Sharing My Jennarocity

NO, I am not pregnant. Just putting that out there.   I've been giving alot of thought to it lately, though. I know my parents are reading this, thinking I am nuts for even writing those words or considering another one, but I can't help it.   It's weird when you have two kids that are yours but aren't yours, but you still have to pay for them and take care of them and they are still your "kids" but you didn't give birth to them. We have three, but most of the time, we just have one. And she's my one and only. Jason has three but I really only have had one. I have those inclinations, like most peoeple do after having one, to have more because I love Avery and she's so much fun. Sometimes, it's not always fair to me, in that regard. Jason and I didn't even know if we wanted one at all, before Avery. Then we had her and she's such a joy. I didn't want anymore, not until recently.   There's so much that goes into it. D...

Avery has always loved books. She used to love to chew on them too. She's always loved to be read to, to look at them, and to be told stories to. Here are some pictures of her with books over the last couple years...             Well, that trend has certainly continued. Now, it's really cool because she is starting to tell us "stories" by the pictures she sees.     And of course, Bella is NEVER too far away. Or, in most cases, she's right in your face.   I so hope Avery continues loving to read!  

We got a potty a few months ago and tried it a couple times, but Avery just wasn't ready. In the last month, she tells us every time she is going to the bathroom in her diaper, she wants us to change the diaper as soon as she goes, and she is normally dry after a nap. So, since I have been off this week, we thought it would be a good opportunity to start the training off again.   I hate that it's so cold, but we have gone by the "nothing on the bottom method." We attempted to let her wear big girl panties, but Sunday she went tee-tee in them twice. We just thought it wasn't enough of a difference to allow her to know she needed to use the actual potty. She didn't really want to get on the potty at first. I assumed it was because she didn't like being on the big potty so I went and got her a little potty. That doesn't work at all. She thinks its a toy and hasn't gone on it yet. But by Monday, she started really catching on. She went in the pott...

Well, in the last two weeks, I've gone to the office one day. It's been nice, for sure. Like, really really nice. I go back Monday, I am sure by then, I will be ready, but today, I enjoyed spending the day with my sister and the three kiddos!   I took the kids to the Fort Worth Science Museum and we had a great time! Leslie got to come with us and I am so glad she did, it was so nice to have an extra set of hands! Here are some pictures! Sophia laid on the bed of nails, pretty cool!       Jenna and Leslie's Day of Fun! (oh and Avery picking her nose, apparently.)           They even had a play grocery store. All of the food was in carts, so the shelves were bare!             

I did post this on Facebook already, but I just love it too much not to include it on the blog!   I am so glad these bloomers still sem-fit her. They are 12 months, but I use them from time to time...    I promise I will post some pics tonight of the house!

This morning, Avery put on my tennis shoes and walked around in them. She loves to do that, especially in shoes that aren't hers!   I thought her outfit looked very Uma Thurman, circa Pulp Fiction. She loves putting on our shoes and she LOVES to close herself some doors! Especially when she is closing us IN or OUT of somewhere! Bye bye mommy! I am going to post some pictures of the house soon, hopefully tomorrow will by my "hanging pictures and various decor" day!

Avery went and stayed with my dad during our move. Her Aunt Leslie was also there! They went to the Gopher football game. I think they only made it almost through the first half, but she still got to see everything!     Bedtime! I just love this picture.   My pappaw would ALWAYS take us out for breakfast. My parents have certainly continued on that tradition. We have a place called Outlaws in GP that we go to eat. Pops, Leslie and Avery went on Saturday. And they have this funny Outlaw in the front door!   It's really too bad Avery has no one to love on her and take her fun places in her life. Right?!?       

I just keep wondering WHERE Avery gets these funny faces she makes for the camera!   Oh. Right.     

Avery is in Awanas at church this year. She is a PUGGLE! So cute. Anyway, last week they learned about the sun and last night they learned that God made the trees! So Avery's wonderful teachers, Miss Erika and Miss Anita, went outside and took pictures of them by trees. Why can't I get a picture of Avery smiling like this??  And this at this beautiful shot Miss Anita caught... That's going to make a beautiful portrait in our new house!!!

          Apparently, the only time I can get a clear shot is when my daughter is watching TV!  

I love Finding Nemo . When it's on, even when the kids aren't around, I would probably still watch it. So when I found out they were releasing it in 3D, I knew Avery should go. I told my parents they should take her! So they went and picked her up as a surprise yesterday and took her to the movies! Mom said she did really well, considering how long it was! They said she did a good job wearing her glasses and ate lots and lots of popcorn (no surprise there). I was so proud of her!! Mom said the movie time was moved to an hour later than what they thought, so they got there a little early, which gave them time to shop (Lord, help us!)... Candy, of course! So many animals! Do your kids have Pillow Pets and are they worth it? Then, I got this awesome picture from my sister. That's my two month old niece, sitting in a Bumbo, holding her head up like a champ! You seriously have no idea how strong this child is, even from when she was born! I changed her diaper one ...

One word that describes Avery these days: BUSY. She is busy all. the. time. Her favorite things to do are play with her "babies," sing, play the piano, run around, and play with her sissy. She especially loves her babies. Ever since Colbi came into the picture especially, she is really into caring for them. Covering them up, putting them in her stroller, carrying them from one place to another, kissing and hugging them, then after all of that, throwing them on the floor. In a loving way, of course. Avery's vocabulary is growing leaps and bounds. I am blown away with how many words she knows and the phrases she is using these days. She can sing full songs (not with the clearest words) but she can sing Twinkle, Twinkle, Jesus Loves Me, The Alphabet Song, and If You're Happy and You Know It. Her memory for music is so advanced....she can listen to a song once or twice and have parts of it memorized immediately. Jason and I are always so surprised that when we've...

No you can't read my sticker face....     Who would have known toddlers love stickers? She just kept putting them on me. There is something soothing about kids brushing your hair, doing your makeup, or stickering your face....they just take their time and are really being artistic! Or is it just me? Even if I do come out scary after the fact!  

I was SOOO excited when I got an invitation to come to my friend April's son's 2nd birthday party. April is my special friend whom I knew for about 2 years in GP our junior and senior year, but then she moved away to the Big Apple and has been there ever since. It's really funny to think we've kept in touch all these years. I've been to visit her twice in NYC, which were some of my most fond memories, and she's only been down here to see me a couple of times. So 14 years later, a handful of visits and lots of phone convos, we are still pretty good friends. We always joke about how our lives mimic each other. She has a stepson who is 11 and has a son who is now 2 (today, actually!) We've been talking about seeing each other this year to get the kids together but just haven't been able to do it. Her parents live outside of Waco, so when I was invited to go to Lucas' birthday party, I just couldn't wait!   Lucas is just a beautiful little boy. And b...