Happy New Year!!

I can't believe 2011 is already here! We are most excited to meet baby #2 in 2011; I can't wait to see Avery as a big sister! 2010 was great and we have so much to be thankful for! We had a fun day today at home and I am ringing in the new year in the NICU tonight while Daddy puts Avery to sleep. I guess I'll have to kiss my little tiny preemie at midnight! :) HAPPY NEW YEAR every one, blessings on you in 2011!

Avery wanted to say hi as well :)

Happy Birthday Jesus Party and Christmas- part two

So excited singing happy birthday and blowing out the candles. :)

We made a little manger scene picture and talked about baby Jesus' birthday

Later that night we talked about how Santa comes for Jesus' birthday and brings us presents. She thought it was so fun to leave cookies for Santa and carrots for the reindeer.

Santa came! The first thing she said when she woke up was, "Santa's cookies??" She was very happy to see that he liked them but couldn't understand why he wouldn't stick around to see her open her gifts. :)

Sweet, sweet family Christmas memories!! Hope everyone had a very merry Christmas!

Christmas part one- Houston

Avery and I boarded a plane to Houston last weekend to see family and celebrate the first of many Christmas celebrations this year. Luke had to stay behind to preach on Sunday. :(

Avery was great on the plane and kept the passengers entertained by passing out Dora stickers and squealing "wee! we flying!" as we took off. :)

We had a great time with family. There was plenty of yummy food and sweet cousins to play with. I love this time of year!

opening lots of presents!!

Aunt Laura and Uncle Blaine!

Playing with her new puppet stand!

A visit from Santa; Aves was in Heaven!

Meeting new cousins!

hours of bounce house fun!

Pinata!

Sweet cousins!

Could there be anything cuter in a picture!?

Christmas Program

Avery had her school Christmas program today. It was the adorable thing to see all the cuties on stage! The two's class pretty much just stood there and stared while the teachers looked silly doing all the hand motions. Cracked me up! My child of course felt the need to leave her mark on the performance so she started off by pulling her dress up to her head and flashing the crowd before it started. As if that wasn't enough, she made a beeline for the grand piano on stage in the middle of the show to play a few notes. Luckily the teacher made eyes with her and told her no and she minded. Oh, she makes me laugh! All that spunk and personality will get her far in life. God, please let baby #2 be laid back! ;)

BIG news!

She was very excited to tell Daddy. She ran to him and yelled, "Surprise!"

telling Daddy the exciting news!

I can't believe my baby will be a big sister come August! Not sure if my heart can hold that much love, it might explode. :)

SANTA!

fun at the park

I LOVE spending time with my girl

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas! and other funny things...

I can't believe Christmas is around the corner! I am so excited! I love having the house decorated for Christmas, having a fire going and smelling my holiday scentsy! Avery is beside herself excited about it too. She has already sat in Santa's lap twice and it's December 1st! He asked her what she wanted from him last time and she exclaimed, "A hug!!" Melted me. :)

She loves that every store has Christmas decor., her favs are Frosty(which she calls every snowman) and Santa. We walked in Hobby Lobby the other day and she said, "Ohhh, I happy!" ha! I love seeing Christmas through the eyes of a sweet child. We are working hard to teach about Christmas and what it really means. Right now she will tell you it's about God and Santa. :) We pulled all the Christmas stuff out the other night and she had a total blast staying up late and helping decorate.

She loves having a her own tree in her playroom. She picked out Disney princess ornaments to put on it and she rearranges them every 20 min. ;)

her little baby tree from her first Christmas

I took this random pic the other day of Avery in the driveway. The lighting did something really cool and then I made it black and white and played with it a little. She's not even smiling but it turned out to be one of my new favs of her!

On a funny note, Avery has been cracking us up lately with new things she is doing and saying. I lost my keys the other day and looked for probably 30 min and had my whole purse dumped out in the process. I just happened to walk by her little pink car in the hallway and noticed my keys in the ignition and my cash and gum she had also taken and stashed in the back. Little stinker!! Made me laugh. She told me she was "driwin" :) Another couple of funny things to share that I want to be able to read when she's 20 and laugh: We were in Kohls shopping the other day she saw a little boy about her age shopping with his mom, they made eye contact and were waving. The little boy a few minutes later did something to get in trouble and his mom said" You are going to get a spanking now, get over here!" Avery looked at his mother who was only a few feet away at that point and yelled "NO! He don't want it!!" It was hilarious. The mom explained to her afterwards that no, he didn't want it but he in fact needed it. :) Leave it to my daughter to get onto a grown woman and a stranger at that. :) She's growing and changing so fast that I hate it but at the same time love it because she is developing her little personality more and more. She told me the other day at lunch when I told her she must eat her turkey before having chips, " It's MY choice, I want chips!" Wow, she wears me out! Good thing I love her more than anything :)