Annual Summer Family Trip

It was just a small group of us this year, my parents, us and my brother Eric's family and

I didn't take nearly enough pictures!

We headed down to HOT Mesquite Nevada and had lots of fun playing with cousins, golfing (boys), facials (girls), and SWIMMING.

Skyelie and the boys got a little bling after tearing it up in the Arcade!

We also headed back up to St. George one of the nights did a tiny bit of shopping and saw Footloose at Tuacahn (good but a little risque..Eeehh).

should have gone to Annie- my bad

Our room shared a door with my parent and on several occasions they listened in for Avery while she napped and Jeff and I were even able to go get bite to eat on our own one night. What a treat!

We sure love these folks!

There were lots of first on this trip... we drove further then we every have, we stayed in hotel rooms, we ate out a lot, the boys golfed two 18 hole rounds, the girls went to the spa (my mom had her first ever facial and of course LOVED it) and we endured temperatures up to 108* that is CRAZY hot (if you ask me)!

I love that we have this tradition and that we make it a priority every year.

Big group or small we go every year!

MessMaker

While I was doing this...

Avery was doing this...

TA-DA!!!

And this morning she got a hold of a super ripe banana

YUM!!

"Look Mom, its squishy!"

And it looks like she might have tasted her dads ice cream... hmmm?!?

8 months

Sweet Avery is 8 months old today!

What a gift she has been to our family!

I consider it one of my greatest blessing that I get to stay home with her.

Avery adores her dad and we are so thankful to him for working so hard so that I can be a full time mom!

What Avery is doing right now:

Avery sits and plays with toys and can entertain herself for quite a while.

While she is on her belly she is starting to move her legs like she is wanting to crawl. (I am wanting to see her master this new skill but at the same time I am thinking...' we have too many stairs, crawling can wait'!)

Avery is such a good eater and wants to try every thing Jeff and I are eating.

She is still sleeping good and still waking up early (5:30ish), usually not to go back to sleep till her morning nap!!

Avery handles crowds pretty well and loves to see what everyone is doing however, still wants to be in Jeff or I's arms while she people watches.

Still no teeth and I don't see them coming any time soon.

She can do the baby sign for MORE.

Avery rarely cries but grunts and 'whines' to let us know she wants something or that she is tired.

She hasn't quite got the pincher grasp yet and anything she tries to feed herself ends up getting lost in her little fist.

She loves her Binky and takes it in and out and will switch it out for another one just the same while she is trying to go to sleep (so so cute).

Just can't get enough of this little one!

My Happy, Silly, Sleepy Splasher!

Everyday I am amazed a what a happy happy girl I have!

{she is constantly making me smile!}

{avery has such a fun personality}

{8:30 church takes a toll on the napping 'schedule'}

{splashing in the sink is fun to do, to do, to do, to do}

Cali 09

It seems like you wait forever to go on that fun vacation and then in a blink of an eye it is long over with {sad}!

I was a little anxious how Avery would do in on the 4, 5+hr car rides.

In a word, AMAZING!!!!!

She honestly did not cry for one minute the entire trip! There would be a little fussing and then she would fall asleep! {DREAM}

Jeff, Avery and I stayed in Mesquite from Tuesday night till his family came down and we left for the beach on Friday.
Jeff got in a couple rounds of golf, I had a delightful facial at a super nice spa and we hung out at the pool (well really the hot tub because the pool was FREEZING!!)
It was Avery's first time in a pool/hot tub and she LOVED it!

Then FINALLY we made it to the beach! We were so happy to be there, Avery was especially glad to get out of that car seat!
We had so much to do!

Sit on the beach of course.

Stories and songs by the camp fire.

A trip to Disneyland (I was a little leery about this with the little one but Jeff insisted)

It turned out to be really fun and Avery couldn't wipe the smile off of her face!

It was such a FUN day with the family!

A whale watching boat ride. Notice the dolphins behind us!

This was one of the highlights of our trip. We saw a 'mega pack' of dolphins (500-600)

and 2 blue whales. {AMAZING}

It was so fun to see those incredible animals up close and spend some time with Jeremy, Emily and little Mason!

It was a much need get-a-way and we still can't believe it is over!

Great Family Time! Great Memories!

House Guest

Annabelle has come to spend some time with us while my parents are in Oregon visiting my brother and his family.

She is pretty low maintenance with the exception of wanting a

good belly rub now and again

and a scratch behind the ears!

Otherwise, just plain old fun to have around!

June Update

Seriously, I don't know why I can never get around to the blog anymore!!

I am going to work on that!

June was good to us and I feel like Avery grew up A LOT this last month.

First and foremost, AVERY IS SLEEPING!!! She sleeps at night and she naps during the day... and GOOD naps too!!

I am like a new woman and she is like a new baby!!!

Oh, and it is not usually in my bed:)

My sweet sweet cousin and dear friend Chantel had her beautiful baby on the 18th. He is so cute and she is such a good mom! I am so happy for her and their little family!

Under that hat is hiding LOTS of auburn hair. Scrumptious!!

We spent the first part of the month on a super fun 12 day get-a-way!!

More to come about that soon (within the week I promise)!

And last but not least, my baby is sitting up all by herself!!

When did she get so big?? It is all going to to to to fast!!! {kinda sad}

oh, and really her heart belong to her mommy;) [shirt]

Lunch with DAD

One of the benefits of owning a Deli... 'Free' lunch! :)

We LOVE having lunch with our Jeffy/Daddy!

6 months

My BABY is six months old today!! That is half of a year people... Holy Macaroni!!

She is the light of our life and we cannot imagine our lives without her!

6 Month stats:

Length: 27 in.... 88%tile

Weight: 13lb 6oz.... 8%tile

Head Circ: 42.1cm.... 43%tile

Still so little and so lovable!
She is constantly smiling and laughing out loud now!
Loves to stand up and is getting really steady.
Not yet sitting up by herself but I think it won't be long!
Loves most of her baby food. (I wouldn't want those pureed green beans either!)
Pulls my hair every chance she gets!
Loves to chew on everything!
Drools as though she is teething but thankfully she is not!!
Constantly blowing raspberries (another reason for all the drool)!
Loves to be outside!
She SQUEALS all the time! I call her my little bird as she sounds like one and moves her tongue like a little parrot (I LOVE IT!!)
She has learned that the squealing gets our attention and she does it when she is happy and laughing and when she is unhappy, right before she starts the full out cry!
Still loves her mom to be really close when she falls asleep (we are working on that)!
She still wears 3-6 month clothes and is only starting to grow out of them because she is too long.
She has a pile of really cute 3-6 month pants that are way too big around the belly. She will probably never get to wear them as they will be floods long before they fit around her tummy.


This has been such a fun age! I love seeing Avery's little personality coming out! She makes us laugh everyday! I love it when she looks up at me waiting for me to look at her and then gets that huge smile on her face when I do and when her eyes follow me as walk across the room and then cries when I leave! I love how she strokes my shirt and face while she eats and loves to hold my hand and not let go! Or when she presses my hand firmly to her chest or face, especially when she is tired. I love that she loves to give me those wet slobbery kisses and how she smacks her lips and tongue after she eats. I love that she is starting to nestle into my neck and give me little squeezes! I love that she knows I am her mom and is quick to forgive:)
I think she is a strong willed spirit and the responsibility rest heavily upon me to guide her, to be a better example to her and channel that spirit in the right direction. She has huge potential:) (don't we all, but it is funny how you never get that till you have your own child)!

She makes me feel so loved and I feel so blessed to be her mom!

WE LOVE YOU AVERY!

And Baby, PLEASE stay little for a little while longer!

'4 Month' Check-up

Avery is over 5 months old now... Holy Cow!! I cannot believe how time flies!!

Avery is at such a fun stage and is seeming older every day!

She loves to play with toys and put everything in her mouth!

She has been eating some cereal lately and she loves it!!
What a big girl!

She loves to stand up all the time and always what to see what is going on around her.

At her '4 month' check up (which she had at about 5 months due to our extended Kentucky stay:)) She weighed 12lb 10oz: 12%tile
and measured 26 in: 87%tile
this means...
long and lean!


Avery also loves to talk and laugh and has been blowing raspberries and bubbles for probably a month and a half now.
She is a little drooler!
She loves to grab her toes and suck on her big toe like it is a binkie... SO CUTE!
She is really liking her binkie lately which I am so happy about. There for a while I thought she was done with it.
Both Avery and I handled her shots much better this time:(
She is sleeping so much better (still a long way to go but much better than it was!) She loves to be swaddled and it is the only way we can get her to go to sleep.
She is a happier baby and stays happy for SO much longer!
Avery loves to be outside and loves our walks.
She is, as you can see, a little baldy. I think it is so cute but has been mistaken for a boy several times now:)
She is our little doll and we love her so so much!

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:)