Sweet Surprise

One year ago today....

Matt and I had the most amazing surprise of our lives.

A precious little one on the way.

It blows me away how much our lives have changed in just one short year.  We had just moved into our first home, just gotten our first puppy and then found out our first sweet child was due in 8 months.  God is so good.

Five Months

Wow, these months are just flying by!! Little girl, please stop growing up so fast.  While I love watching you learn new things (almost everyday!) I feel like it's all just happening so fast!! You finally started rolling over this past month but you don't do it very often.  You scream and scream when I set you on your tummy and instead of rolling over, you usually just give up and lay your head down. Silly girl.  On the other hand, you absolutely love standing up!! You will stand there as long as we'll let you!! It is so cute!! You are also mastering the skill of sitting.  If you use your hands for balance you can sit up for a couple minutes!! The first time you did it you were so proud of yourself!!

You are working on becoming a world-class traveler!! Two trips to Colorado within one month and you were a perfect little angel on the plane each time!!  You don't realize it yet, but girl, you have your grandparents wrapped around your little finger!!! Oh the joys of being the first grandchild, you can do no wrong!!!

A couple days after we got back from Colorado you found your voice.  You've been making sweet little cooing noises since you were about two months old but now you squeal, and yell, and shriek!! I love waking up on Saturday mornings and listening to you talking to yourself on the baby monitor.  I only get to hear this on the weekend because I usually have to wake you up at 7:00 on weekdays.  If we let you, you will sleep almost 12 hours at night!! Thank you for letting us sleep in till 8:00 on the weekends, I appreciate it more than you'll ever know!! :)

We are experimenting with different baby foods, you've currently had: avocados (dislike), bananas (love), applesauce (like), pears (like), and carrots (major dislike).  You also have 5-6 six oz. bottles a day. 

Sweet pea, you make mommy and daddy smile every single day.  I can't get enough of your smiles, little giggles, silly faces and cute squeaks!!  You have brought more joy to our lives than I ever imagined possible.

Love you little monkey!!!

mommy

First Weekend of Fall

Fall is my favorite time of year.  I just love everything about it... the cooler weather, the changing leaves, the beginning of football season, the start of the holidays... what's not to love!?!?  We had a great weekend, just hanging out at the house, playing with Avery.  We were finally able to open all the windows and turn off the AC.  I think Avery loved it even more than we did.  She was so content standing there watching Cash play in the backyard, so precious!!

This little girl had a busy weekend!  When she was done gazing out the window, she spent some time playing airplane with Daddy.  I just love watching them play together.  It might be the sweetest thing I've ever seen

Next, it was time to help mom make baby food!! I bought a few organic honey crisp apples and made applesauce.  I just love my baby food maker, it makes me feel so good to know exactly what my little girl is eating. 

Finally, we ended the day with a nice relaxing bath and a little cuddle time with mama.  Seriously, does life get any better than this???

Estes Park

We went to Estes Park while we were in Colorado last week.  Fall is my favorite time of year in Colorado, the cool, crisp air is such a welcome change from the summer heat.  I love going up to the mountains and looking at the fall colors, the aspen turn such a brilliant gold, it is beautiful next to the deep green of the pine trees.  Matt suggested going to Rocky Mountain National Park to see the Elk, I hadn't been in years!! 

We saw quite a few elk, they are in rut right now so they come down from the higher elevations to the meadows.  Unfortunately he wasn't the only one with this idea.  I've never seen so many people at the park, the cars were backed up almost a mile so we were unable to get as close as we would have liked but we still had a great time.  I think Avery enjoyed her first trip to Estes as well.  She got a little (ok a lot) fussy as we were getting ready to leave but overall she's a great little traveler!

Sitting Up!

While we were in Colorado Avery was practicing sitting up using the "tripod" method.  She just couldn't get it though.  Her arms would bend or she'd tip over to the left or right.  We tried and tried but it just wasn't happening.  She's getting pretty good at sitting in the boppy pillow, it gives her just enough support.

No problem, she's not even 5 months yet.  Honestly, I'm not ready for her to do these big girl things yet anyway!! 

Well, tonight we were sitting in her room playing and I sat her up.  She sat there for 10 seconds!! I thought it was a fluke but we tried it again.  This time she seemed to understand what she was doing because she looked up at me and gave me the biggest smile!! My little girl was so proud of herself!! Seeing that look on her face just melted my heart!!  

Wedding Bells

My little sister is getting married!!!!   I am so excited for Stefanie and Brian, they are such an adorable couple and madly in love.  Brian proposed to Stefanie Friday afternoon above Horsetooth Reservoir.  He had a picnic dinner for her and made the day just perfect. 

About two weeks ago, my mom called me with exciting news, she said Brian called my dad and asked if they could get together for dinner that week and asked him not to tell the girls.  Well... Dad may have mentioned it to my mom who immediately called me!! I have to admit that selfishly, I hoped maybe he would propose while I was home but it was a passing thought and I didn't expect it to actually happen!! So Friday night when my sister came running into my parents backyard with a big grin on her face I thought she was just happy to see us until she placed her left hand in front of my face and said "look what I got".  Needless to say both started screaming and hugging. 

They both were smiling all night and couldn't take their eyes off of each other (or her beautiful ring)!!

They came back down on Saturday and we celebrated their engagement with a delicious dinner.  Sunday afternoon we went wedding dress shopping.  A few of Stefanie's good friends met us in Westminster and we spent the afternoon ohhing and ahhing over all the beautiful dresses.  Stef is going to be such a beautiful bride!! I can't wait to help her plan her wedding. 

Congratulations to the future Mrs. Stefanie Creencia!!

I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!

Bananas

Our little monkey is crazy about bananas!!!

After showing no interest in cereal, I thought we'd try something with a little flavor.  The pediatrician said we could start baby purees as long as we stick to the five day rule - only introduce one food every five days.  So, when Avery didn't seem to like the cereal I did some research about the best first foods to introduce.  I kept coming up with the same two recommendations bananas and avocados.  Both have great nutritional benefits and when mashed up are a very easy consistency for babies. 

I absolutely love avocados.  In my opinion they are one of the greatest foods on earth and delicious in any mexican dish, sandwich, salad or just sliced with salt.  So I was very excited to have Avery try her first avocado.  Well, she was less than enthused.  In fact she gagged on it.   So we waited a few days and switched over to bananas.  Success!! She can't get enough of them.  I literally can't get her next bite in her mouth quick enough!  I can't decide what will be next on her menu... carrots or sweet potatoes.  Any suggestions??

Girly Girl

I just love having a little girl.  I love the bows, I love the dresses and I love the itty bitty little shoes!! 

I know she may not always want to wear dresses and be girly, she may end up being a tomboy which is perfectly fine but for now, I just love dressing her up!!

On another note, her new favorite thing to do is stand.  When I try to sit her down she straightens out her legs so that she can't really sit.  I stand her up and she gets so excited!! I can't believe how big she looks in these pictures, she is growing up so fast!! She can only hold her weight for about 20 seconds before her knees give in but each day she's able to hold herself up a little longer. 

Four Months

Has it really been four months since we brought you home from the hospital??? Hard to believe.  The months are just flying by.  We went in for your four month check up three days ago and you are 14 lb 12 oz (75th percentile) and 26 inches (90th percentile).  Pumpkin, I think you might be tall like daddy!!

You are still sleeping great, usually 10-11 hours a night and taking three naps during the day.  You are so curious now, you love sitting in your bumbo chair and watching us cook, clean, eat dinner.  You love watching Cash too.  You're still not sure what to think when he licks your toes but I know someday you two will be best friends.

We went to Colorado last week, it was so much fun! You did great on the plane and were such a trooper driving up to the cabin.  I think the change in altitude bothered your ears a bit, but nothing a pacifier couldn't solve!!  I was shocked when you took it because about three weeks ago you decided you were too big for pacifiers and haven't wanted anything to do with them since then. 

You are so interested in your hands now.  They are either in your mouth or batting at whatever to happens to be within reach.  You still haven't rolled over but you're definitely trying.  It's just hard to get that melon of a head over!

Your daddy and I are so in love with you, we just love sitting and watching the cute expressions you make and listening to you babble, coo and laugh.

You currently have your first cold.  Thankfully you don't have a fever but your little nose is so stuffed up and you have been coughing and sneezing a ton.  I sure hope it goes away soon, it's no fun to be sick!!

Love you so much angel!

Mommy

Cereal

We went in for Avery's four month check up yesterday and the pediatrician gave us the okay to start baby cereal!! I've been really excited about this milestone, I just love the facial expressions babies make when they start trying food.  We got Avery all set in her bumbo seat, put her bib on and gave it a try. 

She started smacking her lips together and leaning towards the spoon but  her tongue still has the reflex to push out food.  Babies are supposed to begin outgrowing this around four months.  I guess because she was premature the reflex is still very strong.  We really didn't get much cereal in her mouth but it was fun trying!! 

Ok, mom, I'm ready! Let's try this. 

Hmm... not quite what I expected. 

Let me try again, maybe this isn't so bad

That's enough.. time for the bottle. 

We'll try again in a week or so, hopefully it will be more successful!