Christmas Pictures/8 month stats

This just warms my heart!!

Def. a framer

She just loves her sister so much

One of my favorites

My little princess

So glad we got this one!

Just so Avery!!

Sweetness at it's best

This is Nicole's favorite. She calls her, her little Christmas elf

So grateful for this one

So these are just some of the pictures that our friend and favorite photographer, Nicole Hahn took for us. She is one of those people who are just so special in my life. She has taught me so much and I just appreciate her so much. She just happens to be super talented photographer and snuck us into her very busy schedule. Yeah for us! Anyways, the girls were terrible during this photoshoot, but I was thrilled with the turn out based on how they did. Kinley, who rarely cries, cried the whole time! Avery would only do her "cheese" smile and not look at the camera. Anyways, we found a few for our Christmas card and that is really all that mattered anyway. Well, enough about that. The only other thing I thought I would put on this post is Kinley's 8 month stats. Yes, 8 months!!! She is 13 pounds 6 ounces and 25 1/8th inches. That is the 2nd and 6th percentile and unchanged from the previous visit. She is just slowly growing, but growing she is. She is now army crawling all over the house. I can't believe how fast she is already. She has started to eat some finger foods (broccoli, butternut squash, puffs, and quinoa so far). She is doing better with her baby food too. She is NOT sleeping through the night still, which is making mommy very tired. Last night she was up from 430-6 am. The best thing about this is, I KNOW it will be over before I know it. These 8 months have flown by and I am just cherishing her so much. She is the most precious baby ever. Anyways, I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas. I am so excited to see my girls faces on Christmas morning.

Friendsgiving 2011

My little sweet baby 7 1/2 months old

Breakfast table

Avery who doesn't love to smile for pictures

A few of my friends, me Isa, Maria, and Nicole (our wonderful photographer)

Noah (Avery's boyfriend,) Hudson, and Clayton

Our Thanksgiving dinner at the Pidges.

So this was a very different year for our family for Thanksgiving. Every year we go to Las Vegas, but this year we couldn't for two reasons. One, we just went in September and two, I was working this year. We figured someone from our families would be around, but we were wrong. So last minute we were invited for a Thanksgiving breakfast at my friend Nicole' house. She is so creative and a very good host. Needless to say, we were so full. Then the kids went home to nap and we were off to my friend Katie's house. She was just having a small gathering with her mom and they had tons of food, so we got the invite. It is was so nice. Then I was off to work. The next morning, I stopped by Target to see if I could get any of the black friday deals that I had missed the night before, and I got it all!!! So nice. I love my friends and are sooo thankful they are more like family to us. What a blessing and a gift from God.

My dad visiting

My aunt's dog, who Avery is obsessed with. He is seriously the best dog ever

Most of my 24 cousins!

My dad finally came to see us!! It had been 13 months since I had seen my dad. This was by far the longest period of time I have ever been without seeing him. He finally got to meet his fifth grandchild too. He was just beside himself with how much Avery had grown and how sweet Kinley is. He came into town for my family's annual memorial golf tournament for my grandfather. It is the only time of year that most of my dad's side of the family is usually all together. It was nice to see everyone and so nice to spend quality time with my dad. Here are a few shots from the weekend.

Halloween and pumpkin painting

Avery's pumpkin painting

The kids from small group, and the littles on the floor

Kinley, my little sweetpea

Ladybug :)

Both girls

Avery, the butterfly

Some of the neighborhood kids

trick or treating

Our Rapunzel pumpkin

Our candy corn cookie, so yummy!!

We did our 2nd annual pumpkin painting with my small group girls. It was really special because we haven't been able to meet much due to changing life circumstances (moving, preschool etc). The older girls could all paint there own pumpkins this year and had a great time doing it while enjoying some yummy pumpkin bread.

On Halloween we went to my friend Nicole's house (in our neighborhood) for some soup and cornbread, treats and trick-or-treating. The kids had so much fun and Avery declared, "Mommy, I LOVE trick-or-treating." Well, that doesn't surprise me since she LOVES candy, not sure where she got that from :) Kinley slept most of the time in the carrier. I can't believe by next Halloween she will be running around with the others. Wow, time really does fly. Overall, we had a great holiday and are excited for the holiday season to be here. I wish it wasn't going to be such a light Christmas for giving, but the most important thing is that I get to be off ALL of Christmas this year!!! I have only been off one out of the last 10 Christmas'. Anyways, enjoy the pics.

Also, a quick Kinley update: She now loves her food, YAH! She went for a weight check this past week and she is up to 12 pounds 10 ounces and will be 7 months this week. He didn't plot her out because he didn't have time, but he was happy with the weight gain and so was I. I started to put some formula in her rice cereal just to give her a boost in the calories and to try and prevent her from getting a bottle after nursing. So for now she is still nursing. Everyday feels like a small victory for me. I am appreciating and so thankful for everyday that I get to nurse her.

Swimming and Stats

First, we went to Las Vegas for a Bachelorette party for my good friend from college. Since I am breastfeeding the whole family had to come along. We stayed with my aunt and uncle who live close by, which we love and it was so nice. We got there early on friday (the girls did perfect on the drive, so thankful)! We then swam until they got home. Hence these pictures. Other than that, I flaked on the picture taking. So none of the celebrating, none with my aunt and uncles and the kids, and none with their cousin Luke. Major lamo over here. Well none the less, the kids are still cute and had a great time. I had a great time hanging out with my friends on Sat. Sunday we drove home and once again the kids did perfect. We were home before noon. Fun times as always.

Kinley in her super cute swimsuit

Love this...I think she looks so much like her daddy

Daddy & Avery swimming together

She is a fish and just loves the water.

Just because it was too sweet..and yes it was in Vegas so I guess it still counts. :)

Next the girls just went for their 6 months and 3 year check ups. Here's how they check out:

Avery-

Weight: 30.6 pounds (40th percentile)

Length: 37 inches (40th as well)

Kinley-

Weight: 11-12 (2nd percentile)

Length: 24 inches (6th percentile)

So Avery checks out well, but Kinley needs to go back in a month to make sure she is still gaining weight. He was a little concerned, but says she is probably just small. He thinks with adding food should help. I never know if my kids get enough breast milk & that is frustrating to me. I may have to supplement her, which I would like to avoid, but want what is best for her. So Kinley has been eating rice cereal for a few weeks, but we started real food today at our Dr.'s ok. I thought she would love it, but not so much. She kept pushing it out. It was really yummy sweet potato from the farm too. We will keep trying, this girl needs to eat.

Kinley after eating her first sweet potatoes...even though she didn't like it she is still my happy girl.

Just being three....love it

My sweet girls, who love each other so much

I just love this face :)