FIRST IMPRESSIONS

Not so happy about being outside!


Averie loves it!


Baylor warmed up to the idea!


They are making kissy noises to each other...


Happy to be outside for 15 minutes...


Then we came in and had hot cocoa! It was very nice!

Baylor is feeling much better. He stopped getting sick as of 5 on Sunday. And was very perky and hungry on Sunday for dinner. We only let him have some puffs and some Pedialite popsicles, but that was just enough for him anyways. He had a bath and played and crashed all night! Thank goodness! So, we're in the clear for now! Cross your fingers for a healthy rest of the season!!!

MORE SICK

Baylor is sick now. We've been through (mama too) 3 outfits/pjs today already. Bummer.

MAKE THAT 4 AS OF 5PM...

QUICK...AND SICK

Miss Artista...


Mr. Bubble Blower!


Swimming!




We had to suddenly start swimming last week after we found out that our instructor would be out of town this April and May (when we would have started swimming for Baylor). Now we are on a tight schedule to get him going and finished in less than 6 weeks because the pool we are using is closing for repairs the end of March! So, we started and Baylor is doing great! He's pretty much mastered breath control in 2 days and grabs and holds the bar very well. We resume with lessons tomorrow (off today b/c of President's Day). Averie is doing refreshers and learning the back stroke. She will take more "fun" lessons in June when Miss Cindy is back from out of town. Fun! Fun! And Averie came down with some sort of flu-like symptoms Saturday night. Poor girl has no energy to even move this morning. Here we go again with the sickness!!! Sorry to those people we haven't been in touch with lately (Janet and girls, Annie, Aunt Shannon, Aunt Shawna)...we are hibernating once again!

OUR MUD ROOM

BEFORE


BEFORE



AFTER


AFTER

We have a bench/cubbie area, cabinets, a gate so we can come in and out and not be licked by dogs. A nicer sink area, the dogs each have a new area that is bigger and more comfy. It turned out soooo great. We are very happy. Still on the to do list: Paint the back door white, hang curtain and trim the edges of the countertop!

BAYLOR is feeling better and started swimming on Thursday!

More updates on Baylor swimming later!!

BABY STEPS

This was last Friday when we went to the mall-before Baylor fell asleep in the MaiTai!


Playing with "oats" today. Feeling pretty good!


Averie enjoys scooping and pouring and mixing and dumping too!


Baylor felt much better as of last night, playing and enjoying himself, us and the toys. Today has been about 65% back to normal...baby steps!

STILL

SICK...he feels good for a few minutes and plays and is independent. Then, he is crying and clingy and snotty and miserable! It's been a rough week. The Dr. is still not concerned...but I keep thinking, how long can this last!!! I suppose I feel so helpless b/c he just isn't getting better and this is the longest either of them have been sick at one time. Hopefully I can get some pics up soon. Maybe during nap, if little boy takes a good nap. He (and I, even) sure need one!

BLAH

Poor Baylor. He was back on his feet and normal self all day yesterday, no fever or anything...then today, we ran errands after he had a bout of constipation (opposite of normal for him) in the morning...half way though the mall I had to carry him in the mai tai (good think I brought it in!) and he barely picked at lunch (opposite of normal again) and fell asleep in the mai tai (hasn't happened since he was tiny) while we were walking toward the Gap potty for Averie and then on our way home. So, we got him home and his fever was back to 102, he was crying and snotty and lethargic. It was kinda scary! He has been napping for 2.5 hours now not counting the 30+ minutes he slept in the mall. He ended up waking up for the drive home, but poor boy. I hope he drinks something when he wakes up, since he would barely eat lunch, I doubt he'll be interested in drinking anything but maybe from me (that is definitely a plus that he is still nursing)...he'll be at least getting those down! The Dr.'s said it is the trend that they have been seeing, the fever and symptoms are gone for a day, and then come back. Totally weird! I just want to go snuggle him...but he will be more rested sleeping in his bed. I'll post an update tomorrow or Sunday, hopefully we are better by then!

16 MONTHS

I can't believe you are 16 months old. It feels like just yesterday I was starring at the pregnancy test in complete disbelief (two years ago on the 30th of Jan.)! At a super faint line I thought I was imagining. Well, definitely not my imagination! You are so amazing. You are smart, funny, goofy, sweet and very entertaining. You love your independence for sure. You are self feeding most of the time and usually turn your head and whine when we even try to feed you. You love almost all food (canned plain mushrooms you did spit out once and you are not a fan of egg salad). You still eat like a champ though. I'm still waiting for the day you gain a lot of weight and are a chunk. But that is still not the case! The last couple days/nights have been hard for you. You have a stuffy and runny nose and cannot breath to nurse or when you are sleeping...so you've had extra snuggles and even slept with us for 6 hours last night...but I have no doubt in a couple days you'll be back to your own spunky, happy self. I took this pic during lunch...you were being goofy after a full lunch and you were pretty happy even though you don't feel well. :o) Keep on amazing us...we love you Butta boy!

A FEW PICS

IKEA

IKEA


Delaney and Averie doing Pilates


Jett visited for a couple days during the day.


Out and about on a nice crisp 45 degree day!

BRONSEN REX

has arrived! Late last night at 11:53pm. Weighing in at 8.04lbs. and 21inches! Proud parents: Jen and Mark!! Congrats! Averie and I visited them this morning.

2 BIG TEETH

BIG TOOTH

Don't mind the boogies...




Our yummy lunch! English muffin with cream cheese, avocado, tomato, meatless turkey, cheese, celery, carrots...she tried everything but the celery!


Adorable dress from MiMi

PICTURES

I just love black and white bath pictures!

STILL BUSY--BUT MAKING TIME TO POST

Baylor hanging out with the little trees before they came down.



Averie saying "ahhhhh!" while pretending to sled!


Averie eating salad!!!! AND LOVING IT!!! :o) I hope this is the start of something!! She's never really had a true salad until the other night. We eat salad probably 3-4 times a week with dinner.



Making Jo-Jo's Banana Muffins. YUMMY!!

* * * * * * * * * * *
DARN-They were actually sold out of this seat, so we aren't getting it and I don't know which one we are getting yet... :o( Here is the one we decided on! TOO CUTE!! And it is so secure. We love it!!!

HOLIDAY SEASON RECAP!!!!

A few weeks ago...



We visited the lights at our local library! It is a walking path with lights and figures. It is cute and just perfect for kids! And only 2 miles away!

* * * * *
CHRISTMAS WITH GRANDMA JUDY, GRANDPA BILL, UNCLE TODD, AUNT MANDY, MADDIE & MAX



Looking at the cute calendar of Averie and Baylor for Grandma and Grandpa.



* * * * *
VISIT TO SANTA

We saw Santa at the mall...they were perfectly content sitting his lap. Last year must have been a fluke (I took my own pics), this year they said I could only if I bought some of theirs. And I kinda regret not buying them...but they were $15 for a 3 1/5 x 5 and I just wasn't that impressed with the pics (the kids looked bored and weren't smiling). So we took our own without Santa! The kids looked very cute and all dressed up!

Santa is in the background (you can only see a little of the "wonderland!")

* * * * *
MAKING COOKIES

sprinkle-ist extraordinar!


YUM!


* * * * *
CHRISTMAS WITH DELANEY, JAYDE & JETT!

Girls smiling by the tree!


The whole happy clan!

Averie opening her sticker book from Aunt Shannon and Delaney!


Baylor being the king of the presents!


* * * * *
CHRISTMAS EVE DAY
Averie and her pin curls!


Yogurt boy!


Fancy nails too!


A yogurt face mask!


* * * * *
CHRISTMAS WITH GRANDMA, GRANDPA, UNCLE BRAD & JEN!
Family Photo-before church on Christmas Eve



After church getting pj's on!



Presents!!


Shredded paper hat!


Averie loves presents!


* * * * *
CHRISTMAS MORNING!
The overloaded tree!


Opening stocking stuff.


Averie loves her umbrella from Baylor!


Baylor checking out his baby from Averie!


* * * * *
CHRISTMAS WITH GG & the extended family on Christmas Day!


* * * * *
CHRISTMAS WITH RECE AND CARMINE!
Averie and Rece opening!


Carmine excited and Baylor...not too excited!


* * * * *
LIGHTS AT THE ZOO!!
Eating dinner while watching the dancing lights!


Us with the dancing lights in the background!


Lights, lights and more lights!


That was our Christmas Holiday in a nutshell! We have had an amazing time and are still organizing and walking through the Christmas clutter! Today is New Year's Eve and Daddy has to work today and tomorrow so I am going to try to de-clutter and organize and get ready for 08! Daddy and I have a plan to organize the basement and start working out TOGETHER (yea! I am very excited to do this!) and eat breakfast together and make healthy breakfasts together for us and the kids. We plan to workout together and eat together for us time and do this before the kids get up three days a week. So, I have the rest of this week to do this!

Anyways, Christmas was very magical and wonderful and we loved everything! I think it was a tad crazy, especially the lack of sleep everyone received, but we are slowly recovering. Averie was so happy to open presents and loved every minute of it. Baylor, not so much. I don't think he unwrapped one gift. He just could have walked around and checked things out and that's it. But he loved the stuff! He loves his own kitchen and bath toys and Averie loves her ducks and camper toy and I love my water dispenser and red crockpot and flannel sheets. They are SO soft. We are going to have dinner in tonight (New Year's Eve) here with my family -minus daddy :o( and we are expecting 4-8 inches of the white stuff...that will bring some pictures for the next blog post. Which will not be so long and will be sooner rather than later!!