Avery Claire's School Thanksgiving

Meet Sunflower Princess.

She had Thanksgiving lunch at school today. Her daddy was able to go eat with her. He ate turkey and dressing - she ate a lunchable. 

I'm so thankful to Avery Claire's teacher for sending me pictures often of what's going on at school!!

I'm gonna encourage her to push her headband up on her head the next time she wears it. 

Bye-Bye Bottle

We've made the transition from formula to whole milk pretty easily over the course of about a week. Giving up the bottle has worried me. I gave Bennett a bottle Sunday night, kinda sorta thinking it might be his last one. I sent a bottle to school, just in case, but put his milk in sippy cups. So far, he hasn't had a bottle. And I think maybe we're over the worst of it. But, I'll be honest, he wants a bottle in the mornings and before bed. He doesn't even take a bottle to fall asleep, but it's almost like his little body knows it needs one before it can be ready to go to sleep. So, if you see him with one, don't judge him (or us) for falling off the wagon. We're trying.

And why does this girl look 10? 

Avery Claire's Kindergarten Pumpkin Patch Trip

Avery Claire's field trip to the pumpkin patch was cancelled last week due to rain, and was rescheduled for this week. Since I'd taken off last week to go, Dusty took off this week and went with her.

She had tons of fun and told me that tonight that she wanted to go on another field trip tomorrow! 

Picture Bloopers

I love to get pictures on Sundays when everyone is dressed with their hair fixed and not in a huge rush...some Sundays go better than others. We'll just say that I doubt any of these will make a picture frame around here. 

Halloween 2015

I'm so glad I got some pictures last Sunday, because tonight was just impossible...

We ran to our close by neighbors to trick or treat during a break in the rain. 

Then we hopped in the truck to make the rest of our neighborhood rounds. Once Bennett realized he could get behind the wheel, he was done trick or treating. Avery Claire hit up the remaining houses by herself. 

She enjoyed being at home and handing out candy to trick or treaters more than she enjoyed the actual trick or treating, I think! 

And we all loved a night in, doing absolutely nothing! 

Look at my babies last year!!

Little Mama to her Little Brother

Avery Claire loves a "project." Looks like that foam Halloween house may have been a little more complicated than she bargained for.

If you've been around us over the past year, you know that becoming a big sister has been a big adjustment for Avery Claire. She loves Bennett, but jealousy has reared its ugly head in a big way. Over the last month, there's been such a huge change. She's always been helpful, as in running to grab a diaper or a wipe or picking up something, etc...but she's become such a little mama lately, actually taking care of him. It's very sweet, and very heartwarming. And a lot relieving to her mama and daddy! 

Bennett's One Year Well Check

Bennett had his one year well check today. I absolutely hate this visit - I've read the research, I know what it says now...but it's so scary to give your baby those shots. 

His official 12 month stats:

weight: 22 lbs, 8 oz (75th percentile)

height: 31.25 inches (90th percentile)

head circumference: 18.25 inches (50th perentile)

He was a wild man, all over that room. Whew, he's a busy, busy boy!! 

Avery Claire's Scarecrow Day

Avery Claire had Scarecrow Day at school today. 

She's learned a lot of dances in PE this year, including the whip/nae nae. Thanks, Coach Weaver!! They've been working on square dancing, and invited a parent to come to their square dance. I'm pretty sure she and her daddy danced together, but no one was allowed to send me any video of that!!

Quality Time

Bennett and I met Avery Claire, Addison, Bobbie, and Riley at the park today after school. It was such a nice day and we all enjoyed playing outside. 

These two best friends are so sweet and love each other so much. 

Since cheer season is over, we've been able to spend lots of afternoons/evenings at home. It's been absolutely wonderful. Avery Claire has said (every night that we all just get to spend some time playing in the living room together) "we're having another blast tonight." That one little statement was enough of a reminder to me to make sure we slow down and just spend quality time together, as much as possible!

Sweet Little Hug

He might be a little bit of a mama's boy. I love it. And there's nothing in the world that compares to those little arms around my neck.

Happy 1 Year, Bennett!

- wear mostly 12 month clothes. 

- are into everything. Goodness gracious, you're a busy little boy. You've gone from walking to running. You try to get into every cabinet, on top of anything you can climb, under anything you'll fit...

- are a tough cookie. Sometimes, you'll fall or run into something and I'll just wait for the tears. But they don't come. You just get up and keep going. 

- have the cutest, most mischeivious little grin. Oh, what a stinker you are...but such a cute stinker. 

- like Zaxby's toast, like your sister. 

- are waking up once at night still. Occasionally, you'll make it all night, but it's not because we've done anything differently. I'm just hoping that works itself out soon. You're starving most nights when you wake up, so I hate not to feed you. And you do go back to sleep quickly, so I know it could be worse. 

- take two one hour naps at daycare. Some days, you could still use a catnap around 5, but I try not to let you get that one, so you'll be ready for bedtime!! 

- hate bedtime. You can be so, so sleepy, but when I take you in your room to get you to sleep, you get so fired up and want to go back out. 

- drive anything you can. When we ask you what the dump truck says, you make the "brrrmmm" noise.

- will hold up your finger to show us you're "one." 

- are finally okay with wearing shoes. I was a little worried at first. We got you some Nike tennis shoes, and you are so proud of them. I don't know what about them is different to you, but the first time you wore them, you just looked at them and grinned every time. 

- have all three of us wrapped around your little finger. We think every thing you do is so funny, so cute, so sweet. How this year has passed so quickly, I'll never know. Baby boy, you've brought so much joy and happiness to our family and we thank God every day that he sent you to us. 

Happy 11 Months, Bennett!!

- weigh between 20-21 pounds. You're long and skinny.

- are wearing mostly 9-12 month clothes. 

- are walking everywhere! Oh, me. 

- just aren't the biggest fan of "real" food. You'll try something, eat a couple of bites, and then spit it out and you're done. 

- are waking up once at night again. I've tried making sure you're full. I've tried cereal in the bottle. I've tried every thing I know of. You usually get up, drink a bottle, and go right back to sleep. I can usually put you down in your bed and you'll sleep until morning. Sometimes, I fall asleep for an hour (or more) in the chair with you, and then it's harder to get you back in the bed. 

- take two one hour naps at daycare. At home, your naps are random, but that's partly because we are so busy and inconsistent. 

- I always read a book to you in your room while you finish a bottle. I've been getting you to sleep, because it's just easier right now. Some nights, you wake up and cry for a minute, but you usually lay back down and go to sleep very quickly. 

- love to read at bedtime. If I try to skip a night, you start reaching for where you know the books are and find one for us to read. Your favorite is "A Bedtime Kiss for Chester Racoon." You think it's so funny for me to kiss your little hand like Chester's mama kisses his. 

- LOVE dogs. Anytime we see a dog, you get so excited. 

- still sleep with your monkey.

- have six teeth - 4 on top and 2 on bottom. 

- get so excited about bath time. When I run Avery Claire's bath water (after you've had a bath), you go back in the bathroom because you want to get in again. 

- LOVE your sister. She's starting to act more and more like a little mama to you, and you think she's the funniest thing around. 

- say da-da, ball, bye-bye-bye, and mama (mostly when you're crying). 

- love to see other babies. You just smile and always want to touch them. 

- drive anything you can. When we ask you what the dump truck says, you make the "brrrmmm" noise.

- are such a sweet, precious little boy. We just can't even remember life without you, our sweet little guy.