Happy New Year

Wow, what a wonderful year this has been and I can not wait to see what 2012 holds.  Avalyn is spending the night with Grandma so Jonathan and I are ringing in the new year with some R&R!

Hope everyone has a great night and Happy 2012!

Jumpin & Jivin

We put Avalyn in her toy from  Aunt Kate and we were mesmerized for over a 1/2 hour!  It was soo cute, we laughed so hard.  She loves this thing!  Thank you Aunt Kate.

Christmas

We had a wonderful wonderful Christmas.  It was so much more special with Avalyn in our lives.  Boy was she spoiled!  Everyone seemed to forget there was a 1 gift per person rule!  It made for a very stuffed vehicle ride home.

Whats this thing on your head?

Love

Avalyn and Mommy

First Christmas

Avalyn with her Aunt Kate

They had lots of fun together

Christmas Cutie

Merry Christmas!

Pretty in Red

Avalyns Christmas Pile!

Oh Christmas Tree

One of my favorite things at Christmas is the tree!  I love turning it on and staring at it.  This year was extra special because I got to hang the "Baby's First Christmas" ornament up.  I had the biggest smile on my face.  Thought I'd capture a few pictures before it's time to take it down.

Almost reaches the ceiling

Jons Favorite Ornament

Handmade from St Lucia, where we took our Honeymoon

Maya loves the tree too!

Happy Holidays!

Those are for ME!?!

4 Month Stats

Sleep: You continue to be a great night sleeper. We said goodbye to the swaddler this month. Around 3 ½ months you started sleeping all the way through the night on most nights. Usually from 7pm to 5am. I think you look forward to our bedtime routine. We dim the lights, turn on your soother, and rock you while you have your bottle. Usually you are asleep right after I burp you. So many nights I rock you long after you are asleep on my shoulder. It’s one of my favorite times of the day. Also at 3 ½ months we found you one morning on your tummy! You have rolled over every night since then. Your naps are still quite short, about an hour. But, you wake up happy and refreshed. Right now you are taking about 3 naps a day.

Feed: You must be going through a growth spurt because you recently started eating a lot more. Your bottles usually range from 4-8 oz. First thing in the morning, or after a long nap, you’ll have a big bottle and then before naptime you’ll have a smaller bottle. No solid food yet, maybe next month.

Weight: 12lb 11oz (40%)
Length: 25 Inches (80%)
Diaper Size: Size 1 diaper

Clothes Size: Some 0-3 and some 3-6. You are long and skinny so the 0-3 months are getting a little short and the 3-6 months give you more leg room but are big in the waist.

Hair:  Still dark and we never know what we are going to get! Sometimes water doesn’t even tame it. I don’t think we ever leave the house without a clip or headband in.

Eye color:  Your eyes are still very dark brown. Sometimes we can’t even see your pupil.

Funniest moment: Your belly laughs, smiles, and jibber jabber keep us entertained! You just belt out little squeals and babbles. It’s adorable. I’m trying to teach you to say “HI” and daddy is still determined to teach you to say “DAA DAA.”

Milestone: You are rolling from back to tummy in both directions! You also continue to have a huge fascination with your hands and are always chewing on them. You’ve started sucking your thumb. You can grab and hold toys. Not sure if its early teething, but you have been drooling quite a bit. When you roll onto your tummy and move your arms and legs all at once, like you are swimming! You can also talk continuously for 20 minutes!

Your favorite toy: You’ve started enjoying the jumperoo. You cant quite reach the floor but we put a blanket under you so you can jump a little bit. Now that you like your tummy more we can put toys around you and you like looking at them and touching them. You also like toys that play music, talk, and have lights. We hung a couple toys on your car seat and you like looking and reaching at them.

Firsts:

Talking Talking Talking!
Sucking your thumb
First Thanksgiving
First trip to Nebraska
First real cold
First diaper blowout
First meeting with your extended family (Daddy’s Side)

Playtime!

Avalyn has really started liking the jumperoo.  She can't quite reach the floor so I prop a blanket under there.  She just wiggles her legs and laughs when the seat bounces up and down.  She's started grabbing toys and of course the first place they go is her mouth!  She's been talking and cooing a lot more, sometimes 20 minutes straight!  Recently she also found her thumb which has quickly become a favorite of her.

Hmm, what is this?

Let me taste test this

Are you about done with the camera?

Life is great since I found my thumb

Happy Baby!

Found a tag!

Wordless Wednesday

Nice Kitty

Our Morning Surprise

When we went to get Avalyn this morning this is what we found.

Hi Mom, Made It All By Myself

Little stinker rolled over last night!    Her first big milestone and we missed it.  Now we can't wait to witness it ourselves! 

Getting Ready For Christmas

Last weekend we pulled all the Christmas stuff out of the basement and I finally finished the tree today.  Things sure take a little longer with a baby in the house!  Well, honestly I was kind of procrastinating because I hate pulling all the pine needles apart on the tree to make it look full.  I wish I could skip right to decorating.    Here's a few pictures of Santa's Little Helper!

Thanksgiving Highlights

We made it through our first Thanksgiving and trip to Nebraska!  Of course, one thing always has to go wrong.   When we first arrived we discovered with forgot something.  FORMULA!  We hadn't realized it sooner because Avalyn slept the entire trip.  The closest grocery store that was open was 20 minutes away.  We had to keep Avalyn entertained for about 50 minutes.  Good thing Dad made it back when he did because she had just about had it with us!!

At Thanksgiving lunch Avalyn was the center of attention, and as usual didn't mind being passed from one persons arms to another.  Even with all the commotion she managed to take a little nap in her stroller.  She did really well traveling and being away from her normal environment and routine.  It was fun getting to introduce her to everyone and the family even had a little baby shower for us.



































Adoption Finalization

We had our Finalization Hearing on November 23rd!  It was so nice because our 3 year wedding anniversary was on the 22nd and then of course Thanksgiving on the 24th.  So we had lots to celebrate and be thankful for.  Our hearing was via conference call so it was nice we didn't have to travel back to Florida.  It was really amazing hearing the Judge say the adoption is final and she was signing off on the petition.  Baby girl is ours FOREVER!!

Happy Family of 3!

Us with the Executive Director, Assistant Director, and Adoption Family Coordinator at our Agency.

Anniversary

It's our 3rd anniversary today!  I loved our wedding and enjoy looking back at pictures.  It was such a special day.  I feel so blessed to have married such a wonderful man!

Bed Head

Morning Sunshine!

Avalyn The Sports Fan

Grandma Donna, Auntie Kate, and Cousin J were in town this weekend to babysit Avalyn while Jon and I went out for our 3rd Anniversary!  Aunt Kate even took the night shift so Jon and I could get a full nights sleep.  So awesome!

Well, with 4 Nebraska fans in the house I'm sure you know Ava had to pull out her Husker Gear.

You may remember this little Husker Cutie at only 2 weeks old!

Look how much she's changed!

Future Nebraska Cheerleader!

Don't I Look Cute In My New Chair?

Yay, Go BIG RED!

Ready For This Game Sock Monkey?

She's added some new bibs, toys, and a sports chair to her collection