case in point.

This morning, Avery grabbed Siena's picture off the fridge and brought it to the breakfast table. Avery loves "Nenna."

Long time, no blog

Wow, it's been a long time! Let's catch you up on what we've been up to. We had a fantastic Christmas. We got to spend time with the Bonner side on Christmas Day this year.



Daddy made a duck by hand for Avery to push around.

For the first few days she just kissed the duck and quacked at it with her adorable "quacking" (insert gulping water sound).


The day after Christmas was spent with the Doran side. Special time was spent with Grandma


and reading Christmas books with Grandpa



and dancing on the hearth with Cousin Scooter


and spinning tops with Cousin Dane


My Gym classes have also been keeping us busy!






And, for the highlight of our January, we took a trip to Orlando and got to meet our new baby niece, Siena Lyle Doran or as Avery calls her "Nenna" and see "Gaga" (Uncle Doug) and "De" (Auntie Jen).

Oh wait, that's not Siena...



Introducing Siena Lyle Doran




There are no pictures of Auntie Kim with Siena because Avery was... let's just say a little jealous when mommy was holding Siena.



Avers and Gaga


Playing




We are counting down the days until we get to see "Nenna, Gaga, and De" again. Even though, Avers wasn't too happy about a cousin picture or her mommy holding Siena, she has not stopped talking about her auntie, uncle and cousin.

On Lake Eola in Orlando


That's all folks!

Merry Christmas, Mommy

My Little Hand...

Come with me mommy,
I just want to show you one thing.
From balls to books to dolls,
to the doorbell I can't yet ring.

Will you lift me up,
to show me the photos of our family?
I love to give them all kisses,
from aunties to cousins and even Stanley.



Now let's go see my bedroom,
with the animals and flowers and all.
I will show you each bird and butterfly,
and even the little mouse I spy on the wall.

To the bathroom I think would be fun,
to see what is in each and every drawer.
I like to go through each one,
as I did the day before.



To the bedroom of Mommy and Daddy,
to pick out a necklace I think.
Would you please help me choose one,
to go with my pajamas of pink?

I think we are now ready,
to see what outside has in store.
May we please go for a walk,
so I can learn even more?



Out the front door,
and down our only step.
Will we play in the swing when we return?
You know the answer is... umm, yep.

I can open the gate all by myself,
just you watch and see.
I am growing very quickly,
I am becoming a bigger me.



With a few stops to make,
down the sidewalk we will go.
There will be a few dandelions,
that I must pick and blow.

We will walk and walk and walk,
forwards and even backwards is neat.
My little legs get so tired,
sometimes I need to take a seat.



I will look up in the sky,
to find my friend the moon.
Some evenings it is there,
other times it is just too soon.

On some special days there is a treat,
of which I am a big fan.
Along comes a great big ol' trash truck,
with a green arm that grabs our trashcan.



Maybe I will see a motorcycle,
and wait to hear you say vroom, vroom.
Or maybe it is a car playing loud music,
the kind that goes boom, boom.

It is always fun to spy a kopka,
I really like them- mmmuh, mmmuh.
Or perhaps we will see some crows.
Mommy, they are singing to us- cah, cah.



I could go on and on,
about all the neat stuff we see.
But, what I really want to tell you,
is I'm happiest when you are with me.

So, it may seem insignificant,
that finger of yours I once needed to even stand.
But, since I very first met Daddy and you, I've shown you my love...
By holding onto it tightly with my little hand.



Merry Christmas, Mommy. I sure do love you.

Love, Avery

Oh, the weather outside was frightful!

As my Southern California peeps know, earlier this week we had some serious rain. It was fun and cozy but too much all at once for a lot of people/areas. Not for us.

For us, it meant cozy days playing by the crackling fire and lighted Christmas tree with my visiting BFF, aunties and cousins.



Piling in Auntie Kelly's minivan and looking at the Christmas lights.


Taking short walks in the {light} rain.



But in true Southern California fashion, by week's end the forecast is clear and sunny skies.

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

We've been keeping very busy getting into the spirit of the season. A couple of the season's highlights have been...

...visiting Santa. Avery was very brave this year. She sat on Santa's lap for about 20 seconds before crying. I lifted her off his lap, moved her to the doorway and knelt down to explain in 16 month old terms that Santa is a nice man who gives kids gifts. Avery's response? She promptly pushed my back and grabbed my hand to lead me out the door. She was over it.



...going to the Sawdust Winter Fantasy


Caught in the act at the Zoomar's petting zoo area... mmmmuh!



... admiring all the lights and decorations has definitely been at the top of the list this year.


Merry Christmas from Stanley, too.

We have our own little Christmas elf that...

... helped us deck the halls. She helped us pick out our Christmas tree...



...and decorate it with lights...


...and ornaments....


She even helped Daddy put up the Christmas lights on our house.


Fa-la-la-la-la

Mmmmmmuh!

Our baby girl LOVES to kiss. She kisses mommy, daddy, Stanley (dog), Willy (cat), Miguel (cat), cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents, dolls, stuffed animals, animals painted on her wall, her reflection on the mirror or window. Don't feel left out if you live far away, she also kisses pictures of people and animals. During lunch today, she kissed the Mickey Mouse on her fork. A few times I was in the other room and heard, "Mmmuh...mmmuh...mmmuh." When I walked in to see what she was kissing I saw her ....

... kissing Honey Bear



... kissing a photo magnet of one of our cats



... kissing a ghost pot holder



Sending kisses... mmmuh!