Here they are...

Six month/First cereal pictures...

"Mom, what are you trying to feed me?!"

Six Months

Avery is six months old! He had his check-up today and he weighs 16 pounds! He has been packing it on since the big switch to formula a month ago! I think he just had some catching up to do. But, all is well. He got three shots and he's cutting two teeth, so he has had a rough day. (Still just as sweet as ever, though.) We also got "the green light" to start him on solids, so I gave him his first taste of cereal, for lunch. Let's just say, he was not impressed! Since I was doing the feeding, Gavin had to man the camera, so I'm not sure how the pictures turned out. I would post some, but I'm still having some camera and computer issues. Nothing that can't be solved with a little time and effort, but between the appointments and shots and teething and throwing up of the bottle (for whatever reason) and the homeschooling, piano, basketball, cooking, cleaning, grocery shopping... You get the idea. As cute as that little guy is, I think I'm going to opt for a shower instead of emptying the camera memory card! Sleep would be nice, too.

Christmas 2008

My Brother and Me on Christmas

More cute baby pictures, of course!

Tummy Time

Bath Time

Snow Baby

A Boy and His Cat...

Folding socks...

Practicing piano... Playing Gameboy...Sleeping...

Big Brother

Photo Fun

I've been "tagged", again! This one is quick and easy, though. (And fun!) Here are the rules: 1) Choose the 4th folder where you store your pictures on your computer. 2) Select the 4th picture in the folder. 3) Explain the picture. 4) Tag 4 people to do the same. NO CHEATING! (cropping, editing, etc.) This picture is pretty self explanatory but... Gavin wrote a letter, 4 years ago, to Shaun Alexander, when there was talk that he might be traded! (Yes, at 5 years old he was already very concerned about that prospect! Ha!) We had to take a picture of the letter because we, of course, sent it to "Mr. Alexander"! I tag: Kim, Mom, Linda, and Alicia Have Fun! Can't wait to see what you come up with!

Thanksgiving

I thought I should post some Thanksgiving pictures...before Christmas! We had dinner at our house with Bryan's mom and dad and my brother. Here's the spread...which, apparently, is the only evidence that I was there! Ha! Turkey coma! Football, of course!

Game time!Avery's first Thanksgiving!

It was such a great day! Thank you all for helping out and sharing the day with us!

Update on Avery

Where do I begin? Well, I took Avery in on Monday to have him weighed and to talk to the doctor to see if he thinks Avery is getting enough to eat, as I am breastfeeding and there's really no way to know how much he's getting. When Trevor was between 4-6 months old, I discovered I wasn't producing enough for him, so I've always tried to be very mindful of my milk supply with Avery. He had a check up at 3 and a half months and wasn't scheduled to go back in until 6 months. I've been feeling uneasy, lately, about waiting that long to take him back in, given my history. So, just for my own peace of mind, I took him in this week. (5 months old.) Avery is such a happy, healthy little guy. He sleeps well and doesn't show any signs of being hungry or discontent, but I've started to notice that he doesn't seem to be getting any bigger. (I'm pretty sure Clara and Sophia passed him up a long time ago!) The doc said that it's good that my "mom radar went off" and I brought him in. Basically he has gained 2 ounces in 7 weeks! (He is 12lbs, 8oz.) My poor little sweetie! He's perfectly healthy, otherwise, though. The doctor said that I must just be blessed with content babies! So, here's the skinny... (Ha!) Doc recommended that I immediately switch to formula, but I told him I wasn't willing to completely give up on nursing just yet. (Even though, I'm sure that's where this is heading.) So, with his endorsement, I am continuing to do what I've been doing, but offering him a bottle of formula at each feeding, after he nurses. So far, so good. I'm taking him back in next week to see if he's gained any weight. (I know this all sounds pretty straight forward and simple, but please know that this is very much the "Reader's Digest Version".) As you mom's can probably imagine, it's a pretty emotional thing to discover you're not producing enough food for your baby. (Sigh.) But, ultimately, I just want to be sure that he is healthy and getting enough to eat.

Trevor's 7th Birthday

Trevor turned 7 on November 24th. We just had a little celebration at home, complete with friends, family, pumpkin cupcakes and eggnog, per the birthday boy's request!

Trevor is such a character! What joy he brings to us all!

Happy birthday, Son!

Happy Boy!

Avery is 5 months old!Laughing...

Smiling...Discovered his feet... Putting his own pants on..? Playing the guitar...Chewing on his fingers!Such a good boy!

Rant

I am annoyed by something that is making headlines, lately. Most of you Washington residents (and maybe even others, as it has made national news) are probably aware of the recent controversy over a sign that has been put up in the Capital Building. The sign was put up by an atheist group and basically says that God (and religion) is a myth, yada-yada. (I believe in Jesus Christ and that these people are misled, but I'm not going to go into that right now.) Governor Gregoire has said that she is a Christian and she doesn't agree with the sign, but because of the First Amendment, she has to let them put it up. There is a "Holiday Tree" and a Menorah in the capitol building and she said that if she allows one religious symbol in, she has to let them all in, and she's not taking down the tree. OK. Now to my "beef". My views and beliefs aside, it is my understanding that the tree is now called a "Holiday Tree" in order to appease those non-religious groups. (Even though a tree with lights on it has nothing to do with Christ, so I'm not sure why it would be offensive, but I digress...) Based on the governor's argument that all "religious groups" have the right to be represented, if she is going to allow such a blatant atheist agenda in the capitol building, can't we, at the very least, call the tree a "CHRISTMAS TREE"!?

This is Homeschool...

Gavin made the mistake of asking me why I want to buy cat food at Costco instead of Walmart. I got to show him that all those story problems and measurement conversion problems I make him do, actually come in handy in real life! Q: If a 20 pound bag of cat food is $24.99 at Costco, and a 3.5 pound bag is $7.88 at Walmart, which is a better value? Why? How much is the cat food per ounce at each store? A: I don't know! I will ask Gavin and get back to you.