Wednesday, March 28, 2012

TWO

Avery Claire, I absolutely cannot believe you are TWO! It seems like yesterday we were getting your nursery ready and installing your carseat and driving to the hospital because Mommy was in labor. These past two years have been absolutely the best, fastest, most rewarding, tiring, fun, amazing years of my life. Your daddy and I are amazed by you every day.
There are so many things I want to remember about you at this sweet stage in your life. I could never name them all, but I'll give it a shot!
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You love life...literally enjoy every second. You are the busiest two year old on the planet. I don't know a lot of other two year olds, but I don't need to. I know there cannot be many more busy than you, sweet girl! You don't waste a second with silly things like sitting still {unless you're reading a book!}.
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You are talking up a storm. It's like you turned two and started talking in sentences. I love it! You can say anything we say - in a much cuter way!
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You don't forget a thing. If we tell you something once, you remember it. And if it has something to do with going somewhere or getting something at the store {like pink trop trops}, you remember it!
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You recognize your surroundings when we're driving {and have for some time now}. For example, you know when the bridge is coming up and start saying "water, water!!"


You love candy and know that if you wash your hair, you get candy while we dry it. In the tub, you start asking "My hair?" so we can wash it!
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You are such a friendly little girl. You say hello and bye-bye to anyone, anywhere. You are starting to be a little more shy when we go places. It sometimes takes you a few minutes to warm up. Once you're warmed up, you're off playing and talking and there's no stopping you!


You can name all of your daycare friends. I love to hear you say their names...Weah, Kakie, Bubba, Madson, Raney, Shaywor, Bayden, Ewwie....too precious!
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You love to be outside. You come home every afternoon ready to "side" and "sing!" You tell us while you're swinging "I sing up high!"

You LOVE flip-flops {trop-trops}. I'm trying to convince you to wear sandals, occasionally, but you love your flip flops!
You tell me that you're not a baby when we pull up at MawMart because you don't want to ride in the buggy! You have gotten better about riding in them, though {although sometimes a candy bribe may be involved!}.
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You are the most beautiful, smartest, most precious, most perfect, sweetest little girl in the whole wide world and Mommy and Daddy love you to pieces. We cannot remember life before you. We are so glad God sent you to us to be our little girl. He couldn't have picked a more perfect little girl for us. We treasure every second with you. Words could never describe how much we love you, Avery Claire. We could not be more grateful for the past two years and look forward to watching you grow, our sweet baby girl! We love you so very much!

My Child
© Dee Mcdonald
I look at my child as she looks at me
And into her eyes I look and I see,
The innocence that fills her unspoiled soul
These moments I wish I could treasure and hold.

But my baby is growing and influences are strong
I hope she remembers the right from the wrong,
I've tried hard to instill these virtues inside
But regardless, she still fills me happiness and pride.

The job of a Mother can be very hard
With tears full and plenty your heart can feel scared,
When you look at your baby filled with happiness and glee
No better reward for a Mother can be.

As hard as it is or as it can be
I'd never trade this experience for anything you see,
The innocence she holds she has passed on to me
And a much better person she’s helped me to be.


Source: Looking At My Child, Daughter Poem http://www.familyfriendpoems.com/poem/looking-at-my-child#ixzz1qTJvCNxu
www.FamilyFriendPoems.com

Monday, March 26, 2012

SLIDE!!

We ordered Avery Claire a slide for her birthday, but it arrived a day late! It was a fun, very welcome late birthday present at our house!

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This slide hasn't kept her from wanting to go to the neighbors playground, but it keeps her at our house a little bit longer!
This afternoon, Annsleigh had to walk us home so Avery Claire would come! It takes a lot of convincing to get her to leave their slide and swing!
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And when it's too dark to play outside, she still wants to be in the "gawrage."
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She's TWO {the birthday}

Yesterday was Avery Claire's actual birthday...she turned two last night at 7:18. I cannot believe my baby girl is TWO years old!! Most of our family spent Saturday night so we could continue our birthday celebration Sunday!

She opened another present this morning...just a few knickknacks from Mommy and Daddy.
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She loved her big girl panties and wanted to "wayer" them.
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Uncle Mike is sooo funny {and probably has bruised shins from that buggy}!
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She played outside...doesn't she look like such a big girl walking into the house?
I can't remember exactly, but I'm pretty sure she was running inside to tell us about that "buurd". One of the highlights of her 2nd birthday, to us. A bird pooped on the driveway and she kept talking about it all day...watch the video at the end. You'll see. Precious!
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We all went to Arby's {because Avery Claire loves it} and then headed to the park and let her play, play, play! I think the adults enjoyed themselves just a little bit, too!


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We were sad to see everyone go, but glad they came and spent time celebrating with us!
After Avery Claire took a good nap, we headed back outside to play.She turned two just a'swingin' {and sliding} and loving every second!
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I think our girl had her best birthday yet! She was spoiled rotten and enjoyed every second of it. We are so proud she is ours and were so happy to spend her birthday making it all about her!
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We sang "Happy Birthday" one more time over pizza last night. I love this video. It's so perfect and fitting and something I always want to remember about her 2nd birthday!

Saturday, March 24, 2012

She's TWO {the party}

Today, we celebrated Avery Claire's 2nd birthday!! We had family and friends come over to celebrate our girl with us.
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I can't take credit for much of the decorations....Nana did a lot of it. Thanks, Nana, for all of your help {and your dishes!}.
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I sent a picture of Avery Claire's birthday outfit to Wendy Weeks {I teach with her daughter, Anna}, and she matched the cake to the outfit perfectly!
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She loves for us to sing "Happy Birthday," but she wasn't sure about so many people singing it to her while she was trying to figure out that candle.
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Love that face! Anytime we talk about a party and we tell her there will be cake, she asks "and cheeps?" She has a taste for salty things!
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This year, she needed NO help opening her gifts. She is a very loved little girl, and everyone knew exactly what she would love..."trop-trops" {flip flops}, clothes, a baby bed, a buggy, books, a backpack, chapstick, bubbles, and money for "MawMart" {and for her college fund!}. She seriously needed nothing, but she has thoroughly enjoyed every thing she got! Thanks, everyone, for spoiling our girl!

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The girl LOVES trop-trops. I mean really, really, really loves them. I see her eyeing people's feet when we are talking to someone or when we're out somewhere to see what kind of shoes they have on. She points out other who are wearing flip flops. It's so funny. It's hard to talk her into wearing anything else. She received no less than 10 new pair of trop-trops for her birthday. Every time she'd open more, she'd say "moe trop-trops!!"

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Emma, Avery Claire had so much fun playing with you at her party! We are so glad you came to celebrate with us. Avery Claire's Papa still feels bad about scaring you {and everyone else in the garage!}!!!

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I did not make her birthday outfit. Lots of people asked. I am not that talented....yet! :-) I did make the rosettes on her headband, if that counts for something!

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Thanks, everyone, for celebrating and loving our sweet girl! We know it's a long drive to make just so we can celebrate at our house, but we appreciate it and so does she!

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