People have a way with words!

Okay, so we know I'm pregnant--really, no surprise there! What surprises me is how free people are with the comments they make to a pregnant woman! I work with some fabulous people and some of our parents are really great, but their comments...come on!!

Here are some of my favorites.....you'll enjoy these!!

*Boy, that baby sure is growing well in there!

*You're not due until DECEMBER?!?

*I can't keep up with your pregnancies, Mrs. Avery! (said by a lovely parent)

*Are you sure there's only one in there?

*I don't think that dress I was going to let you borrow is going to fit you! (gee, thanks!!)

*Wow, Mrs. Avery! You're pregnant again!? (said by a 2nd grader)

*Are you pregnant?? (said by a 4th grade boy after looking me up and down) (Yes, I am!!)

*No offense, but you're getting really big! (sure, no offense!!)

And one that actually made me happy to hear!!!

*Wow, you can't even tell that you're pregnant from behind!! (Thanks, Nancy! I'm hanging out with you more often!!)

Happy Birthday, Allen Wade!!

Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday, dear Allen Wade! Happy Birthday to you!! AW celebrated his 33rd birthday today and the boys enjoyed the celebration. Sadly the day didn't start out great for the birtday boy, as AW had to go back to the hospital for a follow-up CT scan for his appendectomy. The results should be in tomorrow and he's also going back to meet with his sugreon again. We are praying that everything is just fine!! Okay, back to the celebration. The boys and I brought home some Thai take-out for dinner, which we all enjoyed! Grandma had brought over a raspberry cheesecake for Daddy's birthday, which was quite yummy!! Daddy and Jackson and Joshua all took turns blowing out the candle--cute! We had a nice family dinner and are looking forward to more celebrating more this weekend--maybe a nice dinner out and a trip to the apple orchard, or maybe next weekend when it actually feels more like fall.




My super handsome husband!! ILU!!

Who knew Jackson would like Thai food?! His favorite was the chicken on a stick (satay). YUM!

Joshua used a spoon for most of his dinner, but then he switched to just using his hand! Messy, but much easier!

In other news, Baby J is doing well! He is kicking and moving around quite a bit, which is a fabulous feeling!! I love this part of being pregnant--it makes all the months of being sick and tired so worth it!! Jackson has named the baby "Flern Train Tracks Wade Avery!!" Check out the video!!





Yep, I know--it's going to be a big baby, but that's okay!! Maybe that means he will sleep through the night faster than his big brothers!! =)

Corn, anyone?

Summer is still here and corn-on-the-cob is a favorite of our boys!

We've got a reader!

Jackson reading Green Hat, Blue Hat by Sandra Boynton. The boys love her books!!

Cute things!

Cute things that Jackson and Joshua have done this week.

Jackson was trying to get by me in the kitchen earlier this week and said, "Excuse me, Belly!" in a normal, sweet voice. We laughed pretty hard at that one. AW jokingly refers to me as "Belly" in these stages of pregnancy when you are obviously all belly, and Jackson must have picked it up.

Joshua has noticed Allen Wade talking to my tummy in the past, and this week he thought he would try doing the same. He just says, "Mama, mama, mama" but it's super sweet. He's also been known to talk to my knee, leg, and shoulder, but he does get the tummy most of the time!

Jackson has been going through a WHY? phase (not my favorite, but it is fun sometimes). Yesterday we were in the loft playing with the toy food when Joshua picked up a tomato. I told him, we call that a tomato, and of course Jackson asks why?? He then answered his own question with, "I know, it just is!" Yep, it just is! No need to explain further!!

Good to have Daddy home!!

AW was released this afternoon! HOORAY! We are so happy to have Daddy back home! The boys are super glad! Daddy is still in quite a bit of pain, but the pain medicine they gave him is really good! =) He is resting and will be taking it easy for the rest of the week, if not longer. He will go back and meet with his surgeon for the post-op in two weeks. I have total respect for single parents, after being a "single mom" for two and a half days. It is not easy to have to do everything alone, plus it's also lonely! We have all missed Allen Wade a lot and we are thrilled that he is back home with us! We are praying for a super quick recovery!! The boys want to wrestle with Daddy already! It may be a long time before that happens! Thanks for all your prayers and concern!

Allen Wade's trip to the ER!

Boy, we never seem to have a boring weekend! This weekend, AW started having abdominal pains Saturday afternoon, but thought it may have just been something he ate. The pains continued into Sunday and he spent most of the day lying down or sleeping. I told him to go to the ER, but he refused, saying he was okay and hoping that it would just go away! Big, tough Marine!! Saturday night we called Krista, who is a Physicians Assistant, and she told him to go to the ER because it seemed like he had the sympotons of an appendicitis. We called our on-call doctor who also told him to go to the ER, but by then it was 10pm and we didn't think anything would be done that night (since AW wasn't doubled over in pain or anything that severe). He chose to spend the night at home and try and rest. This morning he woke up at 5am and at 6am drove himself to the ER. I was at home getting the boys ready for school and getting ready to start another week of school myself. By 9am, AW had blood drawn, was hooked up to an IV, and was getting ready for his CT scan. The scan showed an enflamed and swollen appendix, so it was determined that it needed to be removed today. He was put on the surgery schedule and I was stuck at school and could not be there with him. (I know, I get the award for wife of the year!) I got a call from a nurse at 2:30 saying he was taken into the OR and that the surgery was underway. Then shortly after 3pm, the surgeon called me to tell me that it was over, he had done great, the appendix was removed laproscopically and that AW was in recovery. I finished the day at school, went to pick up the boys and took them to Joshua's doctor appointment. Joshua had his 15-month well baby check-up and also got shots! Poor guy!! He was a trooper and didn't cry for long! Jackson cheered him right up and gave him a truck to play with! My boys are the sweetest! Then, we were on our way over to the hospital to visit Daddy! (May I add here that all today has been pouring down rain and I have had to try and keep both boys and myself somewhat dry with an old and broken umbrella!) The hospital visit was bittersweet. Jackson kept saying, "Why can't we take Daddy home with us??" It broke my heart to tell him that Daddy has to stay in the hospital for the night. The boys really loved seeing Daddy!! Hugs and kisses all around! Daddy was a bit drowsy, as he was in quite a bit of pain and was given some morphine for the pain. We stayed for about a half an hour and then it was home for bedtime. The nurses were very sweet and one was coming in as we were leaving. I said to her, "Take care of him!" with my voice cracking and I thought I just might start crying right then and there, but I held it together! I have to be the strong, at least for now! Bedtime was good--Joshua fell asleep easily, hope he sleeps well tonight with no terrors! Jackson was really aware that Daddy wasn't there and was quite a bit clingier and emotional. It took him a long time to settle down. Once Daddy called, and Jackson got to talk to Daddy, I think he felt much better and was able to finally fall asleep! I pray we all are able to sleep well. I pray AW recovers quickly and can be released tomorrow. The boys want their Daddy home, and so do I!! I'm also praying for some boring weekends! No more excitement for us for a while! =)

Terrible Terrors...or something like that

When Jackson was younger, he used to get night terrors. He would cry in his sleep for maybe 10 minutes or so, and then fall back asleep. He would act like he was awake, but he was completely asleep the whole time. Well, for the past two months or so, Joshua has started getting night terrors, but his are SOOO much worse. We had one a few weeks ago that last about 45 minutes. No one seems to know what causes night terrors--we have heard being overtired, too much sugar. We don't know what do to at times. Last night, Joshua started crying and having a night terror. He flails around in his crib and cries and tries to tell us something, but it doesn't make any sense. It's so scary. Last night I was convinced that Joshua has something more than just night terrors, so I just started sobbing by his crib. Jackson heard me, woke up and just said, "Mama, don't be sad. It's okay!" Of course that made me cry even more--I had to leave the room! I just don't know what to do with these night terrors! Please pray that Joshua will outgrow them soon!! And that we will be able to comfort him and take care of him during these terrors.

Jackson's THREE!

Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday, dear Jackson, Happy Birthday to you!! Woo-hoo!! What a weekend we've had. We had a family birthday party yesterday where we celebrated Jackson's 3rd birthday and cousin James' 1st birthday. It was a great time--great food, great company, great kids and unbelievable cake!! YUM! We had a piñata, which the kids loved! And presents that Jackson (and Joshua) enjoyed opening and playing with.
The Avery Five before the party began.

The Cocars at James' 1st birthday.

Jackson loved all the construction cones for his construction party! How fun!!


A great cake!! J-man loved his trucks!


Getting ready to blow out the candle!


Time for the piñata! The kids loved that!

This morning we opened more presents. Jackson really got into ripping off the wrapping paper! We got him a marble run building set, which AW and Jackson and Joshua really enjoyed working on together. Then we made some cupcakes and celebrated Jackson's birthday a second time. The cupcakes were chocolate with frosting and dirt and worms (crushed Oreos and gummy worms). It was super fun to make those and also fun to eat. This evening we went to a baseball game and had a great time! It was our first game of the season and the boys really had a great time. I think the highlight for the boys was the airplane and the skydivers that jumped out! Pretty exciting! We stayed until the third inning and then headed home for bedtime. It was a perfect way to end the perfect weekend! Jackson really enjoyed his birthday weekend!! We love you, Jackson, and we are so proud of the young man you are becoming.


Both boys love opening presents!! Good job helping, Joshua!


Jackson loves his cupcakes!!


The marble run is a great toy!!


The skydivers were really fun to watch!


The boys hanging out on our blanket with Daddy!



Mama and Joshua at the baseball game!

Birthday boy and Daddy enjoying the game!

Jackson and Joshua sharing a frozen lemonade at the game!

Joshua's First Haircut

Joshua got his first haircut this morning! What a change! Nothing makes a little boy look so grown up, like a haircut. Gone are his cute little curls, but that's okay. Joshua looks adorable.

Joshua before the haircut. Notice the curls in the back!!

All done with the haircut. Joshua is all smiles!

A look back at Jackson's haircut. You can't really see his curls, but they're there!