Soaps, Cranky, Study, Flowers

This morning, Avery and I ventured out for a little while.  We went to Target and walked out with nothing.  I don't think I have ever gone into Target and walked out empty handed.  It is a miracle!  We did browse the home section so I could look at everything I want to buy for the house and figure out how much one of the bigger items was going to cost.  Then we walked down to Bath and Body Works.  I needed to get more hand soaps and shower gels.  I've always loved the hand soaps and shower gels, they are my special little splurge that isn't even that expensive.  They have some really pretty scents out right now.  

 We got home and had some lunch.  Avery has been really cranky for me all day today.  She hasn't wanted to nap.  It is 4pm as I am posting this and I have tried 4 times to get her down today.  She is wearing me out.  It is really hard to deal with when you are alone for 24 hours.  She napped like a champ yesterday.  I'm letting her fuss in her crib right now and hoping she eventually falls asleep.  I also gave her some Tylenol.  She is drooling a ton and I'm wondering if she is extra cranky because of teething.  I'm letting Avery hang out in some fresh pajamas all day just because.

 I finally got the study all cleaned out.  I still need to steam the hard wood floors in here (and the entire house for that matter) and move some wall hangings around.  I'm excited to transform part of this room into a play area for Avery.  I've already picked out the shelving unit, baskets, bulletin board and wall hanging that I want to add to this room.  Our chair, desk and book shelf will still stay in the study/playroom.  I'm moving the two New York pictures to the wall with the desk on it.  I'll be moving Rolo's bed too.

 We found out last night that a type of flower we planted in our front and back yard is toxic to dogs.  The Vinca flower is toxic to dogs, cats and horses.  We had no idea.  We should have researched our plants before buying them.  Lesson learned.  The oleanders we planted in the front yard are also VERY toxic to all animals.  We are leaving the plants in the front yard since Rolo is never out there unsupervised.  We are going to be pulling up the Vinca flowers that are in the back bed though.  I haven't been able to let him hang out in the back at all today.  I think we'll be taking care of that tomorrow.  Here are the flowers in the back yard that are coming up... and if you have animals DO NOT plant these flowers where they spend time.

I'm still listening to Avery fuss.  It has been a long day.  Hope everyone is having a good day after the long holiday weekend.

Slow Cooker Queso Recipe

This recipe is awesome.  I mean, who doesn't like cheese dip?

1 pound 95% lean ground beef
1 pound bulk Italian sausage
1 package Velveeta (16 ounces), cubed
1 medium onion, diced
8 ounces shredded cheddar cheese
1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, cubed
1 container (8 ounces) cottage cheese
1 container (8 ounces) sour cream
1 can mild Rotel
3 cloves garlic, minced
salt and pepper to taste

Brown the meats, drain and discard fat.  Add meat and the rest of the ingredients to crock pot.  Mix together.  Cover and cook on high for about 2 hours.  Stir occasionally.  Scarf as soon as done!

Happy Memorial Day!

Avery slept until 7:35am for me this morning!  It was wonderful.  She did wake up at 1:45am for a diaper change and bottle but she went right back to sleep.  She was a tired girl.  Today we had to get ready for our Memorial day get together.  Avery was excited and ready to go in her patriotic outfit and bow.  Everyone came over between 12pm and 1pm.  

 I made my awesome crock pot queso today.  I seriously could stand over this pot and eat it all.  I'll post the recipe following this post.

 Eric prepared ribs and we bought some coleslaw to have as a side.  Our friends provided potato salad, feta dip, a fruit bowl, and desserts.  All of the food was fantastic!

 Here are all of the girls hanging out and playing.  We had three girls and one boy over to play today.  Everyone was so well behaved and all took a nap at some point during the afternoon.

 Rhyan LOVED trying out the jumper!  She is one week younger than Avery but is already crawling, pulling herself up and trying to walk!  She is so adorable.  Michael and Jenny are going to have to child proof their house really soon for this little girl on the move.

 Miss Sophia is getting so big!  I haven't seen her in a couple of months.  She was sitting up some on her own today and chewing on all the toys.  She even tried out the jumper and really liked it!  I think we know what Matt and Emily will be buying her next.

 After everyone had some food, we headed out back to let the kids take a dip in the pool.  Matt and Emily brought over their awesome inflatable pool.  It is a great size.  Avery wasn't too sure about the pool this time, but she quickly warmed up to it and enjoyed herself.

 Rolo is supervising as always.

 Sophia the bathing beauty in the Bumpo chair.  This chair was great in the pool.  Sophia and Avery took turns sitting in it.

 Rhyan was a splish splashing queen!  She had no fear of the water and just loved it.

 Anthony and Vanessa's son Everett is 4 months old, so he was a little younger than the girls.  He hung out and watched the ladies splash in the pool.  He is such a doll and I love his little hat.  Eric and I got some little grins out of him today!

 Everett just dipping his toes in the water.

 All the kids enjoying some water and sunshine.  It was a beautiful day out today!

It was so nice to have some friends come over and visit.  I'm looking forward to having more get together's and visiting friends this summer.  I hope everyone had a wonderful Memorial day!  Now off to relax the rest of the evening.

Goodbye and the littlest Rockies fan

Here are a few pictures from last night that where taken after I already posted!  I was out getting groceries at Super Target, so Avery was at home with grandma Charlene.  She was all cozy in her Tinkerbell pajamas having fun playing on the floor.  She is pushing up on her toes to help her reach the ball.  

 My sweet happy baby!

 She loves to try and grab the camera.  This child is not going to be camera shy growing up that is for sure!

 Grandma Charlene had to fly back home to Colorado today, so she wanted some nice pictures taken with her and Avery.  We put Avery into one of the outfits she made her and headed outside.  Avery is scared of the grass so it was hard to get many good pictures.  She kept looking down at the grass waiting to freak out if we lowered her too far!  I was able to make some funny noises to grab her attention quickly.

 The whole gang is on the floor playing.  So much fun!

 After we took grandma Charlene to the airport, we came back home and changed into some new Colorado Rockies pajamas.  They are adorable!  I thought it would be fun to put her new bow in her hair that matches and take some pictures.  Maybe we have a little future softball player on our hands?  Eric would LOVE that.  I not so secretly want her to be a cheerleader like I was!

 She just loves playing with this big stuffed rattling softball!

 Here is more of a close up so you can see the awesome bow Jenny made.  It has zebra print, purple and a sparkly silver.  It is perfect to match her Rockies gear!

 Playing with her softball is serious business folks.

 Just thought I would toss in a picture of my lunch today.  Some delicious strawberry shortcake.  YUM!

 This evening I gave Avery some chunks of avacado with her shredded cheese for dinner.  She loved it.  I'm glad she isn't a picky eater so far.  She has enjoyed everything I have given her for the most part.

 We finally got the new car seat installed into the truck.  Avery was ready for bed at this point, but we needed to try it out.  Everything looked good.

Avery went to bed at 5:30pm tonight.  That is pretty early.  My thoughts are she will either wake up once during the night or she will be up at the crack of dawn tomorrow morning.  This evening I am going to finish the laundry, do some dusting, pick up random stuff around the house, and prep some food for tomorrow.  I feel super lazy and don't want to do any of it, but it needs to get done.  I'm looking forward to seeing some friends tomorrow afternoon and eating some good food!

Happy 8 Months Avery!

Oh my goodness, how do I have an 8 month old baby girl??  Time is just flying by!  

Some 8 month stats:  Avery is wearing 12 month clothes, size 3 diapers, loves playing and chewing on all of her toys, loves playing in her jumper and exersaucer, is very interested in seeing and touching Rolo Brown, eats 3-4 meals a day of pureed fruits and veggies, yogurts, shredded cheese and lunch meats, puffs, applesauce, some steamed veggies, drinks 3-4 bottles a day, loves being out and about in the stroller or Ergo carrier, likes to swing, loves bath time, is a decent sleeper most of the time, made some new friends, got very sick for the first time this month, went to the gym daycare for the first time this month, flew to VA to visit family and friends, went to a birthday party this month, loves playing baby in the bed, and absolutely hates the grass!

Happy 8 months Avery Blake!  We love you so much!!

Birthday party and the landscaping is finished!

Avery decided to wake up at 6:30am this morning.  That is just way too early for mommy!  We got up, mom made coffee, Avery had her breakfast of yogurt and fruit, then we played before morning nap.  For the first time in who knows how long, Avery actually took a great morning nap today!  She slept for an hour and a half.  Once she got up, we headed over to my friend Erin's house for Connor's 2nd birthday party.  It was nice to see Erin and Mark, and our other friends Carrie and Ryan.  There where TONS of kids running around.  It looked like everyone was having a great time.  Avery was one of the younger kids there, so we stuck to swinging in the swing and having some snacks inside.  She loved swinging outside!  I really wish we had a great tree in our backyard to hang a swing like this.  

 We stayed at the party for about an hour, then decided to leave while Avery was still in a good mood.  We had some other errands to run before heading home for the day.  We stopped at Costoc and grandma Charlene ran in to get some groceries we needed.  Once we got home, Avery was in a great mood playing with her toys.  I love catching her sweet smile on camera!

 Our yard is finally finished!  Lots of hard work in the heat was put in by Eric and grandma Charlene.  It looks great.  Here is the front bed that wraps around to the side of the house.  The flowers look really small but they will get bigger with time.

 Here is one of the tree beds in the front yard.

 Here is the other tree bed in the front yard.

 The front of the house.  I'm so happy this is done before we have visitors on Monday!

 The side of the large front bed.  I love the oleanders we planted.

 The supervisor hard at work in the backyard.

 So pretty!

 Here is the backyard bed that wraps around a small patio.

 The spot on the left that doesn't have any flowers is going to be used for herbs.  We are going to be planting basil, cilantro, rosemary and possibly mint.  I'll love having fresh herbs for cooking!

 Another pretty close up.

Tonight we are having salmon and veggies for dinner.  As soon as we are finished eating, grandma Charlene is taking over with Avery so I can run to Super Target to get groceries.  I might have to pick up something sweet for dessert.  The diet starts next week! :)  Hope everyone has a great Saturday night!

Spaghetti, candy and a future bathing beauty

Eric had to work a 24 hour shift, so it was me, Avery and grandma Charlene today!  Grandma Charlene worked a bunch in the yard again while I watched Avery.  I feel really bad that I haven't been more help outside.  Avery hasn't been napping well and I don't want her sitting in the hot sun with her fair skin.  Our yard is coming along great.  I'll be posting final yard pictures once everything is complete!

I've been slow cooking some meat sauce for dinner tonight.  We are going to have some spaghetti.  The entire house smells great and I can't wait to eat.  

 Earlier in the day, Avery and I ran out to Target.  We are going to a birthday party tomorrow, so we bought a present and a few other random things we needed.  I didn't really NEED these peanut butter M&M's or the diet Coke I bought, but it sure has tasted great this afternoon.  Grandma Charlene was happy to see I bought her favorite candy.

 After Avery's non-existent nap, I decided to try on her new bathing suit.  Aunt Susan bought this for her while shopping at the outlets in VA.  It is from Gymboree.  It is too cute!  It fits great and I'm excited to get her into the pool on Monday during our Memorial Day BBQ.

 Rolo liked it too and gave a lick of approval!

Grandma Charlene is showering and I am getting dinner finished up so we can eat.  I'm hoping Avery sleeps through the night.  I'm not sure what happened to my awesome sleeper.  She hasn't been napping well and has been waking in the middle of the night for a bottle.  Cross your fingers I get a full nights sleep!

Landscaping and LOTS of pictures!

This morning, Eric made buttermilk pancakes and bacon for breakfast.  It was so good!  It was a great way to start the day.  Right after breakfast, Eric and his mom went outside to start working on the landscaping.  We have been wanting to redo our beds in the front and back of the house.  In the front of the house we have a large bed that wraps around one side and two tree beds.  In the back of the house there is one bed on the side of the small back patio.  

Rolo made sure to supervise activity all day long.  

 Eric is cutting down all the overgrown grass in the front large bed.  We wanted to get this project done in April, so that is how long this has all been sitting for.  You just need a lot of time and money to do it, and we haven't had much of that lately!

 This is the large front bed right in front of the house.  The shrubs are in good shape, all the grass and weeds need to go.

 Avery played outside this morning and watched everyone work.  She really enjoyed the fresh air!  The front of our house has shade in the morning so it was perfect!

 Once Avery was over playing outside, we came in and had some lunch.  Once again, she was not interested in her purees.  She was all over eating some cheddar cheese though!  She made a royal mess but seemed to love it!  She was able to get more in her mouth today.  I was happy she enjoyed her lunch so much.  Look at all that cheese on her belly!  I let Rolo lick it off her when she was all done!

 We all needed to make a run to Hone Depot, so I got Avery dressed in one of her outfits made by grandma Charlene.  It's is adorable!

 Here she is taking a self portrait for her Facebook page! :)

 My sweet baby girl.

 Eric and Avery shopping for flowers and shrubs at Home Depot.  It was SO hot outside today!

 Here is the pretty oleander we got for the front of the house.  I love the color!

 Here is Rolo hanging out with a bunch of the new flowers we bought.  We ended up having to kick him inside because he kept chewing and trying to eat acorns.  Not good.  I saw plenty of dogs stomachs cut open working at the veterinary hospital because of eating acorns.

 Later this afternoon, our friend Jenny stopped by with her baby girl Rhyan.  Avery and Rhyan are exactly one week apart.  Jenny sells the adorable bows I posted about in an earlier post.  I bought three more today along with a white headband.  Avery is starting to get a really nice collection of bows!

 Here is the very first flower we planted in the front yard!  It kind of looks sad all by itself, but there are tons more around it now.  The beds are 60% done, but all the work is done for the day.  Eric and Charlene worked so hard and it looks great.  I can't wait to see the finished product in the next couple of days.  I wasn't able to help much because I was on Avery duty.

 Avery got her dinner and bath and is sound asleep in bed.

 The three of us are now eating some pizza and wings and watching the baseball game!

Today was a great day!  Hope everyone has a wonderful night!