Phew!

What a crazy, long couple of weeks it has been!  I have missed doing personal posts but just have not been able to find the time with all the craziness.  It started when Avery got sick and it totally messed up her sleeping (which is when I do most of my blogging).  She started taking very short naps because she would wake herself up coughing and sneezing.  That lasted about a week and a half, a very long week and a half!  


Right after she got better, we were off to my sister and brother-in-laws for our first of 2 Thanksgivings.  We had a great time hanging out with my family and had an incredible meal.  Each Thanksgiving we have have the exact same meal because no one wants to mess up perfection.  : )  We have turkey, Grandma D's stuffing, Grandma P's Waldorf salad, mashed potatoes, gravy, sweet potatoes, and creamed corn.  This year for dessert my mom made an incredible chocolate bread pudding.  It was really easy and absolutely delicious!  


When we got back things didn't slow down a bit.  We had a couple playdates and my mom had to have oral surgery.  Since my dad had to work, she came over to our house each day so I could take care of her.  It was pretty rough at the beginning but she's doing much better now.  Eric also had to have some dental work done, he chipped a tooth and ended up having to have a crown put on.  Nothing to serious but still not fun.  


In more exciting news, Avery is now officially a walker!  Before this past Tuesday, she would take steps here and there but she would always fall down and then end up crawling the rest of the way.  Her most up until that point was about 10 steps or so.  However, Tuesday it just seemed to click and all of a sudden she walked from her bedroom, down the hall, through the living room, into the kitchen, and ended up in the dining room by the windows into the backyard, all without falling down.  Since that point she has been a walking machine!  She wants to walk everywhere!  It is so fun and exciting to watch but has definitely made life more interesting.  I am having to constantly chase her around the house, she doesn't want to sit still for long at all.  


Thursday we went to my in-laws and celebrated Thanksgiving with them.  It was a nice, relaxing time and I loved that I didn't have to do any of the cooking (except for the red velvet cake I made the day before for dessert, a special request from my sister-in-law for her birthday which was the 22nd).  Avery had a great time running all around Grammy and Grandpa's house!


Luckily things have started to settle down but I'm sure it won't be for long with Christmas right around the corner and barely any of my shopping done.  But I don't mind cause I love this time of year!  I hope everyone is having a great weekend!

Adjusting

Avery and I are slowly adjusting to the new nap schedule but boy has it been a long week!  I have been one tired mama!  I used to get up right before Avery in the morning, about 7:15, and then take my shower and get ready for the day during her first nap.  However, now I have to get up before her, about 6:45, to get everything done since I don't have that first nap anymore.  It's amazing how much a difference 30 minutes of sleep can make!  I have also been trying to find things to do in the morning to keep her busy so that she doesn't get too fussy.  We have gone to the library's Rhythm and Rhymes class, took a class at Little Gym, went to Little Swimmers, and went on a walk with some friends from my mom group, plus all the other usual errands and things.  


It's also been tough to adjust to only having one "break" a day instead of two.  It makes the day extra long and I am so ready for Eric to get home at about 5:15 or so.  It's nice to have someone else there to take a little of the pressure off me and give me a second to breath.  


I know it's going to get easier with each passing day and I love that we can now participate in so many of the infant/toddler classes that we couldn't before.  I am also thankful that she still takes a nap at all, I know when she drops that one (hopefully not for a couple years) it will be even tougher to adjust!  I can't imagine not having a "break" all day long!

Halloween

Halloween is one of my favorite holidays.  I loved it as a child and have found I love it as a mom, too!  We had a pretty busy Halloween weekend.  It started on Friday when some of my friends and I took our kids downtown for Halloweenie (Halloween for teenie weenies).  Most of the stores were open and handing out candy.  It was a mad house!  The sidewalks were packed and it was so tough getting in and out of the stores.  My friends all took strollers but I opted to carry Avery, that way we could practice our walking once we got into the store (I would hold her hand for support since she's not an independent walker yet).  She was so cute walking up with her trick or treat bag!


Saturday we carved our pumpkins.  Avery had so much fun helping me get all the gooey mess out of the pumpkins.  By the end of it she was covered, it's a good think we stripped her down to her diaper!

On Halloween evening (not really night since Avery starts bedtime routine at about 6:15 and is down at 7) we took our little bumble bee to both sets of grandparents houses and stopped by a couple neighbors.  We didn't want to do too much but knew we had couple places we had to go!

I love the shiny wings and stinger!  So cute!

One of Avery's favorite "toys" are those cards that play music.  She loves opening and closing them and dancing to the music.  So my mom got her a Scooby Doo Halloween card that she just loves.  It even has these little buttons that you can push and characters from the show will say something.  She had to best time playing with it!

Hope everyone had a great Halloween!