MY RINGS & SWIMMING POOL FUN

Love Baylor's expression here. He was in mid walk back to the pool.


Little smirker!!


(One of) The cutest booty ever!

BRANDON & ANNIE

Everything at the wedding was beautiful! We sat with our good friends Re(e and (armine! It was great to get away for the weekend and enjoy wonderful food (I was stuffing my face all weekend) and friends and dancing! We also swam on Sunday morning before checkout. And the kids did AWESOME on the drives (about 4-5 hours including a 1 hour stop for lunch/potty breaks). On the way there, Baylor slept before lunch. Averie slept after. On the way home they both fell asleep almost right away and slept til we were less than an hour from home. We ate lunch once they woke up and only had 45 minutes left to drive after lunch. We entertained them by getting a couple new books, and some Color Wonder paper/markers and some Aqua Doodles. They especially enjoyed the Thomas Choo Choo book with a read along CD. It was very cute! So, now we're planning a camping trip for July!! Fun fun!!

QUICK POST TIME

At the Children's Garden


A quick pose...


Pumping the water...


Grandma and Grandpa with the kids


A boat ride on Grandpa's row boat

Just wanted to post some pictures from our visit to Gma Judy and Gpa Bill's over the last two days. We went there Wed. afternoon and came home last night. We had an uneventful time (finally...no arm pulling or snow storm). The kids enjoyed themselves and Baylor slept wonderfully in their crib after a little lovin' and extra snugglin' from me. He then even took a nap there without any tears (he never has trouble going right to sleep at home...just away from home) and slept for 2+ hours, just like at home! It was a breakthrough! We came home after dinner and only had to stop twice for potty breaks (for little miss!). It felt like an endless drive, but we made it before dark! And the kids are still sleeping this morning. I actually got up, exercised a little, ate my breakfast, showered (not in that specific order), planned my day (made a couple lists) and am now able to blog a little. And Matt is mowing already... so a good day is in the works here, I think! Today we are going shopping (for many misc. things we need) and meeting up with several friends and going to the mall, eating lunch and I am getting my hair cut (not in that order at all) and we have a few returns to make. So, we should be getting home by 2 (that will be perfect now that they slept in this morning). And then naps so I can finish packing for our PA journey tomorrow. Hopefully the car ride goes just as well tomorrow...it will be an hour or so more in the car so we're breaking up the drive with lunch in the middle and some running around for sure. And hopefully getting to the hotel early enough for some swimming time in the pool before the wedding (I can dream, can't I...who knows though, we might make it!!) So, I will definitely have some pictures after we return home...hopefully some family ones, all dressed up! We hope you enjoy the pics.

DENTIST TIME

AVERIE AT THE DENTIST...


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JUST KIDDING!!!!!
Here is the real Averie!


Watching me take some pictures.


Little face, bright light, close eyes!!!


Averie did so great at the dentist!!!! She didn't get nervous, cry or even whine! She watched me get my teeth cleaned and polished and then hopped up in the chair and let the dentist go to town. It was awesome. She had bubble gum tooth paste and orange fluoride. She used the water squirter, didn't swallow and used the sucker straw thing to get the water out of her mouth. It was great! She also got a new tooth brush, paste, a timer and some floss! So cool!

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And here is how Baylor was sleeping when I checked on him before going to bed last night. He was zonked!!

SUPER DOOPER UPDATE TIME

Baylor especially loves wearing my/anyone elses shoes. He walks quite well in heels, I must add.


Ice cream evening.





Averie calls it choc-o-nilla (chocolate vanilla twist).


The swing set. This is an older pic of when it was just put up. We now have mulch, landscaping and some other stuff added to the area. I will update it again soon.

BUSY SWINGING

Playing at the park (I haven't loaded the pics of our new swing set yet).


Mother's Day shirts made by daddy.




We've been pretty busy these last several days. We've been working very diligently on the back yard- deck, swing set, landscaping, etc. It is coming together, it is so time consuming to do all of it at once. It feels like it is going slow, but it is actually going fast with a new deck, swing set & the start of mulch already done (those are the big things, out of the way). I picked up the tire mulch and have been getting that down, and really brainstorming about the plants I want to get. If anyone knows anything about plants, please let me know. I have no experience with plants and what will be low maintenance, yet come back next year!

As for the kids, they are great. They are so happy to have their swing set up and running. Averie already figured out how to pump the swing! Without any help. And Baylor looks so little going up and down the rock wall and slide. He just smiles from ear to ear the entire time we are outside! We still need to get the sand in the sand box, and spread more mulch around, but it is coming along! I hope to have that whole area "done" and wrapped up by the middle of June. That really isn't too far away! Here are some pics. Gotta go get the kids up and moving!

HAPPY MAMA'S DAY!!

HAPPY


MOTHER'S


DAY!!

I was seriously spoiled this Mother's Day-
Two "stamped/engraved" sterling silver rings with Averie and Baylor's names on them (I'll post a pic when I get them, Daddy didn't know my size)
I got a digital picture holder for my key chain (it holds 50 pics).
An iPod (I've been jogging and listening to Daddy's iPod songs, which I don't really care for)
French Toast, oatmeal and a Frappuccino
And a card, made with the pics you see above, and the kids have homemade T-shirts on, I'll snap a pic of those later, so cute! I AM SO SPOILED!!! :o)

19 MONTHS & BUSY WEEKEND

Happy 19 Months Big Boy!

What you've been up to lately:
-Putting two words together ~ Veggie Rice, Daddy Toot, Juice Water.
-Loving on your blanket and Averie's manatee, along with Bob and Octy.
-Going to the ER (1am this morning - after driving home 2.5 hours from Grandma and Grandpa's) for your Nurse Maid's Elbow (pulled elbow). Long story...very tired...will post details on that later!
-You are very loving and smart and you certainly know it. You are very obsessed with climbing these days too. You can climb on our dining table chairs now (1st time this week). And they are even bar height...great...my little monkey!
-We love you sweet boy. You keep us on our toes, we love you for it! And love watching you grow.

So, now it is Monday morning! We have all seemed to recover from everything that occurred this weekend! To summarize, we went to visit Grandma Judy (Gpa Bill too) for her surprise May day (Bday) celebration 2.5 hours southeast of us. We made it for the party (very nice party), had a good time entertaining the kids (it was nap time, could have been disastrous), ate lunch, chatted. After lunch we were walking back to the car and I found out my mom was sick, but feeling better so we were requested not to change our plans (I had plans to visit Rece and Carmine after the family weekend). After a little freshening up we went back to Gma and Gpa's for some family pictures (that was actually fun!) which went great despite the possibility that all children would have meltdowns due to lack of afternoon nap...no one did! I am currently waiting for our cd and will post the family pic when we get the cd! After pictures the kids played, we saw a rainbow (see pics below), had dinner and were getting ready for bed when Averie, playfully-yet hard for a 3 yr old, pulled on Baylor's arm while he was laying on the floor...instant tears...instant catering to the arm. I knew what had just happened (it happened before to us a month or so ago when I pulled his arm down and around under the water to wash his hands in the sink at Target like Averie, I pulled it firmly but not so hard that I would have thought it would be pulled out...I felt so guilty, we did the whole er trip then too...got there and he must have somehow put it back in last time because just before we signed in at the er he raised his arm up and pointed to the clock on the wall...we were stunned and happy, we looked him over and left)! This time though we drove home at bed time...2.5 hours...called my dad, he stayed with Averie (sleeping of course) we took Baylor to the er, we were one of only 5 people there...the Dr. was so good, he explained that this is so common, it's not a big deal...obviously Baylor is prone to this happening so we are more aware not to pull his arm even a little bit...but he put it back in once and it didn't quite make things better, so the Dr. did it again about 10 minutes later and it "popped" back in place the second time and within 3 minutes Baylor was giving high fives, moving it and it was TOTALLY normal. Whew, relief. So, we packed up got the paper work and went home...finally we were all asleep by about 3am! The Dr. showed us how to put the arm back in place if it happens again. The whole er experience was "good"-for an er experience...we didn't really have to wait at all and everyone was so nice and patient and really knew what they were doing. So, now Daddy is on vacation and is building a deck. My mom is feeling better and getting the tests she needs and will hopefully be back to "normal" this week. Now we're on to the projects!! Oh yea, and my Brother bought a house Friday too! Busy weekend...hopefully things calm down this week and we can just enjoy it! Here are the pics from the weekend!


Both taken at Gma Judy's party...Baylor hanging out over the vent!


Averie being silly...she is good at dramatic facial expressions


The rainbow-it was much more vibrant than my camera leads you to believe


TA-DA!! Averie liked seeing the rainbow, it was her first!

SUNDAY BEST

Just passing some time before we left for church yesterday. It was cool out, but beautiful and sunny! It was also a plaid day (I had plaid on too)!


WHAT'S UP WITH MAMA & DADDY & KIDS
****Lately we've been fighting a little bug...Averie ended up having fever on Friday afternoon. And Baylor had it Sunday all day. It was just a fever, runny nose and some neediness. Everyone seems to be better this morning.

Daddy has been totally into home improvement mode, the deck, swingset, landscaping...all to come!!

Mama is just trying to clean and organize the house...we feel trapped in our clutter!!

Today has been a fairly lazy day. We cleaned out the preschool closet today, last night Daddy and I cleaned the floors and this weekend I totally gutted and reorganized Averie's room (spring cleaning is in full force).

Have a good week! I will try to take some outside pics this week.

DOCTOR APPT. & SPRING FUN

Well, we had the kids well-checks this morning! Baylor for 18 months and Averie for 3 years! Both went extremely well...Averie was a tad nervous but she only got a little teary eyed when she had to take her clothes off to be examined. Last year at two they didn't do that (probably because she was crying the whole time), so we didn't know that was in the plans. She also had to pee in a cup (which she has done before, but for a different reason...no potty in the car...use frozen coke cup instead...she thought it was silly). So, she had gone right when we got there in the waiting room so we had to take it back later (like an hour later while we were at Anderson's she went, so we dropped it back off at the Dr. and they checked it and it was normal). But everything really went well, Averie even got her blood pressure taken, it was so cute! The Dr. was happy to see such healthy kids and said they looked great (she said she sees a ton of couch potatoes these days). They are also growing right along the curve. Baylor is still small: 22lbs exactly (6th%) and 32.5" (51st%). His head on the other hand "greater than the 97th%" is what the percentile calculator said. Haha, lots of brains in there! Baylor is actually 2.5 inches taller than Averie was at that age. I am surprised! Averie weighed in at 31.5lbs (55th%) and 36.5" (30th%). So, they were both very healthy! And done with "healthy shots" (what we call them) until flu shots next fall!!! YEA!!!

Other than that we've been keeping pretty busy. Baylor is a ball of energy. He loves keeping up with his sis, playing outside has been so much fun with him this year so far. He explores, runs, climbs up the mulch hills around the deck, digs holes with his "fuh-vuh," he ALWAYS has at least one (usually one in each hand) rock in his hand as he is exploring. He really likes to swing, but only wants Mama to push him. Tonight while I cooked dinner, the kids kept following Daddy to the field with a wheel barrow full of sod. We are taking out parts of the sod to plant our seeds for our flower garden. We planted in preschool. All of our seeds have sprouted this week but the green peppers. I think the packet said those would be a week later anyways. We have Coreopsis, Sweet Peas, Marigolds, Green/Red Peppers, Cucumbers, Cherry and Big tomatoes, Daisies and at least one more I can't think of right now. And excuse the spelling. OH, can't forget the Sunflowers (Annie!). Those are going right in front of the barn. I've already cleared a space. The kids were...as I started to say...following Daddy to the field and helping him drop the grass/sod we were done with back there, then they would following him back. It was neat to watch both kids be able to explore and run around together. Averie is so into her swing. She swings on her belly and just flies! I can't wait to have the swing set up and put together. That is another project we have going on in the works right now. Averie is also a helper. We planted a pot of some fancy roses into three smaller containers to sit outside. She moved the soil for me. She also likes to water everything. Just wait till it's warmer, she won't put the hose down. The kids are also looking forward to the pool being open. Every time we go by it, Baylor says "Cindy." As in Miss Cindy, as in swimming lessons. So cute! Averie is also very good at playing and watching Baylor. She has been pushing him up our little mulch hill on the "motorcycle" (actually an old princess bike from Tay, El and Em) and helping him roll back down. They did this over and over today.

Right now, the house is quiet (I'm finishing this post at almost 9pm), I can hear the bird chirping outside because the window is open and it's still at least 60 degrees. I hear the kids white noises going too, but with all this fresh air, they have been sleeping very well. And I never have trouble really with naps, they have just been even longer! And more tired at night. Tomorrow we will be waking up a tad early and going to the bounce house again. I hope it isn't crowded, we are picking up Delaney and she gets to go with us this time. It should be fun, she is also spending the night to Saturday. That is the only plan for me for the weekend. Pending the rain forecast Daddy and Grandpa will be starting to tear up the deck! We have the supplies for our new deck already, so the sooner the better in my opinion! That is another project on the never-ending-project-list. I suppose I will end this long book now. I will go post a few pictures of what we've been up to lately! Ta-ta-for-now!

Finger painting fun (last week)!


Today after dinner. The many faces of silly Averie!


Today after dinner...the many faces of Baylor.


Outside yesterday morning.


Outside yesterday morning.

18 MONTHS

Sorry about the red face. You always get a red face from red pasta sauce and when I wear sweaters.

You are such a sweet snuggly little boy! I love you so much! I can't believe you are 18 months. I know it went fast with Averie, but you grew faster than fast. I am amazed at how you know so much. You are also very good at saying words and talking to us. You can do somersaults and go down the stairs using your feet. You love pushing the mower and you love your baths. You also love your blanket and Bob. You eat everything and anything we give you, 99% of it at least. You don't like egg salad and things of that texture. But you love veggies, fruit, sweets, meat...you are easy to please! I remember the day you were born like it was yesterday. And how I felt like it took forever to count down those last few weeks. But now you're here and have been here for 18 months, yet it feels like you've always been here! You are also almost done nursing. You don't really request if often and I have only offering it to you when I'm uncomfortable. I hate to say it but you are growing up right before our eyes! Keep that smile on your face and keep the hugs and kisses coming...you are very loved, please always remember that sweet butta boy! HUGS and KISSES always! Love, Your mama

I also wanted to say so I don't forget, you have quite a temper. You are very aware and throw fits when things don't go your way. Today was one of those days while we were shopping. But you calmed yourself down just fine after 20+ minutes and 20+ stares from strangers!!! Oh well, I have patience for that and just let you do your thing, and you did! :o) LOVE YOU.

PROFESSIONAL PICS

We had professional pics done today! They went unexpectedly well! Baylor did cry, but warmed up and wasn't crying too much. A lot of sober pics, but I love those as well! These are the poses we purchased. We actually got the cd too and there were over 100 pics taken. ENJOY!!! The first 2 are my favs.

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