15 month check up

Averi just turned 15 months and is more wild then ever! Her vocab is expanding like crazy, she says "dog, "MAMA", "DADA" "Na" (for nana), "PaPa" (for papa and for PopPop), MeME (for Meemom), "no", "baby", "ove u" (love you), "hi" and "Bye bye" and her new fav "mine" I am sure she says others that we just can not interpret as of yet! She runs EVERYWHERE, loves to be outside, is head over heals for her daddy and LOVES to talk to him on the phone! She is a snuggler, she will sit on our laps and watch Veggie tales or cartoons, and is never short on hugs and kisses! She has dance moves like I've never seen and LOVES music...her favorite toys are her baby dolls, and her curious George! This age is SO fun!
Averi had her 15 month check up yesterday, she is 25lbs and 32 inches... I didn't catch what percentage that put her in but they said she looked GREAT! Everything seemed fine and the Doctor was pleased with her growth and development, she even showed him her "Sofie" which is actually her belly button, we've seemed to have confused her by showing her my belly and telling her Sofie was inside because now all belly buttons are Sofies!
There was one worrisome thing at her check up that we would ask you to pray for, about a month ago Averi had a severe skin reaction to what we assumed was peanut butter. We took her to the doctor and saw the 1st available pediatrician who was not one I had ever seen, he was very nice but despite my concerns did not want to test Averi to ensure us her allergy was peanuts he in fact told us that it would be fine to give her peanuts again at age two. Well at her check up yesterday one of the two doctors we regularly see asked me about her having come in for an allergic reaction, I explained what had happened and what the other doctor said... lets just say he was a little heated at the other doctor! He told us by no means should we give her peanuts now or at two if we think she may have an allergy because her allergy could go away or it could in fact get worse and we could seriously harm her by giving them to her! He was very thorough he went ahead and had blood taken from Averi to run an allergy test for peanuts and said if it came back positive we would have to carry an Epi pen. We should know for sure next wednesday if she has the allergy. I was pretty upset at the other doctor for not being as thorough and upset at myself for not pushing for the allergy test when the problem occurred but EXTREMELY glad one of our regular doctors had the sense to test her despite what the other doctor said! Anyways say a little prayer that she doesn't have an allergy and it was a one time problem and if she does have the allergy we will learn how to handle it!
WE LOVE YA AVERI You ARE FUNNY, GORGEOUS and a DELIGHT to wake up to everyday!

Date weekend

our sweet friends kept averi for the weekend in order to give us some alone time before Sofia comes! Friday night we went to Cheesecake factory and then headed to the Palace to see the old movie "The Invisible Man" it was in black and white and only cost 5 bucks, what a fun date!



We slept in on Saturday and I made Kevin breakfast in bed! Then we started steam cleaning carpets and setting up the nursery for two babies! We ended the day by staying up late and watching a movie together!What fun we had just being together and now I can relax feeling much more organized for our second child's homecoming!

our girl...

I caught Av being a little mama to her GI joe doll... putting him to bed on the potty! I had to prompt her to get her to do it again, oh so cute!


Here is Av playing with our dog lance...

28 weeks

We are officially twenty eight weeks pregnant and in our third trimester... can you believe how fast this pregnancy is flying by, I am amazed that somewhere around the next three months we will get to meet our second daughter!
I had a visit with my midwife this afternoon and she said everything was going great! My weight gain was on track, blood pressure perfect, passed my gestational diabetes test (I actually struggled with av to keep a high enough blood sugar level but the test said my levels were right where they needed to be! And I feel pretty good!) She checked Sofias heart beat and as always said "wow she is REALLY active!" Which she is, my belly goes wild all day everyday- so fun! I start going every two weeks to the doctor now and then will begin going every week until Sofies birthday! Keep praying for a healthy baby and healthy Mama... also join us in praising God for a healthy pregnancy thus far!
We Love you Sofia Pearl and can not wait to count your fingers and toes, to cuddle you and kiss you... you are a blessing!

Saturdays with daddy...

For two years Kevin has faithfully gone into Applebees Friday night after he gets out of his regular job and then gets up Saturday mornings to work a double, do not ask me how the man does it, he is AMAZING! We were at a point where he could drop Saturdays at Applebees the month we found out we were expecting Sofia... and since the last several months we have had a TON of money going out in unexpected expenses (kitchen flooded... air conditioner broke... van died!) thank goodness we had his tips to lean on!
Since I have stopped watching extra kids and began working nearly 30 hours a week (in two days!) at the nursing home Kevin has decided to drop Saturday mornings to spend with Av and I...especially as I am growing larger and becoming more exhausted by the day, his presence is desperately needed! He still goes in at 5pm to close on Saturdays and works Friday nights but all afternoon Saturdays is Av and mines! We took him to our favorite spot last Saturday...the zoo! Where Av pointed EVERY animal out to him and proclaimed "DOG" it doesn't matter if it is an elephant, penguin or zebra in her book they are all "DOG"! What fun to share a day off with Kevin! I am incredibly blessed to have a husband who is SO willing to work extra for our family, even tho I miss him like CRAZY when he isn't home!
Kevin also never ceases to spoil me! One of my biggest cravings with both my girls has been banana splits, with Av I never denied myself this pleasure... but determined to save money and not gain a bunch of weight this time I have only had two throughout the last 28 weeks... well Kev surprised me with Banana split ice cream sandwiches from walmart, we both agreed that they weren't very good, but it was the thought that counts! He also surprised me with Roses... do you see why I am so in love with this guy... he always makes me feel loved and beautiful, even when I feel pregnant, swollen, and Fat!!! We love you Kev... thank you for all you do!

proffesional wedding shots

Here are a few of the professional shots from the wedding I was in in May... what a fun day! Lindsay was a beautiful bride and it was so fun to take part in a wedding with my closest girlfriends... aren't they all just beautiful? I am blessed beyond measure to have friends that love and care for me and my family like they do... I adore these women!







...Lindsay and I have been friends for years, what a blessing to stand in her wedding as she did in mine two years ago! Here are some similar pictures from each others special day!
Here I am crawling under Lindsay's dress making sure all the tulle lays just right...


... and here is Lindsay crawling under my dress making sure all that tulle was laying right! What are friends for?!!!

A birthday note from Averi and Sofie

Dear Nana,
Happy birthday! Thank you for loving me so much! For holding me, rocking me, playing with me, dancing with me, and always making me giggle! I wish I got to see you more and miss you when we are apart! I always look forward to our trips to Nashville because I know I am going to get the best nana lovins as soon as I get there! Thank you for all you do for my family... we all love and appreciate you!
Love, Averi










Dear Nana,
Happy birthday! Averi, mommy and daddy keep telling me how great you are! I am looking forward to meeting you in a few more months! Thank you for already loving me and praying for me as I grow inside mommy... I love you already!
Love, Sofie

poor Av

Kevin picked up an extra shift at applebees on Thursday and I went to my girlfriend Lindsay's apartment to go over a book we have been reading together. Lindsay's husband was so sweet and offered to watch Av while Lindsay and I went over the book... while we were talking I received this picture on my phone...

... He had dressed her up in hunting gear! She looks so cute but oh so miserable, she may not be a hunter like her daddy hopes!

Parents day out!

I got home at 630 this morning from a twelve hour shift at the nursing home took a shower, played with Av for a few minutes and by 730 was sound asleep. Kevin came in to tell me he was heading off to take Av to her first day of Parents day out! I was both nervous and excited for her, she is only going one day a week from 930-130 but this is really the first child care we have utilized outside of friends and family besides church nursery where we are familiar with the people and are in the same buiding! I should not have been worried though because our girl took it like a pro! Kev said when he dropped her off she seemed a little leary so he went in with her and showed her the toys and it was smooth sailing from there!
I picked up a worn out yet happy baby girl at 130! They said she hadn't fussed at all and was a joy to keep!She ate her lunch well and played with the other kiddos! When I came in she was showing off her dance moves to the other kids (they had childrens music playing!). It was hard to let her go but a milestone none the less, she did GREAT! And now I dont have to be back at work until Sunday so the next three days I get my girl all to myself, besides sharing her with her daddy!

My camera battery died this morning but I caught a couple of pictures of our big girl and daddy heading off to her first day of Parents Day Out pn my cell phone!

26 weeks

Went to the doctors this morning for a routine visit and everything with miss Sofie seems great! They did the test for gestational diabetes and I had to drink the awful orange drink, I hate that thing, the taste is not terrible but I guess because it is so sweet it always burns my throat, I had been dreading drinking that stuff for the last four weeks knowing it was coming up!
I had to see the new midwife in my practice instead of my regular midwife. She is younger then my regular midwife and has a son the exact same age as Averi, she was SUPER sweet! I have REALLY enjoyed having a midwife this time vs having a male doctor as I did with Averi. Don't get me wrong I liked my doctor with Averi he was very kind but it seems to me that both of the midwives in this practice REALLY try to take their time with you... there is NO rush and you can feel free to ask a million questions, they are also avid supporters of natural birth which is great! I really feel we made a wise decision in switching practices for our second pregnancy! I would suggest my midwife to ANYONE looking for a doctor while pregnant, seriously GREAT experience thus far!
Kevin and I and our dear friends Chris and Laura (who are expecting a daughter the same day we are due with Sofia) have been attending Bradley classes together for 5 weeks now. For those that don't know Bradley classes are 12 week prep classes for natural child birth(that's right I don't want an epidural this time, i had a crazy experience with my epidural last time and would rather not relive it a second time!)... so far the class has been pretty good and given us a lot of information on pain control without drugs as well as practical exercises you can do in order to prep your body for delivery.
I decided to take the classes after some women at our church who have had successful natural deliveries suggested them to me. The four of us have liked them for the most part but are taking it all with a grain of salt! I am by no means an Epidural hater, heck I had one with Av, I just don't want one again! I am also by no means a person who thinks you are harming/ drugging your baby by using an epidural for pain control... I think it is TOTALLY a personal decision and to be honest whether you have a natural birth, epidural birth or Csection you still gave birth and as long as mother and baby are happy and healthy you did great- the Bradley class is pretty headstrong anti epidural or drugs so the four of us have had some conversations about being too extreme! I just want to know how to manage the pain on my own and therefore hopefully not feel like I need the epidural so badly or feel so out of control as I did with Av! The Bradley class is GREAT on giving you practical information on how to prepare your body for delivery, managing pain naturally, giving you confidence that you can do it without drugs, breastfeeding, and postpartum care so in that sense alone I am a HUGE fan, I just block out the extreme statements! We really have enjoyed it!

Here is Sofia Pearl and me at 26 weeks!



WE LOVE YOU SOFIE AND CANT WAIT TO SEE YOUR SWEET FACE!!! WE ARE ENJOYING ALL YOUR SQUIRMS AND KICKS!!!

videos from the fourth

Averi LOVES to play outside! She would be out there all day if I could let her!
Here is our big girl riding her first four wheeler!

4th of July

We had a great fourth in TN with Kevins family this year! With the upcoming arrival of Sofia taking a "real" vacation this summer was not in the budget so instead we spent five wonderful days at Kevins parents farm! Some of our friends from TN even came and stayed all day Saturday and Sunday with their three girls!
We went to this small church that puts on a HUGE firework show and has hay rides and bouncers for the kids- the kids got to do everything they wanted too but as soon as we sat down to watch the fireworks the RAIN started to pour, so we saw maybe two or three fireworks go off! But oh well we still has a great time! We always have such fun with Kevs fam, and getting to see our friends was an added bonus! We only wish we had more weeks like that to relax!

Averi follws her cousin Addison all over the place! He is really good about playing with her!




These pictures are a little blurry... the is me and my FIVE POUND CAT FISH that i caught all on my own!




Pool time





FISHING!






Averi on her first four wheeler




Happy fourth of JULY!