April!

So much has been going on...lots to update.

First, we found out that we are having a BOY! We are so excited, and both actually thought it would be another girl. The really funny thing about finding out the sex though, was that both of us were totally fine with the outcome either way, so when everyone asks how Justin or I reacted when we were there, I tell them that we were both like, "Great either way!". We are so in love with little girls after having Avery, that we can see ourselves with a whole clan of girls, but I know we will feel the same way about this little guy, and we're thrilled to have a little man!

Not a great belly shot, but there's something growing!


School is getting closer to being at an end for the both of us! Justin interviewed for several engineering internships with ITT (not the college, but the company obviously), and was one of the top picks for both groups who interviewed him! We are very proud of him, and hope he enjoys this position. It ends in August, but he's finished with school at the end of June, so we hope to have a job secured (with this company or another) before the end of his internship.

I have very mixed feelings about finishing school this May. On one hand (the bigger hand) I'm totally excited to have at least this next year off with Avery and this new baby. On the other (the much smaller one) I'm sad to leave my students and the success I've felt in teaching. I have such close colleagues at school, who have become such sweet friends. I know I can maintain those friendships, but it's strange to think how many things will be changing over the next year for our family. I totally have faith that these changes are for the better though, so after we secure a job, know where we are living, and welcome this baby into the world this August, I know the feeling of security will come! I have the confidence to know we are making the right decisions for our family though, so I guess that's what you have to rest on!

Update on Avery...
She's fantastic. There are glimmers of the terrible two's sneaking up, but after a hard day or two, she's back to her happy self, so I'm not sure when the tantrums will show up full blown ( I have this small hope that she'll just slide past that stage!). She went to the doctor this month, and is a very healthy LITTLE girl! She's in the 20th percentile for her height, but the 4th for her weight (she's just a little over 20 pounds). She has had a GREAT appetite though, so I'm not sure where all the food goes. She sang her alphabet song to me the other day, and is learning to count to 15! She loves to howl at the moon with Grandpa, and in obsessed with airplanes and helicopters. She enjoys her gymnastics classes, and loves going to the dinasaour museum in town. She is definately mommy's girl in that she can't stay cooped up at home. Anytime we're out and heading home she cried, "No Home!" becuase she wants to be outside so much. She's truly the love of our lives (and the grandparents too. They don't care if we leave, but they say they're keeping Avery).

Funny things she has said...

• Avery attends Preschool In The Pines three days a week, so she often hears them answer the phone. One evening Avery was playing with her phone, and Justin and I heard her answer, "Preschool In the Pines?" Of course it comes out, "Pweschool In Da Pwines?"
  
• We had a really bad lightening storm one night, and Justin was cuddling with Avery. After the thunder hit, Avery picked up her head and commented, "Holy crap. That's huge!"
• My parents, Justin, Avery and I were all out to dinner at a nice restaraunt. We noticed that Avery was talking to the waitress and assumed that they were just enjoying toddler chatter. The waitress suddenly left and then came back with another basket of bread stating, "Your daughter ordered this." Avery promptly said, "Tank Tu", and we learned that she was telling the waitress, "More bwead, pwease".
• In a church class, where we were surrounded by much older women, Avery kept sniffing her babies bum and then holding up the babies bottom to wipe her. Lukily, the ladies thought it was adorable and just laughed.
• Justin was at a store with Avery the other day, and this woman commented, "Wow! Your daughter is really beautiful." Justin turned around to look at Avery and she had her finger lodged up her nose, which she often follows by, "Look daddy, a bugger!"
• Justin doesn't exactly love our cats, though in his heart I think he really does. So...he often scolds them while he's working on his homework. Avery has picked up on his behavior towards them, so when she hears them crying throught he door, she puts her head down to the crack and yells, "Shut up Cinnamon!"

I know there are others, but this could go on and on, and believe it or not, Avery doesn't usually go to bed until 9:30 (I know it's crazy, but she is just not a normal sleeping habit child. She can go to bed at 9:30 and wake up at 7:00 no problem...it ridiculous) so I better go put her to bed (she's in a toddler bed now, which is somewhat successful so far). Hope all is well!