first horse ride

Grace had her first horse ride at our ward BBQ / cricket match. It was so cute! Half way through it the horse decided to take a bathroom break. She liked the horse ride but she loved telling people about how the horsie went "koo koo" (poo poo) while she was riding.

so great

This is miss Ava Ruby with "our" doctor, Dr. Matthews, at my 6 week post-natal checkup. He was such a great doctor and I feel so blessed that I was able to find him. Out of the sea of doctors in a city I am so unfamiliar with, I really feel like the Lord led me to Dr. Matthews. May sound silly, but as most of you know, I haven't had the best track record when it comes to carrying & birthing babies. He took fantastic care of me and baby Ava....kinda makes me want to go back for another while we're here in Australia.... :)

endorphins

I got the go-ahead from my doctor at my 6 week post-natal checkup to start running again. Yippeeee!! I haven't run since last Novemeber. Yuck. I was so ready to get back on the wagon. So, Bruce documented with this not-so-attractive photo.

I cranked up "You know you want me" by Pitbull (which is a HOT song to run to, by the way) and ran 5 miles. For not any running in a year, I was feeling all impressed with myself....until today. It's now 2 days later and I'm D-Y-I-N-G!! Bruce gave me a little love squeeze on my thigh today and I about cried!!

really?!

This is my current washer (the one on the left :) ). I love it because it's an LG washer/dryer combo. Anyhow, the main control board has gone out in it. An electrition came out this morning to look at it and said he'll order a new control board but it could take up to 6 weeks to come in....REALLY?!??! How nice for me.

So, in the mean time....looks like I'll be using the washer on the right....

happy birthday, haylee amanda!

Can my little baby Haylee be 2 already??!!? I can't believe it! Oh, Haylee is such a sweetheart! She has such a kind and gentle personality and is always concerned about others - especially her baby sister, Ava. We've nicknamed Haylee "Nugget" because she is such a tiny little thing - she easily still fits into size 12 months. Haylee is quite witty for a 2 year old and knows when she's being silly. She makes us laugh with the things she comes up with. Her new word is helicopter - pronounced: "heck-a-ka-ka". So dang cute! Haylee is our quiet child. She likes to keep to herself and entertains herself wonderfully. She has a quiet confidence.

We love you more than we can say, Nugget! How blessed we are that you were sent to our family! **kisses & cuddles**

we love auntie janelle

Aunt Janelle came and stayaed two weeks with us after I had baby Ava. She was the biggest help! The girls loved having her here...but I loved having her here more :)

Thanks a million for all of your help, Janelle!!!! We love you and miss you!

Oh, Haylee!

I was sitting down feeding Ava today when Haylee came to me with a a big pump bottle of Purell hand sanitzer. Before I could get up to take it away, she pumped a huge blob of it into her mouth and swallowed. She then looked at me with a smile and said, "Mmmmm! Spicy!"

happy halloween!

Halloween isn't celebrated here in Australia, but we couldn't let the day go without some trick-or-treating! We dressed up Gracie, Haylee, & Ava and took them over to our good friends, the Stewart's, house. (We go to church with the Stewart's and they are also from Houston.) The girls had a lot of fun and thought it was great to get candy in their "punkins"!

naps

After laying Gracie & Haylee down for their naps today, (they are fantastic nap-takers!) I walked into our bedroom and saw this....

I love it!

big girl!!

Miss Ava is 1 month old! I can't believe it! She is such a sweet baby. She's very calm and content to just take everything in. We are just so in love with her!!

I took her for her 1 month check-up today and these are her big girl stats:
she weighs 8 lbs 10 oz and is 20 inches big

a special day

Today I realized that I have everything I've ever wanted. It just hit me while I was sitting in church. Today was Ava's baby blessing. It was just beautiful. Ava looked like an angel. I love that all three of my sweet girls have been blessed by their daddy in the same dress. I am so grateful for my wonderful husband and I feel so blessed to have him and our sweet, sweet little girls.

We are lucky enough to have my sister, Janelle, here; it made the day even more special!

breastfeeding advice

To all of the other breastfeeding moms out there: don't eat spicy Portugese food. Your baby won't like it. Holy smokes....!

ava ruby

I finally got around to putting a slide show together. Hopefully it captures the beauty of the four women I'm in love with. So here are the highlights of the past ten days of our new family of five.
Enjoy,

motherhood

I have been missing my mom terribly since having little Ava. I was so spoiled having her and my mother-in-law living only minutes away when I had Grace & Haylee. It's been really hard not having that this third time.

I have so much appreciation for my mom, my grandma Ruby, and my mother-in-law, Marilyn. They have all been (and still are) such wonderful mothers. They have spent years of their lives giving selflessly; always giving and never taking. They are such good examples to me of what a mom should be.

I am so blessed having these women in my life.

Grandma Ruby, Haylee, me, my mom, & Grace, July 2008

Marilyn & Grace, Easter 2007

my favorite

I love this picture. It's my favorite. It was taken just minutes after Ava was born and every time I look at it I smile. It's one of those pictures that captured the emotions of the moment. I love being a mommy.