Can you tell me how to get, how to get to Seasame Street?

Mommy, Daddy and Ava went out on a very special date. We took Ava to her first stage performance called Seasame Street 1-2-3 Imagine! We were sure to let Ava know that little sister couldn't come because she is too small. We also made a big deal about how Ava is the big sister and that is why she gets to go on this very special date! Aubrey had some very special one-on-one Papa and Gigi time!

The first Seasame Street character to appear was Big Bird. Ava was so excited.....her eyes grew big and she began moving her hands up and down with elation! She ate cotton candy and picked out her very own Seasame Street stuffed animal....Burt. I have never heard her talk about Burt, but it is her special day and that is the one she wanted! I don't know if she was more excited or if I was. I get extremely giddy when it comes to watching my child have a new and exciting experience! I love to see my childern experience joy. I could go on forever, but here are a couple of pics from the very special date! (pictures to come as they are on my mom's camera!)

A Message to Heaven.......

On Saturday my parent's dog, Buddy, went to be with Jesus. It was a difficult decision, but he had been sick for a while. Ava is very close with Buddy. We didn't want her to go over to Papa & Gigi's house and notice that Buddy was not there anymore. So we explained to her on Saturday night that Buddy went to be with Jesus. This is not the first conversation that we have had with her about a doggie going to heaven. Her dog, Berkeley, went to be with Jesus last year. Ava will often talk about Berkeley being in heaven and bring him up in daily conversation. Tonight Ava started crying telling me that Buddy & Berkeley "went away" and the she "wants them to come back." So tonight when we prayed, we asked Jesus to tell Berkeley and Buddy "hello" and tell them "we love them!" After we said Amen, Ava looked up at me with her sweet eyes and said "Momma, I don't want Jesus to have Buddy & Berkeley. I want Him to bring them back here with us." It just melted my heart....my sweet baby girl having her first heartache.

Gift Giving

Tonight Ava was in a gift giving mood. She would wrap her "presents" up in her doll blanket and give them to me. I received the following: a remote control, a bottle of bubbles, an empty sippy cup, and my favorite......an empty fruit chew wrapper! Not only did I recieve these gifts once, but several times over! Oh how I love my Ava Leigh!!!!!!

10 years ago today......

Today is a fantastic day! 10 years ago today, my uncle Donny donated his kidney to me. After 10 years of chronic kidney failure, my life truly changed with my kidney transplant. I always knew God had a plan for me, but His plan was much more wonderful than I could ever imagine.

Today I woke up rested and not in a hospital bed. I went to work to a job I love. I ate lunch without stomach pains or nausea. I came home and my legs didn't scream in pain.  I hugged my wonderful husband standing strong and healthy. I played and cared for my sweet babies without fatigue. I was able to birth two children when I thought I would not have any. I was awake more than I was asleep. Tonight I will lay down my head without worry of dialysis. 

I didn't do anything extraordinary today. But, that is exactly the point. Today I simply lived. It is my favorite thing to do! It is the act of living that reminds me each day of what a wonderful maker we serve. He didn't promise me health, but he has gifted it to me through my uncle. And I am forever grateful for all the blessings that health brings about. These last 10 years have given me more blessings than I could ever dream up or possibly deserve. It is so very hard to wrap my head around a God who loves me like that. He owes me nothing, but he has given me everything!

"Do not be anxious in anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philipians 4:6-7.

My soul understands this verse so very much and I know the peace that it promises. If my kidney failed tomorrow, I know God has a plan much more wonderful than I have for myself. I do not worry, for I am His child and He is my Perfect Father.

The Day of Love

Today Anthony and I celebrated our 14th Valentine's Day. My, oh my, how our celebrations have changed! We had a hot date last night and saw "Dear John" and went to dinner at Urban Crust with our dear friends. We had a great time! It was our first time to have a sitter stay with the girls (other than our parents). They both did great with Miss Kristin!

Instead of getting gifts for Ava for Valentines Day (becasue she got plenty from her grandparents), I made Ava heart shaped pancakes and gave her "pink" aka strawberry milk for her special day! It was her first time having strawberry milk and I'm pretty sure she is a fan! For Aubrey, we basically dressed her up in a Valentine onesie and took pictures. Ava did share her Valentine's Day horses she got with her sister and I have the pic to prove it!
Yes, Valentine's Day for the Diesch's has changed, but I wouldn't change it for the world!

Valentine's breakfast

Valentine Baby!

!

Sharing her horses! Sweet sisters!

Aubrey's 100th Day "Baek-il"

Today we celebrated Aubrey's 100th day birthday or "Baek-il!" I was very excited to be here for this. I missed Ava's celebration becasue I was in the hospital. A few fun facts:

In Korea, on the 100th day after a child's birth, a small feast is prepared to celebrate the child's having survived this difficult period. If the child is sick at this time, the family passes the day with neither announcement nor party, for to do otherwise is considered bad luck for the infant. The family, relatives and friends then celebrate with rice cakes, wine, and other delicacies such as red and black bean cakes sweetened with sugar or honey.

To prevent potential harm to the child and to bring him or her good luck and happiness, red bean cakes are customarily placed at the four compass points within the house. If the steamed rice cakes are shared with 100 people, it is believed that the child will have a long life. Therefore, rice cakes are usually sent to as many people as possible to help celebrate the happiness of the occasion. Those who receive rice cakes return the vessels with skeins of thread, expressing the hope of longevity, and rice and money, symbolizing future wealth."

Of course we didn't do all of these things, but we did have Aubrey dressed in her traditional Korean hambok (the same one the Ava wore). She looked like a little princess! In addition to the Korean food, we had lots of yummy American food and of course cake! Harmony, Anthony's mom and Korean name for grandma, did a wonderful job planning and preparing the celebration! Instead of traditional gold jewelry for Aubrey, Harmony and Pepaw gave Aubrey a beautiful diamond cross that we are to give Aubrey when she turns 16. Until then, Harmony insisted that I wear it because she does not want it to stay put away. It's a hard job, but somebody's got to do it!

The Princess dressed in her Hambok

With Daddy, Harmony & Pepaw

With Gigi & Harmony

Three generations of girls......

The pround parents

With GiGi & Papa

With Pompa and Nannie her great-grandparents

Ava playing with Lillian & Madison

Winter Wonderland

Today I thought I would be taking Ava to school for her Valentine's party, but we woke up to a winter wonderland! Ava immediately asked if she could go outside and "play in the snow and build a frosty the snowman". So we put all of our winter gear on and headed outside. I have a cold and am feeling under the weather, but seeing her eyes light up in the snow truly made me feel a little better. Sister Aubrey was in a winter slumber in her swing while we were outside.

With daddy.....

winter wonderland!

One happy girl!

Snowball fight!

Mr. Bay got in on the fun, stopping to

give Ava a kiss!

Winter slumber......

 

Had to take Aubrey out for a second to see her first snow!

We topped off the morning with her first hot chocolate!!!

When daddy got home they quickly built a snowman.....

The completed product.....

The day ended with warm tootsies!

What a beautiful and fun day!

Miss Wiggles

Baby "sissy" Aubrey turned 3 months old. I can't believe how much she has changed and how time has flown. Anthony and I are enjoying every bit of her. She is a very happy, easy going baby! She loves to coo and giggle. She has the best smile with her sweet chubby cheeks and big, brown, smiling eyes! Speaking of eyes, I have no idea how both of my girls got beautiful, long, black lashes. I understand the black color from daddy, but both of them have long lashes. It must be a little something extra from God! She has the little chubby upper thigh roll.....you know the one that is so cute when you are a baby, but not so much when you are older! She sleeps on her side and loves her paci. She is not the best passenger in the car. I think this is manily because her paci falls out. Once its back in, she is good to go.

She like to watch the TV and Ava play. She is starting to grab her toys and mommy's hair. But one of my favorite things she does is wiggle her body. She will flail her arms and kick her legs in such an uncoordinated fashion.....like she is really trying to figure out her body. Yep, thats our Miss Wiggles. She has managed to coordinate putting her hands together......it is so sweet, like she's holding her own hands. And she can even coordinate putting her hands to her mouth (and even a couple of small toys)! I put shoes on her for the very first time. She kept looking at them with such a perplexed look on her face. It was cracking me up! Already analyzing just like her mommy! Oh, and lets not forget sleeping through the night. This little lady has been sleeping an average of 10 hours a night for over two weeks. Ahhh.....the sweetness of 3 months............ and of sleep!

Holding her hands and putting them in her mouth!

3 month old happy baby!

Snug as a Bug in a Rug!

I learned today that you can compile all of your blogs into an awesome book. I am not a scrapbook, artistic type, so when I heard this I was super excited! I have often regretted that I have not written down all of my special memories of Ava growing up. I can't turn back the hands of time, but I can start now and capture as much as I can.

I love the bedtime routine with Ava! Lets start with the P.J.'s. Ava picked all by herself her very first pair of P.J's! And it was the first time we bought 3T. My baby is getting big! Of course, she picked these over the ones that said "I love mommy", but who can blame her? These have a super cute panda on it and Ava is all about animals.

Next is the teeth brushing. Basically, I brush her teeth and she plays with the water! Getting her to keep her eyes open during a picture is an act of God or a good bribe! She's not so much into the picture taking!

 

Then she tucks her stuffed animal on her chair in saying "Snug as a bug in a rug." This is our nightly saying!

We can't go to bed without storytime. Typically me or daddy reads the story but Ava is a toddler, so now she is really into reading us the book.  And boy does she have an imagination! Lastly, we pray.....sometimes we are serious and sometimes we are just plain silly (like tonight)!

And the night would not be complete without smiles from baby sister Aubrey! Seriously, is there anything sweeter than those first smiles? Daddy can elicit the best ones!