The Cancros: February 2010

...but before I get to that, let me give you a quick update on what Chris and I have been doing. (Cuz we all know this is really the Ava blog.) Chris has had a pretty good beginning to 2010. He finished up his rural rotation and then started a month of ER at St. Vincents. He loved it. The docs were great, the hours very good and lots of fantastic learning. Plus, he became some what of a hero when a laboring woman didn't make it to the Labor and Delivery floor fast enough so Chris - who decided he needed to follow her for a ways - had a dramatic delivery in the hallway. Everyone was fine, happy and healthy. Talk about a precipitous labor! After a quick weekend in Whitefish, MT, we are now back in Billings and he's started Inpatient Service again. Blech.

As for me...I have been trying to get into shape. I have been swimming religiously 3-4 times a week. Unfortunately, I haven't really seen the scale move and my back is still bothering me. What the hell. Probably doesn't help that my appetite has increased at an exponential rate relative to the number of laps I'm swimming. But, I'm sure it will all even out. I might have to throw in some cross-training too. I did take a pilates class but it was really a geriatric pilates. ("Okay, lift your leg and hold. Good. Now let's rest.") I'm not THAT out of shape. I know what some of you are thinking...what happened to P90X? Well, as soon as I know my back won't blow out again, I will ease back into it. But for now, it's mainly pool time.

On a different front, I have also eased back into working. My old boss in Buffalo approached me to do some research for him on a part-time basis. The particulars were never right before but this is a great project and it fits into my schedule. It's been nice to use my brain again. Although, I must say, it has atrophied a bit. A lot of dust has collected on those shelves.

And now for Miss Ava. Well, where to begin, really? She's been continuing to grow at an alarming rate. We are at the end of our handmedowns and it may start to get expensive. She is well into a 2T, weighs 30 pounds and is around 34 inches. She looks like a 2-3 year old but acts like, I hope, a 17 month old. For a while, I was a bit worried that her speech was delayed but she's really picking up new words every day. Her reliable vocabulary consists of mama, dada, more, dog, book, bite, ball, milk and sit. Or maybe it's shit. I don't know. I do cuss a lot when I drive. (Jeez people, I'm just kidding!)

She's been really fun but harder to entertain. Ava still loves to watch her Little People DVDs and play with her toys. Some new things she is doing...

...loves to help us empty the dishwasher. She gets pissed if we grab a plate before she has a chance to hand it to us.

...starting to tease more and more. She mainly does it by "pouting". She'll jut out her bottom lip, lower her chin, cross her arms, look at you through the corner of her eyes. Then, you have to say, "Oh, poor Ava" or something to that affect. She will then bust out laughing and start running.

...infatuated with the computer. She realizes that if she moves the little roller dial thingy on the mouse the screen moves. ...has a strange compulsion to stuff things. Really, it can be anything. Toys, TV remotes, food, shoes, dirty laundry, magnets. Usually it's in between the couch cushions but I did find a cup of her milk in Chris' underwear drawer.

...loves to crawl onto chairs, couches and tables.

...asserting her Independence. SHE has to put on her socks, brush her teeth, spoon up her applesauce, wipe her hiney, etc. If I try, man, is it a instant fit. Overall it's been lots of fun. I'll keep you posted. Enjoy the pics and videos.