Picture Time

Sleepy girls!

Waiting to go in for her six month checkup

Playing in her exersaucer

Contemplating life as a six-month old

First time in the jogger stroller without her car seat

Ready to go for a walk with mom

Yummy rice cereal and applesauce!

Playing with Cash

First time trying to drink out the sippy cup

Six Months

Pumpkin, I have to admit I'm having a hard time accepting that you are six months old!! A half year! I have mixed emotions about this.  On one hand, I love watching you learn and grow and discover new things.  It is amazing to watch you observe and begin to understand the world around you. But there is a part of me that misses the little cuddly newborn.  You are just changing so fast, I feel like I can't keep up!!

The most impressive thing you've learned to do this month is sit up! You've gotten really good at this the past couple weeks and can now sit for 5-10 minutes unsupported and can usually find your balance if you do start to fall over.  You are really reaching and grabbing at everything that is near you.  You used to just sit and watch me cook but now you want to help!! You have to touch, push or grab everything!!

You are still sleeping great at night but we've had a hard time getting you to take good naps.  This whole 45 minute nap thing isn't working so well for us.  We'll have to work on that during the next month!! You have one meal of baby food each day and 5 six oz. bottles.

We went in for your check up yesterday and you are definitely a healthy, well nourished baby!! In fact, your pediatrician told me you are the size of an average nine month old!! Wow!  17 lb 14 oz and 27.5 inches long!! That puts you in the 97% percentile for height and 75-90th for weight!

I'm so thankful to have you as my daughter.  I love you so much and I'm so excited to watch you grow into a little girl and then a young lady!!  Please go easy on your daddy though, I think he's already dreading your first date!!!

I love you more than you'll ever know!!

Mommy

Just Playing Around

So, I was bored tonight, which, BTW, is very uncommon these days! Anyway, I've always wanted to enhance some of the pictures I've taken of Avery but never had the time or money to buy and use photoshop or other photo editing software.  So, I signed up for picasa and it is so easy!! If you have a blogger account, you can link your two accounts and it automatically finds all pictures on your blog.  You can then edit the exposure, color, sharpness, add frames, text, etc. 

Here is one of the originals before editing.  I didn't save the originals of the ones above but they looked similar to this one... very dark. 

Well, if I find myself bored anytime in the near future (LOL) maybe I'll try to edit a few more, I just love taking pictures of this little girl!!

Weekend Fun

The weather was so beautiful this weekend, I'm really enjoying these great fall temps!! We finally had a semi-relaxing weekend.  Friday night we hung out at home.  Didn't do a thing and it was great!! Avery and Cash played together in the backyard (their new favorite thing)!  It is so cute, she just sits there on her blanket and plays with toys while Cash chews on his bone.  He gets as close as we'll let him, I think he would practically lay on top of her if we let him!!  I don't have any pictures of them playing but I had to snap a few in this adorable outfit before my little chunky monkey outgrows it!! 

Saturday was my birthday and Matt made the day so special!! He got up and brought Avery in to wake me up and sing happy birthday and then made breakfast.  That afternoon Matt had to work so we went up to DBU and watched the soccer game and enjoyed the beautiful day.  That night, Matt took me to dinner at Carrabbas. I love Italian food.  I love garlic.  I love pasta.  I love wine (haha, like anyone who  knows me doesn't know that!!!).  We had a great dinner.

Me and my sweet little girl

Sunday morning we took Cash to the dog park.  It was actually kind of chilly that morning, Avery got all bundled up and he headed out.

That evening we went to the Trapps' to watch the Rangers game and take the kiddos trick-or-treating.  It's so fun to have a group of friends with kids around the same age!!  Unfortunately I didn't get any good pictures, maybe next year.

On another note, you will notice that Avery is not smiling in a single picture.  The last couple of weeks we've had a hard time getting her to take good naps during the weekend.  This is a bad thing because this little girl needs a ton of sleep, just like her momma!! If she doesn't nap 3-4 hours she's a mess by late afternoon.  I guess we need to put her on a nap schedule, I can't take anymore of these pouty faces, I miss her little smile.

Hope you had a great weekend and a happy halloween!

Working from home

One of the benefits of sending Avery to a home daycare is that sometimes our sitter takes a personal day which means I get to stay home with Avery and Cash!!  Just a few reasons why I love working from home:


I get to be with Avery all day
I get to sleep in almost an hour later than normal
My commute is 10 steps instead of 25 miles
I get to be with Avery all day
My coffee is SO much better than the crap at the office
If I don't want to shower in the morning, I don't have to!!
Sweats and tennis shoes are so much more comfy than heels!
I get to be with Avery all day
If I'm lucky enough, the weather is nice and I can sit on the back porch and work


I could go on and on but instead, here are a few cute pictures of Avery and Cash playing in the backyard.

Bunny

Yes, I am sitting at home blogging on a Saturday night.  I know, I know, what an exciting life I lead!! Actually, we did have really fun plans tonight but someone (Avery) was a bit of a party-pooper.  My friend Melissa had us over for a pumpkin party and we all got our kiddos dressed up in their Halloween costumes.  Fun, right?? Apparently not.  Avery did NOT appreciate the two wardrobe changes in less than an hour.  Oh well, we had a good time anyway and it was so fun to see all of these adorable babies dressed in their Halloween costumes!

Here are all of the kids before we got their outfits on.  Whew, it is hard work trying to get five babies and one toddler to sit still and look at the camera!! 

We got five of the six dressed and I have to say, these are some of the cutest little babies ever!! Brenley in her hula girl outfit, Tatum is mini mouse, Gage (the only boy!) is a tiger, Avery the bunny and Kennedy the cowgirl!! Love these sweet babies!

 We lost Kennedy...

Notice the puffy, red eyes.  She was not a happy bunny :(

Sweet little Brenley looked ADORABLE!   This picture cracks me up because Bren looks like it's the middle of summer and Avery looks like she's ready for a blizzard.  Luckily it the temperature was in the low 70's.

Here are a few pictures of my sweet little bunny before the party.  She hardly napped at all today so I dressed her up before we left... I had a feeling we may not get a good picture at Melissa's. 

JOY

There is nothing better than coming home to this sweet little face.

The last couple weeks have been really hectic and busy.  I've been pretty frustrated at work and some days it just seems like nothing is going my way. 

But then I come home and get to play with this sweet little girl.   She just lights up my life and I love, love, love being a mom.  I never imagined there could be something so rewarding and joyous as seeing happiness and excitement on your child's face. 

Tonight I didn't do laundry, I didn't clean the kitchen, I didn't put away Avery's clothes, I didn't even eat dinner.  But I did play with Avery.  For two hours, we just played, I feel like I accomplished more tonight than I normally do even though I didn't really "accomplish" anything. 

I just love this little girl to the moon and back. 

Avery talking

Avery drooling

 Avery laughing

 Avery playing

Avery and Cash

Weekend Fun

Wow, we had a busy great weekend!! Friday night, Matt and I had a date night. We went to dinner at Outback and forced ourselves to talk about something other than Avery for an hour! It was great to have time to just be adults and husband/wife.  We came home that evening, packed our bags and picked up Avery from the sitter and headed to Temple to see family and friends.

Avery and I spent Saturday morning hanging out with Grandmother.  It was such a beautiful day, we had a great time sitting outside, enjoying the weather.

Pretty girl all ready for the birthday party!

That afternoon, we headed over to the Russells' to spend some time with a special little one-year old.  Benjamin is such a cutie and had a great time eating his cake!

Before: 

 After!:

Avery was  oblivious  and slept most of the afternoon.  She was so content snuggling with Nana Kay. 

Granddaddy teaching Avery to walk :)

Avery woke up in a great mood this morning, she is such a happy baby after a good night's sleep.  She was having a great time playing with her toys.  Actually, she really just loves being naked!!!

We ended the weekend with dinner at the Erwin's house.  Avery and Gage are just adorable together! They were so cute holding hands and playing.  

I love this picture, Kristy and I are oblivious to the fact that our little kiddos are talking to each other instead of smiling for the camera! ha!!!

Ok, I'm off to bed... these two are already fast asleep, it's time to join them!