Sunday, February 28, 2010

Our Pink & Brown Party Girl

(Birthday Cake from YaYa and GaGa on her actual Birthday)

(Olivia pouting during Happy Birthday)
(Avery anxiously waiting for someone to cut the cake)

(Avery enjoying her first taste of cake)

(Opening her Birthday Buddy Present from Danny)
(Loving her sunglasses from Miss Theresa and her boys)

(The girls and I were dancing on Friday Night)

(Avery's First Birthday Cake)

(Favors)

(Closer look at the favors - I painted personalized canvas's for each little girl and the boys got personalized picture frames)

(Olivia at the Party, notice how color appropriate her outfit is, thank you Kids Layne)

(Birthday Girl and the Balloon String)

(Happy Birthday Girl)

(Poor Olivia had a tough time with Happy Birthday again, something about that song just really freaks her out)


Uh oh

It appears as though the stomach bug might have taken up residence in Avery and Olivia's little bodies. Avery has had super loose diapers for a full 24 hours, and I just heard some splatter, yuck, I know, and Olivia has been throwing up all morning.

Preview...

My friend Jeni is a FANTASTIC photographer and was kind enough to share the photo's she took yesterday with me...thank goodness, because I have yet to upload a single photo from my camera. Take a peek...











Friday, February 26, 2010

Let the celebration begin....

Tomorrow is Avery's Big Day, her very First Birthday Party and guess what she got for her Birthday....snots, and lots of them. The poor little darling is teething like its her jobby-job, so she is suffering big time from all the lovely sidekicks that come along with teething...last night she even coughed so hard that she threw up in her crib, we had to get up, change her, change her bed, including her bumper, which by the way, hasn't left her crib once since before she was born, shame on me!

I am so very excited to see all of the little kiddos playing together and while I don't want to take anything away from any of our dear friends, I am super duper excited to see my dear Mommy friend Jeni and her sweet, sweet girl, Lily, they are driving up from Durham to spend the day with us, I can hardly wait.

Avery is one loved little girl, she has already received several packages this week, a special shout out to Auntie Megs & Uncle Tim, Theresa and her boys, Maura, Aaron and Baby Harris, Pattie Jo and Avery's Birthday Buddy Danny Miller (and his Momma, Amanda), who lives in Ft. Stewart, Georgia!!!

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Birthday Present


Avery needed a new clock for her room, so a new clock is what she got, gotta love http://www.etsy.com/.

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Happy First Birthday Sweet Avery

Where does the time go? I can't believe it's already been a year. The first few days of her life seemed like years, and now looking back the first year feels like a few short days. Its strange how that works doesn't it? When you are in the throws of something scary or sad, it feels like time is standing still, but when life is just trucking along on its normal course, you can't seem to slow it down.  I am honored to be her mother, proud of the sweet little baby she is, hopeful for the young lady she is going to become and thankful that I was put here to watch her soar. She is a funny little girl, full of trouble, attitude and wonder and she has amazing super powers, she can lay her head on my shoulder and it feels like all is right with the world. And when she smiles and claps her hands you can't help but smile.

We don't have her 12 month stats yet, I had to postpone her appointment until March 12th, but I am fairly certain she is going to be topping the charts, and might even be falling off of them. When I think back on all the scary Doctor's appointments we have taken our sweet little girl to, I can still feel the knots in my stomach as we walked into the appointment, but I can just as easily remember the feeling of relief that washed over me each and every time one of the Pediatric Specialists said she was "just perfect" and that they didn't have to see her again.

Avery Emerson Turner is our second baby girl, a very different little girl from her big sister. She is more like her Dad, is more likely to have her windows nailed shut long before she can actually climb out of them, she is the one that is likely going to turn my hair gray long before I am ready for it and I couldn't love her more.

I wish my Sweet Avery nothing but happiness on her birthday and for all her years to come.

Saturday, February 20, 2010

Missing them

The missing my family something fierce feelings are still there and very strong. The trip is going well, we have been working a lot, but I have managed to get a little sun, hopefully that helps me for our trip to Puerto Rico in a few short weeks. We had a blast taking a tour of Intramuros with George the King of Manila Comedy, you should check him out on YouTube. I have tried to give you the link but some reason it won't let me paste it.

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Missing Me?

Probably not so much, but I can tell you what, I am missing my family something fierce. Here I am, all the way across the globe, and I would give anything to be back with the ones I hold near and dear to my heart. We landed safe and sound around 11:30pm Tuesday February 16th, which was an hour early mind you, so that made our travel time 35 clock hours instead of 36. We stayed up all night in an attempt to stay on East Coast Hours, so we just got back from our first of work and its 6:30am on Thursday February 18th now. Confused yet? I don't blame you.

Anyways, nothing too exciting to share, just wanted to let you all know that I am here, safe, sound, and sad. Missing my girls and wishing I was home with them. Not to mention that handsome man who took Avery to get her 1 month pictures done on Monday by himself....and guess what? Olivia actually wanted to be in the pictures for the first time in 9 months! And wouldn't you know it she looked like a rag-a-muffin, totally wasn't prepared for the photo session, but hey, at least we got a few cute shots to remember the milestone even if they aren't dressed in matchy-matchy clothes.

Sunday, February 14, 2010

Sisterly Love...

(Hey Skinny do you wanna wrestle?)

(How about I cover you with my special, magic blanket?)

(And then hows abouts I tickle you until you snort?)

(And then I will jump up and yell Ta-Da at the top of my lungs)

Brad's Valentine's Present...

From my Parents...


(Disclaimer: it was a joke, Olivia wasn't scared by opening them, and the whole thing was in good fun, but in all seriousness, I think this is their way of saying: "Last time you two went away together, to San Francisco, Avery appeared 10 months later, now we know you are going to Puerto Rico in a few short weeks, we want you to be prepared"

St. Valentine

Happy Valentine's Day!!

(Lay one on me Dada)
I happen to actually like this holiday, I mean, don't get me wrong, I am not madly in love with it, wanna marry it, type like. I just like it. I like taking the time to show the guy I share my life with just how much he means to me, I like being able to do something special for the girls, and I like pink and red, I think that really helps the holiday out, its got a great color scheme.

So this morning Brad slept in, the girls and I got up, played for a few hours and then he joined us. By that time I had already started on Avery's Birthday Favors..here is a sneak peak.

(Mommy's big helper - FYI, that Crayola smock is one of the best presents we have ever received)

Just as Avery was getting ready for her morning nap Brad and Olivia set out to run some errands and pick up the fixings for our Valentine's Dinner. Olivia walked into the house and said "Momma, we got you a surprise", to which Brad said "Olivia, we weren't going to tell Mommy until later, remember". She just looked at him and said "No". We both laughed. They surprised me with Chocolate Covered Strawberries from Fresh Market - delicious.

(Our clapping machine)
We exchanged cards and the girls and I gave Brad his gifts. They got him a safety light for his bike so that he would be safe while riding at dusk and I gave him a gift certificate so that he could pick out a new cycling gear bag, his current one looks like its straight out of NASCAR, and I figured its best that he pick it out himself, because had I chosen his bag he likely would have ended up with a polka dot monogrammed bag with the inspirational saying "We love you Daddy" embroided on the side. Can't you just see it now?

I forgot to mention that Brad gave me beautiful red Tulips on Friday afternoon, I can't believe I have yet to snap a photo of them, but they really are beautiful.

Saturday, February 13, 2010

A nice little Saturday...

(Notice that she just threw up)

To quote Frank the Tank from Old School, I had a nice little Saturday planned. I slept in, enjoyed some quality time with the family, ate some yummy pizza for lunch, showered and then set off into the throws of crazy day before Valentine's Day traffic. It was insane out there. I started at the mall, BAD IDEA. So I got back in my car and set sail for Target...not nearly as bad as the mall. I collected all of my trip essentials and then took off for Michaels, with my motivation being Avery's First Birthday Favors...mission accomplished, I got all the supplies I needed. I can't wait to share with you what they are going to be, but its going to take some time, my creative juices need some time to brew. Actually, that is a bit of a lie, I just need some time without little ones around to bang a few out. I am hoping to get some finished before I leave on Monday because I don't want to rush when I get back. I ended up breaking up the favors into boy and girl favors, it was just easier that way. The boy ones are almost done, I worked on those this afternoon when I got home...but the girl ones are more detailed. I bet you are chomping at the bit to find out what they are...just you wait and see, I hope they are every bit as cool in real life as they are in my head.

I forgot to mention yesterday that my parents are rockstars. Yes, its true, they came through like champs with our Valentine's Day presents this year. I got Adobe Photoshop, and I can't wait to put it to use. I am hoping to doctor up some of my favorite photos before I head across the globe, but its not looking very likely with everything else I have to get done. So now for my Birthday I am going to need an Photoshop for Dummies book. :) Hint Hint Mom & Dad.

And I can't wait to show you what they got for Brad...we have a picture of Olivia opening his present, but I haven't had a chance to upload it yet. Just you wait and see...

Friday, February 12, 2010

Alive Baby Walking...

(Avery right at 6 Months)
Not to be confused with Dead Man Walking...you guessed it, Avery took her first steps this afternoon. And to date, the most consecutive steps is coming in at six. She actually took two on Thursday, but I am more of an "at least more than two" before it is official kind of girl, and lets be honest, those two were just stutter steps.

We took both girls to the Doctor today, and turns out peace of mind is fairly expensive, fifty dollars later we are ear infection free, and the lungs are sounding pretty clear. Both girls are still on breathing treatments as needed, and for now that means just Olivia.

Brad and I had a tough decision to make tonight, do we sit at home on the couch and watch the opening ceremonies of the Olympics OR do we sneak out and watch Valentine's Day while we enjoy Cherry Coke and Movie Theater Popcorn for dinner. We went to Option B and arrived just in time to get seats in the second row - which if you have ever been to the movies with me you know I hate sitting close to the screen, but oh well, thats what you get when you are tardy. All in all we liked the movie, it was cute and predictable. I did shed some tears and for those of you that have seen it, it was at the end when Julia Roberts surprised her "Valentine".

Tomorrow I get to sleep in - yippeeeee-kiiiiiii-yiiiiiiiii-ayyyyyyyyyyyy, get along little doggie. I am so excited.

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Hey Snots and Snow - Beat It!!!


My sweet Avery isn't feeling so hot, and add that to Olivia wheezing her little face off, I am just as over the snots as I am the snow. Avery just woke up after having been asleep for only 30 minutes and screamed her face off for a solid 40 minutes, holding her didn't comfort her, putting her down made it worse, and her screams were "I am in pain" screams so I am thinking that means we are due for a visit to dear old Chippenham Pediatrics tomorrow because the ears are likely infected. The poor little darling has been on her fair share of meds in her short 12 months of life...but if all we are battling is ear infections, I can take it.

I listen to FM 95.3, K95, in the bathroom in the morning, and they host/put on an annual telethon for St. Jude's Hospital and let me just tell you, when I got to work this morning it looked like I had been sucker punched in both eyes, or quite possibly had cried myself to sleep last night and only got an hour of sleep, I was a wreck, I had mascara all over the place. The stories the parents share make me sob, some are happy tears, and others are sad, angry tears. Bottom Line = little ones shouldn't get sick, it just isn't fair. I wanted to call in right then and there and donate my life's savings...I mean clearly I didn't, because I have to pay out the wazoo for the girls school, but you know what I mean, and I can give a little something to a great cause.

Brad signed us, me up to make Jello for Olivia's class, in celebration of Valentine's Day...I mean really Brad? Jello, as in Jello Jigglers, last time I checked you couldn't buy those at the store. He couldn't sign us up for cute frosted cookies sold at Wal-Mart? Nope, he signed us me up for Jello Jigglers, and I have to make them on a night when he is out of town, FIGURES.

Brad and I are hoping to hit the movies tomorrow night in anticipation of my trip and of course as a little early Valentine's Day celebration, now what should we see? I am debating between Dear John and Valentine's Day.  I am wow'ed by the cast of Valentine's Day...I think it might actually top He's Just Not That Into You with all the star power. Our weekend is jam packed, and I need to find time to pack and pick up several things for my trip.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Maya's Birthday Party

If you recall Avery and I went to Maya's First Birthday Party on Sunday afternoon, and I raved about how great her Mom (Samantha) did pulling it all together, so I wanted to show you some shots of the big event, courtsey of Samantha.

Avery and Maya had a blast playing with Maya's new toy kitchen...they are birthday buds, so they are destined to be great friends.

The cookies Samantha made and decorated...talk about fabulous.

And the cake, very impressive...


And the invite, Samantha designed it herself...so sweet.

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Clap your hands...

(Avery at 3 Months)

Avery is becoming a pro at clapping her hands, when she does it you just want to eat her up, its adorable. And she is super proud of herself, she can't even stand it. I wasn't able to snap a picture of her, since we were at my parents for dinner when she was working her magic, but I will attempt to get one tomorrow..

(Avery at 3 Months)

Olivia was home sick today, she spent the day with my Mom, again, we are so thankful to have my parents here, I don't know what we would do without them.

I am starting to pull together my list of stuff to pack for Manila and I am thinking that this trip might require 2 bags, I have been a 1 bag traveler on my last two trips, but I have a long list of things to purchase this time around, and I am planning on bringing clothes to work out in, so that will require some extra space too.  It sounds like Brad and the girls will be well taken care of while I am gone. I think they all probably enjoy a little break from Mommy, beacuse that means QT with Bina, PawPaw, YaYa and GaGa.

Monday, February 8, 2010

Babies...Babies....Babies

That is my dear friend and neighbor Molly with her daughter Campbell (3 M), Juliette (8 M) and Avery (11 M) (from left to right). Juliette is my other dear friend and neighbor's daughter, and we have a master plan for them to be the best of friends for years to come...

Sunday, February 7, 2010

Super Duper Food...I mean Bowl

If the Pats aren't playing, all I seem to care about is just how many calories I can consume while watching the Super Bowl, chatting with my girlfriends and commenting on the commercials. Now if the Pats happen to be playing, then its a different story, I dress up to the "nines" in my Pats Gear and yell "GOOOOOOOOOO Tooooooommmmmmm Braddddddyyyy" with every snap of the football.

So my pity blog post yesterday scored is an invite to the Harris's for some good eats, and great friends...oh yeah, and the game. We've had a super busy day though and the girls aren't in the best of moods, so not sure just how long we will be able to hang, but you bet your bottom dollar we are going to give it the ol' college try.

My alarm clock...Avery woke me up at 5:13am, I mean really Avery? 5:13am? I was less than thrilled, but snatched up my little darling and we made our way downstairs for a morning filled with Mommy and Baby cuddle time, I wouldn't have traded it for an extra hour of sleep...the world. Olivia joined us around 7am and then Brad finally graced us with his presence around 8:30am, just as Avery was heading down for her morning nap. As soon as she arose, we all piled into the Yukon and trudged across Richmond to the Kids Layne Sale. It was so-so, the selection was by far the best I have seen, but the sizes didn't work out so well for our little girlies, a lot of stuff for Olivia, but almost nothing for Avery, so the whole matchy-matchy plan went right down the tubes. I ended up getting an outfit for Olivia to wear at Avery's Birthday party, a cute hot pink dress with embroided turtles all over it and a cute Ralph Lauren Sun Hat for Olivia.

We enjoyed lunch at Noodles and Co and then rushed home so Avery could head off to dreamland. I ran to Costco with my Dad and then came home to a wide-awake Avery ready to join me at Maya's First Birthday Party. So off we went, and let me tell you, Maya's Mom, my friend/neighbor Samantha went ALL out. The decorations were fabulous, but the cake and the cookies were something to write home about, I am talking sell and make money good. She has some serious talent, I already warned all of our mutal friends to lower their expectations for Avery's party, they wouldn't be seeing anything even close to the spread we witnessed today.

So now we are waiting for our little almost one year old to wake up from her nap and then we will head over to Harris's for an hour or so...Happy Super Bowl Ya'll...for the record while I am a Peyton Manning fan, my vote is for the Saints tonight, while Brad is rooting for the good ole' Colts.

Saturday, February 6, 2010

Enough snow already...

Good Grief, its still coming. BUT my darling Mother Nature gave us a little break yesterday, just long enough for Brad to actually get in from Charlotte after 3 cancelled flights. He got home around 9pm last night and I am betting had he not caught that 6:30 flight he would still be there...we are very thankful to have him home. Smooches all around. We haven't ventured out in the snow yet, and likely won't until tomorrow since Olivia is still napping and its already 5pm.


The girls have had a blast tearing apart the house today, it looks like a hydrogen bomb went off (shout out to LOST, which btw Brad and I just got caught up on, so far so good) and we have made a pact to not clean up until tomorrow evening when the little hurricanes go to bed.

And I am semi-proud to report that Avery has taken a few mini-steps unassisted. I think its more that she doesn't realize I'm not holding on, because she isn't doing it to get from point A to point B, its just kind of a shimmey, if you catch my drift.

Brad is treating me to a night of Mr. Michael Buble....on July 6th. HA. Feels like forever away, but I am already looking forward to it. We will likely have to get a REAL babysitter, none of this grandparent stuff, any takers? HA.

I boiled about 15 chicken breasts today, WOOF, boiled chicken smells horrible, BUT its oh so yummy in Buffalo Chicken Dip, Chicken Casserole and Chicken Cha-Lada's. All of which I made today and plan to consume in the next 48 hours. Delish. Taste Buds start your engines!!!

I am sad to admit that we don't have a single plan for the Super Bowl, gone are the days when parties were planned and we were invited....wait, I am betting parties are still planned, the piece that has changed is us being invited - HA. Actually I am going to tell myself that our friends aren't having parties because the thought of them still having them and us not being invited is a bit too much for me to swallow. So if the mood strikes us, we just might haul our brood across our street or beg our friends to haul theirs across the street just to say we watched the Super Bowl with friends and weren't complete losers.

Belated Shout Out...

Happy Belated Birthday to my girl Dana...I miss the days of celebrating our birthdays together at JMU.

Friday, February 5, 2010

Too Grown Up?

So I have mentioned before that Olivia is getting ready to move into a Toddler/Big Girl Bed, the debate is still on as to whether we go to the Toddler Bed or whether we just go straight to a Full Size bed. I am thinking we will go Toddler because I don't feel like buying a new Full Size mattress right now, so that buys me some time in the "Find her Big Girl Bedding" department, but I am always on the look out for something that catches my eye.

You know I am not a huge fan of theme's, so a lot of the Pottery Barn Kids stuff is a bit too "theme-y" for me, so I have been looking at PBTeen instead, and while I have found a few options, the sale options just aren't doing it for me and being that the girls will likely end up sharing a room down the road, I don't want to break the bank on their individual bedding ensembles, since I would like to go nuts when they move in together.

So here is my question...is this bedding too grown up for Olivia? It's a pink madras print duvet cover...my gut tells me yes, but I absolutely LOVE it!!!

Snow Snow Go Away

Seriously folks...this weather is killing my diet mo-jo. I can't stop eating! I made the mistake of going to UKROPS this morning and its been down hill from there...and I had all these big plans to make dinner for Brad to celebrate his award, but at this point I am not confident he is going to make it home tonight. His original flight was cancelled, but he is now on a direct flight, leaving Charlotte at 4:10pm, so if he gets out he will be here around 5:30pm, at least landing in Richmond at 5:30pm. I am not holding my breathing, but I am holding out a little bit of hope.

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Side Notes

  • Olivia used the potty today......TWICE. We did the potty dance and after she went "poop poops" in the potty, we even celebrated with some M & M's.
  • I am heading back to Manila...on February 15th with two guys I work with. They are super close, so I am likely to feel like a giant third wheel, but at least I will get some ME time.

Daddy's Girl


Avery sure is a Daddy's Girl, she loves her Dada and asks about him constantly. The poor thing is going through Dada withdrawl, and Brad making it home tomorrow with the impending storm looks a bit iffy. And while I know this is Avery Month, and today is Day 4, I must focus my attention on my darling husband who called tonight beaming. He is in Charlotte for his National Sales Meeting and tonight was the awards night, well he was crowned Rookie of the Year, which is a huge deal and he was so excited, I could hear it in his voice, my pride welled up and a few tears streamed down my face. He has worked so hard from the get go, and he really has found his calling, he is great at it and really enjoys his job. So a big congrats goes out to my favorite Rookie of the Year, we are very proud of you!!

Our sleeping beauty...

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Avery, Avery, Avery

Another day, another dollar, oh wait, that isn't it, another day, another post about our Sweet Avery, yeah, that's more like it. And of course I don't want you to think that I have forgotten about our first born, she is still very much front and center, and believe you me, she doesn't let you forget it, birth order is front of mind for her and she ensures we respond appropriately. Today's photo's are taken from Avery's One Month Photo Shoot...isn't she precious, our little sleeping beauty.


My Mom is a savior, she ended up taking Olivia back to her house tonight and has helped out in the evenings this week since I am having to work longer hours and Brad is out of town, what would I do without them? It is so great having them here a few months out of the year...we are so lucky to have them in our lives.


Avery has started to use Mama, Dada and YaYa a little more the last few days, so I am almost ready to go out on that limb and say she is "talking", but not quite yet...I said almost. And nope, not walking yet. I did however realize that her Birthday Dress is SUPER long, not sure what is going on with it, so I might have to hem it, there is no way she will be able to crawl in it.


And this weather is seriously nuts, I could do without all this percipitation. I am super impressed with the new We Are The World rendition, oh how I love that song, and oh how I love that they are going to debut it at the onset of the Winter Olympics.

On a more somber note, I am so disappointed in John Edwards, and while I can't even begin to understand what Elizabeth Edwards has been going through, there is some not so postive press coming out about her too and how she has treated people over the years, and more about how calculating and cold she was. I am going to choose to not focus on that piece, and more feel bad for her. Seriously, between John Edwards and Tiger Woods...urgh.