Pose

I'm not saying she poses for pictures because of me

but.......

Ok, maybe I am.

(sorry Avery. Its a gift and a curse)

Like mother, like daughter.

Pumpkin Patch

Last weekend we went to a Pumpkin Patch outside San Jose.

 We laughed as we drove there knowing full well 

that Avery has no idea what a pumpkin is

let alone a pumpkin patch, petting zoo, or even Halloween.

So basically we went for ourselves and 

we'll just show her the pictures and tell her how much she loved it

 when she's older.  

(I am obsessed with the picture of her. Her eyes. Her lips. Her little peach fuzz hair)

 (my two loves)

(Brandon was as excited as the kids to watch goats and chickens run around!)

 (she constantly looked perplexed. I thought it was adorable)

 (This was her favorite part. If the sun wasn't in her eyes she would have stayed there all day. 

She loved just chillin with the pumpkins.)

Test

1 year ago today I was at our apartment in Provo

watching Ellen and doing some crafts,

when I realized that I had been feeling a little nauseous

the last couple of days.

So randomly during a commercial I took a pregnancy test....

and my life changed forever!

I'm so grateful for that little test.

If all tests were that easy and exciting I wouldn't have gone to beauty school!

(just kidding)

I've learned a lot this year,

and although I may not have enjoyed every minute of it,

(heartburn, back pains, sleepless nights)

I can honestly say that it was worth it.

(she's cute even when she's tired and cranky)

Dad

There are some moments that are cute

and then there are some moments that are really cute.

This was one of those really cute moments.

Avery loves when Brandon comes home.

Her face lights up when she sees him.

Sometimes I wonder if she thinks...

Hey where have you been all day??

Then she intensely listens to his every word

as if she understands what he's saying.

Its adorable and it melts my heart.

Love these two.

home

Today I am missing this place

(for those of you who dont know....this place is Spokane! aka the happiest place on earth)

Dont get me wrong,

I love our new life here.

I love our apartment.

I love the weather.

I love the city.

and

I love the people we've met.

But, I woke up this morning missing all things familiar.

Dear Thanksgiving,

Please come soon. I'm missing my family and friends. I promise I will eat lots of turkey and pie.

Love,

A homesick girl
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PS) Is this little girl adorable or what?

She rolled over for the first time yesterday and I literally stood up and cheered!
(it was embarrassing)
I think i'm turning into one of those annoying parents who brag to everyone
about how amazing their child is.
I'll try to tone it down...
but she is amazing!

motherhood

being a mom is awesome.
its different then I imagined.
better different.
sometimes I still look at Avery with shock that she's actually mine.
we spend a lot of time together.
we spend all our time together.
we laugh at each other.
she's my bud.
i'm surprised by how much she looks like me.
I smile when I think about a little me running around.
then I get scared when I think of a little me running around.
no one can ever explain what it feels like to be a mom.
I love the big smile she gives me when I get her out of her crib.
she smiles a lot.
I spend a lot of time finding new ways to entertain her.
she likes funny faces and sounds.
I look ridiculous most of the time.
she loves to hold my finger.
I love it too.
she likes to watch me get ready in the morning.
sometimes I pretend to put blush on her.
she smiles every time.
I love spending my days with her.
I love being her mom.

Avery Mae

Ok so I've been a bad blogger the past few months.

I could use Avery as an excuse, 

but the truth is I take about a trillion pictures of the girl every day

which means I'd be blogging for pretty much the rest of my life.

So.........

We put together a little slide show of the last 3 months.

I've watched it about 475 times now, and it still makes me smile.

I love my Avery girl!

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WARNING: If your name is Denise and you are my mother there's about a 97% chance that you will cry while watching this video.