardly any waiting lines and all of the rides are made so adults and kids can be together. We met up with Ava's best friend Amelia and had a great day playing, until literally closing time. Ava's favorite? Oddly enough the log ride! Dave rode it multiple times with the girls since I think I would have birthed the baby falling that long of a distance.

Beginning of August

The missionaries helped us celebrate Dave's 31st birthday this year. We had an amazing BBQ complete with some of Dave's favorite foods: steak, ribs, root beer, corn on the cob and chocolate cake. Happy Birthday to an Amazing Husband!

PS I'm so glad you wore that Goonies shirt. . .

Ava graduated from her Big Girl bed to her BIG SISTER BED! That's what most things are being called lately, it helps to remind her that she isn't going to be an only child for much longer. I was nervous that she would fall out, since she moves and spins all night long but not once has she taken a plunge.

Old Big Girl Bed

New Big Sister Bed

Ava found my girls camp bandanna and played with it all day. I looked in on her and she had it wrapped around her neck and tucked into her t-shirt all cape like, so I helped her and tied it on. She became SUPER HERO AVA! It's cute how kids can make play out of anything.