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!

Lessons From My Little Sister

As most of you know by now my sister Jaymie delivered her twins Monday...slightly ahead of schedule (only 25 weeks). Doctors were unable to stop her labor and around midnight on Sunday things had progressed to the point that she had to have them. While there have been some scary moments, the babies have done well. A blog has been set up to keep everyone informed of their progress since they are expected to be at the hospital for a while. The address is http://www.thephillipsphamily.blogspot.com/. Everyone is encouraged to use this as a way to keep up with their progress so that phone time is kept reasonably low. Also, we ask for your prayers... Prayers of healing, comfort and peace. Certainly times like this cause you to be thankful but they also reveal powerful things. Maybe its that we don't typically stop to think or maybe its because in critical moments we only have room for what is important but I have certainly come to understand some things on a greater level in the past few days, that God is powerful, in control, and all-knowing. A lesson I have learned before but not like Saturday night. That Maurine and Avery are precious and shouldn't be taken for granted. That a brother-in-law like Kory provides immeasurable security for an older brother. That my sister is the toughest girl I know. While genetics may lead me to be an emotional vacuum at times, watching my little sister the past few days has shattered any attempt at suppression of feelings I might have otherwise accomplished. Proud is too weak of a description. She is currently my hero. While it doesn't exempt her from future taunting and harassment, I will carry a respect for her that is rivaled by few.

Here is my favorite nephew Kanyon Phillips

and his pretty little sister Jayde

Me with Superwoman

The proud parents and me

Growing, growing, growing...

I blinked and Avery isn't a newborn anymore! What happened? I have to admit though that I'm loving every new stage... I am constantly in awe of how God designed us. It is a joy to be able to stay home with her and just soak it all in. I am so grateful to Clay for working so hard so that I am able to do that. So for those of you who can't stay at our house all day and watch Avery grow, here are some more updates. :)

Avery and her friend Cassidee got to spend a little time together the other day. I think Cassidee is wondering why Avery doesn't actually rock on the rocking horse.Gotta love those cheeks!

Starting to notice those feet.Clay and I got to spend some time at the farm with my parents a few weeks ago and got this sweet picture.Avery has totally found her voice and knows she is in control of it. Here she is during one of her monologues.Avery has also figured out the bedtime routine it seems and knows she's good as long as she keeps that head up. It is one of the sweetest feelings when that little head finally gets heavy and snuggles down into my neck.Clay loves to peek in on her at night to see what kind of crazy sleeping position she is in. I don't know if you can tell but she is sideways in her crib here and her legs are sticking straight up in the air. I love this picture of Grandma Mac (one of her great-grandmothers) feeding her. Here she is again with those feet. Anytime you lay Avery down she either immediately turns over to her tummy or she flips those feet up into the air and starts to play with them.
This last weekend was beautiful and with Clay at the State Basketball Tournament, Aver and I decided to go with Nana and Pop down to the farm. Avery dressed appropriately in her PearlSnap Pros overalls! Look at the back pocket.
Snoozing during a hike with Nana.The four-wheeler is tempting, but will have to wait until she is a little older. I mean, could you resist this girl?
After we got back from the farm, some very dear friends came and visited our family. This is Julie, my first babysitter. I was about Avery's age when she kept me for the first time. We had a great time visiting and can't wait for Avery to meet the rest of the family (hint, hint Sue!).On top of all that, we got to see Aunt Jaymie and the twins again! Avery was shocked at how the twins are growing. They'll be here before she knows it and she has so much to do before they come!