3 More Days!!!

The countdown is on...Avery turns 1 on just 3 days!  I can't believe it has already been a year.  When people tell you that you really should enjoy and appreciate every day, and every stage because it goes fast, they aren't kidding.  I have no idea where the last year went, or what happened to my little 4 lb. 12 oz. baby that entered our world a year ago??  Now she is a bubbly, walking, bundle of sunshine who can't get enough of everything around her.  We are loving every second of it.  We can't wait to celebrate with our friends and family on what an amazing year this has been.  I'm sure there will be pics following the big day and probably a big sappy blog post by her mama~ :)

More Cousins!

My niece Auden was over last weekend and I got to take some pictures of her.  She is usually a total ham in front of the camera, but was not much in the mood to have her pictures taken Saturday.  She was a good sport though!  This girl has the biggest, most beautiful eyes ever and these pictures truly don't even do them justice!

Cousins!

We went up to Chisago two weeks ago and got to spend some time with Cullen's cousin Julie and her family.  Katie is a first grader and Jacob is 3 1/2.  They have a beautiful place out in the woods so of course, we had to go out and take some pictures.  Really though, I think there place would be Cullen's dream.  Aren't these two kiddos too cute?!  

Avery's New Hat

I found Avery a hat online a few weeks ago and it was a must have!  There is website called www.etsy.com and it is awesome!  There are so many adorable things on there.  She was outgrowing her old hat though, and I couldn't find her another one anywhere.  It was too cute so we had to take a couple pics last week one day after school. 

Love the flower on the hat

Avery doesn't look quite as excited as me in this one!

Avery and her Friends!

This weekend we went out to dinner with my friends Amy and Jen that I taught with at New Prague, and their families and then came back over here and hung out. Amy and Nick have sweet little Orelia, who will 2 months old this week, and Jen and Matt have Baylee who "just had a birthday" (she kept telling us all about it) in September and turned 3, and Caden who is 6 months. We had so much fun and Avery liked playing with her friends. They also all loved Avery's new chair, and she was nice and shared! Caden wasn't so sure about the pink chair and all these girls! Also, this totally made me realize just how big Avery is getting :( She isn't the little baby anymore..crazy. (Yes, these are just snapshots, and I even have...gasp...red eyes!..it was late, dark, and we needed to catch these kids quick!)

Avery and Baylee

Orelia using the chair for a loveseat!

The girls

Caden did NOT want to be in the chair!

Beautiful Fall Colors!!

You are probably getting sick of my non-Avery pics, if that is what you come here to see..which it probably is! But I just get excited about pictures..yes, I'm a dork..and Avery can only take soo many!! I'm thinking of starting a separate blog just for pictures, so you can go if you want, or just ignore me! For now..you will have to put up with it. :) Last weekend, the leaves were BEAUTIFUL!!! If you know me, you know fall is my favorite time of year. Luckily, my niece Ansley doesn't mind having her picture taken (if you can tell!!) and let me bug her and take her out around town. Combine her with the leaves, and of course you will have beautiful pictures!! Also, I wanted to check out the new blog layout. I'm going for a more simple look. Hope you like it! (Also, I still can't figure out how to get the pictures in the order I want on this mac..hmm..)

The colors are so pretty, I didn't do too many bw pics, but I really liked this one

A goofy one, but it is so Ansley being Ansley!

Playing in the leaves - I LOVE this one!

Love the pics with my $9 chair from Frosted Pane..Cullen officially thinks I've lost it!

Old Posts..Again

So before I said I was going to start posting older posts so that her year would be complete in her blog book. Since I didn't have this when she was first born I have some catching up to do. I'm getting a good start, but please don't think I'm too crazy. I'm writing as if it were that day. Actually, I told Cullen last night this is the most awesome way to reflect. As soon as I start typing, it brings me right back. Luckily, I have a knack for remembering most everything!!! So you can click on 2007 on the righthand side and see them, but I will let you know when I'm all done. It is a work in progress. So much to catch up on! And oh my...she was TINY!!!!!!!!

The Family

We haven't posted a picture of the three of us in awhile.  On Saturday, we went to our friend Emily's wedding.  We tried to get a picture of us beforehand..this is the best we got!  Avery was in her comfy clothes for her night at Nana's.  We had an awesome time at the wedding.  You can see some pics on our friends Angie and Jay's blog.  It was a beautiful day and Emily was a stunning bride. So much fun!!!

Avery's New Chair!

Avery got a new chair for an early birthday present.  She loves to relax and read in it!  Well okay..mostly she loves to climb on it, but she does enjoy the occasional story!  It is too cute!

Our visit to Chisago!

On Thursday, we went up to spend the day in Chisago and hang out with the family!  We had tons of fun.  It is so fun to watch Avery and Conner play and interact.  We love this MEA break!!  I also took a few pics of Cullen's cousins, but don't have them done yet.  Here are a few snapshots of our visit!

Avery and Daddy telling secrets

Conner..why do you think they put this chair here?

They look so sad here..they just want to go play!  The chair didn't last long!

Sippy cup break!

Grammy was reading a story, and they were LOVING it!

Walking with Daddy

They always seem to have a moment like this together...huh???  I think Cullen was talking to them!

Old Posts

Since I didn't figure out this blog thing until around February, and Avery was born in November, I'm missing a couple months of her life.  I'm going to try to catch up, and post some old posts.  So if you see some new posts pop up under nov 07-feb 08, don't mind me.  I found the coolest website called blurb.com.  You can take your blog and turn it into a book, like a yearbook.  It is the COOLEST thing.  So I'm going to do this when Avery turns one..like her first year baby book!  I just want to have all of those early events in there too!  It will be fun to look at those old pics again, from when she was just like 5 lbs!  Crazy how time flies...

Maybe We'll Sleep In 2009???

Avery will be one in just about 2 1/2 weeks.  I can't believe how fast the year has gone.  This little girl has brought us more joy, happiness, and smiles then we could've ever imagined.  I couldn't imagine loving anyone or anything more.  Everyday I count my blessings, and this sweet girl definitely tops the list.  I guess she feels the same way about us, because apparently she just can't stand to be apart from us for more then about 5 hours or so at a time.  Yes, she is still getting up in the night.  Usually it is just once, but sometimes more.  Needless to say, Cullen and I are starting to look VERY tired.  Yes, we've tried to let her cry, and it works for awhile, or even a few days, but then we are back to square one.  If you wise souls out there have any advice or input, feel free to send it our way.  :)  Oh yeah, today marks our 2 year wedding anniversary!!   Too bad Cullen has conferences tonight and we haven't seen each other all day :(  It is MEA weekend here though, so we get thurs-sun to spend together, so that will be some much needed family time!  I can't wait!

Sydney!

Last weekend I got to practice some more pictures with my mom's friend's daughter Sydney!  I've known her since she was just a baby and it was we had a blast!!!  She is a fifth grader.  How pretty is she? The pretty fence and horses are in her backyard.  So much fun!!!

Funny Faces, Sweet Moves and a Cute Hat!

Here are a few more pics from the other night when we got home.  Of course, she got in a super funny mood when we got back to our house, and had nowhere pretty to take pics.  Oh well..I still had to snap a few of her funny faces, sweet dance moves, and cute hat!  I got this hat last year from a friend I taught with.  Her daughter made it.  It is my favorite!

Show me love girl!

Yea!!  I can stand and clap at the same time!

These pictures really look like she is dancing!!!

11 Month Avery!!

So we REALLY needed so new pictures of Avery..and I don't even mean that sarcastically!  I have been taking lots of pictures, but none of Avery!  So here are a ton!  We went to my parents backyard today because the leaves are so pretty!  She didn't really want her picture taken, so that hasn't changed much, but we did get a few!  I messed up on lots though, and didn't change my focus point, and didn't realize this until I saw them on my computer.  I guess that is why we practice! At least I made this mistake on my own child when I can just do them again, and not on someone else!  She has gotten SO big, and is starting to walk!   She will be 1 in just under a month.  How fast the year has gone.  Seeing these pictures, she looks like such a big girl!

Aww..pretty girl!

Mama look... a leaf!

This one totally looks like she is hiking through the woods!

Making "the face" for her uncle Jeff.  We haven't seen it in a few weeks, but it was back today!

Love that cute little booty!

Lauren was making her smile with her bear...it worked for a little while!