Avey Babies - 1.5 and 3.5 Year Updates

Time for a little Avey Baby Update!

Kinley Mae:

You are 1.5!  What??  You have grown so fast.  I just can't even believe we are just a few months away from you being 2!

- I have not measured or weighed you recently.  I'll try to do that today and update this for my records.
- You are wearing size 2T and 3T clothes.
- Your shoes are a size 7 although you have a few size 6's that still fit you too.
- You can say "mama", "dada", "bubba", "gigi", "papa", "maw", "d", "night night", "baby", "bye-bye", "thanks", "thank you", "please", "cheese", "yes", "no", "ball", "shoes" and I am sure I am forgetting some.  You are soooo good at repeating words after us.
- You can tell us what a chicken, dog, goat, sheep and cow say.
- You know where your nose, eyes, mouth and belly / belly button are.
- You are still VERY much a Mama's girl.  I think you would be content if I just held you allllll day, every day.  I like that you like me so much!
- You are a shy little girl.  When someone talks to you that you don't know you burry your face into my shoulder and give them the side eye.  It's mostly men you are shy around.  The only men you will really let hold you are Daddy, Papa and Googy.
- I think you will be our tender hearted little one.  We don't hardly ever have to spank you or swat your little hand.  We can just tell you "no" a little sternly and you will cry your little eyes out.  I'm ok with that though...I don't like spanking you babies!
- You are still the best eater ever.  I don't think you have eaten much that you don't like. You like to eat right when you get up and are pretty scheduled on your other meals too.  You will let us know when you are hungry!  Donuts are your very favorite food!
- You like to go to bed around 8p every night but we've been keeping you up until about 8:30p lately and you don't seem to mind too much.
- You still nap everyday around 1p and sleep for about 2-3 hours.  Today you actually slept for 4 hours! Growth spurt maybe??
- You still love your babies.  You usually carry one around most of the day.
- You also carry your blanket around a lot and when we drop you off at nursery every week, if you aren't holding it you will cry when we leave you.  I guess you like some sort of security.
- Some of your nicknames are: "Bay-Bay" (by Porter), "Squeaker", "Squeaker Bug", "Squeaky", "Kinley Bug".
- You like to watch Paw Patrol with your brother.  You also like Princess Sophia, Mutt and Stuff, Umi Zoomi and Goldie and Bear.  You will actually sit still and watch TV some unlike your brother at your age.

You are a sweet girl and your little personality is really shining right now!  You are so attached to me and I love it (although it makes it hard to get much done, ha!).  I hope that you always like your mommy and daddy as much as you do now.  We are crazy about you, little girl!


Porter,

You are 3.5!  I just can't even believe it.  This time with you has just flown by!

- We just measured you and you are
- You wear a size 12 or 13 shoe
- Your pants and shirts are size 5T or 5/6
- Your favorite thing right now is telling big stories (or windys as we like to call them!)
- Most of the time you are pretty outgoing.  You have your moments of being shy when you are around a bunch of people you don't know but for the most part, you are pretty outgoing.
- You are saying the funniest things right now!  I just ordered a journal online that I heard about to record the funny things you say everyday and I can't wait to get it in the mail so I can start using it.
-  You are the pickiest eater on the planet.  We have trouble getting you to eat ANYTHING.  You'll eat candy, chips, fruit snacks and drink chocolate milk or sweet tea alllll day long but not much else.  You will eat fruit and cherry tomatoes well so I guess that is good!
- You are our night owl.  I think you'd stay up until midnight if I'd let you.  You usually stay up until Daddy and I go to bed around 9:30 or 10p and you sleep until 8-9a.
- You go to KDO at our church one day a week.  You really like going and love playing with your "church friends".  You will not tell us their names, you just refer to them as your "church friends".  Quite the little stinker you are!
- You love big trucks (18-wheelers) and tractors the most.  Pretty much anything with wheels makes you happy though.
- Paw Patrol is still your favorite show right now.  Scooby Doo comes in at a pretty close 2nd though.
- Some of your nicknames are: "Porty", "Pickle", "Bubba", "Bubby"

You are the sweetest, most tender hearted little boy.  You have the best manners and tell us you love us 1,000,000,000 times a day (which I love).  I think you do this to make up for your ornery side!  You definitely have a rotten side and like to push the limits on a daily basis.  I wouldn't trade you and your little goofy, fun-loving personality for anything!

Love you babies,
Mommy

Kicky

Yesterday, our sweet Biscuit was hit by a car.  She was the best dog and was so good with our babies.  When Porter was little he couldn't say "Biscuit" so it came out as "Kicky"...hence the nickname, Kicky.  We will miss her terribly.  We had to tell Porter last night and he cried some but mostly just didn't understand.  He thinks "she will come back from the doctor as soon after her legs are fixed!".  Oh the innocent mind of a 3 year old!  She was our first baby and will be missed a lot around here!

Back before we had kids, we took pictures with our dogs!

Such a good dog! 

Chrissy

Catching Up

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving with our families!  I am reminded just how blessed we are around the holidays.  We both have big families that gather as often as we can and it makes me so happy when we do! 

This little turkey was so cute!  She is a mess! 

The day after Thanksgiving we headed out for our traditional Black Friday shopping trip.  So. Much. Fun.  I look forward to this day for months!  We don't ever do a ton of shopping and usually don't even have anything in particular to buy.  We just like to get out in the madness and stay up late one night a year (I am an old soul so 10p is late for me...ha!). 

We of course spent lots of days at the grocery store buying things to make for our many gatherings!  Our local grocery store just got these little carts and Porter LOVES them.  

We also made a special visit to see Santa.  Some liked it, others not so much! 

2015 - KM (1.5 years), Porter (3.5 years)

And just for fun, a little look back on our Santa visits in the past.  

2012 - Porter (6 months)

I have no idea where my picture is for 2013.  I hope I didn't lose it! 

2014 - KM (5 months), Porter (2.5 years)

These kiddos crack me up!  Porter tried on a pair of my pajama pants and they thought it was the funniest thing ever.  I love that they like each other so much! 

We also had to play a little dress up.  This child loves his cow costume.  It might be 3 sizes too small but it's still a favorite. 

We also got to have Uncle D and Hannah home for about a month for Christmas break.  We LOVE when they come home!  To celebrate, we went out for ice cream at our favaorite, Cold Stone! 

Nate and I also got to enjoy a rare date night to see Home Free.  They were so, so good! 

Uncle D and Hannah called one day before Christmas and asked to watch the babies for a few hours so I could go out and get some last minute Christmas errands ran without having to get babies in and out of cars.  I think the babies loved it and I know I loved it! 

My double cow-lick cutie patootie! 

Porter and daddy worked hard on their gingerbread house! I am pretty sure Porter ate half of the candy before it made it on the house but he had a lot of fun! 

For Christmas, Santa brought the babies new bikes!  Little miss walked right past her bike and grabbed one of Santa's leftover cookies!  This girl is serious about her food! 

Porter loved his motorcycle bike! 

She had lots of fun playing with her new toys! 

A couple of days after Christmas, we had a surprise visit from some of our best friends!  They are currently in San Antonio but will hopefully be back in Arkansas soon!  Nick and Nate have been best friends since 6th grade.  Nick has kind of became like a brother to me so when he married Katlyn I was so happy!  She is the sweetest! 

We once again had lots of family Christmas'...most where I forgot to take pictures!  I did get one of Porter with his Papa.  They are besties. 

And cute little miss with her new baby doll, Stella.

He got to have daddy all to himself one Saturday morning so they spent it eating breakfast at McDonald's and doing whatever Porter wanted to do.  Most kids would pick Chuck E Cheese or something along those lines.  This child wanted to "got to the gun stores and Belas (Cabela's)".  Nate is so proud!

While the boys look at guns, the girls shop at Target! 

We've also been busy having some car races around here. 

More family Christmas with my girl.

Someone also got a little carried away with his new Paw Patrol art set.  Praise the Lord for Magic Erasers! 

One New Year's Eve, Porter and I came down with a stomach bug.  We were sick all of New Year's Day and then Nate was sick the day after.  Luckily Kinley Mae never got sick.  We thought we were all clear, then on Saturday night, another bug hit our house!  Porter, Nate and I were all sick again until Tuesday.  Kinley Mae must have one good immune system! 

Someone requested Jello for his first meal after being sick.  What sick babies want, sick babies get! 

Once we were all better, we headed outside to enjoy some much needed sunshine!  This little cutie loves her trike!

He is looking too much like a big boy! 

Porter is always trying to make her laugh.

Mommy's lap is a very popular spot.  And I think it's safe to say that neither of these babies likes to share it! 

On January 1st we also welcomed a new baby to our family!  Our nanny decided to have an New Year's baby!  We let Porter name him and he chose "Little Baa".  (He also named the new dog "Little Buck" a few months back)

Not a serious bone in his body.

On January 9th I turned one year older and got to celebrate with my favorites!  We had a pretty low-key day, I had to attend a funeral, then we went to supper with Mom, Dad and Grandma Mae.  

Yesterday at church...these babies are just precious!  They make their momma happy! 

And sometimes, they realllllly like each other! 

Little fashionista! 

And a late but Happy New Year!  We are excited to see what 2016 holds for the Avey family! 

Chrissy

Thankful

This year, I am thankful for...

1) My babies.  Goodness they are the sweetest things you've ever seen.  I can't even imagine what we did before babies.  They make every day the BEST day.

2) Nate.  He is a pretty good guy to have around.  I am constantly reminded how blessed I am.  He is the best daddy to our babies and they are just as crazy about him.  I love that he likes to spend so much time with us and is always making sure the babies are having fun one way or another.  He is a great leader for our family and makes sure we are always taken care of.

3) Family.  This always makes me teary.  I have not one but TWO great families I am part of.  My family has always been close and I am so, so thankful for that.  We still do every holiday together and a million things in between!  We have a big ole' family and I am proud to be apart of it!  Nate's family is just as big and just as wonderful.  I married into the BEST family and am constantly grateful that I get to be apart of it.  We are blessed.

4) Church Family.  We have the BEST small group around.  I mean it.  It cannot be beat!  We have made some lifelong friendships in our small group and we are thankful for each and everyone of them.  I just think about our babies all growing up together in the church and it makes me so happy.

5) Friends.  I have a small group of friends I have been friends with since Jr. High / High School.  We still get together with our babies as often as we can (which isn't often enough!) and we talk on group texts often too!  I am so, SO thankful for these girls (and their families too).  I can't even imagine doing life without them!

6) Jesus.  Without him, none of the stuff above would be possible.  I have had such anxiety over the things happening in our world recently and I can't help but be reminded of Isaiah 41:10 - {'Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.'} He is always with us and always taking care of His people.  

What are you thankful for this Thanksgiving season? 

Chrissy

Operation Christmas Trees

Last week, Nate headed to deer camp so I took the week off and the babies and I spent some time together.  Nate left early Friday morning so we spent Friday getting Christmas boxes down and buying a new {BIG} Christmas tree!  We have never had 14 foot ceilings in our living room before so it was fun buying a big tree for our living room.  Porter thought it was so cool when we put it up.  He said "Momma, that is HUGE!".  It was so much fun putting up our decorations this year because Porter is soooo into Christmas.  He is just amazed by it all.  Of course, we have to mix in the true meaning of Christmas too.  He knows that momma is crazy about putting up lots of trees and decorations but he also knows that we just do that for fun.  Jesus is the real reason for the season! 

Here is my sweet boy putting his ornaments on his tree.  His tree is full of all of his daddy's ornaments from when he was a kid as well as the yearly ornament we have bought him since he was born.  He gets one new one every year with a significant meaning behind it.  This year it was a Paw Patrol ornament because that has been his big thing this year.  

Here is sister's tree.  It is my old tree I had growing up.  Bright and funky, just the way I like it!  It matches her room perfectly and I can't wait until she is a little bigger and wants to help with decorating. 

Here is our bedroom tree.  It is an rustic, outdoor tree and I love how it turned out this year.  I cannot get a good picture of it for the life of me because it is terrible lighting in our room.  I still have some work to do with ribbon and adding a topper but that will come eventually.  

And my new tree.  It's just traditional red and green but I love it.  It turned out better than I thought it would. I have been buying ornaments for it for a couple of years now and finally had enough for a tree this year.  It is so cozy and the babies love it! 

Here is a picture of Porter's finished tree.  He is so proud.  It's just a little 4 foot tree (I think next year we may need to get a 6 foot because it's getting a little full) but he LOVES it.  We go in every night and sit with the tree lights on and the big light off so we can just look at it.  He keeps telling me he just needs some presents for his best buddies! 

My cousin Amanda came and spent the night with us the Friday night Nate left so she played with the babies while mommy decorated Christmas trees.  She is seriously the best.  We LOVE Manda.  And she loves my babies.  I left to run check on our goats (one is fixing to kid) and when I got back I found these two snuggled up in my bed reading Porter's new Paw Patrol book.  He loves her! 

Saturday we started our morning out running by Maw and Googy's house to help unpack some.  Porter found a nice seat here in Maw's bush.  He is a mess!

We also ran and got a MUCH needed haircut.  He is looking extra big these days! 

Nate was supposed to come back home the following Thursday but by Monday night he was missing home.  He hadn't seen much of anything and no one on the lease had seen anything either.  It was supposed to storm the next day so he figured he would just come home and hunt here.  And I think judging by this picture, everyone else missed daddy too!

Saturday morning, me and this cutie decided to head out for a girls shopping day.  We met Maw for breakfast then we headed to our favorite, Target.  Maw had some other things to do so me and my girl headed out to a few other stores to get some other Christmas shopping done, then we headed home to wrap some presents (and for naps for the little ones!).  

She LOVES these headphones.  She comes in almost every day wearing them.  My be boppin' girl!

And this is how we feel about a short week.  Wishing we could just skip ahead to the long weekend! 

Last night on of my best friends had something she needed to do and she needed someone to watch her girls.  We didn't have anything going on so the girls came over to play for a couple of hours.  My kiddos had SO much fun!  Love my friends and  their sweet babies!

Hope you all have a good, short week and a very Happy Thanksgiving! 

Chrissy