Happy 2nd Birthday, Avery!

Oh, my baby girl is two years old today! Happy birthday angel!!! I can't believe it! How possibly can 2 years have gone by since her birth? I can still remember with great detail when she was first placed in my arms, the cute little noises and facial expressions she made as a newborn, how Ashlyn was instantly so loving and protective of her, the "stork bite" on her forehead and nose that was quite noticeable at birth (which now is only faintly seen when see cries), the sleepless nights, the first smile at me... all the firsts and all the milestones. That is all still so vivid in my memory; it is not so much the dates or age that she was when she did all these things, but the visual images of her doing these that I remember so crisply. I have to admit I am fighting back the tears as I type this. I'm not sure if it is because Avery is now 2 years old or because she starts 'school' on Tuesday. (Mother's Day Out actually) It must be the two combined because independently I don't think I'd be so emotional. But, both turning 2 and starting school in the same week causes a little heart ache for me. My baby is no longer a baby!

I certainly recall the day Avery was born! I went into labor 5 days early while Chris was out of town in San Antonio for an important business conference. I woke up through out the night with uncomfortable abdominal pains, but I wasn't certain until around 5:30 am that I was in labor. I called Chris, my doctor and then Stephanie, who took me to the hospital (along with Ashlyn and Payton). I was well into labor once we arrived at the hospital, but luckily everything slowed down once I was given an epidural so Chris and my mom were able to make it to the hospital in time for Avery's grand entrance! Avery was born at 12:15 pm and weighed 7 pounds 14 ounces.

Just Born

1 Day Old

1 Year Old

2 Years Old

These 2 year old pictures really capture Avery's personality: so sweet and a bit reserved. When at home she can be just as outgoing, loud and talkative as her big sister. But out of her realm she likes to check things out from the side lines before taking part. She has the cutest smile; when she flashes that huge grin from ear to ear it melts my heart and always makes my day. I love her baby-fine golden blonde hair with little ringlets in the back. Chris wanted me to get her hair trimmed before school starts but I couldn't possibly cut the curls off yet. I don't have her current stats (weight, height) but will update the post after her check-up appointment in a couple of weeks.

Avery had a fun 2nd birthday party. It was held where she takes gymnastics and was an Olympic, red, white and blue theme; inspired by the 2008 Summer Olympics which just concluded. She wore an adorable Gymboree outfit which coordinated with the red, white and blue colors of the party, as did all the party favors. Many of Avery's friends and family members were there to celebrate with her. All the kids had an exciting time jumping on the trampoline, climbing on the gym equipment and balance beams, swinging from the uneven bars, hula hooping and running through 1000's of bubbles. While everyone sang 'Happy Birthday' to Avery, she seems a tad bit shy and also unsure of the lit candle as she stared down at her butterfly-shaped cake made up of cupcakes. She had some help from Ashlyn to blow out the candle. The icing was red, white and blue and left many kiddo's faces quite colorful and slightly stained! I took some amusing pictures of the smaller kids who managed to get the icing well beyond their mouths and lips. Luckily, I didn't see any children with icing on their clothes! We are so blessed to have such wonderful friends and family with which to celebrate our special moments and create lasting memories.


I have a song that I 'dedicate' to each of my girls. Avery's song is "My Wish" by Rascal Flatts.









My Wish – Rascal Flatts

I hope the days come easy and the moments pass slow
And each road leads you where you want to go
And if you’re faced with the choice and you have to choose
I hope you choose the one that means the most to you

And if one door opens to another door closed
I hope you keep on walkin’ ‘til you find the window
If it’s cold outside, show the world the warmth of your smile
But more than anything, more than anything

(Chorus)
My wish for you
Is that this life becomes all that you want it to
Your dreams stay big, your worries stay small
You never need to carry more than you can hold

And while you’re out there gettin’ where you’re gettin’ to
I hope you know somebody loves you
And wants the same things too
Yeah, this is my wish

I hope you never look back but you never forget
All the ones who love you and the place you left
I hope you always forgive and you never regret
And you help somebody every chance you get

Oh, you find God’s grace in every mistake
And always give more than you take
But more than anything, yeah more than anything

My wish for you
Is that this life becomes all that you want it to
Your dreams stay big, your worries stay small
You never need to carry more than you can hold

And while you’re out there gettin’ where you’re gettin’ to
I hope you know somebody loves you
And wants the same things too
Yeah, this is my wish

This is my wish
I hope you know somebody loves you
May all your dreams stay big

Avery: Mommy and Daddy love you and Ashlyn with of our hearts. As I sing to you each night... "You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. You make me happy when skies are grey...!" Happy 2nd birthday, little girl, and many, many, many more!!!

Wordless Wednesday

(We took this one ourselves)

Back to School

Yesterday was Ashlyn's first day of 4 year old Pre-Kindergarten! She is attending the same school she went to last year, but this year she will go a full day rather than half a day, 5 days a week. She was so excited to start back. She has been ready for weeks. She bounced out of bed on her own and was as bright and cheerful as could be. Ashlyn is a "morning person" anyway (the opposite of Chris and me) but she was even more energetic and beaming than usual. She couldn't wait to see the teachers and her old friends, and meet her new classmates. Ashlyn looked adorable in her navy school-girl skirt and polo-type striped shirt with Mary Jane shoes. Later in the day she commented to me, "I felt so cute today in my outfit." She said it with a little grin on her face, head tilted, and her shoulders slightly raise. At that moment I could sense from her what a perfect day she had.

This day, for me, was bittersweet. I had mixed feelings about my: "craft-making, party-planning, house-cleaning, grocery-shopping, errand-running and much more" sidekick, who kept the summer interesting and challenging, going back to school. She has been by my side practically all day everyday for the past 3 months wanting to help me with whatever task I was working on or wanting me to assist her with her "projects". I'm going to miss having her as my partner-in-crime. At the same time though, I loved seeing her so excited to go to school, eager to learn and happy to see her friends. Avery, too, already misses her big sister. On most morning this summer Ashlyn always went with me into Avery's room to get her out of her crib. Each morning Ashlyn greeted Avery with a big smile, a perky "Good Morning Avery!" and gave Avery her sippy cup of milk. Avery's face always lit up with a big grin and chuckle as she bounced up and down ready to start the day with her big sister. But yesterday as I walked into Avery's bedroom alone, she greeted me with a smile and giggle and looking out her door asked, "Where DeDe?" (her name for Ashlyn). I explained that Ashlyn started back to school and she just said, "Huh?" not quite understanding why all of a sudden Ashlyn was back at school. She missed her all day.

When I picked Ashlyn up from school she had so much to say about her first day of school. She loved every second of it! She has a wonderful teacher who Ashlyn had as a teacher during camp last summer. Ashlyn was just as excited to get up and go to school this morning as she was yesterday on the first day of school.

Holding her lunchbox and the sign that goes in the car windshield for car pool line

Happy Birthday Brian

Today, August 24, is Brian's 30th birthday! Happy Birthday little brother! To celebrate Stephanie threw him a surprise birthday party last night at a restaurant/bar called Down Under Pub. I think Stephanie was able to pull off the 'surprise' throughout all the planning. But I think Brian new something was up when the friends he was with pulled up to the bar and parked right next to Stephanie's suburban. As Brian starts asking questions about what was going on his friend, Christian, turned to him and said, "Just act surprised!" This became the joke of the evening. We had a great time at the party with a lot of friends, family, food, a live band and a yummy Poker themed cake. Ashlyn, Avery, and Abbie (pronounced by Avery as "Babbie") stayed at our house with their favorite babysitter. They had their own fun playing games and watching a movie with popcorn.

I have a fun video of the band singing happy birthday to Brian but the file is too large to upload to this website.

Funny Friday: What does your daddy do?

Yesterday, as I was attempting to explain to my Mimi what type of products Chris' new technology company sells, Ashlyn chimed in... "Ummm, I'm trying to remember what daddy told me. I think he said he sells ties and shoes." Mimi and I started laughing out loud and Ashlyn couldn't understand why we were laughing.



Avery showed a new interest yesterday in sticking objects in her nose. While at Mimi's house she stuck a crayon up her nose. She thought she was quite impressive and wanted to make sure we all saw her new "talent." "Look at me!" she said with pride and laughter. I did laugh to myself while trying to have a serious face and let her know that it isn't safe to stick things in her nose. Apparently my little lesson to her went in one ear and out the other. At dinner last night Avery decided to stick a piece of sausage link up her nose. Again she thought it was funny and told us to "Look at me" but this time she took it a step further. Then she stuck her finger as far up her nose as possible pushing the sausage almost completely out of sight way up in her nose. She no longer thought her trick was very funny as she realized what was happening and as the sensation probably became a bit uncomfortable. I can only presume since I've never had sausage up my nose! With many attempts to get her to blow her nose we were never successful in removing the sausage. We examined her nose closely afterwards and there is no sign of the sausage. We can only hope it went from her nasal cavity in to her throat at some point while she was snorting in rather than blowing out. I'm sure this is more information than most would care to read. This is more of a (not so) Funny Friday post.

Well I thought I had enough so called "funny" events happen this week but this morning Avery decided to add one more... as I was in the other room Avery decided to take her diaper off as she so often does these days. I should NOT have mentioned to her that she needed a shower this morning! Those words often prompt her to strip! I was in the other room and I hear Ashlyn yell, "Avery just took her diaper off." Since Chris was in the bathroom getting dressed and Avery was in our room I thought he had the situation under control. A few minutes later she wanders in to where I was and I saw a naked hiney covered in poop! No one noticed that when Avery took her diaper off she had a poopy diaper! I cleaned her up and didn't think much more about it. Until... later this afternoon I found "evidence" that after she took her diaper off she decided to get up on our bed. Needless to say, our comforter and sheets are in the washer and dryer as I type and the leather ottoman needed a good Lysol wipe down. Oh the joys and surprises of parenthood!

Happy Birthday Grandad!

Happy Birthday Grandad! You have reached the big 6-0! We wish we could have been there to celebrate with you and, of course, give you a hard time! As can be seen in the pictures, the girls certainly are glad you don't act your age. :-)

(pictures taken during our trip to Alabama last December 2007)



The girls wanted to send you a little message...
(click on the arrow to play video)

Wordless Wednesday

July '08

August '08

We made it!

Well, we made it... through a 2 day shopping spree to prepare for school to start in one week. I have done absolutely no shopping or preparation for school so we took full advantage of the tax free weekend and back to school sales. In two days we... well, mostly me but I did have two little companions with me on Friday, (notice I said companions and NOT helpers), and on Saturday Chris, who actually was a big help, as we elbowed our way through the shoe stores at the ridiculously over-crowded outlet mall. So in two days 'we' managed to buy the girls some new clothes (since they are growing like weeds), school shoes, socks, panties, and a school bag for Avery. Now they are all set, at least until the cold weather comes. At what age do they stop growing?!!


I want to jot down a few other happenings that I'd like to capture and remember...

Avery is really talking a lot now, adding new words to her vocabulary every day and talking in full sentences. Now, her speech isn't exactly clear and you really have to be around her frequently or have some context clues to follow what she is saying. But, she really makes us smile and sometimes laugh at what she says and how she pronounces it. Some of my favorite words or phrases to hear her say lately:
*Okay -pronounced OH-Tay or sometimes Oh-Tie
*Mommy- pronounced Mahmeeee with excitement
*No!- said quickly with a hint of a giggle
*Na, Nanny, Na- taught to her by her big sister and will usually be said as she is running away when she has something of Ashlyn's or as she is running from me. I discreetly have to turn my head and laugh making sure she doesn't see me smiling at her remarks
*Whoo-Hoo- also taught to her by Ashlyn and used when they are excited about something
* I don't know- pronounced 'I uh know' after I ask her a question like, "Where are your shoes?"
* And today she pronounced her name somewhat intelligibly for the first time


Said by Ashlyn when she looked at herself in the mirror while wearing her new 'High School Musical' sunglasses... "Wow, I didn't know I look so good in these!"
I love that she shows such self confidence and self esteem all the while being so sweet, kind, and aware of others. I pray she continues to feel this way as she matures.
(I don't have a picture of her wearing these glasses but will take one and include it here when I get a chance)


Chris calls us by our first and middle names at times when he is serious or really wanting to get our attention; Ashlyn Faith or Avery Hope or Stephanie Diane! So when Ashlyn really started to understand about first and middle names and after learning my middle name sometime last year, she began to call me, not Stephanie Diane, but Mommy Diane. She still calls me that on occasion when she is trying to be very serious or make a strong point to me. I am still so amused when she calls me by that name.

Wordless Wednesday

March 2008

April 2008 (no comments needed; the picture says it all!)



April 2008


My Mother's Day gift from Ashlyn made at school-2008

Helping mom make dinner August 2008

On a scavenger hunt looking for buried treasure. "X" marks the spot on Ashlyn's map

August 2008

Dallas World Aquarium

On Saturday we had a family day at the Dallas World Aquarium. We took the opportunity to spend our last free weekend together having fun before school and the busy schedules start. We have never been to this aquarium and I really didn't know what to expect. The first clue that it was going to be an exciting place was the line wrapped around the building as we drove up. I would say that the 45 minute wait in line was well worth it (we could have done without the crowd though). The name is a bit deceiving because there was much more than aquatic life. What made this aquarium stand out above other places we've visited with animals is how close up and open the animals and their habitats were. It seemed like the animals were just beyond our reach and actually many could have been touched if a person chose to have total disregard for his safety or the animal's.

As soon as we entered through the doors we felt as if we were in a rainforest with the overwhelming humidity and lush landscape. We saw so many amazing animals including a variety of monkeys, toucans and other exotic birds, penguins, humongous snakes and spiders, giant river otters, amazingly beautiful fish (and some ugly ones too!) in floor to ceiling tanks, frogs and turtles. Most amazing to me were the massive 9 or 10 foot long crocodiles that looked like they could swallow me down in one big gulp and they had the facial expression to match. The picture here does not illustrate well what I am describing because it was take from the second floor looking down to the crocodile on the first floor. I really enjoyed watching the blubbery manatees also. Their cute, scrunchy faces and fat, rolly-polly bodies were so amusing as they lazily float in the water. Ashlyn had a face to face experience with a jaguar; there was a glass wall between them, of course, but it seemed like they even locked eyes for a moment. Chris and Ashlyn's favorite part was the shark tunnel. We walked through a long glass tunnel where we were surrounded on both sides and over head by many types of sharks. It was quite a strange feeling to be standing amidst so many sharks and to feel like they were swimming right toward you at times. I think Avery had mixed emotions about the whole experience. She clung to either Chris or me for a majority of the time. I'm not sure if it was the crowd, the humidity or the impressive animals that made her seem a bit timid.

Afterwards we went to Braum's for ice cream. I'm not sure which Ashlyn was more excited about... the ice cream or the aquarium. It's hard to top ice cream in Ashlyn's opinion. Avery was definitely all smiles when she got her ice cream!

This is my third attempt at finishing this post. I have been glued to my T.V. each evening since the Olympics started on Friday in Beijing, China. I am in awe at the level of talent, ambition and dedication each of these athletes have. I can feel a tiny bit of the nervousness and anxiety they must be feeling just before they compete and the excitement and pride they experience as they realize they have won the gold, silver or bronze medal. What an accomplishment! I love seeing our athletes draped in red, white and blue and I love seeing our beautiful flag being raised at the medal ceremonies. I've tried to explain the significance and excitement of the Olympics to Ashlyn but I think she is still a bit too young to really grasp it. She was excited to watch the gymnastics initially but that faded rather quickly and she was soon asking when she could watching something she wanted to watch. Even when I told her she would be 8 years old when the summer Olympics will happen again she still didn't seem phased. If she continues to enjoy participating in gymnastics as much as she does now, I bet she will have a different opinion and level of interest in the 2012 Olympics.

1 Corinthians 13 for Moms

1 Corinthians 13 for Moms

If I live in a house of spotless beauty with everything in its place, but have not love,
I am a housekeeper, not a homemaker.

If I have time for waxing, polishing, and decorative achievements, but have not love,
my children learn cleanliness, ­not godliness.

If I scream at my children for every infraction, and fault them for every mess they make, but have not love,
my children become people-pleasers, not obedient children.

Love leaves the dust in search of a child's laugh.
Love smiles at the tiny fingerprints on a newly cleaned window.
Love wipes away the tears before it wipes up the spilled milk.
Love picks up the child before it picks up the toys.

Love accepts the fact that I am the ever-present "mommy,"
the taxi-driver to every childhood event,
the counselor when my children fail or are hurt.

Love crawls with the baby, walks with the toddler, and runs with the child,
then stands aside to let the youth walk into adulthood.

Before I became a mother I took glory in my house of perfection.
Now I glory in God's perfection of my child.

All the projections I had for my house and my children have faded away into insignificance,
And what remain are the memories of my kids.

Now there abides in my home scratches on most of the furniture,
dishes with missing place settings,and bedroom walls full of stickers, posters and markings,
But the greatest of all is the Love that permeates my relationships with my children.

-Adapted by Jim Fowler


I lifted this from another person's blog who lifted it from another blog. So I don't know where exactly it originated, but it really spoke to me. Too often I find myself with my priorities out of order on my daily "To Do" list. For example, I love when our house is clean and everything is in it's place; I strive for this on a daily basis (although I strongly dislike folding and hanging clothes, cleaning bathrooms and mopping floors... well, just cleaning in general!). However, I feel like I'm always spinning my wheels and feeling frustrated when the girls are often "messing up" the room I just finished straightening. These words above really are a reminder to me to reexamine my priorities. What's more important?... the toys being neat and orderly or the fact that the girls are having a fun time together growing in their bond, growing in creativity and just being kids? Who really cares if the house looks perfect anyway? It really doesn't bother Chris and it certainly doesn't bother the girls and no one other than us really sees it anyway. So as the summer is drawing to an end and school soon beginning, I appreciate this reminder to rewrite the "To Do" list with: 1) spend time with, 2) laugh with, and 3) enjoy the girls- being at the top and the less meaningful stuff like "cleaning the house" being way at the bottom of the list.

Wordless Wednesday

The girls with Mimi (April 08) during our weekly visit. We love having lunch and spending every Thursday afternoon with Mimi! She has been cooking us lunch once every week for the past 3 1/2 years!

Ashlyn and Abbie at church camp in June

Avery hanging out with Mommy


Chris took Ashlyn fishing a couple of weekends ago. The fish weren't biting
but they had a fun time together anyway!

Super-Sized Sunday; Our Whirl-Wind Weekend

Where do I start... we had a fun-filled, packed weekend! There girls and I spent a portion of Friday preparing for Ashlyn's Halloween party. Yes, I know it is August, but who says you can't have a Halloween party in the middle of the summer? This of course was Ashlyn's idea; you probably could have guessed given her vivid imagination and love of parties. We made spiders and pumpkins out of egg cartons. The girls had a fun time painting the egg cartons (and a few body parts) while I anxiously followed their every move with paper towels and a watchful eye to try to avoid any major messes. Luckily the paint is washable so I was able to get it off the table, the girls' skin and clothes, and even the few little splatters Avery managed to get on the wall wiped off! Whew!




While Avery napped, Ashlyn and I snuck off to the Friends of the Library book sale where we bought a paper sack full of used books. We both enjoyed rummaging through boxes and boxes of old or worn books and I even found some of my old favorites from when I was young. After dinner Ashlyn hosted the Halloween party where we dressed Chris up as a mummy, wrapping him in layers of toilet paper and then read a couple of Halloween books we found at the book sale that day. Who knew you can throw a Halloween party for less than $5 bucks.




On Saturday I spent a couple hours at church volunteering with the Special Angels. This is an organization that works with special needs children on Sunday mornings in their Sunday school classes as well as on occasional Saturday afternoons giving their parents a time of respite and the kids fun experiences with friends. I've been involved with this group for a year and I truely enjoy being a part of it.



Afterwards, the whole family went to Ryann's 4th birthday party. She is the daughter of my close friend, Katie, from Baylor. The princess party was at the studio where Ryann takes dance and each guest was to dress up. Ashlyn chose to wear her lilac leotard and ballet skirt and a pair of butterfly wings. She said she was the tooth fairy. Avery wore Ashlyn's old pink ballet leotard and a pink tutu from the dress-up trunk. When I put this tiny pink leotard on Avery, I could hardly remember Ashlyn being so small. How much she has grown up in just over a year's time when she was wearing that very same leotard Avery is now wearing. As soon as we arrived at the party, Ashlyn barely took the time to take her shoes off before she ran straight into the dance studio with the other girls. Avery hung out at the door to the studio by my feet for a short time while she examined the scene and then jumped right in with the big girls and became quite the little entertainer for the parents. The girls were very excited to learn a princess dance, play a princess dress-up relay race, do the hokey pokey and chicken dance and, the best part, cake and ice cream.



Our day did not end there! We then headed to our Sunday school class pool party at our teacher, Mike's, house. Ashlyn wore out the diving board... jumping off forwards, backwards, cannon balls and an occasional belly flop. Even Avery jumped off a few times! After she saw her big sister do it, of course, she had to do it. Our Sunday school teacher and his wife are probably in their mid to late 50's. After we left the party Ashlyn said to me (having never met them before the party), "I didn't know those people that own that house were so old. They both had white hair; REALLY white hair!" I was just glad that she waited until after we left the party to express her observations.




Today after church, while we were on our way home Ashlyn decided she wanted to build a lemonade stand and sell lemonade. She persisted for some time after we got home until Chris and I knew she wasn't going to give up on the idea. Fortunately for us, we didn't have to build one since I had bought a cardboard lemonade stand several months ago and had not given it to the girls yet. When I asked Ashlyn how much she was going to charge for a glass of lemonade she said, "Oh, maybe a nickel." I told her I bet she could probably charge a quarter, and she said, "OK, but if they don't have a quarter they can just give whatever they have." I thought her comment showed how kind-hearted and sweet she so often is. After decorating and assembling the stand, we made some pink lemonade, gathered our supplies and headed out to the front yard. It must have been the girls' lucky day because just as we were heading outside the power to the entire neighborhood went out. Several neighbors wandered outside to see what the cause of the power outage might be and spotted the girls eagerly awaiting a thirsty customer. each time Ashlyn saw someone she would become so excited for another potential customer. We had several great neighbor come support their lemonade "business" offering to pay up to $1 per glass. The girls made $5 in about an hour (that's as long as Chris and I could bear the 106 degree weather). Ashlyn and Avery were very cute greeting and serving their customers. I think we may have some budding entrepreneurs! I guess they take after their daddy in that regard!




While we were making the lemonade I was reminded of our visit to Alabama last December. Ashlyn picked lemons with her great grandparents from their lemon tree, squeezed the juice from the lemons, mixed in a little water and sugar and we all enjoyed fresh squeezed lemonade. (more to come soon about that trip in another post)