Squash, Santa and Sister

Lot of new happenings around here, but nothing I've felt like blogging about.

Last week I made some homemade baby food.  I tried acorn squash and sweet potatoes.  Both are foods that would never enter my mouth, but I want to give Ava every opportunity in life, and if that includes nasty vegetables than so be it.  The squash turned out great.  I plan to give her some bites today.  The sweet potatoes were a little hard because I don't have a potato masher so it turned out chunky.  I bought a masher so I'll try it again later.  As a control freak, I love knowing every ingredient that is in the food that I give my baby.  Gerber baby food is so easy, but it's also so processed and preserved.  And expensive! 

I am so excited for my family Christmas this week.  I love being at home in SC more than anything.  I feel so comfortable there.  The only thing I'm worried about is the traveling.  Ava usually does pretty good in the car.  But when things go bad, they really go bad.  If she starts crying she won't stop until she's out of her car seat.  I've tried feeding her, changing her, letting her play on my lap for a bit, but as soon as she gets back in the car seat she freaks. Let me tell you, 45 minutes of baby screaming is enough to make me want to jump out the window.  She just wants to be home.  Poor babe.  We have a few out of town trips planned for the next couple months and I'm dreading them because of the possibility of disaster in the car.

We took Ava to see Santa last weekend at Bass Pro Shop.  I decided to go there basically because the picture was free, and I'm too cheap to pay $18 for one 5x7 at the mall.  Ava slept while we stood in line and opened her eyes when I handed her over to Santa.  The pic was taken kinda far away, but I did my good deed as a mom and took my child to see Santa.  I secretly hoped for the classic shot of the baby screaming on Santa's lap.  But I will never complain about my content and happy baby!

My sister came to visit last weekend, since she will be with her in-laws for Christmas.  We always have the best time.  I miss living in the same city as my sister SO MUCH.  I could really use her help around here, Ava just loves her to pieces.  It was funny that after Ava got done eating she would pop her head up and look around for Brooke, then smile when she found her.  I was in shock at how Ava could tear the wrapping paper off her presents and she played with her new toys.  What a big girl we have.  She is becoming a little Momma's girl quickly, which I love.  As much as I dislike it when she cries when I leave the room or hand her off to someone else... It warms my heart to know that she misses me and loves me.