This is how we party!

What a way to ring in the new year. Avery on the floor and me on the couch. Sorry we didn't invite you all to our rockin' party. We were giving out infectious disease as party favors.


On a happier note--can you believe I've made it a whole year of daily blogging? I don't want to stop because it's fun to look back on, but every day is a little intense now that she's met a lot of major milestones. Maybe I'll have to start words of the week since she seems to be learning new ones every second. My favorite is "off." She says, "aus" like a cute little German girl. It makes her dad proud.

Who's The Boss??

Today...Avery is. She's gotten away with more stuff because she feels so lousy and her whining was making me feel lousy. My ears are actually ringing from her crying and whining all day. It's sad really because I know she's miserable...but the quiet is so nice.

This is...

...What 104 Degree temperature looks like.


And still smiling...


Her temp has fluctuated all day, but we did finally take her into the doctor when it shot up this evening. They proceeded to gag her for a strep test and looked at everything else and sent us home to wait it out. Hope this fever breaks tonight.

Poor Thing.

Remind me I need to buy another kitty tomorrow before they don't sell them anymore. I have strange suspicion she'll need a replacement in a few years.

Avery's had a rough day. I just had Brian check in on her and she's finally feeling some relief.

She woke up from her morning nap today and was jumping in her crib while I got her some clothes for the day and her knees buckled and she fell down. Then she started screaming and didn't let up. It was really scary. After about 20 minutes I had tried all my magic tricks. Even her favorite show on TV didn't calm her down. In fact, she tried to walk up to the tv and her poor legs started shaking and she just stood screaming. I called my Mom because I didn't know if I was supposed to wait it out, call the doctor, or take her to the E.R. Well, my uncle who's a doctor happened to be in town and at her house so I threw her in the car...where she SCREAMED for a few minutes, then fell asleep from exhaustion I bet. Her legs seems sensitive to him, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Except for the fact that she would lay on her back for longer than a minute. She laid on the couch a good 20 minutes before rolling over and gingerly taking her first steps. I was happier to see those steps today than her very first ones I think. It was not so much fun.

She stayed pretty cautious the next few hours and then woke up from her afternoon nap not herself. Crying and lethargic and just let me hold her while she closed her eyes up again. I took her temperature...103 degrees. Poor girl.

uh oh...she's up again crying...it may be a long night.

Black Beans and Books

They must taste better straight from the can...by the handful.






Oh, and a mouthful of chocolate.

Hangin' at Home

I resisted the urge to go out and look for a few after Christmas sales today. There are a couple things I'd love to find. Some pretty garland and balls for my tree and an ornament I meant to pick up for Brian. But, when your little one looks like this...you clear your schedule.

She's been a trooper the last couple days with 10pm bedtimes and way too much fun.

While playing at home today, I just felt like I was living in a pile of clutter, so I started taking down the decorations. It's funny...until today, all the clutter was beautiful and homey. (I know that's not a word...but you know what I mean.) I had to stop half-way through because Avery was having a hard time letting all the fun ones go "bye-bye." She's going to be so sad when she wakes up, because there's not sign of Santa left. I'm a little sad as well, because we had a lot of fun playing with it all.

Christmas Suprise

I just had the scare of a lifetime. Literally...Avery's lifetime flashed before my eyes when I logged in to blog on this Christmas night and it told me my blog had been deleted.

I almost cried.

It's okay though. I fixed it.

Santa will be bringing me an external hard drive tomorrow.


Anyway, we had a great Christmas. But I'm pretty exhausted. Enjoy a few pictures while I drift off to dreamland.

Dinner and a Show

Such a great night. Merry Christmas!

My Hoodlum

I wish Santa was smart enough to think about a cute hat Avery could put on herself. She's been stealing Brian's hippy looking one.

Holiday Baking

She's really good at quality control.

...and cleaning up every last drop.


Oh, and we've been pretty strict about pacifiers for sleep time only. She's getting better about leaving it in her crib. But when I asked her to give her pacifier to hippo after her nap today, this is what she did...

She has also started sharing food and her sippy cup with all of her animals and cars and bus and anything else that has a mouth. Cute.

Funny Problem

Since the time Avery started taking a bath in the big tub, we've done jammies, stories and prayer on our bed.

It's sort of become a problem now that it's her FAVORITE place to play. I think it's because it is so soft and squishy. She loves to roll around, stand up, and fall down. Looks like serious fun.

Fab 40's

We went down to the Fab 40's with Nanny and Grandpa tonight and they were truly FABULOUS! They've decorate their already breathtaking homes with beautifully festive displays.

Avery loved watching it all standing in her car seat. The highlight of the trip for sure. Next time, we'll bundle up with some hot cocoa and walk the streets. Such a fun time!

My Hiding Spot

Was discovered a week earlier than expected.

Oh well. They had fun putting it together. Every time we've passed that room today Avery says, "choo choos!" It's been a fun day.

Christmas Lights

All bundled up to go see a Christmas light show in the neighborhood.

Quite the show...you tune your radio to a station that's synced up.

We loved it!

Christmas Festival

Our ward had a "Musical Christmas Festival" tonight that I was a part of. I played the piano for a number and sang in a few things. Then after the music, we walked from room to room and met the shepherds, angels, wise men and finally in a little stable Mary and Joseph with their baby Jesus. Avery loved it. It was nice to get in the real Christmas mood. I finished up the last of my Santa Christmas shopping today and I'm excited to have a week to enjoy the real meaning and spend some time making memories with my family.



Oh, and thanks for not saying anything about how my hair looks like a wet dog. I was trying something new. It obviously didn't work. And, well, Avery seemed to be having a bad hair day as well. Sorry darlin'. Sometimes I think Brian's the lucky one.

Thanks Nanny!!

Brian and I went over to some friends tonight and had a blast. Judging by our tired eyes...we really did have a good time.

It was our first time leaving Avery, (I know...we need to get out more...), but look how good she did!

THANK YOU NANNY!!! We love you!

When did she grow up?