Pictures at the park

Yesterday morning my sister-in-law, who is a creative memories consultant and a pretty good photographer as well, took some pictures of Avery that we might use for our Christmas card this year. I didn't want to post any of the ones we might use for the card, but I did want to share a few of them. As you can see, Avery had a good time running across the bridge and throwing rocks and pecans into the water below. Sheila also took a few pictures of Avery and I together and some maternity photos of me (and Kendall!) I thought some of them turned out pretty good.

On a side note, I just have to comment on how Avery is amazing me every day with how big she is getting and the things she knows and says. Today after I picked her up from school, I asked her about what she did today and she actually told me! Our conversation went something like this:
Me- What did you do at school today?
Avery- I take a good nap.
I go a chapel and sing.
Me- What else?
Avery- Change diaper. (then a minute later. . .) I sit in chair.
Me- Did you color or make something?
Avery- I make shapes. Put 'em on the paper. (She actually had this paper in her bag)
I paint. Wash hands off.
Avery- (a few minutes later. . .) I love Daddy. I give him hug and kiss.

28 weeks

28 weeks

bare belly- beginning of 3rd trimester!

I am starting my 29th week of pregnancy now and still feeling pretty good. Some days are a little worse than others and it is getting harder to keep up with Avery now, but no major complaints. In the next couple of weeks we will be setting up Avery's "big girl" furniture and cleaning out the office to make room for Kendall. I've bought just about everything I need to do both girls' rooms, so all that's left is to actually do it! I'm anxious to see how everything comes together. I'll try to remember to post pics when I'm done with it all. I'm hoping that all the busyness (sp?) of the holidays and decorating the girls' rooms will make the time go by fast as I get bigger and more uncomfortable. With Avery, it seemed like those last couple months just dragged on and on. . . which I guess they really did since she was a week late! According to my book, Kendall should be about 2 3/4 lbs now and around 16 inches long. In the coming weeks she will be packing on the pounds and filling out her skin. We are so anxious to see what she looks like and to hold our precious daughter!

The Mystery of "Oh-She-Teekles"

As you have probably surmised from many of my blog entries, Avery is a big talker. She pretty much talks in sentences now, and luckily, we can understand about 95% of what she says. She has one phrase in particular, however, that we have no earthly idea of its meaning. And it may just be jibberish or something from school that she misinterpreted, but it is a mystery nonetheless. Every time she is playing with something long and stick-like, such as a wooden spoon, sucker, long pencil, or stick, she will hold it up and wave it around singing "Oh-she-teekles". And the funny thing is that now she knows that we laugh when she does it, so she'll sing it and then just look at us and laugh. Funny girl! Here are some other funny or cute "Avery-isms" that I have collected over the past month or two:

-Mommy/Daddy hang back here? (referring to the back seat of the car)
-What ya doin' Josie? C'Mere Josie. No digging Josie!
-Avery's stuck (When I'm carrying her and she doesn't want to be carried)
-Alright, OK, or Yes (answering her own questions to us such as "Avery go a park? Alright.")
-Oh Papa, Daddy, Mommy etc. He/she's sooo cute!
- It's OK. Sh,sh,sh. I'll pat you (talking to stuffed animals, dolls, etc)
-Avery's happy! Mommy's happy too!
-Bye! I go to work.
-Thank you very much! (After getting a kiss from her Poppi)
-It's called a nipple (after "learning" the word nickel)

And just for fun I threw in a picture of her double paci trick. Now that's talent!

18 month/Halloween portraits

Here are the 18 month/Halloween portraits that I mentioned earlier. Just wanted to share as promised!

24 weeks

24 weeks

24 weeks bare belly-- not too scary yet!

I almost let the 24 week belly pics slip by with all that's been going on lately. Yesterday I actually stopped for a minute to think, "How many weeks am I again?" and then it hit me that it was time for another belly shot. I'm feeling good so far-- no major complaints-- not even heartburn like w/ Avery. It's flying by so uneventfully that I'm afraid that I'm just going to wake up one day and realize that I only have a few weeks left and still have so much to do before she arrives!
I have to take this opportunity to brag on Avery as well. Yesterday at school she got an award during chapel called Star of the Week for praising God! I was so proud! I just wish I could've seen her in action!

Happy Halloween!

Avery attended her first Halloween carnival last night at Southside Church of Christ. It was kind of small, but she's small, so I guess that's OK. She really enjoyed all the little games-- duck pond, go fishing, bean bag toss, etc and the guy dressed up in a Tigger costume. She was still talking about Tigger bouncing this morning. We also took her over to the only house on our street that had a porch light on to have the experience of trick-or-treating. I've included a few pics from last night. I actually had some of her 18 mo. portraits done in her costume, but my in-laws have the CD right now, so I'll share those later. Hope everyone had a happy and safe Halloween!