New Doo

I have lots of blogging to catch up on, but I wanted to get these pictures posted. They're not that great, 'cause they're from my cell phone, but they'll do for now. I'll get better ones up soon.

(Before)

(The evidence)

So, at Sunday dinner with Neil's family last week, we celebrated my birthday. Neil's sister-in-law Debbie gave me a free cut and color, so we were discussing what I should do. I decided that I was finally ready to cut my hair short. Neil requested that it at LEAST still touch my shoulders. I didn't want to have too much time to be able to talk myself out of it, so Debbie said she could do it on Monday night. As I was driving home last night, I worried that Neil would think that it was too short. When I walked in, he reacted better than I had hoped for!! He even said that he "loved" it!! YAY! I LOVE it too! I don't have the slightest bit of regret! I just hope I can keep it looking cute and stylish! Thanks Debbie, for a WONDERFUL birthday present - just in time for Cali!!!

(The final product)

Conference at the Condo

(Uncle William & Avery)

We went to my Parents' condo in Midway for the weekend to relax and watch General Conference. It's such a beautiful setting up there - very peaceful! It was fun to hang out, play games, be inspired and uplifted. I always get really bummed at the very end when they say "this conference will be adjorned for 6 months." I wish it could be quarterly instead of semi-annually. But I suppose that part of what makes it so special is the fact that it isn't ALL the time!

Anyway, while we were up there, Avery began what I believe will be a very special bond with her uncle William. For those of you who don't know who William is, he is my (Jodi's) oldest brother - and he has Down's Syndrome. He just loved playing with Avery and to say she loved it too would be an under statement! He had her rolling with laughter numerous times. Here is just one of the times that we were able to catch on video. (If you listen closely, you can hear one of the speakers on the TV in the background.) She sure loves her uncle William!! We do too!!

Laughs & Giggles

This video doesn't do the scene justice. Before we ended up taking the video, she had already been laughing hysterically for about 2 or 3 minutes, so she was getting tuckered out. But here is a small glimpse of when she's in a laughing mood.

More spit

To go along with the last post, here is a video of Avery when she first learned that she could make raspberries with her tongue!

Fun Little Girl

So Avery is nearly 6 months old now!! I seriously can't believe how fast the time has flown by! I wish the clock would slow down - I'm not ready for her to being growing up so quickly. She is such a little gem and we absolutely adore her. She's developing so much of her own personality now, it's wonderful to watch her learn and develop. Here are some recent pictures with descriptions of the events.

(I'm not sure what I was doing, but I came into our room where Neil had been watching TV with Avery and I found them both asleep on the bed. She had slid down in her boppy so she was lying almost completely on the bed. She looked so dang cute I had to snap some pictures.)

(She wedged herself into her boppy in such a way that her arms were stuck in that position, so she couldn't use them to help her up. Try as she may, she just didn't have the ab strength yet to get up. It was quite humorous to watch - until she got so frustrated she started crying.)

(She LOVES tummy time and often rolls all over the place. She was on the floor in the computer room by Neil and apparently got all tuckered out. I thought it was so adorable that she had her hands all tucked in by her face. She's so precious!!)

(She loves to spit with her tongue right now. She was in her bouncer spitting away when I noticed how much slobber was on her face. These pictures don't to it justice - she was soaked!!)

(I was working on some things on the floor next to her while she was on her tummy time mat. She grabbed the corner of the mat and rolled over, so the mat was over her face. She completed the roll and ended up with the mat around her whole body like a little burrito. By the time I grabbed the camera she had freed her arms and wiggled loose a bit. It was one of those "had to be there" moments - it was so cute!!)

(Neil was working on some things and had her on his lap. I just thought it was cute how she was up working with dad. She was sliding her hands all over the desk and throwing things on the floor. Messy, but cute!)

Yummy Nanas

We've been experimenting with some different foods with Avery. So far she likes rice cereal, LOVES bananas, and HATES avocados. Here are some cute photos and a video of her eating her "nanas."

Look Closely . . .

"One of these things just doesn't belong..."

(Neil had to jump to take these pictures - that's how high up it is.)

She's been doing it for awhile, but we finally got it on camera. Tia (our mischievous little twirp) loves to hide out in the open air vent above our furnace. She hides in there quite often. If there's a place to hide somewhere, she'll find it. She is not a very social cat and will only come around on her terms. The rest of the day she spends hiding in places that are sometimes hard to find.