Friday, June 11, 2010

Baby-proofing, here we come!!!

Let me start by saying that my camera battery died early this morning and I didn't take my first picture until noon today. But since then, I have taken THIRTY-NINE pictures! You might think that this seems normal; however, the daily picture count was slightly elevated today. Why? Because Miss Avaree Grace Barton decided to do EVERYTHING in ONE day! :) Please enjoy the following pictures with great anticipation for all of the new (and I mean NEW) developments in our little girl's life!!!!

Our Friday started out perfectly! Avaree woke up at 5 (as usual), but then went right back to sleep after I fed her. This NEVER happens! She slept till 7:10!!! :) (Yayyyy for sleeping in!!!) Then, we spent the morning playing with Daddy before packing up and heading to Arlington!

Our first stop was Grandmother and Pop's house!

Then...we went to Aunt Tess's shop for Avaree's first haircut! :)

Aunt Tess has fun toys! :)








The finished product...beautiful! :)

Then, we had lunch with Grandmother at Chili's --Pop was in Odessa visiting his sister--before heading home! Here is where the day gets even more exciting! :) Daddy left for work and then Avaree began to CRAWL...EVERYWHERE!


Cheeser before she started growing up before my eyes!


"Standing up...eh, no big deal." :)


:)

"Why do you keep clapping for me every time I move, Mama?"

I quickly darted over to her to make sure that she didn't hurt herself by the tv; but the almost comical part is that she pulled herself straight up and touched the tv with her fingers. I knew Daddy would NOT be happy. So...I moved her away and began my latest attempt at "No ma'am." :) (p.s. I have no idea what is on the television here...we had "Hi-5" on and I guess this is a commercial!?)

First trip down the hallway! (right after this, she followed me into the bathroom!!) :)

She's still working on her turning radius! She got a little stuck! :)

"All this crawling has made me so sleepy..."

She's getting soooooooooo big! She is growing up right before our eyes!

Yay for another amazing day with our baby girl! :) So blessed.
Bartons

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Yaaaayyyyyy Summer!!!!


We're freeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! :) Avaree and I were soooo excited on Friday! :)

Avaree's last day with Mrs. Donna before summer break! :) We're going to go see her a few times this summer, though, and Mrs. Donna is going to keep her a couple of days too so that August isn't such a hard transition. :) (We LOVE Mrs. Donna!)

Last day of school (for Mommy) celebration lunch with Daddy! One of my kiddos gave me a gift card, so we were celebrating at Chili's for lunch!! :)


She is soooo happy! :)


Uncle Spencer and beautiful Shannon came by to visit on Sunday! We loooove their visits! :)


 Ave sporting her yellow bathing suit on Tuesday! Too bad we never actually made it to the pool, but she sure was a cutie! :)


I caught her reading sideways and upside down!!! :) (But the point is that she was READING and it was her idea!)


She caught me! :)


and then her face lit up when I moved the camera and she saw my face... :) I must say that it sure is nice to have someone's face LIGHT UP every time they see you. Even if it has only been seconds since she saw me, she just warms my whole heart!


Daddy and Mama had a DATE NIGHT! This was our first real date night since Avaree was born! :) It was hard to even get ready though, b/c Avaree KNEW something was up. She was clinging to me and then even started clinging to Brandon! They are big buddies, but she doesn't cuddle with him often, so for her to lay her head on him and cuddle for ten minutes was a real testament to her little perceptive personality!

But, thankfully, we had a WONDERFUL babysitter. I think I only texted her 6 or 7 times and she was very gracious to listen to all of my directions, even though she has done this many times before for Dane, Paige and many other little ones! :) Thanks, Soney! You're the best!




Daddy took Mama to a precious Italian resturant in uptown! It was sooo cute--even the water glasses were goblets, and our outifts happened to match the decor! :) After that, we went to see WICKED at Dallas Fair Park! It was a-ma-ziiiiiinnnng! :) Brandon mentioned several times how nice it was to get out and have adult conversation with one another! We sure were glad to get home to our little pumpkin doodle--who woke up at midnight when she heard us come in--but it was sooo nice to have Mama/Daddy time! :)

A few Avaree-isms as of late! :)
--She has started stringing sounds together to where it sounds like she is really talking--and using several unintelligible words to express her ideas!! :) She even adds inflection to her voice and really seems to have a lot to say. I can't imagine where she gets that? :)
--She can go from lying flat on her belly to sitting up straight!!!
--She can (really) crawl from one side of the room to the other. Especially if Mama turns the blow dryer on. This is another story, but Avaree is so very afraid of the blow dryer! If I even turn it on she immediately panics, starts screaming, and crawls straight to me. I (of course) didn't mean to figure this out, but it has happened twice now. Poor baby! She is also scared of loud noises (i.e. Daddy's sudden loud laughter to "Who's Line is it Anyway?"), the ice machine in our fridge, and large crowds of people.

I am soooooooooo happy to be home with Avaree right now. We also are getting to see a lot more of Daddy lately--which makes us all happy! :)
--


Bartons

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Sweet Memories... :)


Papa and Nana came to visit last weekend! Papa took Avaree and Speckles for a ride in the wagon...hehe! :)





Avaree was cognitively aware that Minnie was both on the screen and next to her! It was the cutest thing ever!

Getting ready to go swimming!!!

I'm excited...and I also love to smile for my Mama! :)

"I think I can, I think I can..."

"Hmmm..."

"So..., this is not my bathtub."

Right after the previous picture, she started crying and Mama had to calm her down and assure her that all was well--as she scrutinizingly stares at the kiddie pool!! :)

"Okay...maybe I DO like it!"

It was amazing that she intuitively knew to kick her legs and splash. I knew she would splash just like in her bath but kicking her legs was unexpected and awesome!

Proof that I was there...and need a tan!

:) YAY!

"Daddy is so silly!"

Love to swim... :) This was a fun memory for Brandon and me! We went early on Monday morning so that it wouldn't be too hot--it was perfect!

Avaree, LaLa, Baby Tingle, and Jamie on Memorial Day!

Playing with LaLa and Jamie!

Does this not just melt your whole heart?

If that didn't, then this will... :) I adore her. times a million.


Bartons