2012

2012 brought childbirth classes, andrew's first busy season, a 3rd member of our family, an oklahoma camping trip, a few welcome visitors, a 22nd birthday, new friends, new callings, a few trips to utah (4! yikes) a 27th birthday, a trip to lake powell, a third anniversary, 2 trips to the ER, 14 trips to the dentist, a few miles run, 75+ baby items sewn, a baby bird + bird watchers at halloween, trips to california and houston for females only, 2 new pickup cousins, 12 golf games played, a pickup thanksgiving, a bonham christmas, and a 5th new year's celebrated together at a pizza place.  

it was a big growing year for us and also a blessed year where i felt so watched over and embraced by our heavenly father.  we had a few trials and lots of errors but wouldn't trade any of it.  

in 2013 my goals are mostly habits that i want to develop, which in my opinion are the hardest kind of goals. but i am excited for this year and what it will bring. and so happy i have my babbling bundle-of-personality sidekick to spend my days with. oh and her dad, too.

in pictures: 

JANUARY

 pregnant // birth // meeting our daughter

first few days // welcome to the world

FEBRUARY

larken visited

avery did a lot of sleeping..

MARCH

avery's first ER trip // malinda visits

ave's baby blessing // cameron visits

APRIL

avery's first easter egg hunt // first camping trip

trip to utah: nate's graduation // playing catan with goecks // family pics // meeting up with friends for dinner // meeting uncle "bone" // seeing the webers

MAY

enjoyed having andrew home after busy season ended

JUNE

june 17th // celebrated both andrew's birthday and first father's day

stayed a night in dallas 

JULY

4th of july breakfast // how many people can we pack into 800 sq ft??

fireworks with some little people

AUGUST

went to lake powell // playing with seable cousins at grandpa's pool

chaperoned avie's first date // got an iphone and took millions more pictures

had more playdates with her best friend

made lots of baby food 

SEPTEMBER

took avery to a local carnival

OCTOBER

halloween

playing at the new/rebuilt park in coppell

made avie pants in every color on the spectrum :)

NOVEMBER

brynne, avery and i visited larken in san luis obispo // we got in the ice cold ocean to swim and it was so much fun!

girls trip to houston // tortured avery/got her ears pierced // nothing milk can't fix!

thanksgiving in utah // family photos

avery exhibits more personality

DECEMBER

errand days=best days // grapefruit obsession // christmas crafting

 best new christmas toy from pickup grandparents

day to day

christmas // read about it here and here

t minus 3 weeks until her first birthday.

obligatory christmas morning post, belated

i'm christmas obsessed and would not be able to keep that status without putting up some pics of avie's first christmas. it started out with an early wake up for the babe. but with 4 grinch aunt and uncles who wanted to sleep in, the little one and her parents had to wait.  we played, watched sesame street, and then made all those nasty grinches breakfast burritos :) ha ha.

she got a toothbrush in her stocking compliments of nona. andrew was pleased, as this is an actual quote from my husband: "the hardest thing about parenting will be getting our kids to brush their teeth".  there's a man who obviously reads too many parenting books. ha.

our little shepherd/mary, interpret as you may.

all those grinches actually redeemed themselves. they were all so sweet and everyone got avery a present! that's more than andrew and i can say...we got her nothing. so sad! (i plan to redeem myself at her birthday this month!) it was so cute for them to think of her. brynne got her 'spot' books, which i had just been thinking avery would love. larken made her more amazing handmade clothes, shoes, jewelry...and bought the cutest things to go with it. she is so talented.. my parents stocked her up in the toys/doll/clothes departments. my oldest brother picked her out these cute squeezey blocks. the great-grandparents hooked her up as well. i was blown away by all of these perfect presents. 

avery was a little scared of all of her presents at first and just blinked a million times every time we showed her something. it was so so cute. nate got her this stuffed gorilla we call "baby billy".  nate had a big stuffed gorilla as a kid named "billy gorill-y" so this is his offspring of sorts. 

on the prowl

 wearing some of larken's handmade clothes. andrew and i kept saying how avery looked like a diva, all dressed up and still looking for more things to get into.

 she's a sweet little diva though.

 my aunt, uncle, and grandma were also with us.  don't mind creepy nate.

 it was so fun to watch her, even if she was a little young. she could still sense the excitement and was super happy and excited too.

 if avery wasn't excited enough, we made up for it. ha look at our faces!

 so fun to be parents on christmas. 

december in utah

i have such a hard time blogging...because so many big things come and go without mention and i wish they were on here.  maybe with the new year i'll be able to record more of our daily. but anyway, christmas happened.

we spent christmas in utah with my family and it was so much fun.  of course i had fun, but the best part was seeing avery so happy.  i think she loved having all the new space to explore and play...and having so much family around.  she was so happy, took amazing naps, slept well, got used to everyone, learned so many new things.. it was kind of magical.  andrew and i went on a few (babyless) dates, saw a couple movies, played lots of games, saw friends and family, and got to relax.

avery slept on the plane..i guess she has on most of the flights i've taken her on, but it never happens on a day to day basis. plus, when i'm traveling alone on her, it just feels like a miracle. and it is just amazing to see the active, silly, loud little girl she is turn into a sleeping angel in my arms. haha 

grandparents came to meet us at the airport

...alpine is such a picture perfect place to spend christmas:

we had so much snow

not to mention my mom's cute christmas decorated house:

she always sets up this hot chocolate bar over the holidays...

 my little family

my mom and sisters made this whole christmas outfit special for avie complete with headband, earrings, bracelets, the dress--picked by L, sewn by my mom, and embroidered by B--tights, shoes, everything. so sweet!

avery meeting her friend/boyfriend hudson again:

 

my dad took some family photos in his basement studio.

 all the kids

 the girls

visiting uncle travis at work, the king of red robin :) 

 avery definitely made herself feel at home, and got everything she wanted from doting grandparents, aunts, and uncles...ha ha. 

a post on the actual christmas morning to follow...