Chicago

During the last weekend in March, Nana, Ava and I took a trip to Chicago to visit my parent's families. There were so many firsts! First flight, first on-flight tantrum (really it was around nap time), first class (thanks Nana!), and most importantly, the first time Ava got to meet her great-grandma on my Dad's side, as well as her second cousin Scott.

Here we are getting ready for departure. You would think Ava did this every day she was so good. She was just mesmerized by all the people and waved to quite a few of them. We read a lot of books and played. Then it got to be around nap time and I just had to hold her tight for about 10 minutes as she cried herself to sleep. I actually offered folks earplugs on both flights but the one person who took me up on them said she wanted them for her own kids!
The first night was a little tough just because it was a long day but the next day we were rearing to go. Again, one of Ava's favorite things to do in the hotels is to watch the Disney channel in the morning (esp. since we don't have cable). I swear, it takes me weeks to get those catchy tunes out of my head- "Hot Dog, hot dog, hot diggetty dog...." Oh no, not again!

Later on we went to Grandma and Grandpa's house and Ava's great aunt and second cousins brought a bunch of great toys to play with. Here the boys have built a cardboard brick fortress around Ava.
Did that stop her from busting out? Heck no, man.
Some of the best toys aren't really toys at all...
Playing peekaboo with Grandpa from under the table.
Per special request, the boys brought oodles of different shaped balls for Ava to play with. I'm pretty sure we all got worn out tossing and rolling and bouncing the balls around because she never seemed to want us to stop.
Family picture with Ava's great aunt and uncle Ellen and Steve, and my cousins Scott and Neal.
(Ava's like "What happened to the party?")
"Alright, this is better!"
"Let's boogie!"
Here's Ava with her great aunt Gloria, my cousin Megan and her fiance Jon-Marc.
They gave us a great touch and feel baby animal book which Great Grandma helped us read. Ava liked touching Grandma's hands just as much as she liked reading her book. :)
Here's Ava getting Nana to escort her up and down the hotel halls.

The day before we left, Ava actually figured out how to climb the stairs! Just as grandpa and I were talking about her figuring out one leg and then another, she did it right there. And before we knew it, she went up all fifteen stairs! We've got one determined little girl. Here she is going up one more time before we hit the road.

On the return flight, Ava initiated a long game of peekaboo with the girl sitting behind us before we took off.
Goodbye Chicago...