cold and appointment

First, I wanted to post a picture from dinner last night.  Avery had Hamburger Helper Cheeseburger Macaroni for the first time... and loved it of course!  (Liz, this picture is for you!). 

Today I woke up hearing the wind blowing hard outside.  It was in the 50s, windy, and cold out!  I was beyond thrilled.  We went for a walk and had to bundle up in our cold weather gear.  Yes, I have turned into a soft Texan and get bundled up for 50 degree weather.  Sad but true. 

I went to my first therapy appointment today.  I think it went well and it was a positive experience.  It was an hour long appointment and my therapist is Jill.  I spent the hour talking about myself and my life.  I cried a little, but not as much as I thought I would.  I go back to speak with Jill again next Thursday and I'll be meeting with her once a week for the next 6 weeks.  I hope I can start to feel some relief from all the anxiety I deal with.  I know this will improve so many things in my life. 

Good night.

blogging slacker

I feel like I've been slacking a little with blogging lately.  Our company left on Saturday evening, Sunday was a lazy day around the house with a Target run thrown in there, and today I'm trying to be productive with the cleaning and laundry.  I want to get the house back to normal after having so many visitors in and out the past month.  I love having family visit, but it is also nice to get back into your normal daily routine. 

I've set a goal for myself to get out and walk for 30 minutes 5 days a week.  I really need to do something because my weight has never been this high and I am sick of not having any clothes that fit or look nice on me.  I'm also going to be preparing more meals at home, drinking more liquids (MIO is my new friend!), and watching my portions.  I believe that you can eat what you want in moderation.  I am searching for new easy recipes to try, so if you have any good ones or sites to check out please let me know!

I have my first therapy appointment tomorrow afternoon for my anxiety.  I'll report back on how it went.  I'm also hoping to get Avery over to the little pumpkin patch at the church on Slaughter for some pictures and to pick out a couple pumpkins.  Hopefully we can see our friends this week for a play date too. 

Happy Monday! 

lunch at lake travis

We started our day with a nice morning walk.  It was pretty chilly out this morning (so exciting!) so we broke out some cooler weather clothes.  Avery and her grandpa Rick ready to head out!

After our normal loop, we stopped at the park to play for a little while.  Avery loved swinging on the swing as always. 

Holding on and going high!

After the swing, she went down the slide a few times. 

She loved it!

After our walk, we spent the rest of the morning at home.  We had breakfast, coffee, got showers, and relaxed while Avery took her morning nap.  Once she woke up, we headed out to Lake Travis.  We had lunch at Uncle Billy's BBQ on the lake.  We love that restaurant and the view is so pretty.  The weather was beautiful today to eat outside.  Avery was checking out the menu and looking at all the good food options!

A view from our table. So pretty!  Normally, there aren't islands in the middle of the lake.  Since it has been so dry here in Austin without any rain for months, the lake is about 38 feet below average. 

All the girls minus Avery at lunch waiting on appetizers.  We love the fried pickles! 

The family after lunch.  It was such a nice lunch and we all enjoyed. 

After lunch, we decided to go walk around the Hill Country Galleria for a little while.  It got pretty hot today.  We went into a few stores and looked around.  I was so excited to see that Bath and Body Works has their holiday scents out.  I am in LOVE with the Vanilla Bean Noel.  I get it every year! 

The rest of the afternoon was pretty relaxing around the house.  Emily and I ran to Target for a few things.  Eric prepared two home made pizzas for dinner. 

One of the delicious pizzas!  We used our fresh basil that we grow in the backyard, tomato, and mozzarella. 

It has been a fun and busy day!  I'm super tired and will be heading to bed soon.  Have a wonderful weekend! 

first full day with grandpa, grandma, and Emily

We spent our first full day with grandpa Rick, grandma Liz, and Emily.  We all had a light breakfast and some coffee, then Avery got to open her birthday presents from the g-units.  She got a bunch of really cute clothes from Gymboree, a pink butterfly hooded bath towel, and a Little Tikes shopping cart. 

After all of the excitement of opening gifts, we all got dressed and headed out for a walk around the neighborhood.  At the end of our walk, we stopped at the park so Avery could get on the swings for a little while.  She was ready for her morning nap once we got back to the house. 

We went out for lunch to Galaxy Cafe.  Everyone enjoyed a light lunch.  After lunch, the guys stayed home with Avery while the girls went out to a few stores. We went to Charming Charlie's (they don't have that store in CO) so Emily could get a few things, Platos Closet, and Target. 

Emily and Avery after Avery woke up from her afternoon nap.  Avery likes having Emily around to play with. 

Avery just loves her new shopping cart.  She has her babies in it and is slowly learning to stand up and reach the handles.  I know she will love playing with it once she is walking. 

Grandma Liz is helping her walk around and push the shopping cart. 

While we all hung out and played in the living room, grandpa Rick was hard at work in the kitchen.  He was preparing chicken marsala, mashed potatoes, steamed broccoli, and chocolate sheet cake.  Today is grandma Liz's birthday and that was her special birthday dinner request. 

Here is our wonderful dinner.  It was so good.  We all got hungry waiting around for dinner this afternoon, but it was well worth the wait! 

The huge chocolate sheet cake that we got to stare at all afternoon and not touch!  Even though we were all full from dinner, we inhaled a large piece of cake with mint chocolate chip ice cream afterwards. 

We are all relaxing this evening and watching a movie.  Hope you have a great night!

4 years, milanos, visitors

On this day four years ago, Eric and I tied the knot in Colorado!  I can't believe it has already been that long.  Marriage is hard, and we are always learning and growing and loving every day.  I couldn't imagine spending my life with anyone else.  We are two very different people who bring out the best in each other.  Eric, I love you more every day and I'm looking forward to making more memories in our years together.

We decided to go out to lunch for our anniversary.  Our family of three went to eat lunch at a little Italian place called Milanos.  It was delicious!  Eric and I both had a panini sandwich, and I had some minestrone soup too.  Avery had penne with butter and Parmesan cheese.  She went to town with her lunch.  She loved checking out all of the wonderful desserts they had!

We decided on splitting a piece of the red velvet cake, one of my favorites.... and apparently Avery's too.  She LOVED it and made a huge red mess! 

After lunch we ran a few errands before coming home.  We did some laundry and cleaned the house up some while Avery took her afternoon nap.

We are super excited that grandpa Rick and grandma Liz and Emily are flying in this evening from Colorado!  Avery is going to wake up to a full house in the morning.  She loves having visitors.  Tomorrow is Liz's birthday, so we are making a special dinner and dessert at home.  Not sure what the rest of the weekend has in store!

Have a wonderful night!

monday stuff

Last night I put Avery to bed at 5:15pm.  She has been so tired from fighting whatever it is she is fighting and having a fever.  She got up this morning at 7:20am.  I couldn't believe how long she slept.  The poor girl needed it I guess.  After breakfast, we took a family walk around the neighborhood.  It was nice out, not hot and overcast.  As soon as we got home, Avery was ready for her morning nap.  Yes, she wanted to sleep again after sleeping 14 hours last night!  I really hope Avery always stays a good sleeper. 

Once Avery woke up, we all got dressed and decided to go out and have lunch at Red's Porch.  That is our new spot.  I took some pictures before we left of Avery in her cute pumpkin shirt my friend Jenny made her.  Her business is Two Sisters Crafting and she makes the cutest stuff. 

Avery chowed down at lunch.  She went to town on some fried chicken strips and macaroni and cheese.  She can really pack it in, just like her mommy!  Makes me proud. 

When we got home after lunch, I left to go over to South Park Meadows to do a little shopping on my own.  I stopped at Carter's and got Avery a few new outfits and stopped at Target for a few groceries that we needed.  Eric and Avery napped while I was gone and got up right before I got home. 

We went over to visit Michael, Jenny, and Rhyan to give Rhyan her birthday present.  We visited while the girls played for a little while.  Avery let us know she was ready to go home and get a bath with her crankiness. 

Tonight after Avery's bath, I noticed that her chest, belly, and thighs had broken out in a rash of a bunch of pink spots.  We think it is roseola.  It makes sense with her fever lasting so long and as soon as it went away she broke out in a rash a day later.  From what we have researched, she isn't contagious with the rash but was with the fever.  It should go away in a couple of days and if it doesn't, we'll call the doctor. 

Eric and I enjoyed some veggie pasta for dinner and frozen custard for dessert.  We are just relaxing the rest of the evening.  Hope you had a great Monday!

storm and more fever

This morning I woke up to the sound of some loud thunder, heavy rain, and lots of lightening!  It was awesome.  We need the rain so bad. The only bummer was that this storm hit around 4:30am and it woke Avery up for the day.  Luckily she went down for a nap around 7:40am and slept until 10am.  I took a little nap too and then relaxed on my computer for awhile.  I was able to dress Avery in one of her cute Halloween outfits today since it was a little cooler out.  The rain lasted a good portion of the day, which made for a perfect gloomy cozy day inside!  I had my pumpkin pie candle burning all day. 

About an hour or so after waking up and taking this picture I noticed she felt warm again.  Sure enough, her fever was back.  I should have known by her mood... cranky, fussy, tired.  She took two more short naps this afternoon and was in bed for the night at 5:15am.  I hope she feels better tomorrow morning.  I want to get out of this house and do something fun (like go out to lunch, hint hint Eric!) with my girl! 

I'm off to bed.  Have a great night!