Ava Settles into LA

Ava discovers the pleasure

of a great pair of shades!

Well, we're here and basically all moved in. There are a few odds and ends that indecision is keeping me from placing. And I can't paint until after this baby gets here. But don't worry, the swatches are up and it will probably take me that long to decide.



Ava has her own bedroom and bathroom now, a pleasure that none of us can fully describe. I'm also enjoying such UCLA luxuries as a dishwasher, a garbage disposal and a garage. It's so awesome to be living such a normal life!



California is even better than we expected. Jared and I look at each other and say, "Can you even believe we're here?! It's perfect!" So, I'll hurry and address the two LA downfalls for the nay-sayers.


Traffic- You plan for it. You figure out the best time of day to travel different places and then you plan extra time just in case. Big deal! We listen to music or audio books or we talk. Ava has been living it up in the pack seat with goldfish crackers and Curious George on a DVD player. It's worlds better than wrestling all my stuff on to a bus piloted by an angry driver and crewed by ornery passengers!



Smog- We've heard this is the worst month for it and I'm not going to deny, it's pretty smoggy. But, after Jared's first week in medical school, 4 years ago, where they showed the black lung of a non-smoking New Yorker, we figure the damage is pretty much done anyway.



The truth is, for me, these are small prices to pay for daily swimming and BBQing, access to the beach and incredible playground weather! It's not too hot and it's not too cold. Priceless! And we haven't had a cloudy day since we got here. We truly miss our friends and our families, but other than that, life here is pretty much perfect!



Driving her boat on the playground; Peeking out of the castle turret

She's obsessed with swimming and she's very brave!

Is there a doctor at the pool?! Ava rushes to give medical assistance to her new baby doll.