Stay-at-Home Moms are My Heroes

Gabby B. and Avery at the zoo- Manatee Springs.


Gabby B., Avery, and Addy at the gorilla exhibit.

Avery and Addy at the zoo (Avery in a not-so-ladylike pose).

Avery worn out after the Hillenmeyer Crawfish Boil.


We were patriotically decked out for Flag Day! :)

Our friends the Hillenmeyers had a super-cool "Crawfish Boil" for Flag Day- flew in live crawfish
from New Orleans and the fun ensued from there- Avery was fascinated to say the least!


Avery and Addy at the zoo.


Avery and a new friend at the Crawfish Boil- Avery's first experience dancing with
a boy- we're in trouble for sure :).


Okay...so full-time moms are AMAZING and have my complete respect forever. I don't know how they do it! I am literally exhausted at the end of the day- more so than when I am working part-time and taking care of Avery the other half of the day. Weird! Anyway, we've been filling up our summer days with tons of stuff- every day we either go to Gymboree, story time at the library, the park, to play at a friend's house, etc. Or if we're home we play outside for the majority of the time. It has been lovely weather so that has helped- not too hot! Avery is talking up a storm these days (although she's about 30% understandable). Here are her favorite words:
-NO
-Mama, Dada, Papa, Nana, Mimi (Grammy), Mpa (Grandpa), Sadie, Addy, Cott (Uncle Scott), En (Aunt Jen)
-Bubbles
-Bath
-Gain! (again)
-Dog
-Cat
-Turtle
-Capiller (caterpiller)
-Bee
-GO!
-Car
-Hi!
-Byeeee or Bah bye (bye bye with a very thick southern accent- funny)
-Shoes
-Door
-Ouside (outside)
-Phone or Call
- One (holding up 1 finger)

She will pretty much repeat anything else you say as well...or at least attempt it. It's amazing how much of a little girl she is becoming as opposed to a toddler. Oh so opinionated and she has the limp legs/ spaghetti arms thing down in public places if you've asked her to do something she doesn't want to do...She is also fundamentally opposed to being restrained in any sort of manner- stroller, car seat, cart. The other day we were Krogering and I let Avery get down from the cart (moment of insanity). The next thing I knew I was picking up a bunch of bananas and Avery was taking a huge bite out of a tomato. She looked at me with panic when she realized that it was not in fact an apple as she had thought. So right back in the cart she went:). Ahhhh, exciting moments in suburbia.

So we are having a lovely summer thus far. I have some severe senioritis as I'm supposed to be getting my final presentation of my research together for my Masters. I'm done July 23rd (look for me that day with a big old drink in hand). It's just too tempting at the moment to hang out with Ave in the backyard rather than work. :) Hooray summer!