It is so fun to see Avolyn develop into a little girl, she is not a baby anymore. She make us laugh constantly. Her vocabulary is developing every day. She says many words....go, yeah-and sometimes she goes crazy and said yeah-yeah, Daddy-which sounds much like - doggy, but there is a difference. Up please, thank you, uh-oh, Abigail-she says Abigail but not Mommy. Hi-ho-when she is ready for a nap or for bed she says hi-ho. Down, no, more, hi, bye, the end- after reading a book, and when singing Old McDonald she sings E-I-E-I-O, get down-to Hunter as he tries to eat the food on her tray, and sit down-when she is in the bath, and we tell her to sit down. She tries new words everyday, she is good at copying us.
She loves to be included in everything. If Mike and I are laughing about something she will throw her head back and laugh so hard. At daycare she will stand in the corner and fake cry, just because that is what the other kids are doing. She loves to help me clean, she always finds the little piece on the floor that the vacuum doesn't. Avolyn loves helping load and put away dishes. Here is a video of her laughing, it sounds much like a dolphin...so funny...at least to me.
For Halloween we started our adventure with Harper and Rose. We went over to the house and tried to take some pictures of the Cousins all dolled up in their costumes, we got a few good ones. Both of the kiddos really did not mind their costumes. We then went to Grandmas and Pops then headed to Monrovia where Great Grandpa Eli, Aunt Sherry, Brooke and a few others all were ready for trick-o-treaters. We successfully bypassed all trick-o-treaters at our new place, at least for this year. I also made my first Halloween costume this year for a three-year-old whose mom works with me. I can't wait until Avolyn is old enough to appreciate a tutu costume too! Word on the street Abby was so excited to be a Garden Fairy and wore the costume proud.
Thanksgiving we spent the day in Monrovia with Mikes whole family. They always have a nice spread of great food. I forgot my camera. But Avolyn and Cameron (a cousin) and Brooke (another cousin) had a great time playing together. Thanksgiving Sunday we went to Bloomington. My brother Tim and friends were playing at a local pub. In the back is a family area, so Avolyn and Harper were able to listen and have a good time with us.
We also have a new addition to the family! That's right, more cousins!!! Mikes brother, Billy and his wife Amy had a baby on November 29 weighing in at 8lbs 9 oz, Wyatt Cooper! We have been able to see the new little babe several times. Each visit he just gets cuter and cuter.
Our Christmas celebration has begun. For the first time in our relationship Mike and I FINALLY have a tree up! One of my co-workers got a new one, so she gave us her old one, and it is perfect. We decided to put it in the dinning room at it looks fantastic. Avolyn had a good time watching Mike and I decorate the tree. After we were done we turned off the lights and sang "O Christmas Tree", but those were the only words we could remember, so we just sang them over and over again. By the end of the song Avolyn had joined in and started her own rendition of the song. It was a great family moment.
We have many fun Christmas gatherings to attend, the first was my work Christmas party. It was so much fun. We went my first year, and last year we didn't go because AV was 3 months old and we didn't want to leave her yet, so we were back at 'em again this year, we left early so we could get AV, but still enjoyed ourselves. To my surprise I received an award. 2 awards are given out each year, one for the outstanding nurse of the year, and one for the outstanding staff of the year. Someone has to nominate you, and well, I was honored to receive this award. It was pretty overwhelming. But something that I will treasure. The best part was that Mike was there, and got to experience it with me. The provider that introduced me asked if I wanted to say anything. I know this will shock most of you, but I said no!
Baby number 2 is doing just fine. I go back to the doctor this Tuesday, next month is the big month for the ultrasound! We are going to find out again if we are having a boy or a girl. I really am not sure yet. With Avolyn I knew that I was having a girl very very early, but I still don't have a for sure feeling yet. All of the dreams that I have had about this babe, they are all girls. So we will just have to wait a few short weeks and we will know! Pretty exciting. Just yesterday I finally starting feeling the baby. It is just nice to every so often feel the little babe, just reassuring. I love being pregnant.
I leave you with a few pictures from the past couple of months...enjoy...
We have such a happy little girl!