All about October: Part One :)

October was a busy, fun month for our little family! We had something every single weekend, and Avaree got to visit with lots of friends and family! :) I have lots of pictures to share with you, but first I have to tell you a few things about our little sunshine...

She. is. amazing. Seriously! My BABY is now talking in phrases and sentences. It blows my mind how quickly she learns things. She has already learned her days of the week, can count higher, says her abc's in English and Spanish, knows all her colors in English and Spanish, knows lots of animals (even random ones like anteater and emu--they are in her books, though!), and lots and lots and lots of songs (with motions), and she has conversations with us now! Example: Ave: Where did Mommy go?" B: "She is in her room." Ave: "Why?" B: Because she had to potty." Ave: Oh, I go. Ave: walks to my room and says, "Mommy, I find you!" (crazy, right? She just turned two!) Whereas, before, she would say, "Mommy, Are you? And then come find me. I know it seems like a very simple jump from one to the other, but to watch her learn and progress is just A-Ma-Zing!

Avaree loves to make us laugh. If she makes us laugh, she will do the thing that she had just done OVER and OVER again! :)

We were at lunch after church today (at Jason's Deli), and she just picked up a whole strawberry (i hadn't had time to cut it yet), and started eating it like she had always done it that way. It was the cutest thing ever. When she was finished eating, she put everything down and put her little hands out to me in the shape of a cup and said, "Mommy, I hold you." MELT. MY. WHOLE. HEART!

Here are just a couple of pictures that I took at the beginning of October while we were playing in the play room. She has already grown since these...

On October 21, Miss Soney Halbert became Mrs. Soney Day in a BEAUTIFUL outside ceremony! :) We had a wonderful weekend celebrating with the extended Barton families!!!

The Sweet Slaydon family (minus Karrington, she had a game!)!

 The Beautiful Mr. and Mrs. Darrin Barton! They are celebrating their second anniversary in a few weeks!!! Time flies!

I love this picture of Gigi and Avaree :)

 Scott, shea shea, Kennedee, and the coloring app on the i-pad helped Ave make it through the wedding without talking! Oh wait, as G-Pops was walking down the aisle to seat Grandmother, she did say, "Hi Pops!" :)

 the stunning bride!

 GiGi, Ave and Pops!

 Uncle Darrin, Aunt Jamie, and Pops!

 I hate that this is blurry, but it is just too sweet to not include! Avaree loves Darewin!!

Mommy and her sweet girl!

 love. her.

 The Barton Ladies... :)

 Three Barton men and a little lady! :)

 My child LOOOOOVES to dance. Here she is dancing BY HERSELF on the dance floor at Soney's reception. :)

 ha!

 Brandon had to pull her off the dance floor and dance with her so that Soney and Chris could have their first dance! TOO FUNNY! She obviously gets her moves from her Daddy!

 LOVE this! Look at those eyes closed. She is feeling the music! :)

 :) Love.

Sweet sisters!!!!!!!!

We wish Soney and Chris all the JOY in the world! Guess who caught the bouquet? That's right...T-A-W-N-E-Y Ann is next! hehe!

Pumpkins are next! :)

Avaree's 2nd Birthday Party!!!

We had Avaree's 2nd Birthday party on Saturday, September 24th. We tried to keep the party small so that we didn't overwhelm her and only invited family and a few close friends that she sees on a regular basis! I overwhelmed her (and our house) last year, but we just wanted to include everyone that we love! This year's party turned out great, and Avaree had a wonderful time. Everyone is so kind and generous. Ave got stocked up in coloring books, new clothes, and shoes--just what she needed!!! :) I made homemade invitations and cupcakes this year, and I served a sampling of Avaree's favorite things: strawberries, rice krispie treats, fruit snacks, cheese, and strawberry ice cream! Thank you Pops and Daddy for helping me make the cupcakes while I was at wedding shower that morning, and thank you to Aunt Shannon for arranging the table and helpin me with decor! My sweet friend Cari made Avaree a BEAUTIFUL birthday banner and coordinating cupcake toppers! They were SO perfect! She has an etsy shop: CariBella Creations, AND she has a blog: http://caribellacreations.blogspot.com/ ! Thank you, Cari!! :) Enjoy the pictures!

 The birthday girl! I found the pettiskirt on Zulily and the top at McKinney Trade Days! :)

 Uncle Spencer, Aunt Shannon, and Avaree! This was there first weekend back since their honeymoon!! :)

 The "Watercress Girls": Ave (an Aggie), Timber (a Cowboy), and Allie (a Sooner)! (Oh, and Mr. Jake too!)

Ave did SOOOO well opening her presents. She sat and opened almost ALL of them. She tried to put all the clothes on her legs! :)

 She loved the microphone! She sings in it all the time. I wonder where she gets this perfomer stuff? :) hehe.

 We love our baby!!!!!!!!!!

 Mom Mom, Pop Pop, and Avaree!

 Niecey, Papa, and Avaree :)

 GiGi, Pops, and Avaree!

 Aunt Jamie and Avaree (Uncle D had to work!)

 Avaree opening her Cozy Coupe! :) She LOVES this thing!!!

 Ready for cupcakes!

 Blowing out her TWO candles!!!

 She makes that look good, eh? :)

 My brother, Dad and me! :)

 Avaree and "Penser" :)

 love. the. skirt.

 Uncle Scott pushing Princess Avaree around! :)

 My sweet friends and their sweet babies!!! Alise (and Aubrey inside), Berkeley, LaLa, Jamie (and Landon inside)! Baby Landon Anthony was born THIS MORNING!!!!!!! Congratulations to my sweet friend and her precious husband Daniel!!!!!!!! :) Landon will have his choice of all the ladies. He's SO perfect!

 Love. This. Girl.

I still can't believe that she's two. We had a garage sale a few weeks ago, and Brandon found me crying in the closet as I was going through Avaree's baby clothes. I just couldn't part with any of them. I miss those sweet little baby days, but I also love, love that she is talking in sentences now, and I can have conversations with her. She really has such a precious little personality, and she is SO funny. She definitely does not get that from me! :)

I'll leave you with a few pictures that I snapped while we were outside the other day! Thank yo for being patient with my constant backlog of pictures. There just isn't enough time in one day, and if I get "extra time" there are nine thousand other things to do that take priority! :) Speaking of priorities, I hear a sweet little voice saying "Mommy, Mommy...!" I'm soooooooo happy I get to snuggle after nap time today!!!!!! :) :) :)

Uncle Spencer and Aunt Shannon's Wedding--09.10.11

We had so much fun during Uncle Spencer and Aunt Shannon's wedding weekend! :) Everything from the hotel, to the rehearsal dinner, to the wedding and reception was just perfect! :) Enjoy the pictures!!!!! The ceremony took place at Royal Lane Baptist Church (center aisle and GORGEOUS!!) in Dallas, and then the reception was at the arboretum (beautiful)!!! We had such a fun weekend with family and friends!

Enjoy the pictures! My mom took a lot more, but this is all I have on my camera! :)

Shannon's beautiful friends and me! This picture was taken by Allison Gilmore (center)! She just had her second baby this week and was nine months pregnant in this photo! Doesn't she look amazing?

 On our way to the reception...

  The BEAUTIFUL BRIDE AND GROOM!!!!!!

 The beautiful Moms!!!!! :)

 Ta-Da!

 Addison (shea's sweet little one), Ave, and Mommy! :) Addy and Ave held hands all afternoon! :)

 My little fam... It was a long day for Avaree, so she wasn't in the mood--ha!

 Papa and Avaree dancing! :) So sweet.

 Avaree with my precious friend Kelley and her sweet husband Trent!!! It was so sweet of them to come! :)

 family dance party! :)

 happy, happy, happy! Married and ready for their honeymoon to Jamaica!!! :)

Shan and Avaree

 Avaree: "umm, excuse me. This is my Spencer." haha :) Avaree sure does love her "penser." In fact, as the flower girl, she was "supposed" to hold my hand and walk down the aisle with me. But, as soon as they opened the doors and she saw Uncle Spencer at the end of the aisle with his arms out, she ran all the way to him. It was the sweetest thing ever. :) Shannon's photographer took a wonderful picture of this moment; if you are friends with Shan on FB you can see it! :)

 Ave dancing with Daddy! :)

 The little princess and the princess! :)

Shannon--I am so happy to call you my sister! You are beautiful and kind, crafty and organized; you are creative and thoughtful, and so special to us! Spencer, I love you! You have always been my best friend (well, give or take a few years in college--ha!)!! You make me so proud! We wish you both many years of blessings! I know you can do more for the Kingdom together than you could do apart! :) I can't wait to see what life has in store for you! Love you both!!!!