Avery is 16 Months Old

Our little 16 month old is a bundle of energy, giggles, and... pure joy. She loves to be chased, and books are still her #1 favorite things.



She can now tell us what a monkey says "Ah Ah Ah" and what a bear says "raaar." She's beginning to learn her colors, her favorites being pink and red. And since she takes her toddlerhood very seriously, she gets into absolutely everything. E v e r y t h i n g.

We had her ears pierced last weekend, and she behaved like such a little lady.


We were expecting a little bit of drama, but she didn't deliver. (Love that.) *On a side note, instead of having them done one at a time, we had them done simultaneously. Which we would definitely recommend!!

And, her hair is really starting to curl up, and this Mommy is having trouble trying to make it behave. You'd think I would know by now, that you can't fight the curl. :)

She's very silly, and loves to walk around in Mommy's shoes.

This baby girl is just so so loved. And so much fun!

****Bonus... I just love this picture. (With some of the aforementioned curly hair.)



And some outdoor adventures to round out the month...

Our 2.... love.

In Memory

Our beloved Grandma went home to be with the Lord on February 14, 2010 at the age of 90. She built a family who adored her, and left a legacy of faith that will continue for generations. She was Joey's "Nanna", Reilly and Avery's Great-"Grandma", my adopted "Grandma".... and she will be missed more than we can say.



She blessed our lives with her laughter, and her whole-hearted enjoyment of just being with her family. We'll cherish the memories we shared with her, and look forward to seeing her again one day.

Happy Valentine's Day !!

Our little Valentines...

Reilly loved his balloon & treats!! (It's a tradition for us to get him a really huge balloon.)

An Edible Arrangement from the Mimi !!! Best EVER!

Yes, I suppose she does have a tutu for every occasion, and we're fine with that. :)

Avery with my biggest Valentine!

And lastly, one minor tantrum... (which only occurs when we take something away from her which she shouldn't have.) Good times. ;)

Hope you told your Valentines just how much you love them!

Snow Day #2

Snow Day #2 was great! We were so happy to see it hadn't melted, so we could enjoy it a second time! We had our great friends come by for some snowball fighting! Enjoy the pics...

Snow Day #1

We so enjoyed the record snowfall we had earlier this month!! Well, Reilly & I did. Avery absolutely loathes standing in the snow, so she sat this one out. We trekked out into the 8 inch deep snow, and Reilly made his very first snow angel! And it had been quite a long time since I made one of my very own, so that was great! I loved that the snow was still coming down while we were just lying in the snow... we had snowflakes in our mouths and in our eyelashes. Of course, we made a couple of small snowmen and had a rather vicious snowball fight. He didn't pull any punches, and showed no mercy to his dear Mommy. ;) Not to worry, though, I held my own. It was a perfect day! It was the best day I'd ever had with Reilly, and I know we'll both remember it forever.

The perfect weather for a movie night!!!

Some night shots of the snowy backyard. I couldn't believe how bright it was out there!

Avery is 15 Months Old

Yes, she's every bit of those 15 months. Translation: she's a handful. Into everything. Even more so than Reilly was, and that's saying a lot. She's gonna be feisty, this we know. Good thing for Joey that he likes his ladies that way. ;)
And she can hide it well, as evidenced by the following picture. She looks practically angelic, I'd say.


And she LOVES books. Before naptime, she requests at least 12 before she's ready to go to sleep.






Her new favorite things to say are, "Hi Baby" and "Oh Baby". So stinkin cute. She's repeating so many new words, it's exciting! And, running!!! Man, that girl is fast!! (Especially while toting something she shouldn't be.) And so sweet. She loves to give hugs, snuggles, and kisses. She likes sneaking up behind us, especially Reilly, and giving a kiss on our backs. She loves her baby dolls... in her own way. She says "BABY!" like she hasn't seen the thing in a month, then kisses it, and immediately throws it to the floor. (That is not a learned behavior, by the way.)

She loves talking to her Grandpa ("PawPaw") on the "hand phone", and says "Mimi!" every time our front door opens. I really love that. :) She loves watching Baby Einstein videos, and I know when she wants to watch one because she stands in front of the t.v. saying "Moo-e". She also has a keen fashion sense. Frequently while we're perusing her closet, I ask her what she would like to wear, then she grins and grabs whichever item that catches her attention.
She adores her big brother, and he couldn't be more nurturing towards her. It's funny watching Reilly chase her around the house, and heartwarming when they both burst into hysterics when he catches her. She has a great laugh, a cackle really. It's truly music to my ears.

All this adds up to one very cherished baby girl!!! We're watching, little strawberry, and can't to see what you do next!