It's Been Too Long!

We realize we've drifted out of the blogging world for some time! We'll try and make up for it with this update, so we'll include some pictures and videos. March is a totally crazy month for us. With state testing, field trips, fund raisers, and parent/teacher conferences coming, school has been totally chaotic. This week we start CSAP testing though, so we're hoping things will slow down this spring.

The biggest update we have (besides Avery's growth) is the announcement of Baby Walker #2! I'm due September 5th, and we're thrilled about the addition to our family. I was terribly sick for the first month; I constantly felt nauseous. However, I feel MUCH better now, and despite being exhausted in the evenings after a crazy day at work, the pregnancy is going very well. We're guessing it's a girl, since the heart beat was in the 160's, but really we have no idea. I'd be thrilled either way, but I've especially fallen in love with girls after having Avery.


Justin has had an EXTREMELY busy semester. He usually is working on homework until1:00am or 2:00am, and I've felt like I've barely seen him due to all of his group projects in the evenings. He's done with school in June though, and I know that after I'm done with school in May, things may calm down for awhile.


Avery is totally incredible. I love this stage more than any other stages COMBINED! She is such a joy. I've resisted saying this in the past, but with no credit to us, Avery was born with this ability to develop very quickly. She walked at 10 months, started potty training at 17 months, has incredible verbal skills, and picks up on everything soooo quickly. I totally realize our second child could be different, but her development has made her personality so much fun (and challenging at times. She can get an attitude if she chooses!). She says everything. Even in just the past couple of weeks, her verbal skills have blossomed. Here are a few of the main things I remember from the past month...

• Avery is obsessed with time out. Anytime she does anything she thinks she shouldn't she says, "Time out Mommy!" and sits with her back to the wall (where we put her). Though she's obsessed with taking care of her babies, she also likes to discipline them. In the evenings I often find her saying, "Don't Baby. Naughty! No hit face!" and she plops her down in time out. A few seconds later Avery picks up her baby and in a high pitched voice says, "I love you! Mooches!" She totally models what we do.
• She loves to change her baby and rock her. The other day I found her in the bathroom pulling up her babies legs and saying, "Oh yuck! Gross! Disgusting poopies!" Then she takes a wipe and tries to change the baby.
• In the morning I hear her through the monitor say, "Hey Mommy. Come get me!"
• When she doesn't know where the kitties are she says, "Cinnamon...where are you?"
• Justin came home from school one evening and Avery said, "Hi Justin!"
• She also refers to him as "honey". He'll tickle her or throw something at her and she'll say in this cute voice, "Hoonnneeeyy".
• Unfortunately, she picks up everything we say. I often find her saying, "Oh crap!" or "Oh shoot".
• Avery found her pockets and loves to put her hands in them. She says "Two pockets Mommy!"
• Anytime she has to get passed me she says, "Excuse me Mommy. Sorry!"
• If there is one thing that Justin and I can't handle, it's all the whining that comes with toddlers! Justin is constantly telling Avery to stop whinning. So, when she was crying the other day, admist her sobs, she looked at Justin and sobbed, "Don't Whine!"
  

Avery is sooo loving. She loves to give hugs and snuggles. She kisses and loves on us constantly. In the morning she is especially loving, and wants to snuggle her face next to mine. She has such a loving spirit. My heart melts when she cries, "No work!" on the mornings I have to leave, and tries to convince me with hugs and kisses to stay!

Here are some videos of Avery about a month ago.