Ava goes crazy

So... Ava is crazy. We are visiting family in Chicago as I begin a blitzkrieg marathon of wedding planning, and she just loves this exersaucer. What a goof. A cute one though!

AHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!

I'M ENGAGED!!!!

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, it's finally happened! For those of you who don't keep a close tab on the tap dance that has been the post-pregnancy proposal boogie, let me catch you up to speed...

Ok, so I, near our three year anniversary in November, began to wonder when something shiny would be making it's way on to my ring finger. I love Adam dearly, but after a month of hints and the subsequent oblivious head nods, I realized that subtlety would not be cutting it. I started to flat out say that the best Christmas present would be a proposal... to no avail. He said it would come sometime in January... and again in February... and I found myself close to giving up hope.

Finally, last weekend, I decided to make it crystal clear. I said, "I don't care if you marry me or leave me, but do it by next Friday!"

We both knew I wouldn't really leave, and he responded by chuckling and whining, "But Lauren, I'm just trying to find a romantic way to do it!"

Steam came out of my ears as I muttered, "Adam, you've waited too long. Romance is dead. I don't care if you throw it at my head, just do it! We'll make the wedding romantic."

I showed him exactly which rings he could choose from, but didn't hold out hope for him to deliver. A little bit of snooping led me to believe, several days later, that he had bought a ring, but I could never have anticipated the level of thoughtfulness and romance that he pulled out.

This afternoon, we went to our favorite restaurant- a romantic Mediterranean place calld "The Bistro." Despite my irritation with their new bread policy ($2 for 4 pieces after your first basket?!?!), the food was delicious and the company divine. Ava even stayed well behaved. Afterwards, we went for a drive down memory lane, becoming nostalgic over all we had experienced together after three and a half years. The drive stopped at the top of Western's hill, where we got out to enjoy the weather and go for a walk.

This may not sound like a big deal to some of you, but anyone who knows our background knows better. When Adam and I first got together, in the midst of a sordid storm that seems to have taken place a lifetime ago, I was the biggest insomniac. I would go for walks to the top of the hill at 2 and 3 in the morning. What started out as platonic concern for a freshman friend walking by herself evolved into romantic moonlit strolls that set the foundation for our entire relationship. Each walk would end with us sitting on the steps of Van Meter Hall, looking out over the hills of houses and streetlights below.

In front of Van Meter is where our walk stopped today as well. Adam stared grumpily at the construction blocking our access to the steps as we sidled over to a patio in front of the building that gave a similarly lovely view. After showing Ava the sights, Adam tossed me the diaper bag to hold.

"Is my cell phone still in here?" I wondered aloud, unzipping the front pouch. Before Adam could stop me, I saw it: a polished wooden ring box. I looked up, slack-jawed.

"Is this what I think it is?"

A grin spread across his face as he shifted Ava in his arms.

"Well, you weren't supposed to open it, but since you did..." he droped to one knee, balancing Ava on his bent leg. "Lauren, I love you more than anything. I love Ava. I love our little family, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you marry us? Me and Ava?"

Tears streamed down both of our faces as Ava stared, perplexed by the eyes behind them.

"Yes!" I cried, jumping into his arms. The ring above was slid onto my finger, and let me tell you, pictures don't do it justice. He did good. Real good.

To answer some of the questions I've heard thus far, YES! I'm excited and happy and blown away! No, we don't have a date yet (I'm still remembering how to breathe). More information to follow, but WOW, what a day!

Ava wanted to say hi

Amy Grant comes to mind

Agh. Things have been... hectic. We recently held auditions for AFA slots (by recently, I mean today). I'm trying to keep up in classes/figure out my future, and Ava is so much more mobile these days... I'm exhausted. In a good way.

First, AFA auditions (quick fill-in if you're confused: I do speech and debate, or competitive public speaking, and AFA is a national chamionship tournament where you can only send 66 entries. Our team has a lot more than that, so it's super competitive to get those slots). I did not get the event I auditioned (Poetry), but I did get Prose, Impromptu, Extemp, Persuasion, and Crit (translation: that's good). I'm very excited, not only for what I get to do, but to be on a team as competitive, but loving, as this one! *singing off key* We are family...

*Resuming not singing.* Ok, so my life... I recently had decided to move back to Chicago. The decision was not an easy one, and I still want to go to graduate school, but financially, it just makes a lot more sense to go ahead and move near family who can help iwth the whole daycare component. However, just as we were settling into this idea, I get a job offer. I won't go into specifics, but the important part is that it would have given me a great amount of control over my work, a lot of opportunities to coach and travel, and a fantastic resume builder. As cool as that would have been, I think I'm going to have to turn around. We just really need to pay off those student loans before I go off being self-indulgent. Sigh.

Ava! Oh Ava. She is truly the bright spot in all of this madness. She's sooo strong. She sits up all by herself these days, and her favorite activity is knocking down towers of blocks that Mommy builds up for her. She is teething in a big way, but no pearly whites have popped through yet. Her favorite foods are bananas, peaches, pears, applesauce, carrots and sweetpotatoes. She's recently tried an apple/chicken blend, and found that appetizing as well. However, her favorite things to munch on are often the things she shouldn't. This makes me very nervous for our family trip to Mexico this summer. The sand on the beaches won't know what's hit 'em... In the meantime, I give her biter biscuits to gnaw on. It's a mess, but it's a quiet mess, and that's what Mommy needs these days.

I SWEAR I'll have pictures up soon. I'm remembering how to breathe at the moment. Once I've mastered that, I'll move on to photography. Speak of the devil... Ava hollers. Ta ta!

Doctor, doctor, gimme the news...

So, the good news: Ava's good. She has a severe cold which has led to runoff that gives her a sore throat, impacting her appetite. Now she's just sucking down the grape flavored Pedialyte and small bottles. She's in a surprisingly good mood with those sniffles. Even the doctor said, "She can't be that sick; look at that smile!" Way to make Mommy look like a liar, baby girl.

Still, there was some bad news. While Ava bug will be just fine, I'm on antibiotics and decongestants with severe sinus and right ear infections. Yay!!! Blech. I feel like crap, and am gearing up for a tremendously hectic week. Between missed classes, classes that haven't registered yet, and impending AFA auditions (gulp), I'm more than a little stressed. Hopefully I can get back on my feet before permanent damage is done.

YAY! and nay...

Woo Woo! KF-YAY! Well, it's over and done with, and the results were exciting. The team won by... well, a lot. I won Pentath and am now the Kentucky State champ in extemp :)

That's all the good news I have for today. Why? Because Ava and I are both miserable. We both have terrible colds with the worst runny noses and hacking coughs. She's off to the doctor tomorrow afternoon if she isn't any better in the morning. For those of you who have never had to operate a nose squeegee... you have no idea...

Ok, back to nursing my own pathetic self. Sigh.

Smile Pretty!

Last night, leaving Walmart, Ava let out an exuberant squeal just as we hit he exit. Her eyes were fixated on something, and as I turned, I realized that she was staring at a sign at the portrait studio, where one could get 30 portraits for $5.99 until Saturday. I thought to myself, "Wow, I really do have a genius infant. She thinks of everything!"

Ok, so maybe she was staring at the shiny balloons, but I still thought it was a good idea to get her 6 month old self commemorated in a too cute for words portrait, so I got to work. I dressed her in this adorable denim jumper with pink and yellow detailing and matching bloomers with a long sleeved white onesie and white tights. I pulled her crazy hair into a a waterfall pony tail on the top of her head and, voila, instant adorable!

When we got to the portrait center, we had to wait a little bit to get in, but that was ok by Ava bug! She just waved and talked to anyone who passed by, flirting with the guys and squealing and laughing with the girls. When it was finally our turn, I was just hoping she had some smiles left! And did she ever...

So the deal with the $5.99 package was that you could only pick one pose. It was 30 pictures of various sizes, but only one pose. Originally, I figured that was fine, but lemme tell ya... this kid is SO photogenic... I had the hardest time picking one! In fact, I was so conflicted, I did buy an extra sheet for ten dollars (I know, I'm such a sucker). They'll get in on March 6th, and I can't wait! I'll scant them in and post them so all of you can see :)

Well, I'm off to KFA tomorrow. Wish me luck!