The Most Random Catch-Up Post You'll Ever See

I haven't really blogged since Thanksgiving, and I've tried to find a few minutes to sit down and do it. I love doing it, but it always seems to take me more than a few minutes. Maybe if I'd stay caught up, right? I don't know what I did with myself before Avery Claire. And I bet you moms of more than one child say, "I don't know what I did with myself when I just had one child!" Right?

Avery Claire is as busy as ever. We went to Clay County for a few days during Thanksgiving. Again, I was a horrible picture taker. I did get a few...

We got to hang out with Abby and Mattie for a bit. It's such an awesome thing to know how close we've always been and to see our sweet girls playing together. We really have to get them together more often. I can't imagine the mischief they'd get themselves into!

This was us last year....can you believe how much the girls have changed? And grown? And I look a little tired in both pictures!!

Cutest bunch of kids you've ever seen...

I can't help but look at Lang and think about "that three-legged stool." All stools should have four legs, right, Lang!

I think Madi and Ashley would make great little babysitters! If only we lived closer...

You know your Uncle Matt loves you when he lets you put make-up on him.



No one is exempt from Ring Around the Rosie.



And I do mean no one!





Just the same - no one is exempt from time out. The girl means business. There will be no whining and crying, even if she tells you to do it. She's just telling you to cry so she will have a reason to tell you to sit in time out.








Even Nana has to go to time out...


Avery Claire has been getting a "pwize" every night that she isn't whiny is "good." She has been getting a lot of "pwizes!" She loves her some M & M's!!


Huh, mama?


The girl loves anything she can dip...especially cheeeeese and "kechup."



We anxiously awaited the news that Bama was playing in the national championship game...Roll Tide!!!!


Why can't I come up with something creative like drops to make your bath water colored?


Fashion Statement of the Week



There's been lots of writing going on around here, too. Not only does Avery Claire say "I wite." Now she looks at us with that sweet little face and says "Eww wite?" Who can say no to sitting in the floor with that sweet girl and "witing?"

And I've been getting crafty. Tried my version of a project I saw on Pinterest for my UNA clinical student's farewell.


Come to think of it, Pinterest might be another reason I don't have as much time to blog? If you haven't, yes, you should.

And...I got an early Christmas present from my Grandmother Joann. I am LOVING it. And my machine has Disney capability. Did you know there was even such a thing? I am not sure I should even be typing Disney's name without permission.

It will definitely be awhile before I am whipping anything out that's worthy of showing you, but I did manage to embroider one letter this week. Especially in my makeshift workstation.


AND, today I got an ipad 2. I wrote a grant to the WalMart foundation and received money to buy it. How about that? And, teachers, you can write a grant to the foundation for YOUR WalMart and try to get your own ipad. Or whatever else you might need to enhance learning in your classroom! I can't wait to go play with it in a little bit... if I can pry it from my husband's hands.


Another M&M snack

We're officially caught up. Guess Christmas will be over before we see you again...maybe not!

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

It's looked a lot like Christmas around here for a couple of weeks, but you know I haven't had time to blog about it.

We bought, put up, and decorated the tree the Sunday after Thanksgiving. This was our girl this year.






This is our girl last year. Oh, that sweet baby face!




The night we "trimmed the tree" was the same night she fell asleep twice while I held her and cooked dinner. I was a bit worried...she was not behaving like my child. She was waaaay behind on sleep and was over it the next day.



We tried to get her ready to meet Santa. She tells us "I want car. I want ball."


She met the big guy the weekend after Thanksgiving. Thanks to the little boy who cried in front of her. She was so excited until she realized that she maybe should be unsure. Again, thanks to the little boy who cried in front of her.

She didn't cry, but she didn't want to sit with Santa.

We went to see Santa again last weekend. She didn't cry. She said she didn't want to sit in Santa's lap. She was okay with sitting on the stool in front of Santa. She wouldn't smile, though.

Dusty pointed out what a big guy Santa was...

Our elf is back. This year, he has a name - meet Jack. We tried out several names and found one Avery Claire could say. Jack made his appearance on December 1st.



You never know where you'll find that Jack! Avery Claire always spots him quickly! I think Dusty has taken to hiding Jack where I can't find him. Avery Claire knows to look up high. We can't touch Jack, so he is smart enough to know to park himself up high!!

20 Months {and 9 days}

Avery Claire, at 20 months {and 9 days}, you:

- are talking up a storm! You say something new at least once a day. I can't even keep up with you anymore. You favorite things to say are "Cry!" and "I want _____!" Today, we were at two different stores and you were holding a toy {pom pom} and M&M's at the other, and both times you said "I buy" when we got to the register. I always tell you we have to buy somthing before we can open it. I guess you pay closer attention than I even realize. I love it when I ask you something or tell you something and you say "Mkay."

- have become so affectionate lately! You want us to cry just so you can comfort us. Too funny!

- think it is so funny when your daddy "cries." You just cover your mouth with your hands and laugh. We tell you to go to timeout if you whine and cry for no reason, so you ask us to cry so you can take us to time out.

- are getting at least 2 of your two year molars. Those things are stinkers to cut. You are constantly chewing on your fingers. We even pulled out Sophie the giraffe and let you gnaw on her a bit.

- love to go! You are always ready to go, even if it's just to Walmart! You get your shoes and start telling Daddy "byyeee."

- are so friendly. Really. I love it.

- love a juice box and drinking from a real cup with a straw. You think you're grown. We try to let you be as independent as we can. Sometimes it results in a mess...

- saw Santa. Twice. The first time, the little boy in front of you cried and didn't want to see him. I think that threw you off. You gave him five, and you didn't cry, but you didn't want to sit with him. We've been talking it up and you have been practicing telling him "I want car. I want baby doll." And you've come up with "I want ball." When it was your turn, you were ready. We walked up to Santa and you were unsure. You didn't want to sit with him, but you sat on the stool in front of him so we could at least get a picture.

- love a prize - a.k.a - M&Ms. We had a particularly hard, cranky day last Monday. So we started talking up a prize if you didn't act ugly. You've gotten a prize every night since then. Let's blame that night on teething and the fact that you were tired and behind on sleep from Thanksgiving traveling.

- have become a little shy as you get older. It takes you a few minutes to warm up to a new crowd. But once you're warmed up, you want to be the center of attention. You love it when all eyes are on you!

- love to write. We hear "I wite" about 10 times a day. You prefer a real pen and know how to get the top off. Most of the time, you're satisfied with a crayon or a Color Magic marker. By the way, whoever invented those was a genius!

- have done really well with giving up your paci except at bedtime. I guess that means we could probably give it up altogether. Maybe soon. Or maybe not yet. You know that when you get up, you have to hand them over. And in the car, I will tell you you can have it if you close your eyes. You will squeeze your eyes shut, but when you don't go to sleep, you will hand it to me.

- can pitch a fit. The more tired you get, the more in danger we are. You are so strong-willed. And know exactly what you want. It's a dangerous combination.

- love trains, planes, trucks, baby dolls, shoes, and jewelry. I'd say you're a well-rounded girl!

- are the light of our lives. You keep life interesting, fun, entertaining, challenging, and eventful. I am so proud of the little girl you're becoming. Mommy and Daddy love you so very much, our sweet girl! We are so glad God blessed us with you!

{For the record, I was only one day late taking these pictures. It was very late on the 26th when I realized I hadn't taken pictures, and they aren't great, but we got them in!}