Cut me some slack... :)

I know I haven't been great at keeping this blog up lately, but I promise it is for good reason. Clay is furiously trying to finish up his Master's thesis and all the odds and ends of his orthodontic residency. We are getting ready to move in about a month to our new home(!!!!!!!) in Paris while remodeling Clay's new office so he can get in there and start his practice when he graduates. So our month has been full, but very successful and very exciting.

Avery is the highlight of it all though! She has developed her own opinions about things (sometimes cute and sometimes not so cute) is interested in everything and growing like a weed. Here are several of my favorite pictures of the last month.

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We don't do covers much anymore since Clay walked in and found her like this. She is probably perfectly comfortable, but it makes me nervous. This is our greeting after naps and in the mornings now!... She is usually pointing at us and talking as well.
She loves to eat... a lot.Ha! I couldn't resist... no explanation needed I don't think.
Sweet pictures having fun with Dad!

I know the picture is a little blurry but those bee-stung eyes were to cute.We got to travel down to Bastrop for the Baylor Alumni Meeting a few weeks ago and had a blast at the resort there. Kyle and Shanna came to visit and Kyle gave Avery her first experience on a "horse". I don't think she was impressed... we'll have to work on that.
Floating the Lazy River with Mom and Dad.
Avery and her friend Kelton both won awards at the Alumni meeting. Avery won for Best Bikini and Kelton won for Best Looking Second Year Resident. :)
Avery has also taken an interest in driving. Here she is pleased as can be to man the wheel of PawPaw's new Mule.
Taking the Mule for a spin at night... I love her look here, like she knows she tough.
Avery has also taken up another interest...
Dogs! She will laugh and giggle and kick her feet anytime she sees one now.
Avery and Rosie Jo looking up some information on New England tourism.

And I saved the most exciting for last... Kanyon is finally home. Here are a few shots from his own personal Independence Day on July 4th. I love this! Jaymie looks so proud to finally get to show off little Kanyon. It's been a long time coming.Avery and Roselyn were invited to the party, but kept their distance to keep Kanyon germ-free.
A beautiful family!
All the new Spencer parents!

Blackberries, bikinis, baths and more

Avery tried out her first blackberries from her Nana's garden and I think they were a hit.Looking so pleased.

More, Mommy, more!A couple of weekends ago we went to Gilmer to visit with Nanny Lou. Roselyn came from Paris and we found out we had brought similar Sunday clothes... so a photo session was in order.

Scandalous, Roselyn, scandalous. Avery loved sitting and playing with her Nanny Lou. Here are a couple sweet pictures of them together.
Avery decided it was time to break out her bikini and head to the apartment swimming pool to beat the heat. Her friends, Luke and Katie, gave her a great Speedo hat to help keep her from burning. She loved the pool... we'll have to spend a little time there this summer.
I mean seriously, could her skin get a little whiter? I just liked these pictures of Avery at the park the other day. We sat down for a little snack after our walk and she thought the snack container was the greatest toy ever.

Roselyn and Avery's paths crossed again, but this time in Longview at their Uncle Kory and Aunt P's house. It was high time to get some of the classic bath time shots.
Here they are in their matching outfits from Mama Gay...
And here they are again after getting into cousin Kanyon's diapers. WE LOVE YOU AUNT P!!!

Catching Up

Well this month has just been a whirlwind... in a good way, but a whirlwind nonetheless. So I have a little catching up to do on here. Avery is growing like a weed, physically and mentally, and I am just trying to soak it all in before she moves on to the next stage.

We were very blessed to get to see Pawpaw and Mama Gay a lot while they were in Dallas with Kanyon. Avery loves her grandparents and misses getting to see them so often. She also had a great time with Uncle Kory and Aunt P, but somehow I never got a picture with them!
A couple of weeks ago we headed out to the farm with our wonderful friends, Luke and Katie and Adam and Doodle. With so much rain this year, it was still absolutely beautiful! It ended up being a great relaxing weekend filled with S'mores, four-wheelers, hiking and lots of picture taking.
Here we are looking for a good place to take a group picture.
Everyone was very patient with Avery since she wasn't great at looking at the camera when it was on self-timer. Doodle had to make a couple of extra runs because Avery would look everywhere but there.
Luke and Katie
You'll have to excuse me, but I just couldn't help but post a few of my favorite pictures from this weekend. If you know me well at all, you will understand that I really can't help myself. I never feel more close to God than when I am surrounded my His creation and I am forever trying to capture what I see on film... it's never quite as beautiful as how it looks firsthand though. I will exhibit some self-control and spare you all the identifications of the flowers and butterflies...

After we got back home from the farm, Avery and I had a day to regroup before we left again. So while Mommy was unpacking, doing laundry and repacking, Avery had some play time on her palette. I had to include this picture because these are her favorite toys... these silly blocks keep her entertained for so long! I don't know what's so great about them, but she loves them.
Well, I finally got us all packed up and since Daddy was going to be in Seattle for a little while, we went to play with cousin Kellan while he was staying at Pop and Nana's house. Here he is showing Avery how his old walker toys work.
We then hopped in the car and went to visit Avery's great-grandparents, Nanny and Papaw and her great-great-grandmother, Little Grandma. We had a wonderful time with them and they were really good sports since Avery was a little fussy with a bad cold and Kellan had an ear infection.
Where to go after that?... Well back to the farm of course!

Both kids were very impressed with Pop's tractor!
Avery and Kellan also got to roast (and eat!) marshmallows for the first time.
We'll end here with a sweet bath time picture of the two of them. Thanks Pop and Nana for a great week! Love you!

6 Months and Back at the Farm

Could it be that we have already reached and passed six months old?!? How does it happen so fast? Here is Avery's 6 months picture with her giraffe.These two pictures were just sweet... she is staring down her daddy who is trying to make her smile for the camera. I thought you were funny Clay. :)Well, I couldn't resist another trip to the farm. The bluebonnets were still out pretty well and several other types of wildflowers were blooming. It was absolutely beautiful! I think I could wander around out there for a long time... but Avery would get sunburned. We wanted to take the four-wheelers up to the flowers, but Pop didn't feel safe just holding on to Avery so he hooked her carseat up to the Polaris... it wasn't going anywhere. Here she is chilling in her new ride.And here are my favorite wildflower pics... she's such a good sport.

They just taste too good to resist...