Avs first real hair cut!

So Ive trimmed Averis hair a few times on my own but it was still looking pretty shabby! So today we ventured to Kid O Cuts for her first official hair cut! She loved it, she got to sit in a pink jeep and watch the wiggles while "miss Kathy" quickly trimmed her hair! She then got to play on the slide they have inside the salon and of course got a sucker and a balloon, in one year old world this is a very exciting morning! She looks as cute as can be with her new do... her bangs are evenly trimmed and her awkward side burns she grew in the back are evenly trimmed! the side of her hair is still way shorter then the back so it will take a few more cuts to give her that cute little bob I want so badly for her to have, but that is A- OK we will get there!

one and a half

Our sweet Av,
Mommy is a little late on posting this...but better late then never! I can not believe you have been here a year and a half! It seems like only yesterday I called your daddy and asked him to pick up a digital pregnancy test because I got two lines on a test I had just taken... I knew when I saw those lines our lives were going to change, and when your daddy and I read the word "pregnant" on my second and third test I was THRILLED and TERRIFIED!
After thirty eight weeks and three days and 17 and a half hours of labor you finally came! We had waited anxiously for this day, seeing glimpses of you on an ultrasound, seeing you kick, and praying for your health you were in our arms! You have been beautiful since day one!
At 18months you are so happy! You dance and scream in delight! You always want to sit on our laps and have us read you stories... your favorite story is "I'm a Big sister" we read it at least ten times a day! You sleep through the night, you take one nap a day and you love your baby dolls... you drag your curious George (who you like to have diapered) your Auburn bear and your blankie from Aunt Ruthie everywhere! You give kisses and hugs freely! You chat it up all day long, there are times we do not know what you are saying but we always enjoy listening!
You are a daddy's girl and cheer so loud when he finally gets home from work! But if you are upset or need comforted you want your Momma! You have the most gorgeous eyes and have finally grown a head full of hair! You are perfectly lovely in every regard! You are a jewel!
On the exact day you turned one and a half, October 21st...you also became a big sister! A big sister is a huge under taking for a one and a half year old! But you have adjusted so well... you love on your sister and try so hard to help! You always want to put her Binky back in her mouth and always want to hold her, you call her "mine baby"... We know you will always look out for baby Sofie and pray you two will grow to be best of friends!
It has been the biggest privilege of my life to be your mommy Averi Noel Yates... God has blessed my life more then I ever could have asked when he gave me your daddy to marry and you and your sister to mother! We love you sweet girl!

sisters

I am so privileged to watch these two grow up together!

Parents Day Out!

Averi still attends PDO once a week! She loves it and it has been so fun to watch her interact with other kids her age! Her teachers are so sweet- they adore Averi and she does them as well, she never leaves without giving "miss Amanda" a hug! Her teachers tell us her favorite part of PDO is music class... they say she dances through the whole thing and keeps the whole room laughing! Not that this comes as a suprise, Averi dances all day long to any music!
She recieved an award at her halloween party for "best pirate costume"...go AV! Since Sofie is so little we didnt get to take them trick or treating so her halloween party ended up being her only Halloween celebration! She came home with lots of candy and seemed pleased though so I'm not worried!




Yesterday we found out she had recieved another award at PDO! This one made me and Kevin so proud we could burst! She is Novemebers student of the month... you recieve student of the month by displaying kindness to others, sharing and loving your friends... the letter they sent home said Av has displayed all of these behaviors and is therefore student of the month! We are working diligently on discipline and were so pleased she has shown good behavior at school!

sofies birth

I cant believe she has been here ten days... We can not imagine our world without her in it!

Maternity/family shoot

Thanks to Rachel Marshman and her wonderful talent behind the camera we have these great memories of our pregnancy with Sofia and Averi just weeks before she officially became a big sister!Thank you Rachel!

week one

Sofia has been here one week!!! We can not believe it! She is a GREAT baby! She struggled with jaundice for the first week home which resulted in lots of time in a light box they sent to our house and several trips to the hospital to get labs drawn... today we went for her one week check up and got the good news that she was allowed to come out of the light box and was up to 7lbs in weight, she has already passed her birth weight (GO SOFIE GO!). She has taken to nursing so well, we have had zero problems! She is a sweet baby and we are tired yet enjoying having her in our family!
Averi is doing well too... she wants to touch and hold her "baby" and does not seem to be jealous. She has struggled a little more with fits and going to bed, but we figure it is all part of so many changes. After some extra stories and cuddles she went to bed very well tonight! She too is a joy!
Kevins parents just headed home a couple hours ago! We can not express how much we appreciate them... they took such good care of us this last week. Playing and caring for Averi, taking night shifts to watch Sofie in her light box, changing diaper after diaper, cleaning our house, cooking us meals, doing our laundry...the list goes on and on. We love them so and are incredibly blessed to have their help, we miss them already!
Right now Averi is sound asleep... and sofie is snuggled with her daddy in our bed watching TV... life is good!