What a Weekend!

To begin this post I would like to thank all past, present and future Presidents for the day off from work. A three day weekend is glorious! On that note, I would appreciate all days off from work that we reflect, thank and/or honor something or someone (i.e. MLK, Columbus Day).  I'll start my letter to Obama after this post.

A three day weekend meant a lot of wonderful friend and family time. Saturday started off with a dress-up session for me and Avers.

My mom's good friend, Cathy Cunningham, bought Avery the cute headband and amazing tutu! The dress-up session should really be called a fashion show, because we took those accessories right off the runway and into the real world!

Next up was a trip to Barnes & Noble.  I still had a gift card from Christmas that I was looking forward to using on some non-baby related books.  We ended up with four between Jeff and I.  Who knew Greg Graffin was not only a professor at UCLA, but an author as well?!  Not me!  Anyways, since Avery's bedtime is 6:30 p.m. I can get back into one of my favorite pastimes...reading!  First up is A Walk in the Woods, a NY Times Bestseller.  After B&N we went to Verizon to get cases for our new iPhones (yay smart phone!).  Even though Avery can't read yet and doesn't quite appreciate Words with Friends, she enjoyed herself on the trip and flashed us a few smiles...

We had our good friends, the Vanderveens, over for pizza Saturday night and despite Avery accidentally confiscating Will's elephant, it was a great night.  Will, John and Erin's 18 month old son, loves to bro-rock people instead of the traditional wave, high-five, hand shake or blowing of kisses.  He loves it so much that even Belle got a few bro-rocks thrown her way!

Belle in all her glory.  Love that cat!

Sunday morning was spent in UTC helping put together Jeff's new office (yay Jeff!) with GranCin and Grandpa Wayne.  In between hammering some nails and eyeballing the level of pictures, Avery took a nice nap in GramCin's arms and got in some good play time on the floor.

Note: Two elephants!

Sunday afternoon through Monday morning were spent at Grandma and Grandpa Manzi's house for a long overdue visit (and sleepover) with them and special guests Uncle Bren and Auntie Michel!

Grandpa Time!

A neighborhood stroll before dinner!

Kisses for Auntie Michel!

A great top-off to the visit was Avery rolling over all by herself!!  Such a monumental milestone for our baby girl!  We got it on video, so check out my mom's facebook page if you want your heart to smile.  :-)  Also on video is Avery doing one of the things she loves most...squats!

The rest of Monday was a quiet family day just the three of us.  We relaxed, rolled over some more (well, just Avery really) and went on a nice long walk.  Perfect end to a perfect weekend!

Funny picture time!

In the words of my Grandpa Manzi, "Chunk a Cheek"

Well on her way...

to sitting up...

rolling over...

and having good chats with Mom and Dad!

Jeff and I make a point to relish each day throughout all her stages, because she is growing up so fast and, stating the obvious here, will never be a baby again.  It boggles my mind to think that just over 4.5 months ago she was a tiny little peanut we brought home from the hospital...

and now she's a little girl pondering the meaning of life!

Funny picture time!

Not sure how I feel about this whole "bath thing."

All in the Family

Sometime in the first few months Jeff and I were dating we were hanging out at my place in Long Beach going through "The Book of Questions" that my friend Cara gave me.  The Amazon.com product description best describes the book: "The Book of Questions may be the only publication that challenges and changes the way readers view the world, without offering a single opinion of its own. Posing 265 questions, The Book of Questions is bound to provoke hours and hours of thought."

I am a very inquisitive person and love seeing how others think, so this book was right up my alley.  (I am the person during the long car ride who poses endless "would you rather..." questions.)  Anyways, Jeff and I took turns asking each other a question from the book and at one point my question to him was "What is the one thing in life you are most grateful for?"  He responded, after thinking for a few minutes, with "the way I was raised."  As corny as this is, I knew right then and there that he was going to be my husband and, truth be told (corny or not), the father of my children.  See, if it were me who was asked that question I would have answered with the exact same response and I think it takes a very special person coming from a very special family to think that above all else in life that you are most thankful for being raised the way you were. 

Jeff and I come from very loving, supportive, responsible and respectable families and owe so much of who we are today to them.  Being parents is the world's best gift (see Dear Avery for more on that...) and if we raise Avery with only a smidgen of the wonderfulness that we received from our families, she is going to be one lucky little lady!!

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The picture below was taken exactly one year ago; the day we told our parents that their babies were having a baby.  I still get chills thinking about that day and all the excitement!  

And finally, to cap off this "family" post, Jeff and I are going to take part in the funny picture time...

 Some things never change...

 A little backyard swingin' sans shirt does every body good.

 With those two as my parents, life is going to be real fun!

Dear Avery,

I never knew what powerful, instant, unconditional love was until I laid eyes on your beautiful tiny little face on September 24th, 2010.  You melted my heart the instant I heard your first cry and I knew in that exact moment that I would never be the same again; that my only goal in life from that point forward was to be your mother.  Comforting you, taking care of you and making you happy was what I have been waking up to do every day for the past four months and it has been the most rewarding thing I have ever done.

Watching the world through your eyes is something everyone said would be magical and boy, are they right!  The intrigue and excitement you get from looking around the room at everything and everyone in view is amazing...I can see your little wheels turning at each new sight you come upon.   

A few new things you love are standing up (with help, of course), playing with your voice (which has offered Dad and I so many laughs) and playing with your feet (particularly the right one).

Your Dad and I love you so much and can't imagine our lives without you.  It's quite funny, but each night after you've been in bed for an hour or so we fight the urge to go into your room, pick you up and cover you with kisses and hugs!   We love watching you grow up and look forward to a lifetime of love being your parents.

You are forever my little baby girl!

Love,
Mommy

Instead of a funny picture I've decided to include a funny movie, which was taken early this morning. 
I was downstairs getting a few things packed for the day when
I heard Avery from all the way upstairs...

Candid Camera

Thank you Erin and Jake Rooker for the gift that keeps on giving...our wonderful Kodak video camera!!  Jeff and I have taken over sixty videos since Avery was born and it's scary to think there have been so many times when we wished we had the camera on us to capture even more! 

There is one recent video that we just have to share.  It was taken on New Years Eve and showcases Avery's beautiful voice, smile and the start of a giggle!

Picture time!

Avery's thought...

My dad rocks.

Baby's First Christmas

Well, it happened and I can't say that I didn't know it was coming.  Christmas with a three month old!! 

Christmas Eve was spent with both sets of grandparents and it was so special to spend quality time with them before the busy weekend ahead.  The night started with a beautiful (and quite entertaining) church service, and despite the loud bass and microphones, Av slept through most of it!  Then we headed back to our house where we enjoyed a delicious gourmet dinner prepared by Jeff.  It was amazing and I'm proud to say that Jeff didn't follow any recipes...he just knew what he wanted to make and went for it.  He's a modest guy, so I'll be the one to say that he is a great chef!!

Christmas was a day filled with family, more great food and SO MANY gifts for Avery.  She is one lucky baby and has the best grandparents, aunts and uncles in the world!!  Avery was such an angel and really seemed to enjoy all that was going on.  I need to get better at taking pictures and with the smart phone I am determined to get next weekend that will be a lot easier.  Anyways, here is one Christmas picture of Avery.  There are more on other people's cameras, which I may add later...

We spent today over at GramCin and Grandpa's house and enjoyed a fabulous pasta dinner with Great Aunt Marilyn, Great Uncle Fred and cousins Ryan and Jenna.  Despite the Chargers loss (booooo!!!), it was the perfect way to cap off Avery's first Christmas weekend!

Funny picture time...

What's for breakfast?!

And a bonus picture, because it's Christmas and Christmas is about giving...

Yes.  I am that cute.

Milestones, Baby. Milestones!

As those of you with children know, babies change and grow so much during the first few months.  I am amazed every day at the things Avery does that show me she's learning and entering new stages of development.

I am an emotional person and find it hard to curb my excitement when my daughter reaches new milestones.  Yes, I did cry the first time she socially smiled and yes, I did frighten the crap out of her when I yelled with joy and clapped my hands when she first starting batting at toys.  And, yes, I immediately called Jeff and my mom the first time Avery was awake in a stroller while I was shopping and not screaming bloody murder.   (I consider crying less a HUGE milestone!)

Milestone #1 - Smiling!

Milestone #2 - Batting at Toys

Milestone #3 - Not Crying When in Stroller

(Okay, so I don't have a picture of Avery in a stroller not crying and well, this one was just too funny not to include in the post.  If you can't laugh at your own kid, who can?!)

Speaking of laughing, I have decided to add a funny picture of Avery at the end of each post.  This girl has so many facial expressions and I have been lucky enough to catch quite a few on camera.  So, to start the tradition...

It's nice to know my daughter is a bad-ass.  

And this picture can serve as evidence that those "Bodyguard for Mommy" classes are paying off.