My Birthday

Today is my 29th birthday! I had a wonderful one, hanging out with my handsome husband and joy of a 2 year old. We were essentially snowed in all weekend, but I needed to take it easy anyway, seeing as how there's roughly 2 weeks left until "Baby Sister" makes an appearance. I'm feeling good so far, relishing my time with Dave and Avery as a family of 3 before things get crazy around here. I'll keep you posted in the coming weeks with a hopefully happy announcement!

Thought you might get a kick out of Avery singing Happy Birthday to me. She loves birthday parties!

Snow Storm- a real one this time =)

We had a real snowfall this weekend! Yay! Avery has had so much fun sledding and playing in the snow, and we're glad for her to see some real winter weather, considering she was born in Michigan and all =) Yesterday it was freezing, gray, and windy, but we still had fun walking around the neighborhood... the roads were too bad to head out anywhere in town. See post below where I uploaded a video of her sledding.

Today, however, was sunny and beautiful. We met up with our friends and neighbors, the Hannolds, to take the kids sledding. They live around the corner and have a 3 year old daughter, Addison. They're also expecting a baby this spring, so we have lots in common. We had so much fun sledding, and then having hot chocolate and lunch at their house afterwards. Here are some pics from today:

We even built a snowman- a big one! Check him out, you know Avery loved that, as she is still obsessed with Frosty the Snowman =)

Fun with Friends

Avery had so much fun at Abby McKinney's birthday party last week. It was at Pump it Up, an indoor jumping playground, Avery's favorite! Dave and Jared went to med school together, and they are some of our dearest friends. They live in Nashville too, but in the southern-most suburb while we are in the northern-most suburb. Boo! It's still fun to get all of our little girls together.

Thanks to Jared for helping Avery along... my 9-months-pregnant-self wasn't too good at the inflatable obstacle course =)

super fast slide!

We've also gotten to see Mimi and Granddaddy several times lately- here they are playing ball together, so fun!

Zoo Date

Last weekend, it warmed up a bit, so we decided to meet up with some friends from My Gym at the Nashville Zoo! Avery and Lagan got along great, holding hands throughout the zoo:

riding in the wagon and eating snacks:

 riding the carosel (she did like it, but was a bit concerned as her expression indicates):

and of course looking at all the animals:

I was pretty impressed with the Nashville Zoo, hadn't been there in many years... there were lots of good animals and they were all so active the day we went. Look at these Zebras!

Our Snow Day Today

Avery says she wants to go on a "winter walk".


Ignore my weird breathing/laughing. I'm 9 months pregnant for goodness sake- a) it's hard to breathe and b)she was making me laugh



"Can I have some more snow, please?" She would have stayed out there ALL DAY.

Baby Sister in MY Tummy =)

Avery Chats and Colors

Snow Day!

Last Thursday, they were predicting a huge winter storm so everyone battoned down the hatches and braced for impact. School was closed in anticipation, and everyone had stocked up on milk, bread, and eggs (french toast anyone?) As luck would have it, we got basically no snow at all, and ended up with a super cold dusting and a few flurries. Ha ha! Anyway, Avery was excited for any kind of snow. She obviously doesn't remember that she's a Michigander and has had a lot more snow than this to play in during previous winters of her life =) Anyway, we still went out to play in it and I thought you'd like to see some pics.

 

 

 

Avery's first hot chocolate- yummy!

 

Cheers!

Christmas Part 5- Christmas Dinner with the Howells

After Christmas breakfast, some dinner prep work, and Avery's nap, it was time for Christmas with the Howells, so fun! My Mom's sister Carol, my Uncle Glenn, cousin Jason, Renee, and their three kids, Mary Browder (6), Madeline (4), and Owen (20 months) got here in the early afternoon after having Christmas "morning" at their house in Murray KY. It's tradition to celebrate on Christmas Day with this side of my family, and since Dave was working and we had to stay in Nashville, plus the fact that Renee and the kids were heading through on their way to Georgia on Dec 26th, it worked out great to have Christmas Dinner here at our house. I got to test out my new house for entertaining, pull out my Christmas china, and host my actual family for a real holiday. Does that make me a grown up now? They've been joking me about it for years when it would be my turn, and I think things went pretty darn well. I even made a burnt caramel cake for dessert. Thanks to my virtual family in Ann Arbor for giving me lots of entertaining practice!

We had so much fun, and Avery LOVED having the kids here to play with. I'm upset that I didn't get many family pics while we were all here together, but things were pretty crazy, and I was busy getting dinner ready so I forgot to take many pictures =( Maybe next year.  Anyway, here are some I snapped of the kids. Thanks so much for coming and making our house into a home for our first set of holidays here.

Christmas Part 4- Christmas Morning

On Christmas morning, Avery woke up at 5:30am- she had no idea it was actually Christmas, that's just what time she wakes up every morning. Yes, time to feel a bit sorry for us =) Anyway, we got an early start and reminded her that Santa had come, and maybe she had some presents downstairs! We waited at the top of the stairs while Dave got the camera ready (pardon the silly Christmas PJ's on me, family joke)

walking towards her loot, still a bit confused

whoo hooo! This is awesome!

!

She LOVES Poohs and Piglets!

 

she jumps into the dollhouse right away- just what she asked for!

Checking out her Princess Castle tent

Snacking on Pez candy from her stocking, she's a girl after my own heart

I snuck a pic of Katie in her gag gift from me- a hot pink snuggie! Ha ha, though I bet she used it this week with this cold weather!

Christmas Part 3- Christmas Eve

On Christmas Eve, Mimi, Granddaddy, and Aunt Katie were here to wait for Santa and have some Christmas cheer here in Nashville while Dave was on call all weekend. Avery was on a Frosty the Snowman kick all season, so here she is hugging her new singing Frosty.

She was pretty excited with the whole holiday, though I know she didn't exactly understand what was going on the whole time. She did know there were lots of presents and lots of visits from beloved family, and lots of fun to be had. She was a bit giddy that night, here are some pics of her hiding with the presents under the tree

 

 Hanging out with Mimi and Katie

Letting Granddaddy open the pig that Avery painted just for him (see pics on post below)

"Doctoring" Mimi with her new doctor's kit

 

After we went to bed, I heard Santa and the reindeer leaving Avery's loot so I snuck out to take a picture - lucky girl!