Happy Birthday Avery!

Avery turned 2 on Thursday and I really struggled on if I should have thrown her a Birthday party or just keep it simple and do cake and ice cream with the family. So Nate and I decided that we would just invite Avery's best friend Cooper and her little friend  Kaylynn over for a pool party and dinner afterwards. I think it was perfect it wasn't too big and it wasn't so small that it didn't feel special.

 

Avery's Birthday festivities  started on Wednesday night when Nate and I decorated her room by putting balloons all over and then hung streamers up. Nate and I thought we were being so sneaky as we crawled around her room. HA! I was worried that Avery was going to wake up and freak out when she saw the streamers. At 4:30 that's exactly what she did Avery woke up and giggled with delight.

 

 

 Since Avery was awake and I knew she wasn't going to go back to sleep we decided to go get her so that she could enjoy her room.

 This smile says it all! I just love that she has true joy all over that sweet little face.

 Nate had to go into work early so we decided that we would let her open a few of her Birthday gifts so she could play with them throughout the day. Avery has been really into Minnie Mouse and so we got her a Minnie Mouse book, and a little Minnie Mouse and Daisy Duck that have snap on clothing and accessories. She LOVES them!

 

 Here is the new Minnie Mouse hat, I think the girl would sleep in it if I let her. Yesterday, I took her to the store and she wanted to wear it and when she was walking next to me she ran right into something because she couldn't see out from under it.  I know as a mom I shouldn't laugh but I couldn't help it. I hope she grown into it quickly.

 

 

 Here is the new Minnie Mouse back pack to carry all her Minnie Mouse things. Again, one more thing she cries over when I don't let her bring it with her everywhere. Ugh! She looks so grown up with it on and it reminds me that in just a few years she will be off to school.  I am not ready for her to be this big.

 

 

Not only is Avery really into Minnie Mouse but she LOVES Tinkerbell as well. I decided that I would try my hand at making her cake. I was really anxious about making the cake and not having it turn out; I know it' s not perfect but it was cute.

 

 

 

 Sweet Kaylynn, and her big blue eyes, she tries so hard to keep up with the big kids.

 

 

Mr. Cooper eating two pieces of watermelon at the same time.

 

 

 Avery getting ready to blow out the candle. It took her a few times because she was being so dang dainty.

 

 

YUM!

 

 

 Cooper approves

 

 

 

 

Yes, you did hear Nate's heart break last night because Avery kissed Cooper good night. HA!

 

 

Baking with mom and swimming with dad

 

On Wednesday, Avery and I spent the afternoon making her Birthday cake and then decorating it. Avery was such a good little helper, she licked all the spoons and cleaned up any spilled powdered sugar by cleaning it up I mean licking it off the counter.

 

 

 

 

 I think she likes her cake!

 

 

When Nate got home the first thing Avery did was grab her swimming suit and demanded that Nate and I went swimming with her. I am so impressed at how much she LOVES the water. Nate has been teaching her to dive and the girl LOVES IT! I don't think we will ever be able to move again unless it has a pool.  

 

 

 

 

Here is Nate helping Avery dive for rings.

Hot Summer Days

Now that it is a thousand degrees outside Avery and I have resorted to going out as little as possible and when we do it's as soon as she is awake in the morning so that it's not too hot.  On a bright note Avery is %100 potty trained! YAH!!!!!

The other morning Nate and I went to check to see if Avery was awake, when we went in there this is how we found her sleeping. The question is, is she blocking out the sun or did she fall asleep playing hide and seek with Mittens? HA!

Avery looking oh so cool in daddy's shades.

Avery wearing my shoes. 

 After she had had the shoes on for awhile she decided that she needed to accessorize them. She put on two necklaces, a big ring, a head band and my bracelet. Boy, did she think she was hot stuff.  This picture is when Avery threw herself  when I asked her to stand up so I could get a picture of her. DRAMA!

Since tomorrow is our 8th anniversary we decided to celebrate today. First thing this morning we went out to Gilcrease Orchard. I can not believe that we have lived in Vegas for 5 years and this was the first time that we made the trip out there. It was AWESOME!  The peaches are plump and juicy and are almost as good as Brigham City peaches. The only bad part about it is that it is like an hour drive, but the peaches so made it worth it. YUM!!!! Avery couldn't wait to get to the car before she started to devour a peach.

It was almost lunch time when we got done and so we decided to go out to lunch, and since we were close to our favorite Mexican restaurant we went there. Oh, how I love Leticia's! The food is superb and the service is always splendid. When we got seated Avery started to listen to the music and wanted to dance with Nate! Nate wasn't even fazed by it, he got right up and danced with her until the end of the song. These two are just two peas in a pod. 

After the daddy daughter dance Avery was super silly and wanted me to take their picture. Look at this little ham! 

It's days like today that I am so thankful that Nate walked into my life, swept me off my feet and has never put me back down. I am truly the luckiest woman in the world.

Potty training

When we went to Dr. Ganasen last time I talked with him again about potty training Avery because she was showing so may signs of being ready. I was thrilled when Dr. Ganasen gave us the ok to start. I did a ton of research and decided that I would try the three day potty training method. Monday morning we went as a family to pick out new big girl panties and a potty seat. Avery was beyond excited! She picked out My Little Pony panties, Minnie Mouse panties and a little Minnie Mouse toilet seat.  I also had her pick out stickers for her potty chart.

The girl was SOOOO excited!

The first day I sat a timer every 20 minutes for Avery to go sit on the potty. This was intense, I swear I didn't get a dang thing done all day but Avery loved every minute of it. The second day I cut the time to every 45 minutes and we only had 2 accidents and she still loved it. By the third day she had it down.  I thought Avery was a pro so I pulled back on giving her a treat after she went potty and by the end of the week I stopped the sticker chart. Boy was that  a mistake! I thought she would love just the idea of going to the potty but the novelty wore off and now we are struggling. I started the potty chart and the treats again today and she seems to be doing much better.

Here's to a new week!

 

 Here is Avery showing off her new panties at the story. this is a terrible picture. It's on Nate's phone and I forgot to take one when we got home.

 

 

 

 This look cracks me up! This is the look she gives right before she goes potty. I just love that she is connecting the feeling. I have been so worried that with all her kidney problems that she wouldn't be able to tell when she needs to go but that's not the case.

 The other day Avery ran into the bathroom with her little kitties and had Mittens on the big potty and Marie on the little potty and she sat on her little step stool talking to them. HA! The best part was she clapped for them when they finished! She is such a little mommy!

 Mittens going potty.

 Avery showing Marie her potty chart.