New tricks and new foods

I'm trying my hand at posting a video here. It's of Avery's newest trick.

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Clay and I are so proud to say that Avery came to us the other day and expressed her desire to set aside some time each day for her Bible reading. We are so impressed that, at such a young age, Avery recognizes the importance of this discipline. Here she is reading 2 Kings with me.

Avery is also beginning to understand how some of her toys work... kind of. She knows that if she hits this one toy long enough, a little animal will pop up and sing her a song. Here she is delighted at herself and the singing frog.I just had to include this picture because there is something about it that reminds me a lot of my sister, Brenna!... I wonder if Avery got the dancing gene too?!?!? Avery has been eating rice cereal for a while now and we've been experimenting with mixing other flavors in with it. She loved the applesauce and took to it so easily that after a couple of days we went right to bananas... ummm, not quite as good of an experience. Let's just say they didn't set well at all with her little digestive system and we didn't sleep much that night. Since then I've been a little gun shy, but today Avery decided she was ready to move on. Since she was wearing all green (thanks Aunt Taryn), Avery thought it was only appropriate to have some green sweet peas for lunch... and to eat them with a green spoon. They were a hit!

"Oh man I can't wait for those sweeeeeet peas! I'm starving!"

"Oooooo... They look so good!... Green and mushy, just like I like!"

""Look how good my food matches my outfit!"

"Mom, you're going way too slow. Give me the spoon, I can do it.""Mmm, delicious."

Bluebonnets and Easter Eggs

Last week from Avery's perspective...

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"Oh my goodness, have you ever seen such pretty flowers!

I could just stare at them forever.They smell so good! It makes me just want to...Take a big bite! Mmmm!
Hmm, I think I had one too many flowers. My tummy kind of hurts.This Easter thing has been rough so far... I'm not real fond of sitting through long sermons yet. Maybe the Easter bunny thing is cooler.Let me check in my basket and see what he left.Hey, not bad. Plastic eggs taste good and the Easter bunny did great on the goodies.And I get to see my cousin Kellan! He's pretty nice.I'm not sure what's so great about his thumb though. Hasn't he ever heard of a pacifier? That way you don't get drool running down your arm.Could I sum up my Easter in one word?Egg-cellent!!!
Hope yours was great too! Love you and I'll talk to you later!"

The dogwoods are blooming

There is something about spring... The way the air smells, the feel of soft grass under your feet, new blooms, new beginnings. It is a time of growth, a time of cleansing, a time of renewal. I am glad spring came a little early this year. It has reminded me that God is faithful, that He can restore life to things that seem lifeless. It reminds me that our lives are just a series of cycles, always changing, always moving forward. It reminds me that, even in the dark shadows of bare oak trees, the dogwoods will bloom and they will be beautiful.

It has been a difficult week and sometimes after times like this I have a hard time resolving to go back to life as usual. Life's everyday seems trivial after you are faced with those life-changing moments where you are hit with the realities of living in a fallen world. It seems like the entire world should stop... but it doesn't. And when I really think about it, life's everyday is really a blessing. The simple and somewhat trivial things in life are many times what bring you your greatest joys... like the small, white bloom of a dogwood.

So, with that thought comforting me, here are some of my simple, trivial, everyday blessings that continue to happen as our lives move forward.

Kellan turned 1 on March 15th! It is amazing to me how quickly time flies by. He is growing so quickly and I love his sweet demeanor. I also love and can identify with his affinity for icing!
Kellan was very generous sharing his birthday presents with Avery.
She especially loved this toy... so many great buttons and noises.
A couple of weekends ago we got to spend a little time out at the Spencer's land. Clay went to help work on the boathouse; Avery and I just went to play! :) Avery really liked the four-wheeler......Well, she really liked the mirror on the four-wheeler. I believe we have a vain little girl on our hands.
She looks so big sitting up all by herself. I really wish I had the camera ready when she did a faceplant in the grass a few moments later.Mama Gay/Hobbsy got Avery all cleaned up after a big day outdoors.

I have a feeling this girl is gonna be all over the place soon!