UPDATES

I thought I would write a post letting everyone know we will almost be a family of four.  We are getting so excited to invite this little guy into our family.  We are nervous how Avery will respond, but I think any parent is especially when they are expecting their second.  We anticipate that Avery is going to be his "little mommy" she loves babies and loves to take care of her dolls. 

We are still waiting to hear back from more dental schools right now.  We are finding that this is the hardest part... waiting.  Who likes to do that?! But it's all part of the process I guess. Brian has been able to be home more the last two weeks and it has been such a big help for me. The end of pregnancy is never fun so it's nice that Brian plays with Avery and can give me a break.  Well, I think that's it.  We will let you know when the baby comes and hopefully post pictures faster than we did Christmas.

CHRISTMAS MORNING

I have been accused of not being a very good blogger... and it's true, I'm not.  But here are a few pictures of Christmas to catch everyone one up on us.  Avery was a little overwhelmed again.  We are learning that one or two things is really all these little ones need. She was excited about her new bitty baby for Ompa and Oma and tricycle from Brian and I. It was nice that Grammy and Grandpa's baby buggy arrived two weeks late so she could be really excited about getting that.  She loves to put her baby in it and lets us know that "Baby's sleeping" 

Avery has this things with shutting her eyes for pictures when she says "cheese" eventually we hope to actually see her eyes in a posed picture.

Avery is very into Mommy's accessories right now.  She needs to wear my earrings, bracelets, and necklaces all the time.  Make up time is also getting to be a big deal.  It usually consists of eyeliner and eyeshadow on the cheeks but it is all very cute. 

Hannah got Brian these "perfect pushup" things.  Now Avery has to be involved every time she sees Brian doing them.  He's always good about letting her get her exercise time in too.

The Gingerbread House

This is Avery's first gingerbread house.  We did it Christmas Eve and she had such a great time with the candy.  She would put one on the house, give a couple to Grandpa and then a few to herself.  We were impressed with how long she was involved, but when she was finished she raised her arms and said "ALL DONE" and then hopped off Grammy's lap.  We all had a good laugh.

Hannah and I tried to be in charge of the frosting.  Grammy had her thoughts of what she wanted the house to look like... I think we missed her vision.

AVERY BEING AVERY

Oma got Avery this skirt for her birthday and she absolutely loves it.  When she wears it to church she has to wear it all morning over her pajamas before we get ready.  She is such a girl.  Last week she wanted to wear the bloomers on her head so of course that meant picture time.  She cracks us up.

Striking a pose

Avery's TWO YEARS OLD!!!!

Here are some pictures from Avery's belated birthday party.  We had a fun party for her up in Utah on her actual birthday but we came home and had one with my parents a week later. She got this outfit from Omma and Ompa and it was so cute that I had to have her wear it for this. She got this little horse from Grammy and Papa, it attaches to the T.V. and she can do her ABCs and counting and all sorts of other things.  She really likes it.  She also got her first dress up cloths from Marisa and Jeremy and Ethan.  She loves the shoes and skirt especially.  She was insistent on wearing the skirt Christmas shopping the other day.  Brian and I let her wear it in the car and then we pulled a quick distraction to get it off before we actually got into the store. We probably should have just let her wear it.  I'm sure we will get more relaxed later on in our parenting years. Oh, and her cake turned out much better this year.  I don't know if anyone remembers the pictures last year, but it was awful.  We hope to never have one that turns out like that again.

Avery was doing pretty well at sharing with Ethan, sometimes she struggles with that but it is only with, go figure.

Here are the Sleeping Beauty shoes. When she walked around in them she looks like a little Grandma hunched over taking little steps.  We love it!

Here is the tiara and the dress again, isn't it sooo cute!

The Polar Express and Temple Square

Oma and Ompa took everyone on the Polar Express in Heber, Utah.  It was a 90 minute train ride that reenacts The Polar Express book. We got hot cocoa and cookies. They read the story to us and we met Santa and Mrs. Claus.  They also gave everyone a bell for the first gift of Christmas. Avery really liked the train ride and especially since she'd been on one earlier in the week. Ompa got a lot of good pictures so we didn't take that many, we will get some from him and hopefully post more later. 

Oma got the girls these pajamas and they all wore them on the train.  Aren't they so cute!

These are a couple pictures from temple square.  It was my first time.  I love this first picture that Brian took.  I can't believe I never went before after living in Idaho for years.   Oh well, it was worth the wait.

Thanksgiving in Utah

We had such a great time in Utah, it was sad to go.  It marked a few firsts for Avery.  Riding on a train, jumping on a trampoline and swinging on the big kid swing all by herself. I love this picture of Natalie, Avery, and Ashley.  They were going down the slide in a train and Ashley and Natalie would take turns being in the front and back.  They had so much fun. 

Here is Avery on the big kid swing

Natalie had a fun time going around really fast.  At one point Avery slid down to her feet in the middle of the tire swing.  Her little feet were moving so fast trying to keep up with Natalie's swinging so she wouldn't fall.  

Ashley was so good at being soft with Avery, she was like a little mommy.

Avery kept getting frustrated with her hat, it kept spinning around to where she couldn't see anything.  Those that were watching thought it was funny but I can imagine for a little two-year old that would be difficult.