Avonlea meets Benji

We traveled up to see my friend Blair and her new baby, Benji.

Feast your eyes on this little butterball.

Avonlea's in love.

so am i.

I need more vacations like this. Blair is good for my soul, and the babies are good for our hearts.

Thank you, B. For lifting me up when I needed a little sunshine.

We can't wait to see you again.

musings....

Driving...

Mama: "Avonlea...look in that field...do you see all of those geese?"

Avonlea: "yeah!"

Mama: " they have to fly away when it gets cold. Where do you think they are going?"

Avonlea: ".......to Santaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!"

:)

my delicious little elf

What do you get when you pair $1 leggings from target with some froggy boots and the cutest cloth diaper ever?

This is what....

Some of you may think it's cruel to dress your toddler up like an elf...but man.....she is so delicious! How can I not? besides....she had more fun than I did. :)

I know I haven't posted in forever. But life is sad here in my little gingerbread house. And I have been trying to be the very best mommy that I know how to be.

And that requires $1 target leggings. and froggy boots. and silly photo shoots. and gingerbread cookies while cozying up under our favorite blanket watching Elmo's Happy Holidays video. Over and over. And over.

When I'm with my littlest elf, things here aren't so sad. And everything is merry and bright.

So Merry Christmas....

Enjoy your holidays, whatever it may be, with full bellies and new memories. Lots of love, overflowing hearts, and laughter. I know we will.

And may all your Christmases be white...

MUAH!

my little star

This is what happens when your 20 month old puts the star on the tree.

I wouldn't have it any other way.

I am loving this christmas season, sucking the marrow out of every moment. She is so fun, so little, so smart....

I cannot WAIT to see her face on christmas morning. :)

Merry christmas!!!

reds for benji

In anticipation of my best friend's baby due mid november, I had a little photo shoot during Avonlea's nap time one day.

Blair told me she was doing her nursery in whites, creams, and wood with hints of red and vintage finds. So, that got me a'thinkin....

Avonlea and I went shopping in the morning for some vintage-y reds, and found them in this little truck, some crayons, and this fun double decker bus. I set up shop on my porch railing with my 50mm lens, a macrofilter, and some good ol' fashioned sunshine.

Here are my finished products...I had them printed and framed and gave them to Blair for her birthday.

I can't wait to meet Benjamin, and hope he loves his prints as much as I do!

Care Bear- I expect to see pictures of this infamous nursery soon!

:)

love you!

oh she speaks....

i know i am ridiculously overdue on a newsletter....i have one partially written, but just cant get my act together long enough to finish it off.

so i thought i'd give some satiating stats.....

avonlea is 18 months old.

which means she is basically 2 years old, because that's how she acts now. :)

she is smart and stubborn, and a little ball of sweet love.

last week at the doctor, she was 31.25 inches long, and 22.25 lbs. she has thinned out, and gotten taller, and still fits in her 12 month clothing. i must admit, her 18 month clothing is ALMOST perfect for her but for the huge gap at the waist.

she is a picky eater. for only mommy and daddy. and eats everyone else out of house and home.

she loves elmo, and the muppets, and You're Baby Can Read videos. and books. good goddess, that girl loves her books. and being outside. she will run, and swing and slide all day if you let her.

here are all the words she knows:

hi/bye

yeah/no

muhma/dada/love you

baba/gaga/gramma/grampa

auntie

kitty/owl/octopus/elephant/duck

more/milk/water/eat/book/ice cream/waffle/egg/apple/hot/cold

elmo/cookie/oscar/count/big bird/telly

feet/sock/shoe/hat

i know there are more....but i can't seem to think of them right now. if you ask her to repeat a word, she will repeat almost anything...but these are her every day words now.

edit:

also, add these words to the every day list:

ernie/right there/up/down/thank you/bless you/stinky/nose/eye/ear/cheek/hair/head/hot dog/all done/toes/buns

she knows the animal sounds to-

dog/kitty/owl/snake/elephant/cow/monkey/duck/lion (and anything else that looks vicious enough to rawr)/cookie monster :)

i know this is a poor excuse for a newsletter...but it's just a little update. :)

i hope you enjoyed it as much as i am enjoying her....she is too delicious to share blogging time with. :)

October in photos