May 9th

Happy Mother's Day you wonderful women!

Here's hoping you get a flower

or some chocolate!

Tate's watering what looks to be weeds, which is why I ripped out a bunch of them last year, but left some in a funky shape because I wasn't sure what they were. Turns out they bloom later on in the summer. So, I wish I hadn't ripped out what I did. Live and learn =)

Yeah for May

Avery is six months. Stats include 75% for head and weight (17 lbs 5 oz.) and 90% for height (26.75 in.). Mom is happy, because if my memory serves me right, this is lighter than Tate was at this point. Maybe my back will get a break with this baby =) She's practicing with solids, but thinks they're just for kicks. The only way she would eat yogurt, as pictured above, is with it smeared on her lips and she licks it off. Eric says she has a lizard tongue. She does like to play with it and can stick it out impressively far! At the moment she is quite the mama's girl, but finds dad and Tate entertaining, too.

Check out Tate's crocs!! I think he'll be able to put them on by himself soon. Plus, they're supposed to be odor resistant! I bought the real deal, so maybe Ave's can wear them, too (with some girly bling, of course). Anyway, here's the before picture. We'll see how they last through the summer!

Here's matchy-matchy mother/daughter. Thank you grandma Shirlene for making them! We wore these around Easter, but forgot the picture before church. Ave's had a bit of a blow-out at church that day so there's no picture. Hence today's picture. I just woke her up to go so she's a little dazed.

Tate can recognize all but 5 upper-case letters of the alphabet. Tonight he "read" his first word. It was "no" in the book "No, David!" I tell you what, that book has new meaning now that we've got Tate around! Especially the nose-picking page, 'nuf said =)

We had another round with M&M's and our M&M math book this morning and Tate was doing much better than the other day as far as waiting to eat them, and do so one at a time. He is such a sweet little boy. He loves baths and wrestling. We introduced him to a puppet today. It was hilarious. He was squealing and scooting out of the room, through the hall, and into the laundry room, facing the puppet lion at all times. There was also throwing of shoes or whatever was handy at the puppet. He thought it was hilarious. The funniest part to me is that he seems to address it like it's a real being.

Looking forward to some sunny weather and the opening of pools this month!!!

Observe

This is just a random picture. It doesn't feel write to post without a picture. Plus, I have to sneak them in because my scrapbooking has gone out the window and I'll be making an annual blog book as a means to preserve some memories.

Tate brought a cup of M&M's to me today. I forgot to return them back to their hiding spot while he was napping. So we shared a snack and I thought I would be clever and eat five or six at a time compared to his one at a time. You know, the old "sacrifice my health to save his" technique. Well, he caught on quickly and started frantically stuffing them by as-many-as-he-could-pick-up-with-his-chubby-little-fingers at a time. It was disturbing and I had only myself to blame. Maybe we'll have another practice round tomorrow of how one should not stuff one's face when snacking on treats. Hopefully I can reverse today's lesson. Well, I just wanted to record this reminder to myself that children are little immitaters. So be careful =)

Saturday

Hugs from Aves: many

Meals cooked: ZERO!!

Diapers changed: few

Cleaning done: minimal

Laundry washed: none

Bowling matches: 1

I love Saturdays! I love having Eric home!!

On another note, Tate's new trick is laying next to Avery whenever we play with her. So I'll do the same tricks on him (noise-making and tickling, etc.) and he'll give me all out belly laughs. It's funny.

He and Aves are still getting along well. He'll return her toys when she drops them and just watches her and loudly fake laugh until she joins in.

Tate's also showing interest in his numbers and ABC's. He's also starting to sing "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" and "The Itsy-Bitsy Spider". Although the songs aren't extremely recognizable to the non-mother ear, his letters are. I am thrilled! It feels like a miracle. This little dude who's been living with us for 2.5 years has only ever spoken giggles, grunts, and jibber-jabber. He's starting to speak our language and pay attention to and recognize letter symbols and sounds!! I don't know how else to describe it except by saying it's a miracle!

skills

Mom, I'm ready for you to teach me how to fix a holy crochet blanket.

This has happened several times now. =)

I want to add for remembrance that this was my baby blanket made by Grandma Burt, whose maiden name is Morgan, which is where Avery's middle name comes from.

Also, the other day I found out that the first name of the doctor who delivered Avery is Lorena. She's Latin American, so it's like the Spanish version of Lorene. And Lorene is Grandma Burt's name! Woah! Had we known we may have gone with Avery Lorene, but I still like the sound of Avery Morgan better. I also just found out that grandma's full name is Anna Lorene. I didn't know about the Anna part. Avery's aunt Breann is Breann Lorene. Now that "ann" in Bre's name has more meaning next to the Lorene in my mind. Did you know that my mom's first name is really Janet? She just goes by her middle name of Shirlene. Did you know Aunt Diane's first name is Velma? So there's a precedent in this family. Feel free to go by the middle if you prefer =)

Easter Baby

Easter weekend was wonderful with egg dying, egg hunting, followed by much hard-boiled egg eating (in various forms)! Best of all, the entire family was together and General Conference was had!

Avery went to town on somebody's Easter basket.

Then, she proudly wore her festive hat.

Tate was around somewhere, but you can't expect him to slow down for a picture! Grandma's house is a carnival of toys and no-napville. It was a thing of beauty when he finally slept, on the way home, and was out for 13 hours through the night!

Avery better grow up to be really nice...

...or people are going to hate her...

...because she's so beautiful! =)