Saturday Morning Muffins

Last Saturday morning we had a big day ahead...a trip to Nonna and Poppa's house, of course! But, there's always time for muffin making with my favorite two year old, right? I decided it would be quicker and safer on the floor than the counter! So the fun began...

...Avery carefully studied each ingredient 

(oh this was pre-bathtime, please excuse the bed-head!)

She even got to pour in the oil (with a little help from mama)

She didn't really understand the whole 'cracking' the egg part. Instead she just threw them in and I would scoop them out and crack them :)

Stirring was her favorite thing to do. Just after I snapped this picture that spoon moved towards her mouth and I let out a "NOOO!!!" All I could think of was raw egg! 

After that little incident, she had to pout, of course. Because she's two me saying "NO!" equals, well, this:

After the momentary meltdown passed, she decided to come back to help. She carefully placed each blueberry in one at a time...

Until I realized that could take 20 minutes and showed her the art of dumping!

More stirring, a few minutes in the oven and voila -

!

 Saturday morning muffins!

Wordless Wednesday

Expensive Taste

I noticed a commercial for LelliKelly shoes that would run during Dora. Every time it comes on now Avery says, "Ohhhhhh Shoooooes!!!" I thought it was so cute, since this is the first thing she's ever noticed that she wanted. Although, I thought the shoes were pretty hideous, I figured it would be worth it if she loved them as much as she did when she saw them on TV. I googled them to order a pair, thinking they would be around $30. Ummmm...no. $73 a pair! Wowzers! So, I think we're going to hold off on these LelliKelly's, at least until Christmas! And I sure hope this isn't a sign of things to come. If so, one thing is for sure, Avery has expensive taste!

Let the golfing begin!

With nice weather, comes outdoor activity. And with outdoor activity, comes golf! It's beginning to grow on me. No, not that I've ever actually used the club to hit the ball over and over and over and called that fun. But riding in the golf cart on a beautiful day and watching my husband have a blast and my daughter have even MORE fun, yes...it's growing on me!

On this particular day, we had just finished with bunny pictures. I called to see what hole they were on, and it was 10. It was my dads first time to go with them and I was worried they were forcing him to play 18 (the plan was only to play 9). So, I thought I was coming to his rescue, but he was telling me the truth - he wanted to stay! And so did we! It was a lovely day and I didn't see another golfer on the course. Good thing, with a toddler running around : ) As you can tell, we had a blast!

Easy to get a hole in one, w/ Avery around ; )

She even got to drive the cart!

And for that, Uncle Josh got a kiss!

Maybe if I learn to walk the course the person on the right will begin to shrink! ;)

Now that's what I call CONCENTRATION!

Btw, Charlie and dad WON!

♪ Some kind of wonderful ♪

♪Well my baby, she's alright♪

♪Well my baby, she's clean out-of-sight♪

♪Don't you know that she's ... she's some kind of wonderful♪

♪She's some kind of wonderful ... yes she is, she's♪

♪ She's some kind of wonderful, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeahhh ... ♪

Easter is on it's way!

Photo courtesy of Jami Ainsworth portraits

Easter is on it's way and so we made a trip to Mrs. Jami's house for some pictures with real bunnies. Avery did well for the few minutes she cooperated. Then she was done. Jami got 3 shots that I love and this is one of them. Jami always goes over and beyond my hopes. It is hard to capture great photographs with a toddler, but she never ceases to amaze me.

One more week 'til Easter and I've promised myself that I will not under any circumstances buy anything else to go into the Easter baskets. Yes, baskets. I have bought so much crap that I'll have to give her two again this year. And we wonder why she's spoiled rotten!

March 23rd

I've been wanting to share this precious video. I thought today would be appropriate. 4 years ago I walked into a doctors office just wanting to know if I'd be having a boy or girl. I left knowing I'd be having neither. There is no way to describe the feeling of knowing there is a baby inside of you that your body didn't nourish. A baby that no longer needs you. A baby that's already in heaven. I have such sadness when I think of him. Our lives would be so different. Avery would have a big brother. But when I listen to this precious song, by Selah, I realize that I shouldn't be sad at all for him. He got to skip the yucky part and go straight to the goal: Heaven! This is a sad song, I guess, but the love of our Father is shown so clearly. And so this will not be a sad day. This will be a day to remind me that my little boy is in Heaven with a Father that loves him more than I could ever imagine.

Finally...Spring!

I came home the other day and realized some flowers were blooming in our front yard! Bring on Spring!

The Happiest Day of My Life

For most parents, the happiest day of their life is the day their child was born. I struggled with this for a time. Knowing that I wouldn't honestly count January 21, 2008 as the happiest day of my life. In fact, it was one of the scariest, most stressful days. So, I guess I could fake it to fit in w/ the norm or because admitting it, esp. on the blog, makes me worry that one day Avery might read that and misunderstand exactly what I mean. But, I'm going to go out on a limb and just.be.honest. The happiest day of my life was 2 years ago - March 18, 2008. The day I carried Avery out of the NICU. The day there were no more monitors to look at, no worrying when those numbers went too high or too low or there was a beep, beep, beep. No more asking when or if I could hold Avery. No more obsessing about whether she gained an ounce. I was finally a mom. A real mom that gets to feed her baby when she wants, when she knows her baby is hungry! A mom that can hold that baby all.day.long. So that is exactly what we did. I really don't think she slept in her crib or got laid down at all that first day. We just all breathed her in and got to really know her. What a magnificient day it was. I remember going into her nursery when she was in the NICU. We left a twin size bed in there and I would lay on it and just look at her crib and imagine that she was sleeping there. Such a simple, silly imagination but so far away in my head. Until that day. March 18, 2008 will always be the happiest day of my life. I hope I can add to that list, but for now, that is the one. A close second was my wedding day, but still no comparison to bringing our little miracle home! Oh, how we love you Avery Grace! Who could have known how much joy you'd bring us in 2 short years...I can't even imagine the fun things we'll do in the years ahead of us!

Wordless Wednesday