Monthly Vegetable

Grandparents, you would be proud. Check out this spinach salad Avery was shoving down last night! I just had to take some pics because it might be a while until we ever see something as rare as this again. For over a year now, the ONLY veggies that Avery eats is an occasional green bean and maybe uncooked carrots (of course dipped in Ranch). It depends on what mood she is in. I was just amazed at how much she enjoyed her "leafs" and the fact that she just couldn't get enough or get them in her mouth fast enough. (I just feel sorry for the teachers at MDO that takes her to the potty today!)

Before I forget...I've been meaning to mention something about the Bachelor.....for those of you who watched....WHAT was Brad thinking? It still bothers me a week later. I think he must have been told and paid not to pick someone! AND....on Days, can you believe John Black is really and truly dead and gone?

Ok, had to get that out of the way. I'm very proud of my news boots that my Dad bought me (maybe as an early b-day present) when we went shopping together. Remember, it was freezing and I needed some shoes bad! Ladies, get to Wal-mart now....these are the cutest crochet boots for winter and they were only $14. I saw them and remembered that Oprah had them as one of her favorite things...except they weren't from Wal-mart! The brand name is UGG and they are like $130. And so comfortable.

Avery has been so excited to give her MDO friend, Wyatt, his b-day present. We weren't able to go to his party since it was Saturday and we were in Tyler. She has been talking about giving him his present at school and then "getting a little bit of Wyatt's birthday". I think she means the cake.

I think anyone would love a birthday card as beautiful and artistic as this one!

SAHM - After T-Day

It's Monday...back to the real world. But I still love being a SAHM. Avery found some more uses for her latest favorite toy..... you know, remember the "knee pads"? She calls these her new flip-flops. Even thoug they are stuck to her feet I think she thinks that she has to "hold" them on with her toes. She didn't call the next anything but was wrapping them around her hands like gloves. WOW...so interesting. HA!

We had a great time during Thanksgiving. We left SA in 85 degree weather...I was literally sweating because Avery and I took a walk before our 5 hour trip. We we arrived in Tyler, actually 6 1/2 hours later....it was FREEZING. We had fun staying up playing games and in the morning Pa Pa made an awesome Thanksgiving breakfast. Later at Grandaddy and Granny's house 30 minutes before Thanksgiving dinner the fun came to an end because Grandaddy had to go to the hospital because of some chest pains and high blood pressure. We all wanted to be safe than sorry. Grandaddy (David's Mom's Dad) is still in the hospital and may be there a while...I will update with some more news tomorrow.

The next day, we went over to Dave's (my brother's house) for yet another Thanksgiving. It was so much fun....of course holding baby Rhett all day! Ryan and Avery wore their selves out! Oh, I almost forgot.....(now I sound like Mickey on Mickey Mouse Clubhouse....those with little ones know what I'm talking about). Anyway, before we went over to Dave's, Dad and I woke up early to do a little shopping. I've never shopped on the Friday after Thanksgiving and I will never do it again! It was ridiculous! The only good thing was that I ran into Cherie at 7:00 in the morning unexpectedly. What a nice surprise to see my friend. I was looking for some shoes, because the warmest pair I had were some flip-flops!

Now that we are back, it sure does feel good to be home....it always feels that way...both here and there. It's kinda funny. Today I got to see another friend that I hadn't seen in forever! It was another wonderful thing. Lauren was still in town here in SA and we met for lunch with both of our girls. Side note - You know when your kid acts like a little toot the first time that you friend sees and meets them and you worry that that is what your friend is going to think they are like ALL the time...... Well, that is what happened. Avery was unbelievable....being such a little toot! Ahhh...sorry Lauren that our lunch was not eaten in peace, but it was so great to see you and hug your neck....and see sweet McKinley too. What a precious girl. Lauren assured me that she believes Avery is a precious girl too!!!

We love you Lauren and McKinley!!

T-Day

Let's start eating! Thank God for family, food and fun. We are in Tyler and I am personally ready for hashbrown cassarole, games and the Cowboys. Happy Thanksgiving everyone. I'm so thankful for all of you!

Smarter Than the Average Tot

Anyone that knows Avery well enough knows that she is an exceptional child....not quite a genius (I don't think) but for sure a very quick learner and has an amazing memory. Yesterday while she was making a worm with her play dough, she started counting....backwards. She started at 10 and ended at 1 perfectly. Why? I don't know but she is amazing to me....daily. Maybe I should start a weekly post about all of the surprising things that she does. I forget half of them....

This time tomorrow we will be starting our Thanksgiving celebration! We are so excited. First stop is Grammy & Pa Pa 's house.

SEE YOU TOMORROW G & P!

(Yes, Avery marked on her shirt with a red marker)

I cleaned the entire apt today....I hate coming home to a dirty house. Avery helped....she was with me all day today even though we got dressed and packed to go to MDO. It was closed....I wonder why I wasn't notified. Good thing I don't drive half across SA to get there....it's literally two minutes away. Anyway, so Avery was all dressed and no where to go. I had already planned on running to couples places so I drug her with me. First stop...Municipal Court...to show proof of my registration. I've been stopped for it twice now!! WELL...it was due in JULY! Anyway, $10 took care of that.

Avery and I were tired today....we were up from 12:30 to 4:00 last night. I ended up on the floor beside my bed with her....so uncomfortable....she was wide awake.....I wasn't......it was hard....but sometimes I have those nights too when you just can't sleep for nothing. (SIGH)

Well, I don't know what happened to Thugs N Harmony. Maybe they broke up.

Avery just came in here and started pushing buttons on the keyboard...she said "Am I messing up your pooter?" (computer) We are waiting for him to get home...the last two days at the academy, they have been training for Swift Water Rescue. Today they met at the Comal in New Braunfels. I'm anxious to see how it went. Better him than me...that's all I have to say!

Last night, Avery was playing beauty shop with Daddy, putting clips in what is left of his hair - I don't know how she did it..... of course Daddy just loooved it and loved me taking pics too!

SAHM - Change of Attitude

Yes, I'm fully aware that that is MY bed that Avery is in. Tell me, who could refuse an angel like that snuggled up in bed with them? I recently watched a program with Beth Moore giving a great lesson. She was talking about circumstances in our lives and how to deal with them. What I got from that, I know I will never forget and I will always remember no matter how big or small the circumstance. She said "After we have asked God to change our circumstance and situation and it doesn't look like it is going to change for a while....we must then change our attitude". I'm glad God erases bad feelings toward others when we ask Him to and even works the negative things out for good. Well, He promised to do that with everything. This weekend I decided I needed to change my attitude toward some circumstances. For example...as you know.....I was tired of being mad and frustrated with sweet little Avery. For some reason she is scared and I need to do nothing more than to open my arms to her and comfort her. That's what we want our heavenly Father to do with us in the middle of the dark and scary night. It's amazing how much weight I feel like has been lifted now that I have decided to change my attitude instead of praying for this situation to change.

We are excited about this week...our trip back home for Thanksgiving. I've been talking about seeing family as much as possible with Avery and she is getting very excited too. I'm thinking she is getting it and understanding we don't live close anymore. David is back from the deer lease and managed to get his first doe of the season....sorry no pics of that. Oh, I DO need to get pics of something else soon. For the past two evenings there has been three or four "gangsters" parked right outside our apartment. I call them the Thugs N' Harmony because they just stand around this one car listening and singing with their rap music (which is very vulgar by the way) for hours. And while they sing and rap to each other, they bounce. I'll be very scared for them to see me get a pic...but we'll see. They really don't bother me, because the music is not loud enough for us to hear it inside, but it is kinda awkward and annoying when we actually go outside to our car or go strolling...they go right along with their cussing and bouncing. I wonder....do they really, I mean really not have anything better to do??

Hey don't forget to set you DVR's for Oprah's Favorite Things 2007 tomorrow!!

Turn Down the Monitor

I can't believe it has come to this.....it's 3:00 in the middle of the day...I have lost my mind and I have just turned down the monitor for the first time. Have we really come to the end of naps? Surely not. Yes, Avery has transitioned her screaming and fit throwing into her naps as well. How can this be? I mean night time is one thing....but NAPS? Naps are sacred! I love my daughter but I NEED her nap time as much as she needs it. Can anyone relate to that? I refuse to give up nap time....I have chosen to turn down the monitor. It's awful. She is standing at her door screaming for me right now.

I know for a good week, all I have posted on my blog has been about Avery's sleeping situation but that is seriously my life right now. Everything during the day comes back to how we feel...and I feel...tired. David is gone again for the weekend to the deer lease. And it's OK, but given the situation I can't help but feel at little bitter. Again, this is my blog....I'm entitled to feelings and expressing them. I just feel at little crazy right now...not even because of the sleepiness but because I feel like I am raising a completely different little girl. Who snatched Avery? And where is my little girl who used to LOVE to snuggle in her own bed with her lovie, lambies and Baby Tad....and would read her books till she feel asleep?

Well, I want and NEED to write about something else. In other news....on Wednesday, David and I totally missed out on going to the So You Think You Can Dance tour here in SA. We even had tickets to go and had been planning it for like 2 months. I thought it was this coming Monday instead of Wednesday and had actually been planning on that day. Without a baby sitter, what can you do? I heard it was so neat. I was so looking forward to seeing Neil, Danny, Lacie and Sabra....oh and of course Hok. Oh well, maybe next year.....

She has done it...she has used super toddler strength and managed to open her heavy door that drags on the carpet.......

Ok, I can't be THAT crazy if I actually take pics of her during all this. Or is that part of my craziness? This is Avery pretending to be asleep on my bedroom floor right beside the computer where I am. Poor thing. Who? Me or her? My crazy self has convicted me to do one thing....pick this little thing up and put her in MY BED.....

TT - Bad Night Good Day

How does some one's personality and mood change drastically from 10:00 at night to 6:00 in the morning? I love the smiles and laughter that morning bring from this sweet girl, still even after another bad night. We aren't crying it out anymore...just staying in Avery's room till she goes to sleep. Last night...an hour and a half. But sometimes I think SHE has lost her mind when she is crying and screaming while I am sitting in the room right next to her....I felt like screaming too! Amidst all this, I forgot to put a pull-up on Avery, so she woke up at 6:00 and accidentally tee-teed in her bed. Mommy's fault. But we did have a great Thursday. Avery celebrated Thanksgiving with her Bible class and got to have lunch and made all kinds of crafts. She is napping so hard right now. Well, can't believe in ONE week it is already Thanksgiving. Let's give thanks, a week before!

Thankful Thursday list...I'm thankful for:

• My cappuccino each morning
• The cool front that just arrived
• Your prayers about Avery's sleep
• Baby Tad
• Bible Land teachers at church (we had an appreciation luncheon for them today)
• The wall knocked down outside our apartment....now we can see and don't feel confined!
• Being with family in less than a week