Happy 6 months Sweet Drew!!

I took Drew to his 6 month appointment today. Here are his stats:
weight- 18 lbs, 9 oz. (67%)
height- (around the 80%, don't remember exact number)

Drew is still such a happy little guy. He is very easy going and even tempered. (maybe he gets this from his daddy) He loves to play with his sister and giggle at everything she does.

LIKES:
his sister
exercauser
johnny jumper
tummy time playing w/toys
being outside
walks in the stroller
getting a rub down with lotion
sleeping on his tummy
having his bottom pat to fall asleep
nursing, nursing, nursing!
bananas
carseat- does great on road trips, will still sleep in carseat
looking in the mirror
baths!
sucking on anything and everything
to flirt, smiles at everyone
pulling my hair

DISLIKES:
* sun in his eyes
* when I try to rock him to sleep versus nurse him
* watching mommy leave the room
* not a big fan of the bumbo
* sleeping through the night... getting better though w/one feeding at night and stretching it until around 4 or 5!
* peas

Up until about 5 months Drew was not very active. He would be content just laying on the floor, and I could probably count on one hand how many times he had rolled over. Not so much anymore. He loves rolling over, bouncing, jumping, reaching for toys, grabbing at everything in sight (especially Avery and my hair). I think he will be crawling by 7 or 8 months.
Drew is such a blessing in our lives! We love you little guy.

Swine Flu Advice...

Don't go out if you wake up looking like this! :) oink oink!! Hope everyone stays healthy! Seems like the swine is rampid right now...

My sister sent me this link that talks about increasing your vitamin D intake to help better protect yourself from getting the flu.

http://www.foodconsumer.org/newsite/Nutrition/Vitamins/low_vitamin_d_increases_flu_death_risk_in_kids_190920090900.html

Preschool, week 3

So this week has been a little rough for Avery going to Preschool. I was out of town all weekend on a girls trip so thought for a minute maybe this is why she is having difficulty separating herself from me this week. I think that's just not the case. Last year we ended up pulling Avery out of MDO mid year because she became very emotional every time we would get to school. I thought maybe with everything going on (new baby coming) that she was just needing to be home with me. I also thought, well maybe something has happened that has scared her. Who knows, but we ended up pulling her out. This year she is at a new school, a preschool, with more structure, less kids in her class, and kids that are more her age. Last year she had some kids in her class that were almost a year younger. I was really hoping this year would be a better experience. I think it is and will be. However, we are going through a little rough patch right now, which I hope we get out of soon. I had her in extended day on Tuesday's until 2, which I ended up pulling her out of and now pick her up at 11:45. I am not going to pull her out of Preschool this year. This is something she needs and I need. She does fine once they get their day started at the carpet. I know she really enjoys it because she talks about all that they did when I pick her up. This morning I had a talk with her and told her even if she cries she will still have to go to school, she's 3 and big girls go to school. She tells me how she just wants to stay home with me. :( I know she is my little homebody and emotional little girl but this is something I feel will really help her grow in all areas. So Avery, I am doing this for you sweet girl! I know this time we have apart will also help me be a better mommy! I love you and am praying you will be happy at school.
On a side note... we talk to Avery about having a happy heart when she talks mean, gets fussy, or is just in a bad mood. She is an emotional child... just like her mommy... so we try to remind her to take deep breaths and have a happy heart. So I remind her of that before school and as I leave her at school. We have started a job chart (make bed, brush hair/teeth, take bath, etc) and being happy is one of her jobs on her chart. (She gets stickers for each job and money for each day she gets all her stickers. We then take her to the dollar store to use her money she earned to buy a treat. Eventually we will start using this to teach her about the different coins and thier worth.) Anyways, yesterday Drew was acting fussy and getting sleepy. I said, "Drew you are so fussy right now." Avery looked at him and said, "Drew, you are not having a happy heart." Ha.
I know these words are setting in because she does try really hard to change her heart and pull herself together. She will even tell me, "mommy, I am going to have a happy heart!"

* I posted Avery's birthday party pics below if you scroll down to the Avery's 3 post.

Printing my Blog!

I am so excited... a friend told me of a way to print my blog posts! I have been meaning to start printing these posts off so I can keep them, and now I have an easy way to do it!
The site below will create a book for you using your posts. I am also happy to know that all my blogging will not go to waste and I will get to keep these books and look back at all the memories. :)
http://blog2print.sharedbook.com/blogworld/printmyblog/index.html

Yay!

Random...

This is such a random post but something Avery does that I find kinda funny.
So, nap time is a thing of the past most days for Avery, but we still do rest time in her room. Conveniently for her this is also her poop time. So almost everyday I read her books, lay with her 2 minutes, and leave her room. 15-30 minutes later I hear her calling to me that she needs to go poo poo. So I tell her to go and then to get back in bed. Usually she is very slow at going to the bathroom and will sit there for about 15 minutes, again so convenient... but she's really still going so I can't really rush her. I have noticed lately she mimics conversations as she sits there on the potty. Today this is what I heard:
"Hi, how are you? what's your name? oh, olivia?! hi. Hi, how are you? what's your name? Audrey? hi Audrey. Yes, o.k. good. And what's your name? Avery, oh hi Avery." (I realized these are all girls in her gym class so she must be mimicing the teacher?!) She does this a lot these days. She will also whisper to herself conversations, obviously from school or even ones shes had with us. Crazy girl.

Preschool

So, today was Avery's first day to stay for extended day. Guess we won't be doing extended day til 2:00 anymore. As I assumed, she was ready to leave by noon. Her teacher said she didn't think she was quite ready for such a long day because she seemed very sad and sleepy around lunchtime. She told her teacher she was ready to go home and take a nap. Ha... that didn't happen! Just her excuse. So, I have decided I want her to enjoy her school experience and since staying til 2 was more for me, I will pull her out of extended day for the time being. Maybe we'll try again in a few months. My little homebody! Atleast we have 3 more years to get her ready for 5 day/week full day kindergarten. It actually may work out for the best because I had to wake Drew up from his nap. This way maybe I can pick her up, feed her lunch and get them both down for nap. That may be wishful thinking but worth a shot!

Here is a pic. of her from school today. (didn't have my camera last week to get a first day shot)... and I am adding a few of my little man too. I can't believe that he will be 6 months in less than 2 weeks!

Pictures!!

I am a little behind on posts and pictures. These were from our trip to Austin at the end of June, and our trip to Bastrop with my parents and Emily.

Avery dancing with her papa.

playing in the sand

June trip to Austin, Mimi and Papa w/grandbabies

kelly and Avery

Avery's 3!

Avery Catherine
September 8, 2006
7 lbs, 1 oz

Avery turned three yesterday! We celebrated her birthday last Tuesday with a princess party. Her girlfriends all came dressed as princesses. They were so cute! When they got here I had tiaras and wands for them to decorate w/foam princess shapes and jewels. Then Cinderella came! The girls were all so excited. Avery seemed a little star struck and just smiled for the first 30 minutes :) Cinderella took pictures with us, painted the girls nails, read stories, and sang songs. It was such a fun time and the perfect little party for our 3 year old. I unfortunatley don't have pictures to post just yet. We left our camera in Austin last time we were there so I had my friend take pictures at the party, and she is getting them to me on a disc. (thanks Stacy!!) So, I will post those soon!!

Avery also started her first day of Preschool yesterday. The program she is enrolled in starts their "preschool" at the age of 2 1/2. However, most of the kids in her class are all turning 3 this month with the exception of 2. She has 6 kids in her class, 3 boys and 3 girls! I have heard wonderful things about her teacher and this program. I think Avery will really thrive with the structure and self discipline taught this year. I am excited for her and happy she did great her first day. (Again, sad I have no pics to share... may just take them next week and call it her first day pics!) She went in and started playing with playdough so I said my goodbyes. Her teacher said she had a great day and was the "leader" today and this week. (so line leader, teacher helper, etc) When we got in the car I asked her about her day and she told me a little bit about what she did and who her new friends are. I thought she would have taken a nap after school but that wasn't the case, obviously too much excitement. After her rest time though, she told me more about her school day. She told me her teacher, "ringed a bell." I asked her what she was to do when her teacher rang the bell, she said, "line up." I asked her what happens if she doesn't obey, she said, "we get in trouble." so I then asked what happens when you get in trouble, but I think I stumped her with that question.

We ended our day with dinner together, and then out for ice cream. She chose cotton candy ice cream w/m&m's... interesting. When we got home she wanted to play school. Avery was Mrs. Gavigan and I was Avery. She talked in a very kind voice which made me think she must be modeling her teacher, a very good sign!! I also thought to myself... I bet my kids I used to teach went home and did the same thing-- hope they always used my kind voice too :)... parents can learn a lot about a teacher through the way the kids act them out.

We love you Avery! Happy third birthday! Thank you for blessing our lives in more ways than you will ever know.

Christopher

My poor sister and brother in law had to take thier sweet baby boy to the ER Wednesday night after fever caused his heartrate to jump into the high 200's. So scary. I think we all relived the day he was rushed to the ICU when they first recognized his heart condition at birth. When Drew was born I had flashbacks to those phone calls, visions of my poor sister having her baby taken from her, all of the unknowns for what felt like eternity, and the pain the entire family felt. When I got Betsy's text Wednesday night I felt my heart break for her and Cory all over again. (You can go to the "Christopher" link on my page for detailed updates through his care bridge site... they are home now). I came home once again trying to imagine what they go through day in and day out. I can't, but I do know how amazingly strong my sister is and what a witness she is to me and so many others. In the midst of the pain, she recognizes all that they have to be thankful for.
Thank you to my friends who prayed with me the other night, and to those who prayed for him and are always so sweet to check in for updates.

I just found this in an e-mail from my mom (Upper Room devotional) & thought I would share since it goes along w/my post and may be helpful to read for all of you who have suffered and/or suffering...

The Mystery of Suffering

Today's ScriptureJesus said, "Remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age."
-Matthew 28:20 (NRSV)

FOR centuries, theologians and philosophers have grappled with the problem of human suffering. Some regard suffering as a consequence of sin -- an explanation that cannot be dismissed entirely, for the Bible tells us, "Do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for you reap whatever you sow" (Gal. 6:7). Others believe suffering can come as a test of faith, and the Bible suggests that this can also be true, as in the case of Job. And the Bible tells us that at times suffering may be a learning experience, with God as our benevolent teacher (Heb. 5:8 and 12:7-11).
I have had to conclude, however, that often we cannot find an acceptable reason for suffering. Too frequently, suffering just doesn't make sense and accomplishes no good that we can see: A baby is born seriously deformed. A mother dies of breast cancer. An airplane crashes, killing scores of passengers.
Yet through it all -- however heavy our burdens, no matter what our tribulations or anguish -- we have the promise that in our times of suffering nothing can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Rom. 8:35-39). With this assurance, we can find consolation and courage to move forward in faith, knowing that this world is not our home and trusting that someday the mysteries of life will be explained.
Ralph Lord Roy (Connecticut, USA)
Prayer
In our times of disappointment and despair, O God, may we feel your presence and find strength in your word. Amen. --- Upper Room Devotional, The mystery of Suffering