Nostalgia and My Top Five List

These pictures were taken two days before I had Avaree. Hello...baby! :)

One of my good friend's just had a baby and Ave and I got to go to the hospital to see her and her sweet baby girl. That coupled with the fact that last weekend all three sides of our family were here (and the last time that ocurred was the weekend that Avaree was born) has me a little nostalgic. I could never adequately put into words how becoming a Mother has changed my life, but I can tell you the things that I love most.

The top five things that I love MOST about being a Mommy:

1. I love the way Avaree looks at me and smiles. I love that she knows that I can meet all of her needs and comfort her no matter what she feels. I love that sometimes I am the only one that can calm her sweet heart. I love that she loves me no matter what I look like, what kind of day I have had or how I feel, but she loves me unconditionally and with great trust.

2. I love that I now understand at least a fraction of God's love for me. I love that John 3:16, the first verse that I ever memorized, means something more to me now. If someone told me that my baby girl could save the world, if only I would sacrifice her....I couldn't, but my God did.

3. I love how my relationship with my husband has evolved into something much deeper, because we have shared something so amazing...together. I love that he is an amazing Daddy and the way that he adores our baby girl. I love the little boy voice that comes out in him as he talks to her. I love it when he greets us at the door saying, "There are my girls!" I love that he makes us a priority at times when he could easily be elsewhere doing other things. I love that he is the leader of our home.

4. I love how my life perspective has shifted. I love being a part of this unspoken bond of "motherhood." I love how I look at each of my students as "somebody's baby," even if one is driving me crazy. I love the grace and appreciation that I feel toward my own mom and Brandon's mom for having loved and cared for us as we now know (in just five short months) that this means many sleepless nights, endless tears of love and so much more.

5. I don't just love being a mother. I love being Avaree's mommy. I feel (in my heart) that my baby is special and that the Lord has amazing plans for her life. I feel like by being her Mommy, I am a part of something greater than anything I could have accomplished on my own. I feel like her life will be a treasure to God's heart (and mine).

(And yes...I am crying, but with tears of love and thankfulness for the opportunity that my God has given me. Brandon and I are still in awe of his provision and plans for our family. Thank you for listening to a little piece of my heart...it overflows.)

Blessings and bows... :)

We had a wonderful week and FINALLY have both Mama and Daddy well! After I got over pneumonia, Brandon got whatever secondary infection that I was carrying and then Avaree became very congested. Her world just wasn't right (Mrs. Donna and I came to this consensus), so I took her to the doctor only to hear that she was congested and I just needed to "watch her." If they only knew how much I watched her! ;) I ended up taking her back to the doctor on Saturday and her little body is just being taken over by snot. She has difficulty breathing and even though I use saline and suction her nose out about every 30 minutes or so, she's still just feeling puny. It's so hard to watch her suffer. Poor baby, we can blow our nose and understand how to breathe out of our mouths, but they can't! I'm hoping a little extra Mama love and TLC will keep it out of her lungs and ears!

This week we also got some tremendous news! Mema (Brandon's grandmother, Avaree's Great-Grandmother and one of my favorite people in the whole wide world) is cancer-free! Her scans came back PERFECT and showed the lymphoma to be in remission--hallelujah!! This was an answered prayer for our family and we are so thankful!! (Thank you to all of you who have been praying for her!!)

One of my friends asked me at school today: "So what is Avaree doing now?" :) hehe...This is one of my favorite questions! Are you ready for the answer(ssssss)?

Avaree is rolling over!

Avaree is blowing "sherberts" with her mouth. (Thanks, Daddy! You can be responsible when she is three and spitting on people--ha! Although it is pretty stinkin' cute, if I do say so myself.)

Avaree is holding objects and waving them in the air. (Her favorites are her lovey, her pink/yellow rattle, her diaper and her ball!)

Avaree is mimicking things that we do. (i.e. making sounds with our mouths and smiling!)

Did I mention that Avaree is SMILING from ear to ear? (Adorable.)

Avaree is engaging in conversation! Mrs. Donna says that she talks all day and tells her lots of stories! :)

Avaree is standing up with a little assistance.

Avaree is fully engaged in "playing" now. Before, she would just sit and look at things. Now she really wants to play and squeals with delight as she does.

Avaree is eating rice cereal and really likes it.

Avaree has full control of her head and loves to sit up and look at us!

Avaree can sing and loves to say "na, na, na, na."

Avaree is pure joy.

Avaree is our favorite girl in the whole wide world and she is loved very much. Can you tell? :)

These are pictures that my mom took at Avaree's dedication last weekend. Enjoy!

Playing patty cake with Mama!
Pretty girl with the pretty bow! :)

"Really? Am I that cute?" (Yes. You are.) :)

Waiting in line to go inside the sanctuary!

Here is a video of Avaree playing with us and performing some of her many talents listed above. Enjoy!

5 month birthday! :)

The only picture I have from her dedication service, and she isn't even in her pretty blue dress! I wanted to get her picture with Daddy and I and with each of her grandparents, but alas...my best laid plans fell through! Oh well, the importance of the service was certainly accomplished.

Oh Lord, please continue to mold us into the models of Your love that we should be for our daughter.

The pose I got when I started singing her happy birthday this morning... :) Too funny!

Listening to G-Pops' story!!!

Posing with birdie, Granpappa and Granmamma...

Fun with Pappa!

Reclining in her new wagon from Pappa and Nana D! (Thank you!!!)

We had a crazy week this week: Mama was home with pneumonia for most of the week, Daddy was gone and working hard and this weekend brought many members of our family to be a part of Avaree's dedication service! Whew--Mama's tired! Because I felt so bad this week, I neglected to take any pictures and only have a few from this weekend. Bad Mama, I know! (I promise to make up for it!) Hopefully I will get some dedication pictures from family members soon and can post those! Thank you to all of our sweet family that came to support us and our sweet baby girl on this special day! We love you!

Avaree's favorite song...

I sing this song over and over to Avaree, and as she giggles and looks up at me with those big blue eyes, I finally understand the words. :)

He's got the whole (wide) world in his hands.

He's got the whole (wide) world in his hands.

He's got the whole (wide) world in his hands.
He's got the whole world in his hands.

He's got Avaree Grace Barton in his hands.
He's got Avaree Grace Barton in his hands.

He's got Avaree Grace Barton in his hands.

He's got the whole world in his hands.

He's got Mama and Daddy in his hands.

He's got Mama and Daddy in his hands.

He's got Mama and Daddy in his hands.
He's got the whole world in his hands.

February: food and the frosty fun!!!

" You want me to go outside for what?" :) (This face cracks me up!)

I took Ave out Friday afternoon after it had warmed up a bit! She just stared! :)

It's been awhile since you've seen a pic of just the two of us, eh? :) I loooooove the snow!

Our snowy wonderland early on Friday morning!!! I wasn't able to play in it while it was falling b/c it was just Ave and me, so I made Brandon go out with me early Friday was she was sleeping!! :) By the way, Brandon didn't get in until 11pm Thursday night, so the snow on his car was just what fell after that! :)

"Really, Mama? Daddy sent these to your school?" YES! My husband sent me flowers for the first time in five years! It was such a suprise and so sweet! Ave and I have certainly enjoyed them!

We learned the trick: Give Avaree her own spoon, so that she won't try to take the one we're feeding her with! :)

"You want a piece of me, Daddy?"

Daddy feeding his girl!

The child literally had it ALL over her. We had to go straight to the bath after I fed her. I even found it in her hair! It was hilarious!

Can you see it on the table too? :) She tried to grab the bowl out of my hand and it went EVERYWHERE! :) Too funny!

This week has been a crazy week for us. Daddy started a new job and we are adjusting to him being gone four nights a week AND we had SNOOOOOW--beautiful, perfect snow! We all three got to be home on Friday for our first SNOW day! It has been GLORIOUS!!!! Thank you, Lord, for a beautiful display of your creation!!!

Sweet baby girl: Our week in pictures!

She has perfect, irresistable cheeks!!!

Pretty girl!!! She got all dressed up to go to Jamie and Daniel's Shower! :) I think she was a hit!

I feel like we are actually swallowing some rice cereal now! Avaree has also really begun to watch Brandon and I eat and I think she's getting ready for some solid food, but we're going to stick with the rice cereal for awhile. The doctor said that we could start her early, but that she doesn't NEED more solid foods for another month.

One night this week, Avaree decided that she wasn't going to go to bed at her usual time, but, instead of crying, she just raised her little head up and looked at me (I was in the doorway watching her) and then smiled! Of course, I had to get the camera and I got her out and loved on her a little more before she had to go night night. Who could resist this face?

This week's highlight was Avaree holding her lovey. She loves it so much. She drools on it, holds it, shakes it, etc. I even let her take it to Mrs. Donna's one day and she held on to it all day! :)

"Mama, come rock with me!!" :)
"I will get you in my mouth, Mr. Ducky."
"Okay...maybe i'll just hold you instead."
Blue eyes... :)
Playing in her jumper! Thank you, Colton and Keller, for letting me borrow your toy! My favorite parts are the lights on the piano, the music and the yellow sunshine! I escpecially like it when I can bounce myself a little!! (Thanks Lauren and Kent for letting Ave use this! We love it!)

Our little pumpkin is 4.5 months old! Every day, Brandon and I fall more in love with this little bundle of joy. Being parents has certainly changed our lives in a myraid of ways, but the BEST change has come through one little person with a precious, beautiful smile and an infectious laugh! :) Enjoy the pictures!

Cereal, Earaches and Spit...oh my! :)

Warm and snuggie! Trying to ward off a fever!

YAY for bathtime! My ducky is my friend!

Deep in thought... :)

"Here, I will share with you!"

"So you want me to swallow this?" Hmmm...

Hi Mama! :)

Have I told you lately that I LOVE MY MOBILE? :)

Pretty pumpkin... :)

Is there any doubt that she is her daddy's daughter? :)

Avaree trying to crawl and playing with Granpapa and her pink puppy (our only pet right now, ha!)!

Oh this week was HARD! On Sunday, we noticed that Avaree wasn't really acting like herself, but paranoid Mom that I am, I had already taken her to the doctor once with such symptoms, only to be told that she was just "off of her routine." So...on Monday morning, I asked Mrs. Donna to watch her closely and let me know if she pulled on her ears or began acting lethargic. She was perfect for Mrs. Donna, but when we got home on Monday, she started pulling on both of her ears and just wanted me to hold her (not that I minded this at ALL). Tuesday morning I brought her to Mrs. Donna's and sat with her for awhile (I was late to school--oops--because she just was not herself and it worried me!) and then went on to school. I called the doctor's office once they opened and made her an appt for 10:50. I couldn't go (since my maternity leave took ALL of my sick leave and we didn't want to be docked again) so Daddy went and picked her up and brought her to the doctor. Of course, I couldn't get much accomplished at school and balled my eyes out (yes, in front of my kiddos) when Daddy called and told me that she had a double ear infection and was just moaning! Sweet Daddy waited for her medicine, took her home and cuddled her until I could get there. I knew that he was taking wonderful care of her, but still, I wanted to be there soooo bad. So, my sweet friends at school helped me get out of my classroom as quickly as I could and I was home by 3:30. I ended up staying home with her on Wednesday and, to make a long story short, she is FINALLY (on Saturday) better. Thursday and Friday she was just very lethargic, didn't have an appetite and was in pain anytime that she was laying flat. So, Mama did a lot of holding in the middle of the nights and even slept on the couch with punkin one night, but we are sooooo happy that she is showing signs of recovery! Of course, she smiled through it all, or at least tried to. I never expected to be so upset about it, but it broke my heart--especially when I couldn't be there to comfort her. Thank you, Lord, for antibiotics and baby tylenol! :)

The earaches took up the bulk of our week, but other eventful news comes in the Daddy department! Brandon has taught Avaree how to make "sherbert" sounds with her mouth and spit everywhere. As if we didn't have enough drool at our house, we are adding spit to the equation! I keep telling him that it may be cute now, but will not be cute when she is 3 and spitting on people! Oh well, at least she's smiling and I'll deal with Daddy later! :) haha!

First Rice cereal... Great video!

Our little princess had her first taste of (somewhat) solid foods and we decided to share it with everyone. Have a blessed day!

Our little four-month old...in pictures!

Look at me, Mama! I'm a big girl! :)

I can hold it! :)

Look at me...I'm my Daddy's favorite!!! :)

Wrapped up like a burrito! :)

On our way to "school" every morning, Ave has to sit by herself in the back seat, so if Mama gets to ride with her in the back...she is ALL SMILES! :)

Avaree has been such a precious little angel this week. Poor baby had to get FIVE shots--in the form of three syringes--at her doctor's appointment and ran a little fever, but she was such a trooper! She still has little red spots on each of her legs. We are so thankful for her sweet little personality and in love with her disposition! When I picked her up from Mrs. Donna's on

Friday afternoon--the BEST part of my day for sure!--she told me that Avaree held on to everything she could get her hands on! We've really noticed that her hand/eye coordination is improving significantly! She is napping right now, but we're going to give her rice cereal before her next feeding! I'll post the video soon, so stay tuned! :) Love to all!

Happy 4 months, pumpkin girl!!

I just put our sweet little pumpkin to bed! Today is her four-month birthday! I sang "Happy Birthday" to her this morning and several times this evening: She just grinned! :) One of the best things about Avaree is that she could care less what kind of day I've had or how I look, she just loves me unconditionally. Being a Mom has certainly changed my life! I now understand how God must feel about us: he doesn't care how we come to him, as long as we come. When I was a teenager, we sang a praise song that said "If I could just sit with you a while: I need you to hold me." How true!
We went to the doctor this afternoon and learned that Avaree weighs 15 lbs, 7 oz and is in the 75th-90th percentile for her weight. She is in the 90th percentile for her height at 25 and 1/4 inches and the sweet little baby is still in the 50th percentile for her head! :) We had a wonderful visit with Dr. Weiser and learned that Avaree can start adding rice cereal (with a spoon!) to her diet!! :) How fun! Brandon and I are certainly anxious to watch this...but we're going to wait until we can set the video camera up and do it right! :) Thanks for checking up on our sweet baby girl! I will post pictures this weekend! Love!