Ava turns two!

Well today Ava turned two! It was a landmark that used to scare me but as the day drew closer I realized there was nothing to fear. I guess it scared me because it was a reminder of all the things a two year old should be doing but I a have long since accepted the pace of Ava is just a part of who she is. I can guide and help her along but with her stubborn streak (like her mama) there is no way to force her to move any quicker than she is ready. Plus I can't help but celebrating the small but at the same time enormous milestones she has reached this year. Although if I were to list them it would not sound like much, I think it is just the wonderful character that is Ava that we have been getting a chance to know and love. Last night we had a dance party in the living room with Ava and Meggie and Craig and I and we swirled and laughed about the living room. Meggie had the grace of a ballerina (surprising with how klutzy she is!) and Ava bounced a bit and squealed in delight as I threw her in the air and caught her in a swoop, spinning us both around until dizzy with laughter.
When our dancing was done I got started on the keto recipe for chocolate cake that was given by Ava's dietitian. What a cake! I was worried after searching the Internet that I would have to rely on a cheese cake that she has eaten on many occasion but instead I received a recipe with coconut flour, sugar-free chocolate pudding and a bunch of other ingredients that turned it into a cake that was delicious for everybody. I quickly quadrupled the recipe and made cupcakes for her entire class and teachers for everybody to enjoy. At school I popped in to her school during lunch to watch her blow out her candles (with the help of Meggie) and I couldn't help feeling proud as the whole class munched happily away at the keto cakes without missing a beat. No one knew the difference and when Ava leaned into her neighbouring child to swipe at the icing I didn't jump up to stop her. The teacher, who loved the cake better than regular cake, asked that I teach their cook to make the cake for other birthdays in Ava's class. Success! The icing was one made with cream and sugar free chocolate pudding powder that formed into icing within minutes in the fridge and Ava just had to drink about 78 grams of straight cream in order to make the recipe a 4:1 but since luckily Ava loves cream, that was no problem.
The morning of her birthday Ava seemed to think something special was going on because she was even happier than usual and as I buckled her into her car seat she passionately and unexpectedly grabbed my arm and aggressively brought it to her mouth. I thought she was about to bite me although she has never done that before but instead she kissed me several times with such force I squealed with laughter. So sweet.
We took her out of school early and brought the girls to the fair and to supper (Ava's was prepacked...shrimp with butter and strawberries and cream with a bit of oil hidden in it).
She opened her gifts (with Meggie's help again) and liked the dancing Pooh bear that would only move if you shook a rattle but was terrified of the blow up fort with the trampoline. Anytime I would try to inch her closer to it she would throw herself into my arms and it felt like she was trying to climb up behind my neck. Again a first for her. I see a lot of quicker movement from her lately, although she really hasn't mastered any including sitting with her slouched posture and occasional falls.
Lately she will be sitting and then she will throw herself into four point crawl and then flop on her belly and go back to four point then sitting. She can't keep herself into crawl because of the lack of tone in her midsection but we have been trying to combat that by following her physio, Stacey's suggestions of working on the balance ball three times a day.
Ava loves Stacey, she spent the last appointment trying to kiss her the entire session. As Ava's drooly kisses are usually the things only a parent will love I couldn't help but laugh at this.
There really were no sad parts of the day for me, just sentimental which is new for this year's special occasions. I asked a friend of mine recently if he ever got sad when these big milestones came for his child but he said that over the years you take the small triumphs in their life and celebrate them.

So we are all moving forward in baby steps and learning much more than we ever thought we would have to learn in this life. We are even laughing quite a bit along the way and just getting to know each other as any family should. That is better than where I thought we would be only 11 months in to being told that Ava had severe developmental delay and seizures.
I still think about that often. The day I asked Ava's pediatrician if she would have a chance at a meaningful life and he point blank said no. But that is not true. Her life is meaningful now to us and to her and to all the people that know and love her. She cares what people do and loves to be cuddled and fears (trampolines) and laughs and loves. She is entirely her own person and we love who this person is with all our hearts. Happy birthday my sweet!