This is Bert. Isn’t he cute? Jack named him.
and here are a few Avery pics just for fun…
This is one of my favorite faces
and also…
Did you know that there’s a flower called the Yuletide Camellia? I love it. This picture doesn’t really show how deep the red is, but it’s beautiful.
This post is dedicated to my Aunt Ellen, who got Avery this ADORABLE hat! I especially love the fact that the flower is the size of Avery’s face. 
We love you, Auntie!!! Thank you so much for adding to our small but growing collection of girly embellishments.
My sweet Aunt Vera held Avery during the photo shoot
Comfort and fashion…together at last.
Here are a few of my favorite Avery pics from the past few weeks…she’s 2 months old as of Tuesday! At her doctor appointment, we found out she weighs 7 lbs, 13 oz, so she’s gained exactly 2 pounds since she was born. Since she had a hard time gaining weight in the beginning, that was very encouraging for this mommy! There’s finally some “chub” on her cheeks. She’s only in the 5th percentile, and the size of many “just born newborns” (my friend Cristy had a baby boy this week who weighed 8 lbs, 14 oz!) but we’re not complaining.
Previously mentioned chubby cheeks
She loves to raise her left hand and wave…or praise the Lord…either one.
Such a sweet face
She also loves to watch her bouncy seat “friends”
First smiles!!
Our friend Dave took these at Jack’s birthday party
Oh how I love this girl.
Last week my little boy turned 5!!! It feels like a big milestone. I almost can’t believe it.
Jack chose to take his dad and his 2 friends David and Isaac ”golfing” with him for his birthday. David’s dad Dave came along and took some awesome pictures…thanks, Dave!
He’s so cute
Love this guy.
Such characters
Jack: “This is the best kind of day…putt-putt golf with your friends, happy meals for lunch…” (insert sigh of contentment here)
My sweet boy
Today I made my first girly splurge purchase for Avery…and I’m sure it won’t be my last! There’s a little secondhand kids store near our house, and they have a whole wall of flowers and bows that you can mix and match with stretchy headbands…too much fun! I think the girl behind the counter got a kick out of how excited I was about the whole concept. Avery is excited too…she can hardly contain herself, as you can see. In other news, I think she might have really smiled at me this morning.
Lombardi Ranch
Jack & Avery’s pumpkins
My little Anakin Skywalker strikes a serious pose
We had a fun evening with our friends the Kellers!
Here’s what Avery did during her 1st trick-or-treating experience…
The loot
May the force be with you.
Here’s how much Avery loved her first bath
Chatting with her big brother…he’s so sweet with her!
Relaxing…she loves having her hands up near her head
Some of Avery’s biggest fans…Baba and Deda (my grandparents)
Resting with Dad
Resting with Mom
Avery goes to the pumpkin patch!
Jackson Moses Dean and Avery Elaine
Our family of four!
Avery in her swing
Avery’s 3rd bath was a much calmer experience for everyone involved.
Today on her 1 month birthday, Avery got to go to her first tea! Some of the ladies in my family got together to celebrate and honor my grandmother, and we had a wonderful time. There are 4 generations represented in this picture.
Avery sleeping peacefully in her great-grandmother’s arms
So tiny and new
“She’s massive little!” — Jack
Such a sweet and gentle big brother already
I couldn’t stop telling her, “I prayed and prayed for you!”
So thankful for the gift of Avery Elaine…
I was just telling Ryan that it has been so very, very long since I’ve blogged…I have no idea how to condense the past months into a relatively cohesive post. But he says that’s part of the joy of blogging…you can just pick up where you left off and no one really minds. So I hope you don’t mind, blog readers, if you’re even still checking my blog, which I sort of doubt and don’t fault you for in any way if you’ve given up on me…
It’s funny how you can pray and pray for something, and the Lord kindly and graciously sees fit to give it to you, yet in His perfect plan, He makes sure that you stay dependent on Him, having no cause to boast in yourself, and your weaknesses come through all the more, making His strength perfect. That’s how this pregnancy has been for me. In the midst of overwhelming thankfulness to God for this miracle that He has created inside me, the past months have also brought more trials on more fronts than I ever expected. Most have had to do with the pregnancy itself, in the form of OUT OF CONTROL hormones and lots of physical pain and discomfort, pretty much the whole time. It has been almost the complete opposite of my pregnancy with Jack, which I can now say was pure bliss compared to this one! I feel like in some ways I don’t even know “who I am” anymore (whatever that means), or what “normal” is, and I’m just waiting for the day when I will get to see this sweet little child whose presence has brought such turmoil into my life and my emotions, yet such joy to my heart. As of right now, I am 38 1/2 weeks into my pregnancy, and although everyone tells you “not to compare it to your last pregnancy”, which obviously this one has NOT been like, I have still fallen prey to the “maybe she’ll be 17 days early like Jack” train of thought. Well…we’re one week beyond that point, and each day that passes has found me a little more impatient, uncomfortable, and stir crazy than the one before. My mom came to save the day today, and she did SO much…cleaning, cooking, organizing, flower planting…but the best thing she gave me was a simple little piece of advice: “Let’s just plan on the fact that she’ll come on her due date (Sept. 21), and then maybe each day in between won’t be so frustrating for you.” Amazing, huh???? I know…pretty simple, but in my world, pure sweet genius.
Over the past 6+ months since my last post, I’ve taken hundreds and hundreds of pictures, which represent hundreds and hundreds of little events that I wish I could share. But for now, I chose just a tiny few to represent some (not all) of the things and people that have been little blessings from the Lord and have kept me going when I have wanted to give up. Here they are in no particular order…
My mom’s homemade peach pie. Craving? Yes. Jack’s graduation from Master’s Kids…what a wonderful year with my sweet sweet son. Moving into the perfect house that God provided right out of nowhere. Jack’s hair. The sunsets over Lake Michigan and a wonderful time of refreshment with family during our vacation. Jack’s face. Disneyland. My Aunt Lana. Friends. Specifically the Bohrs. The Anniversary Getaway that my incredible husband planned for me, including a perfect spa day. My sister. My boys, who have kept me from going crazy and kept me laughing. Coffee Bean Iced Tea with crushed ice….actually, crushed ice in general. My mom. Costco ice cream bars. The beach and the beautiful girls pictured.
But mostly, this guy. My amazing, patient, kind, thoughtful, funny, comforting, understanding, sacrificial husband. He has been my rock, and has shown me the goodness of God more than anyone or anything else. I think I may have mentioned it before, but I seriously don’t deserve him.
That’s all for now.
The Lord is righteous in all His ways, and kind in all His deeds.
The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth.
He will fulfill the desires of those who fear Him;
He will also hear their cry and will save them.
Psalm 145:17-19
When my anxious thoughts multiply within me,
Your consolations delight my soul.
Psalm 94:19
