a first for Ava...

Last week at this time Ava and I were on a plane headed to Pittsburgh. It was only Ava's 2nd time on a plane, the first being 4 days earlier. We made this trip alone, without Nathan, and it was quite a challenge, but a much needed vacation from "every day" life.

We had started planning this trip back in February so that Ava could meet some of my extended family. Unfortunately, before we left last week, my Step-Dad's uncle passed away... oh how he would have loved Ava. But the tickets were purchased, and of course non-refundable, so we headed south anyway. We left Pittsburgh on Sunday around 4:50pm and got to Orlando around 7:30 or so. It took a bit longer than expected, but we landed safe and sound.... and Ava was asleep! She didn't sleep the whole way, just the last hour, which gave me a nice break.

please excuse this horrible picture of me...

I was tired and a bit stressed, but we needed a picture of Ava's first plane ride.

*update*: and as Nathan reminded me last night, I was also sick and on meds.

Once in Florida we headed to Titusville where our family lives. Ava and I had our own room, and she even got her own bed... really just a pack n' play. We won't be using those much longer, Ava is almost too tall. Monday was a bit chilly to play at the pool so we did what all girls do when they get together, we went shopping. Ava, as well as I, was very spoiled on this trip. She got so many new things (clothes, shoes, toys, BALLOONS!!, diapers, etc.) that we had to leave some stuff behind to be brought up to us later.

Tuesday was a nice day, but cooler in the morning. Ava was dying to go for a walk for we took her out and she eventually fell asleep. I parked her at the pool in the shade and sat and read for a while. Eventually she woke up and as soon as she saw the water, she wanted in it.

does it taste good?

getting some sun

Eventually, against my best efforts she ended up in the pool. At least by that point it had warmed up the mid 70s, but the water was still chilly.

Wednesday we decided to go to the beach for a bit and see how that went. It wasn't really warm enough to be walking around in a bathing suit, although some people were. Maybe I was still thawing from the artic freeze I came from. Of course that didn't stop Ava. She saw the waves and ran right for them. The ocean was icy when you first got in but she didn't care, and I don't think she even flinched.

loving the waves

We eventually had to pull her out as her little hands were literally turning purple. After she'd warm up for a while, she'd grab our hands and pull up back down to the ocean, only to be pulled out about 10 minutes later. She's an ocean fanatic!

back at the pool later that afternoon

happy to be in the water

looks like swimming lessons are in our near future

Ava and I had a great time on our big adventure, we only wish Nathan could have been with us. Poor guy, he had really been looking forward to getting some work done on his projects without us running around the house but instead, ended up getting sick. So he got to spend some quality time on the couch playing his new video game.

It's nice to be home and back to the chaotic life we live. And we only lost one item on our trip, but it looks like we brought the sun back with us.... so it's totally a fair trade!