Christmas 2014 January 5, 2015

Though it was extremely busy, I was still recovering from a nasty chest infection, and we felt like we spent a lot of time driving…we had a wonderful Christmas this year!  It was our second Christmas as a family of three, and probably my favorite one to-date, because of how much fun Avery was (now 20 months old). She enjoyed opening presents and seeing what was inside, though she still needed and wanted my help with that a bit.  I suppose by next year she will be all on her own!  She also had a blast passing out gifts at my parents house, that might have been even more fun to her than actually opening them.  :)  Here are some of my favorite pics of this Christmas season.

 

    

This was our first time taking Avery to Silver Dollar City during Christmas time.  She liked seeing Rudolph in the parade and thoroughly enjoyed walking the loop of the park, just like she did this summer.  We picked a really cold night to go, but that didn’t make a bit of difference to her!

 

       

This was our first Christmas celebration at Granny and Granddad’s.  Avery loves to play with “DeeDad.”

 

    

Our first true Christmas morning at our own house.  It was perfect.  Love, love, love.

 

 

    

Christmas day at my grandparents.

 

Four generations!  I adored getting to see Avery on my Nannie’s lap.  So very special.

 

    

Finally, our weekend celebration in Macon.  This girl also found out how much she LOVES stairs now that she can make it up and down them with no help.  She played all weekend on Grandma and Grandpa’s stairs.

 

What a great break we had!

 

Holiday Happiness Coming Right Up November 18, 2014

With Thanksgiving only a little over a week away, Christmas commercials everywhere, and Amazon’s Pre-Black Friday deals happening already, it’s virtually impossible not to have the holidays on my brain! It seems crazy to believe that Avery’s second Thanksgiving and Christmas are fast approaching. And with that comes all the driving and visiting family that is so very exhausting. I love all of our family, I love spending quality time with them, and I want them to get to experience what Avery is like right now…but I just wish there were a way to make it easier. I want to please everyone, while also doing what it best for my own little family. I also want to have some of our own traditions that Avery can look forward to each year. Adam and I want to see if we can make that happen this year.

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And with that, I cannot wait to decorate for Christmas this year! Especially because I think Avery is going to LOVE it. Whether or not she can leave ornaments within her reach alone…that is still to be determined. Below are some gorgeous ideas that are really getting me in the decorating mood.

An all white-themed tree. Found on theyellowcapecod.com

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We got one of these for Christmas last year, so I can’t wait to get him out. Found on blossombunkhouse.com

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I’m not usually one to be big into baking…but these really make me want to make some to take to work.

Found on bakedperfection.com

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A gradient Christmas tree. I definitely want to do this some day, when we have room for more than one tree.

Found on ebay.com

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This I hope to do over Thanksgiving break as I decorate the house.

Found on iheartnaptime.net

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And lastly…bundling and snuggling. Two of my favorites with my sweet girl!

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My dearest husband, you can make that trip up to the attic any day now.

And to everyone else, wish me luck with all of this decorating I plan to do while I have my toddler running around everywhere getting into EVERYTHING. It will certainly be a challenge. :)

8 Months Old January 4, 2014

Avery was 8 months old on January 1st.  She continues to grow and change each and every day…which is so incredibly amazing and fun to watch.  Being another month older, she also got to experience her first Christmas.  It was quite exhausting for Adam and I, but it was also even more enjoyable than in years past–watching Avery’s reaction to opening gifts and thinking about how very different it will be next year.  She is still my little sweetheart and I love her endlessly!

I was not able to capture her huge grin for her 8 month pictures.  She is much too focused now and what that contraption is that keeps flashing at her.  If she keeps this up I may have to switch over to taking these pics with my iPhone, which she is much more used to.  She also did not want to stay in one spot!

Stats:

Weight — 15.5 pounds…my estimate. (up from 6 lbs, 15 oz at birth)

Length — 26+ inches. (up from 20 inches at birth)

  

What has changed over the last month?

-Avery is still not crawling…but boy is she close.  By rolling, twisting, squirming, and scooting backwards she can pretty much end up where ever she would like.  Although she tends to get stick under our furniture quite frequently by scooting backwards, then can’t make it out going forward.  Maybe crawling by next month?

-She “talks” and talks and talks…constantly.

-Avery loves to eat.  So far I haven’t fed her anything that she doesn’t like, other than she is still pretty set only eating pureed food.  Granted she has no teeth, so maybe that will change when some teeth finally come in.

-She loves to play with anything and everything, particular those things that aren’t actually toys.

– Avery can give high-fives, can sometimes wave, every now and then will mimic back a sound you have made, and she will laugh back at you if you laugh.  Love this!

 

–A Favorite of the Month: Her giggling fits!  Several times I have made her laugh over and over again for almost five minute solid.  It’s hilarious and usually occurs at night right before she is about to drift off to sleep.

 

In the next month I am most looking forward to…

-Time.  Always time with my two loves!

Week 19 December 30, 2012

Week 19 began on Christmas Day and only got better.  We spent Christmas Eve playing games with Mom and Dad, then spent Christmas morning opening gifts with them and my brother and making each other laugh…a LOT.  Between multiple flash lights, a hand-grenade, multiple fart noise makers, and lots of chocolate things got pretty silly.  We spent the rest of the day in Marshfield with wonderful family opening gifts, playing more games, and eating a lot.  Adam and I still don’t have to go back to work until Wednesday, so we have been living it up!!!  For us that means lots of relaxing, watching TV, movies, cooking yummy meals, and for me, getting to read a ton.  I have no idea why we ever thought having jobs was a good idea.  This not working thing is way too much fun.  :)

How far along in this pic + the Date: 19 Weeks — December 25th, 2012

Total weight gain/loss: This week I’ve been around 134.  Yikes!

Maternity clothes? I wore a new, actual maternity top to dinner last night.  That was a first.

Sleep: Sleep is good.  So much so, that I’m staying up way too late!

Best moment this week: Spending so much quality time with Adam.  Lovin it!!!

Miss Anything? We went to Old Chicago last night, and Adam racked up two more beers on his tour, while mine stayed at a stand-still.  He will pass me for sure by the time I can drink again.

Movement: A lot this week!

Food cravings: Still just cheese and pizza, but what else is new?

Anything making you queasy or sick: Tosh.O.  Must look away a lot.

Have you started to show yet: Um, yeah!

Gender prediction: Still thinking: GIRL.  We will find out for sure on FRIDAY!!!

Belly Button in or out? In.

Wedding rings on or off? On

Happy or Moody most of the time: Knock on wood…but I don’t think I’ve cried all week.  Haha.  So very happy.

Looking forward to: Ultrasound on Friday!  Gender reveal very, very soon.

 

~Had to post one more 19 week pic, since Adam joined in on the fun this week.  Thanks to Mom for making our sign and taking the pictures.  :)

Christmas in Macon December 26, 2012

Just a handful of pics of Adam and I in Macon on our Christmas celebration on Sunday.

Merry Christmas!

Go Vikings!!!

I love it when he feels our baby.  It makes me melt.

I love you Mr. Erickson!!!