three years + seven months

'Tis official, Avery is closer to four than three.  For once I can't say that I'm sad about her aging as three is proving to be...challenging...yeah, we'll go with that.  Avery is still sweet and amazing and the best girl ever.  The good will always outweigh the bad, some days I just have to repeat that a few more times. ;)

At 43 months Avery really loves watching TV.  No really, that's it - this update is DONE.  She has really been digging Busytown Mysteries, My Little Ponies, and the occasional Dora.  Phineas & Ferb, who?!  We've hardly seen them over the last month!

She does enjoy a few other activities, like playing outside, "riding" her bike (really she just sits), and her imagination is as fantastic as ever.  Lulu and Brother are still very much a part of our lives and the two are always up to no good.  Any wrongdoing that could be attributed to Avery...nope, Lulu did it.  I love that she has this imaginary friend, it's great, I just wish he wasn't such a pain in the behind.  She can be mischievous on her own and at separate times I've found a plastic pony and a cheese wheel in the sleeve of my shirt.  While I'm wearing it.  One night when I went to give Dean a bath, Avery came walking down the hall with a soccer ball and another bouncy ball and asked if I minded her going to play soccer with Lulu and Brother in the living room.  Since it was already trashed with a million tiny toys and all breakables have been packed, I said, "Go right ahead!  Have fun!"  A few minutes later she ran into the bathroom to let me know that Lulu said she scored.  Awesome! :)

Speaking of imagination, it's so funny to me to see where she draws the line.  We have to get creative some days because we have Dean to consider too.  So for two days Avery used P&F stickers as characters and she would hold a few up, stick one on me to act out, etc.  On the second day she put a Doofenshmirtz and Isabella on my arm while I nursed Dean.  She began the bit as Agent P but when I tried to be Isabella she said, "No, she is just a sticker."  Of course.  Then one morning while I was reading, "Are You My Mother?" and the dog tells the bird no, Avery said, "Dogs can't talk."  Doesn't matter that a bird was doing the asking or that a hen had already answered, she's totally right - dogs can't talk.   I wish I could be in her head for just a minute.  

We've had a lot of gorgeous weather so we try to spend some time outside in the afternoons and there's a collection of toys near the stairwell Avery always asks to play with.  It started out as one lion and one tiger, then another tiger, and the collection now includes two dinosaurs, three tigers, two lions, a gorilla, a human baby, an ostrich, and a zebra.  I know at least one neighbor that's contributing to the stash, though we never see when another is added, only that there is something else.  It's hilarious to walk out because Avery will notice whatever new thing is there and say something like, "Oh my gosh!  Why is this happening to me?!  There's a...."  

Avery still loooooves Dean!  She loves him most when he's asleep.  As soon as he's asleep she decides it's time to smother him with kisses and hugs and if we're in the car then rattle his toys around!  Because?!  When I asked she told me she "loves to wake babies up!" Yay!  Thankfully our boy is an easygoing guy. :)

Lots going on in the next month as we make the move back to Houston and settle in.  We're excited to be near family again and I can't wait to see how our favorite girl finds our old haunts after a year of being away.  She is daily both ridiculous and a delight, these last few months of three should be fun!

The iPhone tribute, left to right and top to bottom: 1) Being resourceful in setting up her entertainment center. 2) Sour face over breakfast. 3) Waiting at the doctor's office on Valentine's Day! 4) Looking fancy at dinner ;) 5) Looooong baby! 6) Enjoying some treats at Sesame Street Live 7) Playing at Hoppy House 8) Moo! 9) Driving us home.  She should really pay more attention to the road. 

Happy 43 month birthday sweet girl, we love you lots!

    

three years + six months

Our girl is officially at the half-way point.  Tomorrow she'll be one day closer to FOUR!!!  But today (and for another six months), she's still three so we'll celebrate Avery at 42 months!

At 42 months Avery loves to watch TV, her parents, her toys, Perry, playing outside, being overly affectionate towards her brother, eating chocolate chip granola bars, and being sneaky.  She dislikes going to bed and is not too fond of being reprimanded.  I feel like a broken record where her dislikes are concerned. :)

Avery has been a television watching fiend.  It escalated after Dean was born and I let too many days slide with too many cartoons.  Now she will ask to see the iPad or her phone to "play a game."  This is actually code for "pull up netflix and watch cartoons" while I wash dishes or fold laundry or anything that doesn't involve me being right next to her.  Another day I turned off the cartoons to go over some counting skills and numbers with her.  After a few minutes she said, "So what, I'll go get the iPad!"  Sneaky, that one.  She still loves Phineas and Ferb, but she has also started watching Dora, Diego, and My Little Ponies again.  She still loves to play with her Perry/Agent P stuffed doll and she has really been playing with her MLP figures again too.

While she does love television, she also loves to play outside.  We've been enjoying great weather off and on over the last few weeks and have ventured out many days for a walk around the complex and usually end up having various adventures involving the stairwell.  She loves to pretend the landing is her house and I come to visit, etc.  We've also started going back to the park, something we both enjoy!  I love being outside on the gorgeous days and letting her run around and expel some of that extra energy.  It benefits us all, I think. ;)

Avery loooooves her brother!  Sometimes a bit too much.  I have several photos of the two of them, or at least I'm pretty sure there's a baby boy in there somewhere.  I feel like I'm always reminding her to STAY OUT OF HIS FACE.  Of course the reminders do no good, 'tis the way of an older sister I guess.  A couple of weeks ago Avery and I both fell ill with a yucky virus/cold that resulted in high fevers.  I tried my hardest to keep her away-ish from Dean those days.  On the second morning of fever, she sat up in bed and tried to kiss him as I was talking to him and changing his diaper.  I gently reminded her that she was sick and to NOT BREATHE ON HIM.  Really, I was gentle, I knew she felt bad!  Anyway, she started crying and told me she just loved him so much.  Break my heart!  Of course this month she has also told me that maybe he should go back in my stomach because "it's not always awesome to have a baby brother, " and "we should take him back because sometimes it's hard to take care of a baby," and finally that she didn't want to babysit him anymore.  Because I often make her stay home and tend to the baby while I go out and get my party on before Deran gets home...not really!  She is so dramatic!  I think she gets that from her daddy.

I will miss Austin when we move later this spring, but one thing I'm looking forward to is more playmates for Avery.  She mostly interacts with adults and I think sometimes we expect too much from her at three.  I know some of the behavioral changes have been since Dean arrived, but I also think my girl misses her cousins and friends.  She still attends her Gymboree class and I know she loves to play with other littles!  

This month has passed in a blur!!  We visited our families for the first time (and probably last time before the move) and it took us an extra TWO hours to get home.  Soooo, traveling with two kids is a bit different and I think best done around bed time. ;)  I've been keeping notes on my phone because Avery has said and done some hilarious things and these days if I don't take care of whatever immediately, I'll likely forget.  So without further ado, a couple of paragraphs that don't flow but are filled with my sweet girl's craziness...

One day I said, "Oh, Avery!" and she replied, "I'm not O Avery.  I'm just Avery Kate, spelled double S-N.  It means you're going down, Momma!"  She was really going on about wanting a horse and I told her she has lots of horses to play with (my little ponies), "A pony is not a horse.  It's not like a cat.  It's ears are up, see?"  One night she wanted me to put an outfit on Dean but I told her I had to wash it first, "Well start washing them, girl!"  She told me she will love me "forever and forever and forever and forever and forever and forever!!" I told her I will love her back, then she said, "You will never leave me." I said, "I will never leave you." Then, "You will always be there for me." I replied, "I will always be there for you."  She's making statements, not asking questions.  I think she knows how much she's loved!  She squeezed me in a tight hug and said, "Come here, you!"  Love her so much!!

One night I told her it was bath time and she told me "riding a horse is more fun than taking a bath." I told her I'm sure that it is but we don't have a horse and it's time for a bath.  She then got on all fours and went around the living room saying that Lulu (yes, he's still with us) is pretending she's a horse.  And speaking of imaginary things, one morning while I was feeding Dean on the bed, Avery was jumping all around pretending chihuahuas were climbing up the bed.  "How can I escape them?!" she asked me.  I told her to climb the stairs and get into her plane!  She looked up at the ceiling fan I was pointing to and said, "Actually, that's just a fan."  OF COURSE IT IS.  But there were chihuahuas climbing up the bed?!  Clearly, only one at a time can use her imagination.

One morning she kissed my calf because she just loves me too much.  Random acts of loving sweetness?!  Okay!  She recently had this conversation with Deran...

Avery: Can I have a kitty like Aubrey?
D: No, you're allergic.
Avery: Can I just keep it in my room without me?
D: Then why would you want one?
Avery: 'Cause I'm crazy.

Crazy, indeed.  Avery has been known to "forget" her pants in the bathroom a time or twenty and one afternoon I remember shouting, "I don't want to see your hiney again until it's time for a bath!" Fun times, fun times...

And the last little tidbit that made me smile happened one day while I was reading a Wonder Pets book to Dean.  I was trying to include Avery by asking her questions about the animals on each page.  When the WP saved a baby kangaroo it led to a discussion about marsupials. We'd read a book several months ago about animals native to Australia so I started talking to her about these things again.  First we talked about possums being marsupials, then I said, "Oh, and a koala!"  She was like, "Huh?! A koala is a possum?!" :)  

Avery at 42 months is incredibly sassy and sweet.  She made us parents and our lives are better with her.  I can't wait to see what the next month has in store for our favorite girl and her kid brother!

As always, the monthly iPhone tribute - top to bottom and left to right: 1) early morning grumpy eye 2) swinging "not too high!!" at the park, 3) sitting on the stairs, 4) crazy, just...crazy 5) super girl! 6) sporting some crazy glasses from a craft fair, 7) waiting in line at Sam's and reading a new Lalaloopsy book, 8) avoiding sleep and looking fancy with her leopard sleep mask, 9) bubbles!

Happy 42 month birthday sweet girl, we love you lots!

 

three years + five months

Oh my goodness, where to even start this month?!  It's been a loooong month and yet here we are, at 41 months already.  We welcomed our much anticipated baby brother on December 7th and Avery is just the best big sister.  She tells us everyday how much she loves Dean and that she's so glad we have a baby brother. :)

At 41 months Avery loves her brother, television, reading, shopping, her family, asking WHY?, cooking, making a mess, and chocolate.  She dislikes going to sleep, the idea of turning into a marshmallow, and being a good listener.  Though I'm sure she'd dispute the last, she most definitely has selective hearing.

The biggest news this month is of course Dean's arrival.  Avery was so cute when Deran brought her into the room after Dean was born.  She smiled big and then asked if she could pet him.  Then she said, "I knew you were in here having a baby!"  Indeed, I was.  I labored quietly and Avery was actually in and out of the room until it was time to push.  Avery loooooves her brother, sometimes she's maybe even a little too affectionate.  I feel as if we're always telling her not to squeeze so hard or you know, GET OUT OF HIS FACE.  I know the capitals convey shouting, but we actually issue gentle reminders.  Not that it matters because two seconds later she is bending over his bed or the swing or on the floor and right up in his business. :)  I've been keeping a list of a few things she has said or done over the last month that have changed since adding a baby to the house...One day she came up to me and spit up on my shirt because she "didn't burp very good."  I swear, I don't know what it was but she did indeed spit something on my shirt.  Right after an early morning feeding, Avery grabbed the burp rag and said, "Abra dabra, your boob disappeared!"  Another time we were all sitting on the couch and she said, "I have a breast pad stuck on my leg, you guys."  I've written about Avery living life as a musical before, so imagine this to any tune you want...she was playing with her Phineas & Ferb figurines and started singing, "Perry put the babies to sleep but they woke up because they just wanted some of my mommy's milk..."  All of these things make me laugh because when else will she randomly have a breast pad stuck to her leg?! :)

In the few weeks since having Dean, Avery has been allowed to eat more snacks and watch more television than ever before.  I'm awesome like that.  We're pretty much back on track with eating but the tv has been on too much.  I blame the cold weather!  Next week is looking sunny with some highs in the 60s so I think we'll be able to get out a bit.  One week after Dean was born Avery was sitting on the couch snacking on marshmallows before dinner.  I told her to put them away because we would be eating soon.  Then Deran piped up with, "Yeah, if you eat too many marshmallows you'll turn into...this!" and pulled up a picture of this guy from Ghost Busters.  Big mistake.  For over a week she cried and said she never wanted to eat marshmallows again.  She wanted to throw ours away and she fretted over her cousin coming over and trying to eat marshmallows.  Three year olds are pretty literal, you know, you gotta be mindful of what you say.

As usual, she still dislikes going to bed.  She is still sleeping in our bed and more often than not, actually stays up until one of us goes to bed with her.  It's exhausting and heartbreaking because she cries and says she doesn't want to be alone.  Deran and I were wanting to watch Shaun of the Dead recently but we couldn't because Avery was still awake. Then she started crying and told us that she's not afraid of zombies.  Of course she isn't!  She often tells us she's a big girl and can take care of herself so maybe 2013 will see her back in her own bed!  Maybe I should write that one down.

Lulu has made an appearance (or not really) on many days and he's always naughty.  He flips the lights on and off, pushes, pulls hair, throws things on the floor, basically makes life CRAZY.  Sometimes I just want him to go home.  If only I knew where his imaginary abode was. :/  I have no doubt some of his behavior is due to the addition of Avery's beloved baby brother, though even knowing it doesn't make me like Lulu any more.

Avery still loves to watch Phineas and Ferb but she's also started watching My Little Ponies again and is also into Spider Man right now.  Ever since the Christmas parade, she's been a little crazy about him.  We've gone through three cans of silly string and have several versions of the cartoon in our Netflix queue. 

But as much as she loves to watch TV, she also still loves to read.  We still blow through several books a day and she was really sad just this morning when I mentioned needing to return a Barney book to the library.  I'm so glad she loves to read!!

Her vocabulary and speech is always expanding and improving.  I just noticed a few days ago that she no longer says, "hungy" or "angy" but actually says, hungry and angry.  She still says, "I'm am" for "I am" and seriously?!  Soooo cute!  "Because" has morphed several times over the last two years and right now it sounds something like, "Puh-tuzz."  It makes me smile every time. :)

She is still a light eater but has started to try new foods and really loves to help in the kitchen.  She recently started eating oranges (like, a piece) and one day I asked her, "Do you like oranges?"  She replied, "I do.  Especially from coconuts. Mmmm, juicy!"  :)  At any rate, we're proud of her for trying new things!

Avery has been very inquisitive over the last month.  Sometimes I fear my sanity is at a breaking point when she continues to ask, "Why?" after every answer I give.  But we push on and try to answer as best we can.  Yesterday we talked about tornadoes and then today Deran came home for lunch and I overheard Avery reciting some of the twister facts.  It made me happy because maybe my sanity (or lack of) is worth it if she's actually listening and retaining the information.  Though she certainly hears when she wants to as I can ask her to pick up her toys ALL DAY LONG and yet, at the end of the day the place still looks as if a twister has been through.

Big changes for our girl this month in becoming a big sister and learning to share our attention.  It's not always easy and sometimes I find myself missing her even though she's in the same room.  I think it's partly her growing up, but it still makes my heart hurt to not be able to pick her up every time she asks or to ask her to hold on so I can tend to Dean.  Probably the hardest thing about having two tots.  Though I honestly believe loving Avery so much has made having a second child so much easier.  I know how great it is to parent a fantastically amazing girl, adding a sweet boy into the mix has been pretty easy.

So 41 months with our best girl and 41 of the best months of our lives.  Lots of changes coming in the new year.  I know she is so excited to be moving closer to all of her cousins and old friends and we're so excited for her to have those playmates again!  She still tells me all the time that I'm the best momma and she's going to love me forever and forever and forever and forever.  Goodness, I love that girl!

The monthly iPhone update, top to bottom and left to right: 1) making a mess...something in which she excels 2) using Deran's phone to take pictures of Dean 3) sporting some stylish festive shades 4) early morning snuggles 5) snacking in brother's bed 6) sweet sibling kisses 7) bubble bath! 8) running downhill at the park 9) late night playing on her phone.  And I just noticed that she's wearing pajamas in nearly all of the photos.  Whatevs, we'll get dressed tomorrow. ;)

Happy 41 month birthday sweet girl, we love you lots! 

three years + four months

I was sure hoping to be posting this monthly update from the hospital, but alas, I'm seated on the sofa instead.  My sweet girl fell asleep before 7:00 p.m. tonight after a tragic slip and a busted lip.  Ha!  I just realized it may have sounded like Avery should have been at the hospital, but I totally meant me with a new baby. :)  Anyway, enough I'M STILL PREGNANT mumbo jumbo - this is about our favorite girl! 

Avery at 40 months is just the most amazingly fun, wild, and sweet girl.  She basically loves everything, it's all her favorite anything EVER.  She is still all about Phineas and Ferb, Perry was actually in our Santa photo too.  She loves us "so much!!" and right back at her, she's the best!  Avery very much dislikes not getting her way and sleeping in her own bed.

Avery has lots of imaginary friends and is always talking to them, about them, etc.  Lulu and Brother are still hanging around but she also talks on her phone to her pretend friends a lot too. At least we know where most of them originated.  When she's pretending to be Candace of P&F fame, then she talks to her best friend Stacey.  She also talks to Becky, who I believe is PBS's Word Girl?  Maybe.  Anyway, Avery has always had a fantastic imagination and I'm glad to see it's still going strong.

She loves to cook in her kitchen and I think she will be especially excited to see all that Santa is preparing in his toy shop for her!  She makes us soup or eggs most often and loves to serve up some orange juice.  She also likes to help in the real kitchen and is so cute when she has to put on her apron first.  Though she ends up spending more time playing with the tiger over mitt than working, her help is always appreciated. ;)

We have been out and about A LOT this past month.  We've just been doing various activities, holiday shopping, and lots of walking.  I've been looking forward to Christmas for a while now and I admit to getting caught up in the gift buying/giving.  Avery is used to getting something nearly every time we go to Target or Hobby Lobby or wherever, but because Christmas is nearing I've started saying no.  It's such a novelty to her that she gets hung up on whatever she didn't get for days.  First, it was a baby horse from Toys R Us.  And actually, she's still talking about that one weeks later.  More recently she has been talking about two babies she didn't get at Marshall's.  She'll wake up the morning after visiting a store and say, "I'm not mad, maybe I'll get it for Christmas!  I put it on my list."  She puts eeeeeverything on her list.  Drawing the line is tough because we want to give her what she wants but then I think about the real reason we celebrate Christmas (she has been playing with her Veggie Tales Nativity for a month, baby Jesus is still her fave!) and the massive amount of toys we already own, not to mention what she'll be receiving from Santa and grandparents...and I think we're done.  

Make no mistake though, Avery is also a kind-hearted girl.  Someone offered to put away our shopping cart at Babies R Us one day after thanking her, I put Avery in the car and she said, "That was really very nice of her."  And we've been going through her toys to donate.  Now the problem here is that she's okay with getting rid of some things but she's also bad about getting things out of the bag. :)  She knows we want to give to those who don't have anything, but it's a hard concept for a happy girl with lots of toys to understand.

Avery and Deran have been on a couple of dates over the last month and on one outing they came home with a pet fish, Goldie the betta.  It's a miracle Goldie actually made it home but she's still swimming about.  Avery loves to feed her and takes the time to talk to her several times a day.  She's really so sweet!  Goldie is actually supposed to be a pet for Oscar and Harper, like those two need more responsibility, right?!  One Saturday I took Avery to make a craft and then we walked to the pet store.  They had rescue dogs out front up for adoption and she has been wanting to get a big dog for Oscar and a little dog for Harper ever since.  I told her I didn't think Daddy would agree to any more dogs in the apartment but maybe we could get the pugs a fish.  Except Avery's F is still a W so it's a really a pet "wishy."  Totally changing the subject but gosh I love to hear her talk.  When she has chocolate on her "wace" or we see a "wiretruck" it's always cute!

While Avery's Goldie is still swimming around, my mom's fish is not.  Avery has asked me repeatedly why Nana's fish went to Heaven.  Talk about hard to explain in a way she understands!  She broke my heart a little when she asked about us going to Heaven.  She teared up and asked if we would never come back and if the pugs could go with us.  I told her I think she's going to live a long happy life and that seemed to bring back a smile.  I don't think I was quite prepared to answer questions like that just yet!

And not to totally bring this post down after the last paragraph, because this is actually a praise, but I randomly found a knot behind Avery's knee earlier in the month and it fortunately turned out to be a cyst.  She was so good during the x-ray and then the ultrasound a few days later.  Deran ended up taking a long lunch and coming to the ultrasound with us and I was so thankful.  We were so glad the radiologist came in to talk to us before we even left the appointment to let us know his diagnosis.  Seeing our sweet girl laying on the table and finding out all is okay was such a relief!  Lots of prayers went up for her and I'm so grateful for God's presence and healing!

Enough sad happiness, onto the crazy!  Avery has been antagonizing the pugs to the point I want to kennel her instead.  Not really.  Maybe.  Sometimes.  She gets semi-attacked by Harper on a daily basis.  It's totally provoked so we don't punish Harper.  Avery is always trying to trap her or chase her or take her toy and put it on a high shelf or...the list could go on and on.  Oscar doesn't fare much better, he's just more tolerant.

A few things I want to remember from this month that she said or happened...One morning she was hugging me on the couch and told me she just couldn't stop hugging me because she loved me too much - one afternoon she put on some dress-up heels and then told me she wasn't a little girl, she was 16 - She dropped some toys in Dean's carseat one day and then cried because when he comes out he is going to tear up everything - she picked out purple panties one day to match her purple socks and fancy shoes, then told me she was going to look "wamous!" - She said she picks her nose so much because her nose likes it - After class one day as I was putting on her socks and shoes for a trip to the park, she asked if Daddy was coming. I told her he was still at work and she looked over at her teacher and told her, "You know my daddy is smart." Statement not a question. - She wants to get headphones to fit the pugs. - She has mastered taking photos with our phones and took several of me making various funny faces.  She was laughing so hard I didn't think she'd be able to actually take a picture.  She made sure to show it to Deran that night after dinner and giggled so much! - At the Christmas parade Spider Man came along and sprayed us all with some silly string.  Initially she was not a fan but then she played with it throughout the rest of the parade but kept asking, "Why did Spider Man do that?!" - She got so much joy out of rolling down the hill at the park and I got so much joy out of swinging with her.  She was facing me, sitting on my lap with her head on my shoulder and though we snuggle a lot it was one of the sweetest moments I keep thinking about several days later.

So Avery at 40 months is truly the best!  She always says she has the "best Daddy!" or the "best Momma!" and she's going to love us forever and forever and forever and forever.  I always respond with the same and I mean it.  We wouldn't trade our days with her for anything.  Forty months of parenting and she's still the best part of both of us.  We're soooo excited for what this next month holds!!!  We'll most definitely be welcoming a brother and then getting to celebrate our favorite holiday.  Lots of activities and life to be lived, I can't wait to see it through Avery's eyes!

The monthly iPhone update, top to bottom and left to right: being the saddest kid ever to visit Santa, laughing crazily while holding her snowman made at a tea party benefiting St. Jude's at our local PBK, lunching at the mall food court, holding Super Pug and being darn cute, headed out for a date with Daddy, testing out brother's new bed with lots of ponies and a Ming Ming mask, snacking on a cookie we got at the local Subway while out walking the 'hood, swinging from the monkey bars because she's a big kid now, a rare moment of contentment and snuggles between those two.   

          

Happy 40 month birthday sweet girl, we love you lots!

three years + three months

Sooo...I'm a little behind, as in almost a week, and for the first time in three years I skipped Avery's update on her actual birth date.  Wah!!  We were out of town and busy from morning until night and I realized on the 4th that I hadn't made the update and I was so sad!  But better late than never, right?!

Day three: I'm so thankful for my girl.  She tells me all the time, "I'm going to love you forever and forever and forever and forever!"  How did I get so lucky?!  I'm not sure, but I am grateful. 

Avery at thirty-nine months is pretty fantastic...and pretty fantastically rotten.  She loves her family and friends, Phineas & Ferb, playing, popcorn, Lalaloopsy Littles, chocolate, jumping on the trampoline, and making messes.

Avery is still on a Phineas and Ferb kick.  Deran also loves the cartoon and I have to admit, they're growing on me.  It's not that I don't like it, it's that I dislike it being the ONLY CHOICE.  She is always pretending to be Candace and hassles me to bust her brothers.  Speaking of pretending, after being gone for nearly a month Lulu and Brother are back.  They don't get into as much trouble as they used to, but they're never innocent either.

And while we're talking about brothers, we're all getting anxious to meet our new baby brother.  Avery has been helping me get things ready and she surely does looooove to share all of his things.  She is forever trying to get in his swing, try on his socks, and basically just get her hands on anything to do with him.  She asks me if she can hold him and then acts all exasperated that she's going to have to babysit.  I seriously can't wait to see her with him!!

Avery & I spent a week with family in early October and while I think I'm still trying to recover, it was a fantastic time spent with friends and family.  We squeezed in visits and activities every single day.  We were both pooped but so happy to get some time with all of our favorite people.  While we were in the area, Avery got lots of time to jump on the trampoline - one of her new favorite activities.  My parents bought a mini trampoline for all the littles as a Christmas present...a couple of months early. :)  She jumped and played outside nearly every day.  I'm not sure I've ever missed my backyard more.  Next year we HAVE to move somewhere with a yard.  We can't go to enough parks or walks to make up for that fun every day!!

Avery has loved popcorn for a while but sometimes I think she'd eat it for every meal if I let her.  And she also loves chocolate!  On Halloween she walked around eating candy from game to game at the fall festival, then came home and ate a few more pieces.  The next morning she got her step stool to grab her pail off the counter and ate even more candy.  I think she'd picked through all the chocolate in about two days.  About Halloween, she would NOT wear her costume.  The very costume she herself picked out!  I ended up carrying it around the festival then had D chase her down before we walked to our car so I could get at least one picture of her wearing it!!

So Avery at 39 months is just slightly rotten.  She is still (fake) cries easily when she doesn't get her way.  And oh my word does that girl need to work on her listening skills!  Well, at least when it comes to cleaning up her messes.  Avery can destroy a room in the blink of an eye.  Cleaning up said room...well, that can take her hours...days...a month even!  It's enough to drive a couple of parents crazy.  She is also still a fan of markering on herself.  I left her with Deran for a couple of hours on the afternoon of family pictures and when I texted to give him an update on my whereabouts he had Avery in the bath trying to scrub off some purple marker.  Oh, that girl and her markers!  

She prefers to use markers to do her school work but it's dangerous to leave them out too long. :)  She is getting really good at using scissors and at writing various letters.  Her counting skills have also improved so much over the last couple of months!  She still loves for us to read to her, and occasionally she reads to us.  I love to hear her versions, so cute!!

Thirty-nine months of parenting this precious girl and our hearts are overflowing.  No doubt it's partly the hormones this last trimester, but my goodness do I love my Avery Kate.  She gets away with a lot because she is so cute and when I do get on her about something she just kisses me - on the arm, the stomach, the leg - wherever she can reach from where she's at next to me.  Her kisses make it hard to discipline!  We are so excited to see what the next month holds for our baby girl and her baby brother.  SHE'S ABOUT TO HAVE A BROTHER!!!  And that was me freaking out.  
       
The monthly iPhone update, left to right and top to bottom. 1) Cheesin' and snackin' on top of Mt. Bonnell 2) At a pumpkin patch/petting zoo 3) Gotta love Madagascar 3! 4) Lunching with friends and hanging out in the play place at McDonald's 5) Loving on her buddy bear - so many cute ones of them together this month!! 6) Cutting after church 7) Wearing her princess hat so she can "be like Daddy" 8) Fishing at the church fall festival, she caught a twix and a toothbrush. 9) Working on a spooky spider at Lakeshore.

Happy 39 month birthday sweet girl, we love you lots! 

three years + one month

Goodness this last month flew by in a blur!  We were traveling over this Labor Day weekend but I couldn't forget Avery's 37 month birthday.  Based on the last month of behavior, I'd say we're in for a real treat with three. ;)

At 37 months Avery loves her family, playing with her toys, playing outside, Phineas & Ferb, Max & Ruby, bacon, looking through baby pictures, anything and everything we've bought for her baby brother, and her iPhone.  She dislikes listening, not getting her way, and sleeping in her own bed.

Avery has always had a fantastic imagination and it continues to show in her play every single day.  I love to listen in while she's playing with her doll house or just participating when we play together.  She always takes the lead and it's fun to go along with whatever she's cooked up.  She likes to get an object and kind of do a tug-of-war, she thinks it's hilarious and always wants me to play the "mine, no mine" game.  It's like, "It's mine!" "No, mine!" and so on. Great fun! ;)  What's funny is she does this with her dolls too.  She'll grab a couple before we run errands and her dolls will argue in the backseat over the silliest of things.  This all reminds me a lot of the book, Snot Stew. 

Speaking of books, we go through soooo many a day.  I'm so glad she has a love for reading!!  She is still a fan of the Berenstain Bears which I grew up on too.  On a recent trip to my mom's I pulled several out from the closet and it was fun to read a few stories about our favorite bears that she's never heard.  She also loves for you to tell her stories. She requests some classics, and then some we've made up.  Deran says mine all sound like Goldilocks and the Three Bears.  He's not completely wrong, there are at least three more stories involving a trio and some creature who eats and breaks things that don't belong to them before taking a nap. :)

We've been on a bit of break from watching My Little Ponies and have gotten into a Max & Ruby trance.  She's totally in a zone when she's watching and it can be really frustrating.  Just one more reason I think it's great to limit television, I need a tot to listen!!  She is incredibly cute when she's watching though because she giggles and chastises Max.  We found Deran's old iPhone and turned it into an iPod for her that is loaded with fun apps and several episodes of Max & Ruby.  She is totally obsessed with her "wone."

She still says W in place of the F sound and when she grows out of that I know I'll be a little sad. She's already started correcting so many things, she has matured so much just since we've been in Austin. She still looked like such a baby at the beginning of this year and here we are in September and when I see her clutching on to Deran she looks so long...like a kid. :(

I can definitely tell she's gotten taller in recent months, though she hasn't really gained any weight.  Summer seems to have brought a better appetite and she has started eating pancakes really well!  I know it sounds crazy because who wouldn't like a delicious pancake?!  But it's something!  She also loves, like crazy loves, bacon.  I've probably mentioned it before but I doubt I could emphasize it enough, just how much she likes bacon.  But like with any other food, she's pretty specific.  She doesn't like it too crispy and one morning I cooked some delicious bacon - just perfect.  Mornings can be tough around here anyway, Avery can be...ornery...upon first waking.  I couldn't get things on her plate and to the table fast enough so I handed her a piece while I finished cooking.  She grumpily threw it on the floor and told me, "You know I don't like it too hard."  What?!  We had a serious talk about throwing bacon in this house, IT DOESN'T HAPPEN...EVER.  I felt a little like the Soup Nazi except in regards to bacon.  My first reaction was like, "No bacon for you!" but of course she got out of her waking up funk and went on to eat a few pieces from the same batch.

We tend to take our time with getting the day started so these grumpies don't really affect us one way or the other.  Honestly, none of us in this house are early morning people.  Even little brother is most active at night, choosing PM hours to move all around.  We'll be having another ultrasound with the next appointment because he does not cooperate early in the morning.  It's not just the people in this house, it's our pugs too.  We recently had to be downtown at 7:30 a.m. for a family photo session and I got up at 6:00 to get ready and give the dogs some time out of their kennels before we left.  Oscar stepped out for a stretch but when he realized we were up and moving he climbed back in his kennel.  Harper never even bothered getting out.  So my girl's a night owl, just like the rest of the household!

Avery is such a light in our lives, she makes us smile and laugh all the time.  Her idea of being a grown up just cracks me up.  One day she went through a list of things that would happen and ended with, "Theeeen I'll be a grown-up and can do things like Momma.  I can go grocery shopping all by myself!"  Oh, the joys of being a grown-up!! ;)  Though one thing we're not clear on grown-ups doing is sleeping by themselves.  She has been in bed with us for well over a month, since we returned from vacation at the end of July.  One night as I was putting on her pajamas and talking to her about sleeping in her bed she told me she couldn't, because she's a grown-up now and grown-ups don't sleep in little kids' beds.  I asked, "So they just sleep with their mommy & daddy?"  "Yea!" was her reply.  If I wake up one more time with a foot on my face, this grown-up may just take the little kid bed!   

Over three years of parenting this sweet girl and we can hardly believe how quickly the time has gone by.  She is so sweet and sassy and just ridiculously cute in all she does.  No doubt us feeling that way gets us in trouble when she is so rotten.  On the drive back home this weekend she was playing with a couple of figurines in the back and Deran said, "She really is so precious."  And she is, I can't disagree with that. 

The monthly iPhone update, left to right and top to bottom: 1) Using one birthday present (a broom that she wanted) to clean up another - play doh makes me cringe a little. 2) Wearing a baby hat and some fabric, always so stylish! 3) Giving Oscar some love 4) Eating a fruit strip atop Mount Bonnell 5) Laying in my lap, playing games on Daddy's phone 6) Using her phone after dark 7) Ming Ming! 8) Taking a break from exploring Rice University's campus 9) Taking a nap through the last ultrasound of baby brother, it really is tough to get up early. :)

Happy 37 month birthday sweet girl, we love you lots!!

rylann is one!

It's been almost a year already, goodness it doesn't seem like so long ago I was meeting this family for the first time!

 

Three gorgeous kiddos and so fun!  Thanks so much Sarah, for letting me capture your sweet trio again this year!!

senior citizens

Today is my dad's birthday and now both of my parents officially qualify for the senior citizen discount at IHOP.  Is it just me or does 55 seem young these days?!  At any rate, I'm wishing the happiest of days to my sweet daddy today.  

When Avery woke up this morning the first thing she said was, "Tonight, I'm taking a bubble bath!"  She's not, actually.  She had one last night and it was "the best bubble bath ever!"  So much so it was still on her mind this morning. :)  But after that she once again asked if it was her birthday, her party is this weekend so there seems to be a little confusion.  And now to the point...mostly.  I told her it was not her birthday, but it was in fact, Pop's birthday.  She immediately decided that we needed to call him and tell him Happy Birthday.  So we did.  We love you, Pop!  Here's hoping 55 is your best year yet!

three good years

Today our girl is three!  We'd been savoring the last days of TWO, thinking about how quickly these last few years have passed.  This week has been a countdown to her birthday and this morning she called to me from the bedroom, "Momma, is it tomorrow?"  "It is!" I replied, "It's your birthday!"  I walked into the bedroom and sang her Happy Birthday.  She stretched, then lifted her arms to me and said, "Kiss."  I scooped her up and she gave me a kiss, a great start to this third year.  

At thirty-six months (remember, she's still my baby) Avery loves My Little Ponies, her family, sharing everything we buy for the new baby, popcorn, M&Ms, PBS, painting, reading, and My Little Ponies.  No really, she loves those ponies!  She dislikes not getting her way.

We've just started buying things here and there for baby brother and Avery wants to get her hands on everything.  She picked out a stuffed giraffe but as she held it in her lap, and I held her in my lap while she ate breakfast and I read her a book, the giraffe kept inching closer and closer to her yogurt and syrup.  I reminded her to get it away from the plate and she said, "Relax, we can wash it."  We can wash it.  That seems to be her response to any mess these days.  She's taken to using us as her napkin and after getting queso all over Deran she told him that they could wash his shirt.  When he asked her if she knew how to wash things she replied, "Actually I don't, but Momma can help us."  I do a lot of washing.

Avery is a big fan of My Little Ponies, though I'd definitely say we watch it less and less. However, she plays with her pony figurines the most these days.  She got several more for her birthday and she was in Heaven.  Periodically throughout the day she would say that it was the "best birthday party ever."  Really cute and also fantastic that she has such low expectations.  The first time she said it we were snuggled on the couch reading another book while she held a few ponies.  Party animals!

She has grown and matured so much over this last year.  I think the two to three transition has been huge for us.  She wants so much to have her independence and yet she so often turns to us, wanting to be our baby girl.  Tonight she went to bed in a baby suit (onesie) complete with a pacifier.  Oh yes she did.  The pacifier being something we bought while out shopping for little brother.  She's talked lately about things she did when she was a baby and always asks if we remember it.  It's really cute and I know brought on by talk of a new baby on the way.  

I sometimes like to look back over the monthly updates to see how things have changed.  So many things over the last three years, and yet so many things stay the same.  She still loves books, something that really brings us both joy.  I love to read so much and I'm glad she does too! She is a fan of all the Berenstain Bears books, some Joy Berry, and pretty much anything with a little bit of a story.  She still enjoys nursery rhymes and I love to hear her recite them.

Her imagination is always whirling and she never ceases to amuse or amaze us.  Lulu and Brother are still very much a part of our lives.  They joined us on vacation and one morning Avery was playing upstairs while I lounged around reading a book in bed.  She told me she had to go down and get her kids (some red plastic cups).  Before heading down she stopped and told me, "Be sure to keep an eye on Lulu, he's really sneaky today."  Considering how mischievous he is normally I was quite concerned with that warning.  She recently put a pacifier clip on my shirt then stepped back and exclaimed, "Awww, you got your first merit badge sweetie!"  I'm guessing she learned about merit badges from Max & Ruby and the bunny scouts.  She is so cute!  Really, I could just sit back and listen to her play all day.  Not that she'd let me just sit back, but still!  I would!  I let her nap twice this past week which meant a late night.  When Deran got home one evening and saw that Avery was still napping he just asked me why.  Like, why would I want to do that knowing the consequences?!  The truth is, as amazingly fun as the playing is, sometimes it's nice to sit in the quiet. :)  

Avery still loves to be held and snuggled.  Deran pointed out a couple walking along the beach on our recent vacation.  They had a cute little girl who we guessed to be around Avery's age.  But wait!  She was walking.  On her own two legs and feet?!  What is that?!  It's just that when she really wants to snuggle or be held, you can't say no.  Last night the three of us lay in bed watching live Pearl Jam performances on Deran's phone.  Avery was cuddling so sweetly with Deran, I scooted over to snuggle.  She pushed me away and said, "You can snuggle a little bit, but not all the time."  So I moved away and put an arm on her which got me, "Get your hand off me."  Whatever.  Not five minutes later she grabbed my hand and said, "Snuggle me."  And so I did.  

So here we are at three years old, taking the sweet with the sassy, the snuggles with the shoves, and the baby with the little girl.  I honestly can't wait to see what this year holds for Avery.  She gets to start an extracurricular activity this fall and of course we are so excited to see her as a big sister, she asks almost every day when the baby is coming.

And of course the monthly iPhone tribute!  I have plans for official three year old portraits coming next week.  But until then, left to right, top to bottom: helping me put away the paper towels, Ming Ming!, just relaxing at Chick-fil-A, posing with her baby boy (who is wearing a lovely headband), a girl and her ponies, checking out the puddles after a rain, enjoying a chocolate cupcake, feeling the breeze on the deck at the beach house, and using fabric as a cover...after pulling all the fabric out of the container under my bed.   

Happy 36 month birthday baby girl, we love you lots!

happy birthday, america

We love you!  Our niece is also celebrating her golden birthday and turning four today, we love her too. :) 

two years + eleven months

Goodness, where does the time go?!  This has been a whirlwind month of travel and visits with family and friends.  Avery loves to remind us that she's a big girl now, she's not a baby anymore.  And it's true, at one month shy of three she's well into toddlerhood - but in my heart of hearts, she'll always be my baby girl.

At 35 months, Avery loves her stuffed animals, being outside, PBS, Momma & Daddy (always!), pretzels, avoiding sleep, her schoolwork, being independent, being held, and the new baby.  She dislikes going to sleep and big bugs.  The last month has been really great!!

Avery has been mostly well the last several weeks, perhaps I should go out and find a tree to bang my head against for saying it, but it's so fantastic not to go to the doctor every week!!  And she is officially potty trained!  Though technically that was early in her 34th month, as she began using the toilet on June 11th and we've never looked back.  We are so proud of her and I'm amazed at how easy it has been, even with my disdain for public toilets we venture on and she's never had an accident!

Avery is still a light eater though I've thought she felt heavier lately.  The scales haven't moved so maybe it's just my pregnant brain.  I've learned not to stress as much and we'll re-evaluate at her yearly check-up.  My friend Rachael (also the mom of a little little) once told me that her doctor said as long as the child is getting the calories weekly, not to worry so much with the day to day.  I tucked that away and recall it as needed.  It's a little crazy the nutritional information I have running through my mind when it comes to snacks and meals.  I'm mostly concerned with calories, calcium, protein, and iron.  Avery still doesn't drink milk and I'm convinced if she did there wouldn't be any weighty issues.  But such is not our life and if our girl doesn't like milk, she doesn't like it and that's okay!

It's summer and I think Avery would spend most of the day outside if only I'd let her.  Though when she's had enough she lets me know that she's getting hot and it's time to go inside. :)  We've spent countless hours out playing over the month and I love it too!  I only wish we had our big backyard.  The last time we were visiting family, I had Deran drive by our old house on the way back to Austin.  Deran told us we were living in the past and I told him that Avery and I loved the past, that I missed our old house.  Avery piped up from the backseat with, "Yeah, I miss our backyard." Now truly, I think she's heard me say it one or fifty times, but it still produced an awww from this momma's heart.  Ah, but back to the present!  We have had a lot of fun in Austin this month too and while it's been hard to let go of the old, we are indeed embracing the new...or new-ish, we've already been here for 7 months!!

We've tried out two new parks, got a family pass to the local bowling alley, visited Chuck E. Cheese for the first time, and befriended some neighborhood deer.  Avery LOVES to feed the deer and I do too, we've been doing it since we moved in.  I have a favorite, she's a different shade than the rest and quite fearless.  She's even eaten out of my hand twice!  Anyway, 'tis the season for babies and all that and we recently discovered she has twins!  The babies hang back in the woods a bit but they've started to venture a little closer to the patio and it's so sweet to hear Avery fawn (pun intended) over them.  She is really cute!  Then she starts to drive her bike around the patio off to rescue an animal in trouble and all the clanging about sends the deer in all directions. 

Avery's imagination is amazing!  I know I've mentioned before about how fun it is to parent her, but really every day is just the best.  Lulu and Brother are always lurking about, waiting to cause trouble.  I sent her to timeout one day last week for markering on the floor.  Afterward she came to show me what Lulu and Brother had done, the ink still on the floor, and she said they needed a time out.  Of course they did it.  But you know, guilty by association so she's in trouble too!  She often jumps into character and I'm whoever she tells me to be from whatever show or book.  Now that I think about it, she's always the older sibling.  I'm Max to her Ruby, Baby Bop to her B.J., Diego to her Alicia.  I think she just likes to boss me!  This role play can last seconds or hours and can be very amusing for me. :)

Her love of My Little Ponies is still there but I'd say most T.V. time has been taken up by PBS of late.  If she is watching MLP, she requests one episode, Bridle Gossip.  And while she may not be watching it as much, she does still love to play with her ponies.  We recently went through her toys and set aside a bag for donation.  In doing so, we found FOUR Pinkie Pies!  Different, but still ridiculous.

She watches movies occasionally and Madagascar has always been a hit.  We took her to see the latest installment at the theater on Father's Day.  We all enjoyed it!  Later that evening when Deran had gone to bowl, I asked Avery what her favorite thing is about her daddy and she said, "He watches cartoons all day."  It's true, those two could pass most of a Saturday with some 'toons.  

For whatever reason her favorite movie at my mom's house is The Incredibles.  I think it's the influence of an older cousin but whatevs. :)  One weekend my aunt came to stay the night with us in Austin and I was putting Avery to bed as Aunt Wanda and Deran settled in to watch Sherlock Holmes.  Avery asked me what they were watching and asked if she could watch it.  I told her it was for grown-ups, that it wasn't a bad movie but it did have some violence.  She said, "Well, there's violence in the credibles."  Indeed, good point.  

We've been working through various workbooks and activities and Avery really loves her schoolwork.  On days when she isn't that interested, we just don't do the worksheets.  I don't necessarily believe that she needs a structured preschool program at this age (and in summer!) but she loves to learn and enjoys doing activities so it works for us.  Because I stay home with her, our days have always been relaxed and most of it is spent playing.  She just has a fantastic memory and eagerness to do more, we just want to keep her happy. :)  

She has memorized the first three presidents as well as our current president.  George Washington was first and we linked him to the dollar bill.  It's funny because if for whatever reason she has her hands on a larger bill, I'll be like, "Hey!  Let me trade you one with George Washington's picture on it!"  We're still learning numbers and money so you know, it works. ;)  She's also learned her left from her right over the last month.  Really helpful because she often puts her shoes on the wrong feet so if she asks before she puts them on it gets done right.  However, she rarely asks and sometimes when we tell her she has them on the wrong feet she says, "Yeah, but that's okay." :)  

Speaking of putting her shoes on, she has become so independent.  She really wants to do everything on her own.  One morning I was clipping her nails and she started crying and telling me that she wanted to be a grown up so she could do it.  Clipping your nails...really?  I wouldn't rush childhood for that.  She is still a little small and does require our assistance in the bathroom but once she's settled she often tells us to get out.  One day she came in the living room and told us there was tee tee all over the floor.  Sure enough, she had gone on her own and sat on the toilet but not over the toilet. 

And yet, despite all the sass and the "let me do it" and "no no no, I can do it" - she wants to be held a lot.  She still loves to cuddle and we're totally fine with that because there's nothing sweeter than a snuggle from our favorite girl! 

Our only struggle is at bedtime.  Some nights it is so easy and others end in tears.  I wish I knew the secret!  It's the same routine but rarely the same ending.  We've never been "cry it out" parents but we've had to start so that she is in bed at a decent hour.  She's most definitely a night owl like her parents.

I am no doubt leaving so much out this month even though I've rambled on for several paragraphs!  There have been so many times that I've wanted to write down something she's said or done and didn't.  She recently wrote me a letter and when I asked her to read it to me she said, "Dear Momma, Thanks for the presents. And don't forget to have a safe trip and be careful and thanks for all of our family and presents. Signed, Avery."  I'm not even sure what imaginary presents she was referring to, but she's always most welcome.  She is looking forward to the new baby and I can't wait for the day she can feel the kicks too.  She still bounces around a bit too much on the belly but she's also started offering to share her toys with the baby.  A few more weeks until we find out if she's getting her sister or a sweet brother...hopefully one not befriended by Lulu. 

We love our girl and are so happy to spend each passing month with her!  I can't wait to live out THREE and celebrate her next month.  She's decided on Minnie Mouse as a party theme so it should be fun!

And the iPhone tribute and explanation, left to right/top to bottom: thinking inside the box, all bandaged up, getting her hairs cut, a super cute superhero, waiting to leave on a jet plane, finding peace at Build-A-Bear, living the cowgirl life at Grandpa's house, splashing in some much needed rain puddles, and having a snack with a couple of little ponies.     

Happy 35 month birthday sweet girl, we love you lots!

layla is one!

Goodness gracious, a whole year already?!  It doesn't seem so long ago we were getting together for family photos and before that the maternity and newborn sessions.  Time truly does fly these days!

 

As always, it was so great spending time with the three of y'all.  Layla is a beautiful baby girl and I know she's well loved!

two years + ten months

Soooo it's been a while since I blogged, like an entire month!!  Much has happened since then and I can't believe our sweet girl is only TWO months away from being THREE.  Crazy.

At 34 months Avery loves to be sick.  See ya next month with hopefully a healthy update!  Just kidding...sort of.  She really has had a tough time of it this last month with two rounds of antibiotics (different weeks!) and a crazy virus thrown in just for fun.  It was definitely her highest bout of fever, with it going up to 105.2 - just slightly below my heart rate when reading the thermometer.  Two days of lukewarm baths, cool strips on the forehead and many doses of Tylenol/Ibuprofen, followed by another couple of days of lower fever (nothing over 101) and our world was better.  We've been to the doctor every week over the last month.  We are becoming very friendly with both our new pediatrician and her on-call partner.  The good news is Avery likes them both and I really like them too!  

Honestly though, our girl handles sick fairly well.  There were some bad days but she's become a champion medicine taker.  This is so amazing since she previously rivaled Linda Blair from The Exorcist when trying to administer medication.  No Internet, I'm not exaggerating.  It really was that crazy.  Of course we offer incentives, she pretty much gets a new toy every day.  Having an ill Avery is not cheap but you can't put a price on health, right?!  

So at 34 months Avery really doesn't love being sick, but she does love My Little Ponies, reading, playing outside, running errands, singing, being totally adorable, shopping, her parents (of course), family, friends, the color purple (like the crayon, not the movie), throwing things, talking about pumas, and acting twelve instead of two.  As always, she does not like not getting her way and she's not a big fan of the time out.

I could pass on My Little Ponies, I'd even choose Max & Ruby and that's saying something!  But Avery loves the cartoon and the figurines.  We've got quite the collection going and we just added Rainbow Dash courtesy of our good friend, Tina!  We hardly ever watch Diego anymore but I'm pretty sure that's where she learned about pumas and she talks about them A LOT.  She pretends to see them in various places and often rescues them all over the apartment.  They're mostly nice.  Though one night after tucking her in, she serious-as-could-be asked, "But what if there's a puma in my room?"  Even an animal scientist in training doesn't want to be surprised by a puma in the dark!  We then prayed a prayer of protection over her room and the apartment so any wayward pumas wouldn't dare to enter.

Avery still loves to read and we feed this by purchasing new books often.  Some days we just read at the library, but she loves go to the bookstore too.  I usually let D take her to browse and then I make my way over there and sift through the pile.  Momma's got to make those two see sense (and cents), they're a dangerous pair!  I'm not sure what it is about the bookstore, we usually go to a couple of different B&N stores and while there she wants to perform her magic tricks.  I've yet to actually see a trick, it's really her jumping around saying "Presto!" and something that sounds abracadabra-ish, with sometimes a tah-dah! thrown in for good measure. :)  One morning I set Avery up with a box of toys in my room so I could clean out our suitcases and do some other laundry with her in the same room.  We ended up on the floor with books and as I read her a Berenstein Bear book she said, "You always read me this book, you're a great mommy."  Seriously?!  Oh my goodness, I was pretty sure I couldn't love her more but geez does that girl get to me!

I've been meaning to blog a long list of things I've kept in a note on my phone and since several tie into this month - I finally am!  Avery sings all the time, mostly things she makes up but she's started singing nursery rhymes and some of the songs we listen to frequently.  Sometimes she goes through the morning just responding to me in song.  One day she was getting into my closet and I asked what she was doing.  She replied, "I'm not doing anything." But you know, she SANG it.  She has one song that she sings often when she thinks you're mad or wants you to be mad?  The lyrics are pretty basic, but awesome.  "Don't be so ma-ad. Don't be so canky (cranky). Don't be so mad. Don't be so ma-ad." And repeat.  Sometimes there's a, "Don't be so angy (angry)" after the cranky verse.  She makes our life more colorful for sure!

Speaking of, our girl loves to color.  With crayons, and especially markers.  One day she really went to town on her face, hands, arms, and legs while I was getting ready for our nephew's band concert.  D was picking us up and when I walked into the living room I realized we'd be later than expected.  A few days later, D came home and sat in front of Avery in the living room. He noticed her arms once again were colorful and he asked her why she'd markered (can we get credit for this?!) all over herself.  She said, "Buzz (because) I'm silly and I'm a kid.  And kids usually marker all over theyselves when they mommy's tell they no."  It's true, she's a kid and it's what she does, so she should know.  You can't argue with that, it's sound.

This girl has such a fantastic imagination!  It's so much fun to be her parent and get to experience these things!  She still counts Lulu and Brother as her "friends" and I'm sad to say that Brother has joined the dark side and is now up to no good with that rascally Lulu.  She'll be pulling on her clothes and say something  like, "Lulu and Brother won't quit pulling on me!" or in the car a couple of days ago I asked her something and she said, "I can't right now because Lulu and Brother won't quit pulling my hair!" Sure enough, I see her in the mirror holding onto her hair.  Her relationship with those two is...interesting.  When they're really acting up and I threaten them going home she says they'll be sweet or she's "just 'tendin" which I think is pretty cute.  

Around Mother's Day we talked a lot about mothers and the ones we know, etc.  Days later she would tell me that she's not a mother but I am a mother.  She's also told me more than once this month that she doesn't want to be a grown-up, she's just a kid.  And I'm glad, I'm not ready for her to grow up just yet. :)  She's quick to point out that she's not a baby now, she's a big sister!  Though one day she said, "Yeah but, I'm still Momma's baby girl." And she is, forever and always.

We can't wait to see our Avery as a big sister!  Still many months to go but an exciting time even now.  She talks about the baby in my tummy and I always have to remind her not to jump on me when I'm laying down.  She doesn't always listen and I figure this baby will come out a little tougher, if not a little dented.  We talk a lot about being a big sister and by her third birthday we'll know if she's getting her much wished for beloved baby sister or her "I guess so" baby brother.  Exciting times indeed! :)

We are still working on potty training and if she's not by three, then...she's not.  But hopefully she will be!!!  One morning I got her off the potty then turned for a second to grab something and she had the training seat around her neck, like some kind of monster-sized unsanitary Elmo necklace.  Totally gross!  And talk about gross, public toilets.  I feel like a need a shower after helping her use the restroom in public.  Ah well, these are the things we must endure!

Avery feels she must endure a lot as our daughter too.  She sometimes replies with an eye roll or a drawn out, "uuuuuugh" or "oooookkkaaaayyyy."  Like whatever we've asked of her is so taxing.  Yesterday she told me I was making her tired.  I had no idea it was so exhausting to be my daughter, now I know. And I can't wait until she's a teen, no doubt life will be awesome. ;)

She's pretty much always in a good mood as long as things are going her way, though aren't we all?!  I've heard, "I won't do X never, never again." three times in the last 24 hours.  Always when she wants something back that's been taken away.  She got a timeout for throwing something at my face, you know, just for fun.  She's been throwing things like crazy in the car.  Mostly at the back of my head.  Thankfully it's soft things like french fries or crackers, and she thinks this is hilarious.  Sometimes it is.  I was in the middle of singing a song when she threw the first fry.  I felt kind of like I was on stage and the crowd was pelting rotten tomatoes to hurry me off.  But throwing things in general?  Not a good thing.  When I threaten to take the snacks away she stops so at least she's listening...mostly.

This may possibly be the longest monthly update to date, and I'm sure I'm leaving so much out.  The last few days have been filled with family, friends, and good times.  Our life is good and having Avery just makes it better.  She is unbelievably rotten and so completely precious.  Gosh, we love her so much!!!

The monthly iPhone update with some lovely notes on the photos. Starting with the top left and going across each row: eating a breakfast of cookies on D's birthday at the Emily Morgan in San Antonio, running fever and yet looking incredibly stylish in an outfit of her choosing, zonked out on sugar from a ginormous cupcake, clowning around while making a phone call to Cinderella and holding a baby raccoon, an ornery start to the day, a markering incident, eating cheese pizza after a swim at Nana & Pop's house, first time bowling in Austin and with Daddy, sitting on the senate floor of the Texas State Capitol.  She was super cute there and even whispered instead of shouting while a guide was talking.  She asked, "Can I has a snack?" because I told her we had to leave all the food in the stroller in the hall.  The girl likes her snacks. :)

 

Happy 34 month birthday sweet girl, we love you lots!           

elizabeth is one!

This baby girl is so incredibly adorable and was so good during our session.  A huge thanks to her mom and big sister for keeping the smiles coming throughout our time together!!

After a little time at the park we headed downtown for a few photos in a seriously cute (and sassy!) pink outfit.  Julie has great style and did such a fantastic job choosing the wardrobe for Elizabeth's session!

Thanks so much Julie, it was so nice meeting you guys and so fun photographing Elizabeth!

ryler is one!

Well technically he's oneish - these pictures are from December!!  This is a long overdue sneak peek for my good friends Laci & Chris.  We were able to make a quick trip to Louisiana for Ryler's birthday party and then woke up early the next morning for a birthday session! Two things, 1) it was super cold and 2) he moves super fast!! 

This one just makes me laugh. :)

Sorry for the delay friends, I hope you guys are enjoying this new year with your sweet boy!!

i'm thirty, and i'm moving!

I'm officially 30, though I don't feel any different than yesterday when I was still a wee babe in my twenties.  Today has been a lazy day, but a good one.  Last night I went out with a girlfriend and we did crazy things like, have dinner & picked up a doodle pro for Avery at Target.  Wild!  And speaking of wild, 2:17 starts my favorite part of the whole movie.  Though make no mistake, I love the whole movie!!  And speaking of my Avery, she woke up at 3:30 this morning ready to start the day, meanwhile I was not.  Around 6:00 AM I pulled the birthday card and made Deran get up with her.  I woke up around 8:30 when I heard her ask for more Caillou and I could NOT believe she was still awake!  I got up and we wrapped presents, delivered them, and went to lunch - where Avery literally slept laid out on the table because SHE WOKE UP AT 3:30 AM.  We came home where Deran napped, I worked, and we called it a day.  Tonight we visited with my parents, then Deran and I grabbed a quick dinner and now here we are...my two lovelies asleep and me working and blogging my very exciting birthday details. :)

There is actually a bit of exciting news, and that is we are moving to Austin!  Deran will be starting a new job in early January and we've much to do in preparation over the new few weeks.  Though we've known since Thanksgiving, I've been putting off anything moving related because I don't really feel like moving.  I really love our life here and I will miss so many things about living local to where we grew up, namely our family.  However, Austin is a really great place and I am looking forward to a new adventure, meeting new people, discovering all there is in our new city.  I can't even imagine the opportunities and activities for me and my favorite girl.  And actually, after a very busy (and amazing!) fall, I'm really looking forward to taking a break from business.  A short break, but a break.  A time to re-evaluate and focus a little more on my own sweet family.

So I'm THIRTY, and I think it's going to be an amazing year.  Lots of exciting changes ahead for my personal and business life.  I don't have any photos to share today but we do have lots of fun things coming up this week.  I've got a few fabulous families to share next week and then the week after Christmas will be a little personal blogging because I plan to take LOTS of pictures this week as we head out of town for a birthday party, make a trip to sign our lease on the apartment (we're really moving!), travel downtown for Avery's first ballet experience, and just live this life of craziness and fun with family before Christmas day!  

And next year I'm totally having a birthday party because Avery told me earlier tonight, "I'm sorry you not have a birthday party, Mommy."  Like it was the saddest thing in the world!  If for no other reason that to let my girl have a par-tay, my next birthday will be done big...or at least will involve a cake and candles. :)  Happy weekend!