Mama!!

Yes! Yes! Yes! Avery said Mama today for the first time!!! Granted, I'm not sure that she exactly associates me with the word, but at least I know she can say it =). She has been saying Dada pretty much non-stop for the last two months, but no Mama, and I had almost given up hope. We even had little lessons every day. I say: "Ok, Avery, say MaaaaaMaaaaa".... she says: "Da Da!"... "No, Ma Ma"... "Da Da!!" Geez. Anyway, this morning, she looks at me, presses her lips together (like her teeth are hurting her, which they probably are) and calmly says "Ma Ma". Whoo hoo!! I screamed and hugged the poor startled child. She definitely made my day!!

This has been a relatively uneventful week otherwise. Avery goes to daycare on Mondays and Tuesdays and I work the majority of my 20 hour work week on those days. I found an in-home day care that is great- Lauren keeps six children... Avery, Conner (1 yr), Liam and Graham (2 yrs), Jillian and another Conner (4 yrs). They are all adorable. Avery thinks they're quite entertaining, and she loves Lauren. She has been providing child care for 25 years and even kept one of my Junior League friends when she was a child! She has 6 kids of her own (ages 11-25) and is very calm, organized, and great with the kids. I feel very comfortable leaving Avery there, and it's nice to be able to keep my job and stay in touch with the outside world. Though I'm really glad it's only part time- I don't know how Moms with full time jobs keep it all together!

My Mommy moment was on Tuesday when I picked Avery up from daycare and they were all playing outside on the swingset. As I'm walking through the yard, the older kids start yelling, "There's Avery's Mom! There's Avery's Mom!" Awww.... I'm so proud of my new title and feel very blessed to have it.

Today, Avery and I had a lunch date with Raneen and then just worked around the house. She thought it was quite funny when I made her up in the bed. She looks like such a big girl in this picture, I had to share.

Other family news, Jason and Renee had their 3rd child yesterday!! Owen McNaughton Howell is here, and our family is so excited for the first little boy in a WHILE. I hear that Mary Browder and Madeline are happy to have a little brother. I can't wait to get home and meet him!