Movin' On Up

After months of looking and looking and l-o-o-k-i-n-g...we found a house we both loved. From the moment we pulled up we felt like this could be home, inside and out. We are so fortunate to have family that continuously helped us look for the right house suitable for us and our preferences; located closer to both our parents then we were (finally!!!), financially suitable for us and enough rooms for our family and hopefully a little brother or sister for Avery in the next two years.

We get the keys January 11, 2008.

Much Thanks to Aunt Jean (there Jean!!), Shannon, Mom and everyone who helped in the process.

Daddy&Me - Guide to Bathing

1st. You will need one dirty baby. Preferably after a messy dinner. Strip him down to his/her birthday suit.

2nd. Add dirty baby & toys (dirty baby - clean toys all you smart butts!!!.) Wash & rinse.

Last but not least. Dry.

If you know anything about Avery you'll be quick to notice that he is, well, big!!! The run of the mill baby tubs just don't seem to cut it. When Jarod and I would give him a bath his legs would be hanging out the sides or at least some part of him.

When we first found out we were having Avery we got to experience the fun of registering for our baby shower. Getting ahold of Targets registry scanner was like "being a kid in a candy store" to say the least. Especially because other people are buying the candy for you!!!

I am pretty sure it was one of the first items scanned and I remember clearly how excited Jarod was when he spotted the inflatable duck tub. Whoever got this for us at our baby shower thank you!!! The appropriate age listed is for infants/babies 6 months old and up. Needless to say Avery will probably outgrow this tub in the next few months...really.

Babies-R-Us ~ Halloween Edition

(Austin as Tigger, Avery as a Horse, Lauren as a Kitty & Morgan as a Duck.)

Halloween was a first for all the baby cousins. Austin just turned 1, Avery & Lauren are about to be 6 months old in about a week...can you believe they are only 2 days apart in age! Morgan will be turning 2.

So for me this Halloween marked a start of new memories to come of Avery, it's our first Holiday, though an insignificant one, as a family . Quite bittersweet for me though. It happens so fast, the kids are growing up! And so am I. I was driving through the neighborhood on the way to Jody's where there was going to be a get together for the all the babies and their parents. As I said it was a bittersweet moment, it was exciting to experience Avery's first Halloween but sad to know that I had to grow up!! I mean I know I am an adult but have always felt young at heart. Once you become a parent you sometimes forget what its like to be carefree with the rush of all the doctors appointments, sleepless nights and being your child's caretaker. BUT I am thrilled to know that each year Avery will have his cousins to explore his childhood with!! I imagine they are going to be quite an adventurous bunch...

Wish You Were Here...

"... See there's this place in me where your fingerprints still rest, your kisses still linger, and your whispers softly echo. It's the place where a part of you will forever be a part of me."
--Gretchen Kemp

Thankful. Each morning I wake up next to someone I love more then the day before...smiling. I am always hitting the snooze button, just 5 more minutes. I hear Avery stirring and I know I need to get my tired butt outta bed and get us ready for the day...I hate leaving that warm bed. I never get to say those simple over rated words, "Good morning baby." Jarod's shift is slowly wearing on me. As I leave for work he is just starting his morning of sleep...I always have to whisper goodbye and lightly leave a kiss, not wanting to wake him up...but I never even got to say hello.

I miss you.

Our Family

I took this idea from anneruthmann.blogspot.com

Daddy's Boy

Open wide!! Avery has started eating veggies...the mushed up ones of course!! Daddy was at work and we had to clean up the mess all by ourselves!!

Big big m-e-s-s to clean up...look at that little monkey :)

Tonight we met Grandma & Grandpa for dinner. As usual I brought my dinner home, to-go. Avery seems to get very upset when I make any attempt to eat in public or otherwise. As a result, I am usually seen wondering around outside aimlessly ;). On our way home I watched the sunset in my rearview mirror, thankfully Avery was now fast asleep and some reminiscent songs were being played on the radio...bittersweet. It's that time of night when I realize the most how much I miss Jarod. You see, Jarod and I work completely different shifts. I am away each weekday from 7am-4:30pm and Jarod from 3pm-3am ~ Yes, you read it right the first time!! There are so many moments I quickly grab my phone to record a short video, such as Avery rolling over or a picture like Avery's first time on the swing at the park. We both work hard to support our family and in the process miss so much. Family is a wonderful thing and when you have one it becomes the most important. So, tonight Jarod, even thought you probably won't even get a chance to read these words as they are typed, we love you and can't wait until you get home so we can get our good morning kisses. (Daddy you are the best and always make me laugh. I am sorry I cry so much but I miss you all the time ~ XoXo Avery.)

Introducing.....Liam!!!

Baby Liam on the move!!

Daddy & Avery looking at fish. (Can you see little Avery's head?)

I'm sure it's pretty obvious how sick they both are of me taking a million pictures!!

I just starting sitting for a handsome little devil named Liam. Jarod, Avery and I met Liam and his family at the Millpond in Brighton to play.
Avery and Daddy sat on the ponds edge and looked for fish. It was Avery's first time at the park.
Liam is so much fun and just about to start walking. Avery, Liam and I go to the park in our town almost every morning when the weather permits. I am so so very thankful that I had the opportunity to find a job that permits me to stay with my son everyday!! In my opinion he is too young for daycare and I just can't let that little monkey go :).

Family Style

Ryan, KT, Jarod, Me, Krys, Adam on the South Lyon Hotel balcony.

My Birthday kiss from my now finance!!

There was a live band performing that night and I was gladly serenaded with a Birthday song...which I requested for myself!! Hey, as I said...don't get out much!! I'm bummed I never caught the name of their band to post...my bad.

I swear I heard whispering as I was about to make my exit from the bathroom...thanks guys, Birthday cake in the bathroom...they didn't even give me chance to zip my pants!! Love you guys!!

It was so nice to get out for the night and actually wear clothes that had no baby spit-up on them, funny enough as I just typed that (with Avery on my lap) he drooled on my arm :). He's on cue, huh? No really, it meant a lot to me that everyone went out of their way to make my Birthday feel special. As I have gotten older it feels so good to be closely involved with a few people who you know really do love you and you them, then to be around more than a handful of frauds. You know how it goes. The funniest part of my night out was of course constantly calling Grandma to see how Avery was and missing him the whole time. Oh, if any of you were wondering, the cake WAS delicious.

Finally! Finally! Finally!

Alright, this is gonna be a hard one for me to accept...I'm going out tonight! Grandma has volunteered out of the goodness of her heart to baby-sit overnight and Nana is taking over tomorrow. Yes, brace yourselves! I am so excited. I never knew how much I would be a slave to our home once Avery was born, actually before Avery was born. Just a few months into my OBESE pregnancy (those who saw me at the end stop being in denial about the size ~ 65 lbs. weight gain ick!) I was so tired and didn't want to go out. Same with now, I am so exhausted and Avery can't even walk yet but boy is he demanding. I love him but sometimes he makes me crazy!! Anyhow, I am so so so looking forward to tonight! We (Me, Sis, My Bro-in-Law Adam, Mark & Jarod) reserved the second balcony at the South Lyon Hotel.

I Have Been Waiting!!

If you knew how many days I have waited just to update my blog! Yes, I am aware probably only 2 people in the universe read it but it is my only recreational activity...no really. Well my Birthday has come and gone this past Wednesday, I am now 27 years old...argh. I will get over it I am sure. I had a nice dinner at Shannon's with my fav main dish, meatloaf! I also got REALLY nice photo collages of Avery, Jarod and I framed from Shannon (Jarod's Mom) and Jody (Jarod's Sis-in-Law.) I will have to post photos soon of the quilt his Mom also gave us, it has stick people figures with our names above them, too cute!!

Yesterday we went to Jarod's family party; tons and tons of great food! There were so many babies there we could have marched them in their own parade. Avery's Auntie Jody and Amanda took pictures of Avery and all his cousins. When I get them I will post them. Here are some photos of what has been going on our tiny side of the world lately. Enjoy!!

We have a celebrity in the house!! Here is Avery with his cousin and nationally acclaimed best-selling author Lauren L. Wehner. Her security even let us close enough for an autograph which we have recently listed on ebay.


Too cute!! Jody feeding Lauren/ Shannon feeding Avery. Can you believe these babies were born only two days apart!?

Avery the big boy sitting in his new Bumbo!

Avery and Mommy taking a rest. Look how big that little guy is getting!!

The Most Important Part...

My future Husband and I.

Auntie KT and I taking a break.

Jarod and Ryan skipping stones on Mackinaw Island.

Think about it, what is of most importance to you? For me, I have come to find that my happiness lies in my very own family, Jarod and Avery. To me now, taking joy in life is love, happiness and contentment. Tonight, I think it fell upon my 3rd or 4th time peaking in on Avery sleeping I thought, this is true happiness: I am with a wonderful man who loves me and our child as well as being a part of our parents and extended family who are so caring and generous and encourages us to bloom daily. Every day that I have with Jarod and Avery feels like a blessing. I feel truly blessed. I feel like my life's journey, good or bad, has all led me to this point I have always been waiting for but never dreamed could possibly be.

The Engagement ~ 05/August/2007
...But I've left out the best part, how we became engaged. On our last day in Mackinaw city Jarod and I went to the beach front to unwind before our long car ride home. We only had a few minutes and the conversation was getting a bit suspicious! You couldn't ask for more; the beach was completely empty, the waves were crashing, the Mackinaw bridge in full view and we were together. Jarod got down on one knee and pulled out a black box carefully housing an engagement ring...asking me to marry him! I smile about it as I type and share this with you...it made me think, is there anything I wouldn't do for him? The answer is no, I would do everything and anything for this man...he makes me feel complete.

Coming Home Engaged!!

Are we there yet?

Our boat ride from Mackinaw City to the Island. Another one of Avery's firsts.

Avery's first time swimming...lasted only a few minutes.

This is one of my favorite moments of the trip...Thanks for the pic KT!


Mackinaw was beautifully exhausting! Can you believe my lazy butt went on an 8 mile bike ride around the island? Daddy, Aunt Nikki, Auntie KT, Auntie Lindsey, Uncle Ryan and Avery (Yes, Avery!) also went on the ride. How they did it so effortlessly I will never know. We pulled him around in those little carts that attach to your bicycle. He looked so cute and liked it for the most part...i wish I had gotten a photo of him in it!! :( It was Avery's first bike ride but most importantly his first time swimming.

We came home engaged!!

Avery's Big Adventure

Avery is going on his first trip and as well our first as a family. I will be posting photos when we get back home. We are set to leave early tomorrow morning. Wish us a safe journey!!

Camp Avery

So...Tuesday night our AC broke. Avery and I experienced our first camp out ever on the living room floor. I believe our apartment hit about 85 degrees and up. It was hot!! I stripped that little man down to his diaper and we laid on the floor by the patio door. We put a fan by the screen...sadly Mommy couldn't remember whether to position the fan to blow the air in or out!! It proved to be quite an interesting night.

Is It Friday Yet?

It's been a long week! Such a long week in fact that I can barely remember what day it is (by the was I just found out it was Saturday)...oh wait, that's just a little taste of parenthood for ya, right? The days of pondering what your going to wear for the day...not so much. For me, pajamas. Pajamas are my new uniform. Hair really doesn't need to be styled anymore when your new hairdo for the day is either a ponytail or let's see, a ponytail. Because let's be honest, baby drool is no replacement for hair gel!

~ Coming Soon ~
A rare in-store appearance by Avery's cousin and acclaimed Author, Lauren L. Wehner. She will be signing her highly anticipated biography titled, "I Knew Him - The Trials and Tribulations of a Boy Named Avery."

Avery's Pizzeria

Today's Special:
1 Supreme slice of heaven ~ Priceless

Welcome to the first installment of the love of my life...Avery! We are currently accepting applications.

It's funny how this photo came about...from the moment I found out we were pregnant Jarod and I tried to think of all the funny costumes we could put Avery in. We figured even if it wasn't Halloween this baby was going to have quite an extensive collection of disquise! (While he is too young to have a say in it. ;)
"Just think Avery, when you are old enough to date (35 sounds good) I am going to show this to your first girlfriend." LOL.