things to keep in mind:

carter may not talk to any extent, but he has a word for credit card (det-do), zamboni (zalmmmmm), and small cute fuzzy animal that i want to hold (meeoowww).

ava spent the day training the dog, who is 14, and well acquainted with heel, sit, stay, come, but played along nicely. until ava gave her a 'bath' with water from the sandbox--water that is approximately 32 degrees.

and she decided she now likes school. her regular teacher is back (post baby), and lo and behold, ava is ok with it all. don't go messing around with ava's reality. ever. if you say it is one way, then it had better be that way. baby or no baby, the teacher is the teacher. period. if the teacher is not there, then there is no point to school.