Baby Lane

(This random picture of Avery is to show my new favorite hairstyle for her. When I first do it after her bath, it sticks straight up. So delightful =) This is the best shot I could get of my little moving target!)

Now on to the real reason for the post:

Last Monday, I get a call from mom and answer it by saying that I'm already on baby watch for Bre, who was due on Halloween (Sunday).

Mom says, "Uuh, Shelly....she's at a 9."

So we decide we have to take off within the hour to go see them in Portland. Many many thanks to Ashley for thinking to take my kids as soon as we got in town so we could visit the new parents and baby in peace!! We arrived a couple hours after Bre gave birth and everyone was healthy and well. That's the first time, as an adult, that I've visited a new baby in the hospital. It is such a special time and the feeling is definitely from heaven. We didn't want to leave. Here are some shots.

Grandma with grandbaby #8

Deep in thought

Just being beautiful

Lane Anthony Spratling
25 October 2010
8 lb 4 oz
21 in

Cupcake Progression

start off dainty,
then, going...
going...

gone!

Delightful

Delightful is the word I would use to describe Avery.
She is cute and sweet, and fun.
Sure, she can get angry and bite any toddler who gets in her way.
Sure, she can give a mean slap.
But she also claps when she's angry. C'mon, that's adorable.
She makes a quiet "bop" sound with her mouth that I like to imitate and Tate yells, "No More BOP!"
She has four teeth, two on top and two on bottom.
She will not sit still, unless she's strapped in a carseat or high chair.
But even then she bops her head to the car radio music or pushes the high chair around the room by hitting her head and legs back and forth.
She has a wild side.
She likes to wiggle on the trampoline.
She walks hyper-speed with her walker in the driveway. I always assisted because I thought her feet would go out from under her with the speed of that thing on cement, but she keeps up.
If you're eating something, she wants it. Now!

Anyway, she turned one last Wednesday. We had a nice little party with some cousins, an aunt and uncle, and both sets of grandparents. Here are a few pictures...

First off, look how excited she was to go to her party! =)

Then, this was the best shot, even though I couldn't remove the red eye. Eric had to do some quick blowing action because Aves wanted to touch the flame. I love the concern on Tate's face and Wes' grin in the background.

Finally, it was just fun to see her with some girly stuff, like this pink and purple purse! (For obvious reasons, most her toys are more masculine.)

(Mom got some much better pics that my be posted later =)

Diet

Today while I showered, Tate had some chapstick. He's been quite responsible with it in the past, so I had no qualms. Can you tell where this is going??

When I got out, he runs up to me, empty chappy container in hand, and declares, "All gone!"

He must be advanced because I remember liberally applying chapstick in 7th grade so I could lick it off because it smelled so good. He's only 3 and chomping away apparently. Plus, this means that his diet is expanding. He's always sooooo cautious to try something new. So maybe I'm happy about this?

A Vacation from our Vacation!!

(If anyone has a birthday coming up and wants a banner, tell me and I'll give you this one. I hate to throw it away and I'm not going to keep it!)

Eric took a week off this past week. The game plan was no plans! It was brilliant! It didn't work, though.

It began with General Conference last weekend. We had to go to Pendleton because one of my rules is that if family travels to be within about a 2 hour radius of us, we must go see them, if possible. Hence, the trip. Tate got to play with his cousins and I got to see my brother and his family. One of the talks that comes to mind from Conference was about not being so busy. Take time to be with your family and take time to ponder, pray, and read your scriptures. Take time to enjoy life. A busy life is not the best life. It's a wonderful point and I better work on it.

We returned home Monday for a party to celebrate Tate's third. He couldn't wait to blow out the candles and got those flames out before the Happy Birthday Song was sung! We had a monkey theme, which is one of his favorite things. We often hear "monkeys!" as he looks for his blankey named monkey. Surprisingly, this party was probably the most low-key point of the week.

We played pin-the-tail-on-the-monkey, which may have been too advanced for 3 year olds. However, I thought pin-the-tail-on-Avery was pretty funny. Duck Duck Goose will also most likely go better next year, too. Racing in the backyard was probably the best game for these four little boys. Free-play inside was another favorite. Anyway, our oldest is now 3 and a handful and we love him to pieces =)

On Tuesday we headed back to P-town for our 4 yr. dental check-up. I knew it had been a while, but didn't know it had been that long! Due to two hours a piece being pick-axed at to clean our disgusting teeth, Eric and I totally recommend keeping up on your dental visit each 6 months and will be doing that from now on, too! Eric doesn't have cavities, but I found out from my dentist/father-in-law at his home that evening that I have two! There I was bragging to the family about no cavities when he smiles at me and says, "Yes, you do. You have two." Oh, the let-down!

So, that was a LaGrande trip Tuesday evening and Wednesday to the in-laws. Thursday we were finally able to relax at home and do lots of laundry. We began at about 7am and as I was putting away the last of it, it was about 7pm. Of course, it was interupted, but that's a full day running the machines. We also did a last minute trip to the mall for family pictures and the kids' 1 and 3 year shots. Last time Tate wasn't very smiley and this time he was wonderful. Last time Avery was so happy and this time she was on the move!

Friday was spent at Country Mercantile because they have fall activities like a pumpkin patch and a corn maze. We got lost in the maze and were sooooo thankful to have some mini-Nilla Wafers in my purse to help us all last =) Eric didn't want to leave the house in the first place, but admitted that it was fun getting lost. Go figure! I was excited to go originally and then was grumbling under my breath in the maze. There was also a sweet petting zoo with the cutest little piglet that I loved. Avery loved it, too, just like she loves dogs and wants to get in their space. Tate liked to look and not touch.

Eric played in a golf tourney on Saturday while I went to the church for Super Saturday. Super Saturday is a craft day for all us ladies. Normally, super fun, but when the babysitters didn't show, I stepped in to help babysit some 25 kids. I was also teaching a little class on a little craft project. From there we went to Pendleton to watch grandma while ma and pa went to stake conference. We stayed the night so they could go Sunday morning as well. Then we drove home in time for our church meetings and now here we are. And Eric heads back to work tomorrow. So, this week that was supposed to be one to lay around and do nothing but enjoy that we're doing nothing has been the exact opposite. I had a blast, though. Eric says it was fun, too, exept for the dentist part. True that.