Spring Break!

This past week has been Spring Break for both Jeff and I, so we are starting to gear up for the week of work ahead. But before we do that...Here is a recap of how our break went:

My Mom, Sister, Brother-in-law, 2 nieces (Marin & Ellery) and nephew (Liam)came down to Houston to spend their Spring Break. We had such a fun time with them! We hit up the Woodlands mall, went to the park, and had an evening at the Houston Rodeo (while Jeff's Parents, Gigi, and my Mom babysat the little girls). Avonlea sure enjoyed playing with her cousins and cuddling with her Grandma! Here are a few pics from the week.

Liam, Avonlea, Ellery and Marin playing in the play room

Liam made friends with many animals in the petting zoo @the Rodeo

Here is Grandma with ALL of her Grandchildren (Avonlea, Marin, Ellery & Liam)

Avonlea loved cuddling with Grandma

Here's Liam @ the Rodeo

The Bushwar Family & Jeff @ the park

I think Jon enjoyed the petting zoo too!

Susan holding Ellery & Marin

Here's one with Marin

9 Months!

Avonlea is 9 months old (and 2 days to be specific)! She has been pulling-up and walking with the assistance of the couch and chairs around the house. At her check-up her height was 27 1/2 inches and she weighed 18 lbs. 8 oz. which is actually only the 45 percentile, but the doctor says she looks great. This past month, Avonlea has started eating real people food (crackers and vanilla wafers) and got the OK from the Doctor to start eating table foods with the exception of a few items. This is good news for her (and us) as she eye-balls whatever we are eating with such longing in her eyes.

Our Little Valentine (who is 8 months)!

This Valentine's Day has been the BEST one of them all! Jeff and I have both added a Valentine onto our "list" and she is as sweet a Valentine as they come. Avonlea is now 8 months old and I can hardly believe that she will be ONE in a few months! For the past 3 weeks, Avonlea has been pulling herself up on anything that has a vertical element(walls included). This month, she has also mastered the art of speed crawling and definitely could take Gold if given the chance. She is in the process of getting more teeth (she got the 2 bottom ones @ 6 1/2 months)and still chews on EVERYTHING! She babbles alot and loves to watch/hear Barney, Elmo's song, Jesus Loves Me, Old MacDonald, and the Itsy-Bitsy Spider. Here are the pics...

7 Months, Crawling & ER

So I haven't updated this blog since the end of December and a lot has transpired since. Two days before Avonlea hit the 7 month marker, she began crawling. And let me tell you, crawling has changed our lives significantly. Gone are the days of us leaving her in one spot knowing that she would be pretty close to that spot when we returned. Now, within a few second, that girl is across the room trying to get a WIRE (of course she doesn't want any of her toys)! Needless to say, a blog on childproofing a home will be coming...

Avonlea's 7th month of life was spent with 2 not 1 double ear-infection, a winter wonderland Christmas in MN with Grandma & Grandpa Martin, Uncles Patrick & Jon, Aunt Susan and cousins Liam, Marin & Ellery, and Christmas with the Crains & Neighbors at our house. Lots of Rice cereal, green beans, carrots, apples, pears, squash, sweet potatoes & bananas were devoured by little Ms. Avonlea this past month. She also began chattering alot. "Da-da" is her most frequent sound to date.

Now to ER...well, this entire week, Avonlea has been fighting this cold. It began with a little cough at the beginning of the week, then a runny nose made an appearance, and finally Mr. Fever didn't want to be left out of the Party! SO...last night, we took her in to the ER and they told us that she has RSV which is a respiratory virus which basically has to run its course. Unfortunately, the ER was no day at the SPA to Avonlea. They jammed things up her nose, gave her an X-ray and traumatized her just enough. However, we were in & out of the ER in about 1 hours time, which is INCREDIBLE!! We have been doing breathing treatments on her, but the past 3 nights have been ones without much sleep. We are thankful to God for his provision of good advice from friends, a nice & non-frustrating medical facility & that it is nothing worse than a virus.


Elmo's Song on YouTube has been a help to us these past few days!

Winter Wonderland!

As soon as school let out for Christmas vacation, We headed up for Minnesota to spend most of it with my family. We stopped off at Susan & Jon's before we flew out from Dallas. Avonlea got to see snow for the first time. And let me tell you, there was snow!!! We enjoyed hanging with Mom, Dad, Patrick, Susan, Jon, Liam, Marin & Ellery. Avonlea was captivated by her Uncle Patrick. Every time he entered the room she would get the biggest smile on her face. She also enjoyed having her Grandma hold her & push her around in the stroller (inside). Grandpa sang songs to her & cuddled with her. Unfortunately, Avonlea was "under the weather" the entire break. When we got back to Houston, we took her in and she still had her double ear-infection. Even though she was sick in Minnesota, we had a lot of fun with her for her 1st Christmas. We also enjoyed hanging out with our friends Jill, Ben & adorable little Grady. Here are some pictures from Christmas Vacation...

Sixth Month Check-up

On Dec. 7th I took Avonlea in for her Six Month Check-up. "Little Piglet" (as the doctor refers to her as) was doing GREAT! She weighed in at 17 lbs. 03 oz. and was 25 & 3/4 inches long. Of course, Avonlea had a couple of shots, which she handled like a champ & off we went. Unfortunately, we had another visit a week later...Avonlea had a double ear infection. She had been running a fever & was a little fussy. My poor baby! This was the first time she had really been sick & it was a bit traumatizing for both Jeff and I. Luckily, we got her on antibiotics and she was on the mend. Here are some photos of our "Little Piglet."