Happy 2nd Birthday, Avery!

Avery Madison, tomorrow you are 2 years old! Tonight, as usual, you "went to bed with Parker" and then 5 minutes later appeared in my room, ready to be rocked and put to sleep in your own bed. I sang through all 3 stanzas of your "go to" bed time song "All Creatures of Our God and King" (more on that later!) then sang "Come thou Fount," followed by "Doxology" but I just wasn't done snuggling you tonight! Randomly, "Great is Thy Faithfulness" came to mind and you closed your beautiful green/blue eyes and fell asleep. What a perfect song to fall asleep to on the night before we celebrate your 2nd birthday! You and your brother are my miracle babies, the loves of my life and the answers to my most desperate prayers! "Great is Thy faithfulness Lord unto me!" Amen!

The last month has been my favorite month ever with you! You are in the sweetest stage! Within the last 2 days, you've started calling us "mommy and daddy" instead of "mama and dada." We LOVE it! You know how to work your eyes to get what you want. Your facial expressions are classic. At the beach last week, when you wanted a bite of poppi's Klondike, you slowly walked over to his chair and put your chin and cheeks in your hands in the most angelic pose you could muster. It worked! We still giggle about that! Where did you learn it?! I am soaking in every moment with you lately! Please never stop being this sweet!

You talk up a storm and if you don't know the word, you take my hand and take me to what you want. You have a high pitched, girly voice. I need to do better about video taping you! You answer most questions asked of you. You frequently use the words "mommy, daddy, stuck, oh no, it broke, a snack (anything to do with food, really), bye bye, and I pooped." We're so smitten with you!

You are 20lbs and 31 inches tall. You wear a size 3 diaper when you wear one but you're still doing pretty well going on the potty. Clothing you is becoming difficult. You have a size 6-9 month waist, 18 month torso and 12-18 month length pants. Needless to say, you're the queen of dresses or seperates. Dressing you is still my most fun hooby!

You FINALLY sleep through the night. We've found a nice routine that works for us. You take a bath (your favorite time of the day!), watch 1 Curious George episode in my bed and then we read a story with Parker in the guest room. You like the Thomas book that sings "The wheels on the bus" and any Curious George book. We kiss Parker goodnight and then go to your room. We rock in your chair and you fail around until I sing "All Creatures of Our God and King." I have tried every song I know and this is the ONLY song that calms you down. I have NO idea why! I was so hoping you would love "You are My Sunshine" like I did as a child but when I sing it, you point at me and yell "NO!" Apparently, you like hymns before bed and that's just fine by me (although I'll admit sometimes I have to google the lyrics to the lesser known stanzas!). You usually sleep 7:30 or 8 until 6:15ish. Sometimes you'll crawl into my bed in the morning and snuggle me, fading in and out for a bit.... those are my favorite mornings!

You are the most amazing climber I've every seen for your age! I'm not exagerating. You're scary good. You're also an adventurous eater who grazes all day long and is eating me out of house and home. You're a typical sweet/spicy red head who lives by a "no bow, no go" policy. You light up a room and are a blessing to all who know you!

 

Avery Madison, you are my littlest love. I kiss your sweet face all day long! Although I feel like you were only a baby for 9 months, you will always be my precious baby girl! I am so proud of the sweet toddler you've become and can't wait for you to wake me up in the morning with your famous bear hugs! I love you, Avie!

Happy 4th Birthday, Parker!

Dear Parker,

Each year, writing you a birthday letter gets harder. It reminds me of how fleeting time is. I flipped through your baby book tonight and giggled that my 3 pound preemie went from "not on the charts" to 50% in 12 months in height and weight. Your full term, 22 month old sister weighs right now what you weighed when you were 8 months old!!!! You may have arrived a bit earlier than expected but you sure did your best to catch up fast! Maybe you didn't love being nicknamed "screamie preemie." Once you were more of a "chunky monkey" the aforementioned nickname didn't seem to fit anymore!

1st Birthday Party

Your dad and I are so proud of how far you've come. I look at pictures of you as a newborn and don't even see the vivacious little boy you are today! You have really come out of your shell lately. You narrate your life and say some of the funniest things! The way you boss your sister around is hilarious and I try not to let you see me laugh! My favorite line is "Avery, no ma'am! Time out!" It's a good reminder to me that you're always listening even when you select to not respond! Lately, when you and Avery are nasty to each other, I make you guys hug it out and it might be the sweetest thing ever. Although you're not keen on sharing your toys with her, you guys can also play so sweetly together. You're always Thomas or Buzz and you make Avery be some obscure character like Rosie and Slinky Dog. I did the same thing to your Aunt Kelly!

2nd Birthday Party

Your pediatrician likes to note that you have a tendency towards dramatic flare which I like to think that you will channel one day into passion for a greater good. Currently, you use it to run across the house and throw yourself on the floor when I tell you we won't be going to Target today for toys. Speaking of toys, I don't think we can fit one more into this house! Your favorite toys are your Thomas the Train sets, anything Toy Story, Cars (especially Mack), the trampoline and these awful microscopic toys called squinkies. I'd get rid of some toys, except you really do play with them all!

3rd Birthday Party

Your imagination has really taken off. You entertain yourself for hours coming up with scenes with your trains or Toy Story characters.  Lately, you've started liking school which makes mornings much easier! Despite some recent behavioral outburst, you are the sweetest, most thoughtful (to everyone except your sister) little boy. You will randomly come up to me and demand hugs and kisses which I'm always happy to oblige. You'll snuggle for hours if you like what we're watching and I soak up every minute, knowing these days will pass but laundry is forever.

Celebrating your 3rd birthday at the zoo.

 This year, we've noticed an improvement in some hurdles that you've faced. You've come pretty far with your tactile issues and will now even eat messy food with your hands as long as they are cleaned off the instant you are done. Holes are your nemesis and you inspect every article of clothing I put on you. You will NOT wear anything with rips, holes or stains. I see this being beneficial when you're a teenager as I HATE seeing kids dress sloppy! Your fine motor skills are improving but we've still got some work to do. Nana and poppi got you a bike for your birthday. Peddling is a challenge but I think watching your friends this spring will really help! You've come a LONG way this year and I think the biggest change came when we changed your diet to mostly gluten, egg, dairy and soy free. You gained so much energy and really came alive! I'm so sorry we didn't know sooner!

4 years old!!!!

Parker, I want you to know how much your father and I adore you. There are days when we have to discipline you that I feel like you don't understand our love for you. It is unexplainable. Nana and Poppi used to tell me they loved me "All the way to God's house and back." I never understood that love until I had you. You and Avery make every day brighter. My day starts with your sweet voice yelling "Mommy, I wake up!" and I can't help but giggle every morning because I know what a blessing it is to have you to wake up to each and every morning. It's a gift that in those first few days of your life, I wasn't sure I'd get to keep and I promise to never forget what a treasure you are. Happy 4th Birthday, my love!

I love you all the way to God's house and back,

MOM

Happy 1st Birthday, Avery!

I am SO behind on my blogging! I'm sorry! BUT if I'm being honest, posting daily about cleaning up a mess then turning around to see that an even bigger one has been created just isn't super fun to read about. SO... without further adieu.... Avery's 1st Birthday post (almost a month late... WHOOPS!)

Avery Madison, you're 1 year old... although I prefer "12 months" because I think it sounds younger and I'm in no rush for you to grow up. You had an "all things pink, polka dot, sweet and girly" 1st birthday party because I'm not super into themes but I am into cute, pink and girly....

We had a candy table with lots of yummy treats including these AMAZ-BALLS cake balls that Aunt Tabitha made.

You slept for the first half of your party in Mimi and Poppop's arms. It was so sweet and I know it made their trip worth it to get some Avie snuggles on your 1st birthday. Your nap also allowed me time to mingle with party guest and get all of the food out so it was perfect!

Poppop and Avery

Mimi and Avery

Grammie and Grandaddy, nana and poppi, aunt Kelly and Grandma also came to your party.

Poppi and Mommy

Grandaddy and Mommy

Grammie and Mommy

Grandma and Avie

Aunt Kelly and Avie

Aunt Kelly, nana and mommy

Your Aunt Tabitha, Uncle Dean and baby Makenna stayed with us for the weekend and helped cook and decorate for the occasion. I don't know what we would do without them!!!

Your friends, Zury and Marshall, Jayden and Jonah, Charley and Max and Bo, Khloe and Tate, cousin Jakob, and Avery and Grant also joined the festivities!

Playing on the train table

Swing set fun with Aunt Kelly

Bounce House!

Sweet neighbors Khloe and Tate

Kristin and Bo

Amber and handsome Marshall

Zury, Jakob and Parker playing in the sand turtle

Backyard birthday fun!

I made a banner with a picture from newborn to 12 months. It was a hit and so special. I put it in your memory box. 

I also made a slide show with 300+ pictures that scrolled throughout the night on the TV. My grandparents who mostly stayed inside really enjoyed watching it. I wish I had put happy music to it so that it didn't look so much like an "in memory" slide show. 

Since your birthday is Cinco de Mayo, it was only appropriate to have a pinata. I bought a pull string pinata since everyone is a bit young to hit a real one. It didn't work quite as I had expected and I ended up ripping it apart myself. At the end of the day, the kids got candy and that's all that mattered to them!

We served BBQ, pasta salad, baked beans, fruit and chips. You tried it all!

Harris Teeter made you a little smash cake but you weren't very interested in it. I wasn't bummed though since we had those AMAZING pictures taken by Alicia Sutton Photography a few days before! 

These little vultures children took care of your cake but made sure to save you a bite!

You enjoyed working the party crowd and were the cutest little birthday girl!

Happy 1st Birthday, Avery Madison! You are a JOY to parent. Your father and I love watching you grow and learn daily. You are inquisitive, smart and so very sweet. You have a fiery personality that you are learning to express and mommy is learning to maintain! WHEW! You are 18 pounds of pure preciousness and we feel so blessed that God gave us you!