Record breaking day...

Today was a very productive day...
Ali was a big helper, and Avery took a couple good naps and hung out in her swing...

gave Hailey a bath, brushed her teeth, cut her nails
posted some picts on the blog
installed shelving in laundry room
changed my oil
washed & vacuumed my car
washed & waxed Eddie's truck
pruned back hibiscus, elephant ears, palm trees, pulled weeds around the house
cut the grass & trimmed
rode Ali around on the motorcycle
went for a walk

ZZZZZZzzzzzz.....

Avery slept through the night for the first time!!!!

I fed her and put her down about midnight and she didn't wake up until 7:30am!  I woke up to check on her, but she was just perfect.  Yeah!!!

I was excited about the night before when she slept for 4.5 hours and went right back to sleep after I fed and changed her!  This along with Ali sleeping through the night and not waking up before 6am was a blessing...

I can't say the last few weeks have been this perfect... Since our family returned to NC, sleep has been at a premium... Eddie and I are both in a bit of a "fog", and somewhat going through the motions. 

Today Avery is 6 weeks old!  

Ali update... 28 months (I'm playing catchup for not posting much lately)

This girl loves being outside...

It can be playing in the rain, going to the beach, riding her motorcycle, going for a walk, feeding the ducks, or swinging at the park!

  

 

 

  

Ali started Tumbleweeds Gymnastics

She's doing great with her forward tumbles, balance beam, trampoline, foam pit, high bars, spring floor, hula hoop, floor stretches, and so much more!  We are going ~3 days a week, and she loves it!

 

 
She's a FISH!

Ali is right at home in the pool.  She is doing great with the swim/float/swim sequence and is not afraid to float on her back at all.  She has a powerful kick, and can swim underwater across the pool by herself. She had lots of fun with CiCi in the pool.  

I owe it all to Brianna with ISR (Infant Swim Research) for finding the perfect balance between teaching Ali the survival skills AND to love the water.  We get to do the fun part and just reinforce all the great skills every time we are in the pool.  Her self-confidence is off to a great start.

 

 

Almost Potty Trained!

Ali is not wearing diapers anymore!!!  

She is wearing big girl panties and using the big girl potty!

She only wears pull-ups for sleeping.

Crazy Sleeper!

Ali's been doing great with her bedtime routine.

When I go to check on her before I go to sleep she is usually upside down or sideways in her bed...
a crazy sleeper! 

Prayers

Before meals and before bed we are trying to get Ali used to saying our prayers and thanking God for the gifts in our lives.  She has had some that are so cute and just priceless...

Before lunch one day - 

"Thank you God for our food, thank you God for Watermelon, thank you God for my Juice Box... Amen"

Before dinner one evening - 

"Thank you God for our food, thank you God for chicken nuggets, thank you God for ketchup... Amen"

Before bed - 

"Thank you God for Mommy, Thank you God for Daddy, Thank you God for Avery, sweet dreams... Amen"

Last Sunday, we were talking on the way to church and she said "Mommy & Daddy go to big church, Ali go to little church?"  She then asked "Ali go to big church???"  So, we took her in for the praise & worship and opening prayer, then took her to little church.  She did perfect!  She wanted to know why we didn't sing Jesus loves me...

She's a Big Helper*!

She helps me unload the dishwasher, clean the counter tops, unload the dryer...

She helped me measure, iron, and sew the new valances for the dining room windows...
She helps wash the car... and Hailey...

Today she helped Eddie take Hailey to the vet today for her annual checkup... 

she weighs the same as Hailey!

Hailey = 32.0 lbs               Ali = 32.0 lbs

*Helper - keep in mind she is TWO... so HELP is all relative, and doesn't necessarily make the job easier ;)

Ali is a great Big Sister 

She is very loving to Avery, and wants to sit on Mommy's lap with Avery.  She plays with her baby dolls like they are her baby and feeds them, changes their diapers, swaddles them, puts them in the car seat and in the swing, takes them on walks in her baby carrier, and reminds me to "be gentle".

Ali is growing up soooo fast!
Before we blink our eyes, she'll be able to reach the peddles!

Hurricane Irene...

...passes just to the east of us!

After work Eddie and I took the girls over to the beach 

to see the BIG waves from hurricane Irene just off shore.

 

Marine Biologist from the Sea Turtle Rescue was saving this little guy from the rough waters.

Avery update... 5 weeks

Our new little girl is doing great!

She had her 5 week check-up with Dr. Mas today and did great.  

She weighs 10lbs (65%) and is 22" tall (85%)

She had the support from her Big Sister, Ali to re-assure that everything would be ok...

Avery loves the beach...

... and bath time!

   She loves snuggle time...

She likes going on walks...

Avery has had lots of visitors...

 

Jenna & Tehani, our wonderful neighbors from Lockmar!

Neighbors Rosemary & Mark

Navy Commander Brent Cower

Julie Fuller

Marja (&Phil)

Avery has lots of little friends born within weeks of her birthday...

 This is Richie Tweedy (born 7/21/11)

Landon Rosengren (born 8/9/11)

Spring 2011...

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