Random pictures

Tummy time...

Sisters!!! Avery is 5 months now!

My little artist...

Ty...starved for attention...

Kendall put on her own lipstick...

Put in your earplugs...

...we've got a screamer. This is what I get to listen to! I call her the teradactyl. In Avery's defense it is NOT every day. She has calmed down quite a bit since I recorded this last week. I think she may have been a little embarrassed. Also please listen (in between the screams) to Kendall. You notice that she repeats EVERYTHING I say in EXACTLY the same tone. Trust me, you have no freaking idea how ridiculous you sound until your 3 year old mimics you. I love my daughter but find her copying incredibly annoying... which means Avery is getting it double and has to be miserable. No wonder she screams...she's trying to drown out her mother and sister's voices...

Translation: "get me the h*ll out of here, these people are freaking crazy. They put me in abnormal devices that turn in circles and rattle and play weird music OR in a contraption that dangles me from a door only to be tortured by my sister and the dog who insists on walking in and out of the bedroom 10 times a minute - turning me in circles so as to jumble my senses and render me screamless. My only ally is the cat. He ignores me. He is my only friend. Together we will find freedom."

New Porch

So Mike and I have been fixing up the house here and there (see the post about the new closet!). Well we'd talked about putting slate down on the back porch and hem-hawed (sp?) about it for weeks then ruled it out. Well...we finally did it! And IT....LOOKS....AWESOME. We took out the brick planters that we'd put in a long time ago and that was no fun. Correction - my hubby took them out. In between Avery's feedings and naps, I wasn't much help. I did, however, give him the brilliant idea of getting the big Home Depot buckets to help hawl it away so I get props there.

Oh and by the way, when I say "we" put slate on the back porch I mean "Mike made a call and had the professionals put them." It was hard work taking care of 2 babies and watching those guys sweat in this Texas heat. Luckily it was really dry out and not the usual 100% humidity. And we made them cookies and took them lemonade. They "spoke-a no ingles" but kept smirking and laughing. I guess they aren't used to white chicks handing out cookies on a job. Well...I hope they know that they are very appreciated. Anyway, I've got a dozen other things to blog about so without further ado...

BEFORE...

AFTER!!!

Bouncy, Bouncy, Bouncy Baby

Today was Avery's first time in the Jumpin' Jack or whatever you call it - the bouncy seat that hangs from your door jam. Aaaaaaaand she loved it. Back when Kendall was about 6 months we got this from a 2nd hand children's store for about $15. They retail for $40 BUT it's totally worth it!!! Anyway, Kendall was already almost too old and too big for it and only got to use it for about a month. I remembered that it was up in the attic a couple of days ago and pulled it down. So while Kendall napped we put Avery in it. Why did we have to wait and secretly pull out the "fun machine" because she's like superglue on her sister. And that combined with a moving object containing her sister - well it's a disasterous combination. It's definitely something that will have to be closely monitored when both are awake!

So Avery wasn't too sure about it at all at first but within minutes she fully grasped the limitless possibilities and started jumping and laughing. We've never heard her laugh and squeal and talk that much. It's lots of fun on a lazy Saturday afternoon.

4 Months!

Little Miss Avery is quite the busy bee these days. She fills them with not only eating, sleeping and pooping but has added to her repertoire rolling over, blowing raspberries, grabbing her feet and pulling hair. We also like to call her a teradactyl because of her ear piercing squeals. It's more of a nails on a chalkboard kind of sound. I'd call it cute, but it really hurts. As well as the hair pulling. My hair is already falling out like crazy - I need no assistance!

Anyway as of 2 weeks ago she was 15 pounds 3 ounces. She. is. big. To give you some perspective, Kendall was average and only 12 pounds 12 ounces at 4 months. And she is tall too. They do a "comparison" and she is off the charts for height.

She is still the greatest happiest baby. So easy, loves to put herself to sleep, play on the floor and stare lovingly at her sister. And without futher ado...your 4 month old Avery...

I just like this picture

Kendall with Grandma Tori and Grandpa Jim doing the ever fun 1-2-3-swiiiiiiiing. Ahhh....the Grandparents adore her almost as much as she adores them. She double checked with grandma every night "are you going to be here in the morning?" And then when they did finally have to leave she said "I am really going to miss you." I thought mom was going to unpack her bags and stay forever. Luckily summer is coming up and I've got to do something with these girls and my friend Lori up there has a pool now so we'll be frequenting Dallas a lot I hope!

Mother's Day

My parents came in town this weekend and we had a great relaxing time. I can tell that I'm old because I really enjoy my parents now. And I think that the best thing about having kids is when the grandparents come in town. They want time WITH the kids and I get time WITHOUT the kids. I can take a shower, go running, cook dinner - all without interruption!!! It's almost so great that I'm considering adding a guest house to our next house plans! Then they can stay as looooooooong as they want.

On Mother's day Mike surprised us with a brunch cruise. It was a big yacht and they drove us around Clearlake for an hour and a half. Kendall was not at ALL hip on the boat thing until we finally got moving. She was stuck like Velcro on either me or Mike for the first 30 minutes but once we were out in the water she loved it! It was a great surprise from Mike and something very different to do. And seeing as how when mom and dad come into town it is almost impossible to go anywhere or do anything (because someone needs a nap or to be fed or to be changed or is cranky)...well, it was nice to get up and get going and do something fun!