Avery 6 1/2 months

So the deal when I got my new camera was that I would learn how to use it so Avery didn't have to go back to Target, Sears, etc and deal with that again (It was a stressful experience for us all at 3 months.) Well I still have a ton to learn, we did take our own 6 month pics, but they are actually 6 1/2 month pics and they turned out pretty goot..here are a few of our faves! Next time we need to recruit Daddy's help to make her smile though..she just stares at me with this look like "What is that thing on your face?" So, we have lots of serious pics. Only 5 more days of school and then we can start on the outside pics! She is such a good sport!

Some black and white pics..I think black and white pics are my new fave!

Avery and her best friend the duck
I wanted the bath towel pics with her awesome hoodie towel her great aunt Rachel made her..it is way too cute to use just for bath time!

Playing Outside!

The wind finally died down a little bit, so were able to play outside for just a bit this afternoon. Avery sure likes the sunshine. We stayed outside long enough for mama to try her camera outside and it was way too much fun! (She had to wear her cute hat to protect that fair, swedish skin from the sun!)

Avery and Conner

Avery got to go to Chisago today and play with her cousin Conner! They had so much fun. It is amazing how fast they are both growing. It was a blast! These are a few pics from today, but Conner is coming down here tomorow, so there will probably be more pics later. (Yeah, so there are tons of them, but they were just so fun I couldn't decide which ones to post so I posted them all!)

They both love to get those feet!

If you look close, you can see his little teeth!

Conner, what is that new toy you have?

Looks interesting..do you think you might want to share?

Aww..thanks!

Gotta love those big, blue eyes! Those eyes and that smile..looks like a charmer!

Huh??? Grammy Rox was talking to them and they were listening so intently to her!!

Jumper Time!

Avery is finally starting to really enjoy her jumper. She has always liked sitting in it, but just lately she has started to really like the jumping part. Here are few pics from her jumping Saturday. Cullen played around and put tons of them in a slideshow, so if you are bored, check it out!

Notice the string of drool hanging down... :)

It says this is 3 min. long, but it is really like 45 sec..unless you want to continue to listen to the sweet music Cullen put with it :) Makes you want to put on some legwarmers, leotard and a headband and jump around!

Adventures of a sippy cup!

At Avery's 6 month appt. the doctor mentioned we could start getting her used to a sippy cup if we wanted to, so we have started to use one just a little bit after supper each night. She mostly just plays with it at this point, not really getting anything out of it, just getting used to the idea. She is starting to figure it out a little bit. So we took some fun pics of her with her new big girl cup, and a couple other fun after dinner pics too! (Yes, she had supper in her cute, frog, springtime jammies!)

She looks like she got caught doing something wrong!
Hmm...
Notice the single, little tear from her runny eye from her cold :(
Show that sippy cup who's boss!

Beautiful smiley girl!

I think I love my mommy ?!

What's New With Avery

Well this week Avery has been a busy girl...her new food of the week has been sweet potatoes, which she seems to enjoy..her daddy stopped at Target to pick up some more diapers and bought her a new toy that she loves to chew on...she has been trying to figure out how to hold her bottle by herself which is pretty funny, and has been sitting up all by herself for longer chunks of time. She is just getting so darn big!

New toy that daddy bought her..she loves to chew on it

How do I get this thing in my mouth...I know it goes in there...

I got it!
Sitting up all by herself like a big girl..with some crazy hair going on!
All tired out from her big week

Happy Mother's Day!

Just wanted to say Happy Mother's Day to all the moms and take a minute to be a little sappy as I'm feeling emotional today :) Mother's Day has taken on a new meaning to me this year as I celebrate it as a new mom...I sit here as I've put my little one down to bed and I am thinking about it what it all it really means to me, as a new mom. To some its about being pampered for enduring 40 plus weeks (or 33 1/2 :) of feeling nauseous, heart burn, cankles, feet that don't fit into any shoes, back pain, among other countless ailments, only to be faced with the joy of labor pains and all of the other fun stuff we go through AFTER they are born, like the leaky boobs, sleepless nights, accepting the piles of laundry and messy houses, etc. :) For others its a celebration of what motherhood really is and simply being thanked for the hard work and sacrifice it takes to raise a child on a daily basis.

But for me, I'm realizing it is a day to be thankful. Thankful that I have a healthy, beautiful child, especially after the rough start that she endured.. thankful that I am healthy enough to do the everyday things with her that are taken for granted by so many; thankful that I have a husband who loves me and our daughter and is so amazing to both of us and SO thankful I am blessed with still having a beautiful mom to go for advice and guidance as I start this journey into motherhood for myself. So today, for me, I've realized its not about the gifts or the glory, but the little things that I know I take for granted on a daily basis. Happy Mother's Day to all of you wonderful moms!

Avery Giggles!

We finally broke out the video camera that we bought at Christmas time. We forget to use it! Avery was playing with her favorite duck and we caught some giggles and squeals on camera. She LOVES it! Click on the video link and it is sure to make you laugh too! Sorry for the squishyness of her head and the video, we are still trying to figure out just how to save it in the right form on our computer-

I'm Gonna Miss My Uncle Jeff

Yesterday we had a litte going away get together for my brother Jeff. He is going out to Atlantic City for the summer to intern with the Atlantic City Surf, a baseball team out there. Avery is sure going to miss her Uncle Jeff so we made sure we got some pics in before he leaves on Wed. He won't be home until September:( Avery's cousin Noah also played lots with her on Sunday..She loves playing with him and he got lots of hugs and snuggles from Avery, as he always does!

Are you sure you have to go Uncle Jeff..I really don't want you to.

Okay, I'll take a picture with you, but I'm not smiling until you come home :)
I love my new toy Noah!

Kisses for her Noah