23 days of Kentucky

I cannot express how grateful I am for my sweet sweet sister and her family!

Avery and I had such a great time in Kentucky!

We always do lots of fun things while we are there! Trevor had the week off that my parents were there, that is when we got out and did some fun things! Including a trip to the zoo (so so glad the Lorakeets were there, we didn't think they would be) LOVE THE LORAKEETS... I want one but Jeff says NO:)

Also we cannot go to Kentucky with out making a trip up to Cincinnati to go to the Gap Clearance Center... Aways a fun time and good deals to be had, not quite as easy to find them though with a baby in tow;)

Mostly though, I just loved being with them, talking, learning (I always feel so uplifted when I leave my sisters house!), and relaxing;)

Avery loved all the cousin time, Kathryn took lots of great picture for me and Avery also had her first Easter while we were there.

It really was such a great trip and I am so glad I stayed the extra 2 weeks!

Kathryn and I were able to get some more crafts in and she helped me get Avery on a better schedule (she is a different, Happier baby)! We had lot of good discussion and she makes me want to be a better person and mom and she makes me feel like I can be! I am blessed beyond words to have her as a sister and friend! Thank you Kathryn and Trevor! I miss you guys dearly! We will have to see what we can do about a final visit this fall:)

HUSBAND OF THE YEAR!!

10 days ago, Avery and I boarded the plane in SLC with my parents and headed to Louisville to see my sister and her family and be here for the baptism of Hallie and the blessing of Davis. Jeff was left to Wendy's and... Annabelle (my parents boxer). In case you do not know, Jeff is NOT a dog person but was happy to keep her while we were gone. 1 check on the great husband list!!

Today was the day we were to say our good byes for a WHOLE YEAR and head back to Utah.

Well, Kathryn and I got talking and decided that Avery and I might need to stay a week longer, especially since Trevor will be back to work (Kathryn will be home alone A LOT) and the kids will be back in school. This would leave us time to get a little bit of that crafting done that we wanted to do (just trying to keep the craft blog updated, ya know since I am so good at updating blogs these days;)) we could go on a walk everyday, I could go to her wonderful institute class with her, take more pictures of the babies (she is so so good at taking great pictures) and we could just be moms together for a week. Something I have wanted so badly since I had Avery!

I ran this little idea by Jeff, thinking he would immediately stop all of that talk! (I do have his baby girl with me!) But being the amazing husband that he is said that that would be okay. What a dear!! He really does know how dearly I miss my sister!

So off we went to transfer the ticket to 1 week later and low and behold the only way I could transfer the ticket with out paying an extra $120 is to stay for TWO weeks! That was the end of that idea! I really wasn't considering it at that point and told Jeff and oddly enough he was still open to it...should I be worried;) I think he still wants to get his golfing in that he was unable to do since the weather has been bad the entire time we have been gone! No, I am kidding! He is just ... HUSBAND OF THE YEAR!

I had a hard time deciding, really!! I debated all day. I really want to stay especially since this is probably the last time I will see them for another YEAR, however, Avery and I also miss Jeff dearly!

So the verdict is... we will reside in Louisville 2 more weeks and talk to each other on the webcam a lot! I am also going to keep my eyes open for a flight home next weekend for the same price.

I am so blessed to have such a sweet UNDERSTANDING husband and I love him so much! (FYI: I thought he was sweet, understanding and I loved him to death even before he let me stay with my sister for an extra 2 weeks too!! But now I think he is extra sweet! )

If there is anyone out there that wants to feed Jeff a real dinner I would really appreciate it and I am sure he would too:) Also, as soon as it stops snowing he will need some golf partners! Thanks Babe for being so supportive! You are so good to us! WE LOVE YOU!!

Avery's Special Day

Finally after 3 months we blessed our little Avery today.

We were a little worried that she would cry (scream) during her big moment but... She was a perfect angel. She was so happy and good all day.

My mother, the amazing seamstress made her beautiful blessing dress and she looked so pretty!

Thank you mom!! It truly is gorgeous and means a lot to us that you made it!

Afterward we did the traditional get together at our house and had a little brunch.

Thank you again to everyone that helped with food and to everyone for coming!

It was so fun to visit with everyone and we feel so blessed to have such great and supportive family and friends!

We thought this was such a tender picture. Avery's great grandpa was doing his bird whistling for her and she LOVED it! She was just smiling and cooing and it was so cute!!

It was a great day!! We love our baby girl and are SO glad that she is in our family!

Family of 3- 3 months now

I cannot begin to express how much we love having Avery in our family!!! I love being a mom even more than I thought I would and feel like this is exactly what I am supposed to be doing!

She is such a happy baby (when she gets her sleep) and smiles a coos and talks to us all the time. We think she is perfect in almost every way (when she gets her sleep). We are just the typical proud parents who think they have the cutest baby on the planet and that she can do no wrong.

Avery still loves bath time and still does not like getting her clothes changed.

She has personality and knows what she wants (and doesn't want).

She still has a very loud cry and makes sure she wakes her dad up in the early morning too, not just her mom.

Avery has been a good sleeper (at night) since we brought her home but as of late, she struggles with going back to sleep after I feed her around 3-5 am.

This means some very early mornings (especially for a mom who is a sleeper-inner:))

Avery loves to be carried around, facing out, so she can see every thing that is going on.

She loves it when her dad sings to her and often tries to sing along.

We have been working on coping skills lately. Avery has a hard time relaxing herself and falling asleep on her own. We have gotten into some bad habits and have been working on breaking them this week.

Going to sleep is unfortunately one of those life lessons that is sometimes hard to master. We will keep working on it. I am trying to be consistent (something I have found to be harder than anticipated).

Little Avery loves to chew on her fingers and Jeff says she is already a mommas girl (that is okay by me).

We sure love our little munchkin and can't believe she has been with us for 3 months now.

My Little Monkey

Superbowl XLIII

For 5 years now, we have been hosting the Leger Superbowl party at our house. It is 3 of Jeff's favorite things to do all wrapped up in one, watch football, host a fun party, and be with family. He is a fun host, last year he started a fun game with cash prizes (I think that is why they still come;)), and he always makes sure the fridge is STOCKED with pop! Other than that it is all about eating yummy food and hanging out. Oh, and I guess for some of them, watching football.

game board

The big winners!!

Hard Day

Avery turn 2 months old today. It is so hard to believe we have had we for 2 months now and almost just as hard to believe that we use to not have her at all!!

She is such a joy and I LOVE every second of being her mom! I feel so bless to have such a little angel in my life and humbled that our Heavenly Father entrusts us to raise her!

Her doctor (whom I totally love and would recommend to anyone, Dr. Strasser) gave her a clean bill of health and says she is right on track.

Here is the low down on her stats:

Length: 23.4 inches 76%tile

Weight: 9lb 8oz 18%tile

Head Circ.: 38cm 30%

She is a little one!

Along with her clean bill of health she got FOUR vaccines. One is a liquid that she had to drink and THREE were terrible mean shots right in her thighs (notice the band aids). She did not approve and has been having hard day ever since. It will be interesting to see how tonight goes (she has been sleeping about 8 hours at night, 5 of the last 7). Bless her little heart, I am sure she will be back to her happy self again soon!

Happy Baby

Several weeks ago our little cutie started smiling at us and it melts our hearts!!!

At first it was one every couple days and now it is several every day! She is especially happy in the morning and we sit and smile at each other.

It is my favorite time of the day!

Especially considering the nights have been hard on both of us lately. Poor little thing has been fighting sleep like crazy! We will get through it.

I LOVE that she is smiling and that I know at least sometimes she is happy to be in our family:)

SURPRISE!!!

I got a pretty serious phone call from my father this evening asking Jeff and I to come over so that Jeff could help my him give my mom a blessing. He was going on and on as to why he wanted us to come and why he didn't just call the home teachers. So of course we agreed and we packed up little Avery...

{baby Avery:)}

and away we went off into the night. The front door was locked as usual and so Jeff knocked and we waited in the cold and guess who opened the door. Let me tell you who

it was not...

{my dad}

it also was not...

{my mom}

it wasn't even...

{Annabelle}

Who, you ask, opened the door for us?

None other than this little cutie...

{Hallie}

and her equally as cute sister...

{Megan}

Can you believe it??? All the way from KenTuCKY!!!! The whole clan:

{Kathryn and Trevor}

{Hallie, Megan and Campbell}

{and little baby Davis}

Talk about the BEST SuRPrIse ever!!!!!

Not to mention they drove, yes that is right, they DROVE for 24 hours with 4 kids... Straight through! That is love and a serious desire to spend Christmas with family!!! We are so so happy they are here and cannot wait to spend the holidays with them!

We love you G family and are SO glad you made the drive!!