2012, It's a Pleasure to Meet You.

What's 77 degrees with clear skies and includes an afternoon of pure, child-induced fun?  Yup - the first day of 2012!  (As I reread that sentence I realized the first part sounds nuts, but yes, it was very warm in San Diego today and felt more like June than January!)  Jeff and I made it a point to keep the New Years weekend open and relaxed since our December was crazy busy.  We kept our word and didn't do much...ran a few errands, took walks, did some projects around the house and read every kid book we own 179,963 times.

Anyways, back to our New Years in June.  We took a drive along the coast with no expectations and no plans.  About 30 minutes into our drive I got a craving for a sandwich and we decided to stop at Board & Brew in Del Mar.  That was a delicious decision, thank you very much.  Jeff and I devoured our sandwiches while Avery entertained the other patrons and flirted with passerbys like no one's business.  Then we took a walk and ended up at a clifftop park.  Here are some photos/videos from the day (I think/hope this makes up for the lack of Christmas pics)!

And, this makes 179,964 times we've read this book (this weekend)!  =)  I love my little reader!

Waiting for the train to come.  Always a treat!

Mrs. Sunnypants, Miss Look at the BIRDS! and Mr. Serious.  Awkward Family Photos 2012 - Take 1

Happy New Year!

FVT!

As I've mentioned before, Avery knows some basic sign language.  I laugh every time I see this video and just had to share (Sign Language: Exhibit A)...

 

 

Christmas Cheer!

The Christmas holiday vacation started off the right way, that's for sure!  We always love spending time with our good friends, the beautiful Goad family, and our get together the Friday before Christmas Eve was even more special than our normal visits, if that's even possible.  This is Quinn's first Christmas and it was both of the girls' first time seeing Christmas lights in all their glory at Candy Cane Lane (essentially, it's a neighborhood full of Clark Griswolds)! 

Two Christmas Angels.  Are they cute or what?!

We're sending Christmas cheer...can you tell?

On Christmas Eve morning, my friend and co-worker, Erika, came over for a quick visit with her two children.  Erika's daughter, Danika, will be three in January and is absolutely adorable.  Saying she's sweet, gorgeous and fun is an understatement.  Avery and Danika got along very well and I just had to snap a picture of their new found friendship...

Cuteness overload.

Unfortunately, I did not do a very good job at taking photos Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.  I know, I know.  Shame on me!  I only have one to show from the wonderful holiday festivities.  It was taken Christmas Day at the Orthmeyer's house just up the street from Jeff's parent's house.  The Orthmeyer and Simpson families have been great friends and neighbors for 30+ years and all of the kids (six total) are still really close (Dirk Orthmeyer was a groomsmen in our wedding!). 

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Day was spent catching up with friends and family we don't see enough... and eating ourselves silly.  The diet starts January 3, 2012!  Christmas Eve (backwards, sorry) was spent with GramCin, Grandpa Wayne, my parents, my brother and his very pregnant wife, Michel (or as my mom kept calling her, Mary...get it?!).  It's very weird to think that at our Christmas celebrations next year there will be two little ones running around.  Ahhhh!!  I am SO excited to meet my first niece/nephew!

FPT!

This time around, it's two pictures for the price of one...

You're never too young to run to the grocery store in your pjs...

...and you're never too young to get familiar with a mop...

Well, Hello There, Santa!

Avery has a new friend in town and he's a jolly old man with a big belly and a twinkle in his eye!  Don't be too concerned as I'm just talking about good ole Saint Nick!  We got Avery all ready for her big meet and greet by working on her "hi's" and "bye's" and making a list of everything she wants for Christmas.  Gotta love this girl...at the top of her list is that her parents get a night out...dinner (Italian) and a movie (Mission Impossible), to be exact.  Such a sweetie, this Avery.  (And, Santa better deliver - you don't want Avery to be disappointed.)

Here is Avery really nailing down her greetings in preparation for Santa-fest 2011...

And here comes Santa Claus, here comes Santa Claus right down Santa Claus Lane...

Avery did perfectly!  I am so proud of the big girl she is becoming.

Smiles, hand holding - two peas in a pod. 

A few updates in the world of Avery:
 
1) She is walking like a pro and is getting so fast that Jeff and I are having a hard time keeping up!  One of the cutest things in the world is walking her little diaper butt walk around.  She loves to carry a "purse" and tote it all around the house putting stuff in and taking stuff out.  We laugh and stare in parental awe at her everyday.

2) She is so funny and it's really starting to show how outgoing she is.  Strangers are always saying how happy and friendly she is and boy, that does so much for a mom's pride.  Believe me, she has her moments (like everyone does), but overall she is a cheerful, excited and super interactive little girl.

3) She is very smart and is really starting to understand so much of what we say (I need to start saying "shark," "sugar" or something in lieu of another word that starts with "s").  She knows where most of her body parts are (her belly button, or anyone's really, is her new favorite), she knows a lot of animal sounds and can say a variety of words with meaning.

4) She still loves books and if someone were to ask me what her favorite toy is, I would say toy shmoy, it's books!  She loves to read them with you or play/read with them by herself.  I truly hope that the enjoyment of reading is a lifelong passion and from the looks of things, I think it will be.

My dear precious, Avery, I love you through and through, yesterday, today and tomorrow too.

xoxoxoxoxo

FPT!

Like mother, like daughter.

She's Awalkin' - Take 2!

Our "Avery's Walking" video is officially ready to be released!  Please note that not only can she walk really well, but she's so good at it that she can catch herself when the wobbles want to take her down.  (Additionally, please do not note that she is holding a plastic bag.  Oops.  Mommy fail #37.)

FPT!

This girl could use a little personality.  =)

Time to Push!

Anyone who has been around kids long enough knows that they go through a lot of phases along the way of growing up.  Things that they want to do over and over again that are, to us adults, a little odd
and a lot funny. Avery has been through the climbing up stairs phase, the climbing down stairs phase (yes, this was different than the climbing up stairs phase) and the pick up everything you can
see and try to hold it all at the same time phase, to name a few.

Most recently, she has entered the push phase. Can't quite picture what I'm talking about? Just check out these videos...

"Redecorator"

"Target Shopper"

"Quack"

FPT!

Do you want me to start taking pictures of YOU in the bath?!

Walking Wobbles

This video isn't quite what Jeff and I originally envisioned it would be (Avery walking), but it may be one of the funniest videos I have ever seen, so we just had to share.  Hopefully I'll have a real "Avery walking" video soon!  Until then, enjoy this amazing toddler action...

FPT

Jeff made me put this onsie on her.  He begged and pleaded, so finally I just gave in.

Lucky Number 13!

She's awalkin'!  Yup, that's right.  Avery decided the perfect day to take her first unassisted steps was on her 13th month birthday!  I was near tears with excitement when my parents (who watch Avery on Mondays and Thursdays) showed me what she learned with them that day.  My little girl is growing up and I'm loving every moment of it!  (Actually, I could do without her ants-in-your-pants dance moves while I'm changing her diaper.  Clean and quick diaper changes are more of a rarity than I would like these days.) 

Here's a rundown of a few other exciting things that have happened since her first birthday...

A trip to Palm Springs with Jeff's parents, sister and her husband.  It was a fun (and hot!) getaway for all of us and I am proud to say that Avery was phenomenal the entire trip.  Sleeping in a new place, eating out at restaurants and meeting new people didn't faze her in the least.  She was the perfect angel who is proving to be easy-going and very social.  See Exhibits A & B below, which were taken during dinner one night on our vacation:

 

Next up on the calendar of events was daddy and daughter weekend while I enjoyed some girlfriend time...so, back to Palm Springs I trekked with some of my favorite ladies!  Jeff did an outstanding job with Avery and even had a sleep over at the Goad's place with Garrett and Quinn since mommy Amanda was with me.  How I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall during that baby adventure!  I wish I had a picture to share, but watching little ones doesn't leave much time for a camera sesh, says the husband.

On to the Pumpkin Patch!  The Simpson family loves them some pumpkins!

"I love me some pumpkins!"

Avery and her enablers.

Baby in a wagon with a pumpkin at a pumpkin patch.  Check.

Someone was a little "pumpkined out."

 And finally, some playground time on a lazy Sunday afternoon...in a tutu, of course.

FPT!

Hey, mom...why don't you put down the camera and hand me the wrench?