Baby Belly

Ok, I so hesitated to post any pictures of my belly.  Yes, I love being pregnant, but at the same time I feel rather "grande" and never did maternity pictures with Avery.  I felt so guilty after having her and decided that with my next pregnancy I would totally embrace the change my body has gone through and just go take pictures.  One of my student's mother is a photographer and wanted to do them.  So, these are some of the pictures Jason caught while she was shooting.  I'll post a few professional shots once I get them.  I am proud of my baby bump, but boy was it hard to get down on the ground and look "cute" to take pictures.  Thank goodness for the cuteness of our precious Avery!

 

 Cheesing!

 She just wanted to cuddle.  We were trying to get her to stand and look at the camera behind me.  This is what we got!

 Holding baby Ansley Grace!

 It was quite chilly on this particular morning and Avery had it all over her face!

 My sweet girl!  Hard to believe that I will have two miracles pretty soon!

 Super cute guy we hired to block the sun!

 Warming up and a happy girl!

 We bribed her with her dolls!  Big girl and baby!

 Her happiest is with her "babies"!  Such a little momma!

Avery, our almost 3 year old that brightens our day and puts so much love in our hearts!

Showered with Love

The last few weeks our dear sweet friends have showered and sprinkled us with such love and kindness.  My awesome co-workers at Kid Care put together a surprise shower that blew me away,  two of my closest friends threw us a "Breakfast at Tiffany's" Baby Sprinkle for sweet Ansley Grace that was so thoughtfully put together, and then last night our awesome small group (just us girls) got together for a diaper and wipes/girls night out get together.  We have been overwhelmed with all the love and generosity our family and friends have shown us as we prepare for baby Ansley!  We are counting down the days, literally, till we have her in our arms.  I can't wait to examine her little face and compare her features with her super proud big sister!   Avery has been helping me in the nursery, picking things out at the store, and two nights ago melted my heart when she sang Twinkle Little Star to my belly!  Although life is crazy right now with lots of changes, we are ready to be a family of four!  God is good and we feel so blessed to be welcoming another healthy baby girl into our family!

 

 Kid Care Surprise Shower

 They even thought about my sweet Avery and made sure she had something of her own to open!  She opened all of Ansley's things too!  What a big helper and mommy didn't even have to bend down!

 Baby Ansley's "Breakfast at Tiffany's" Sprinkle

 Precious Invite

 Loved her banner!

 Stephanie, Elizabeth, and Marissa

 Mommy and Ave (awkward face)

 Sitting with her doll waiting to open presents!

 The beautiful blanket that my grandmother made Ansley!

 Mommy and her little helper!

 Avery with my sweet cousin Jennifer (who is having a boy in September) talking with my mom and sister who unfortunately could not be there.  It was hard not having them there.

 Sweet outfit that Miss Ansley will come home in!  And in all the craziness, I forgot to get pictures with my family and my two hostesses, Stephanie and Marissa.  Pregnancy brain the second time around is much more intense than with the first!  Ha!

After the shower, we hung out at Stephanie's house and got in some good quality time with her precious little man Grayson.  Avery was head over hills for him and loved showing him all the animals hanging from his activity mat!

Happy Easter 2013

 We hosted Easter at our house this year and it was nice coming home from church and being home the rest of the day!  After the "typhoon" that morning, it really turned out to be a beautiful day!  That afternoon we meet up with friends down at the park too!  What a blessing to get to spend Easter with family and friends celebrating our Risen Lord!  I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter!

The Easter bunny was sure good to Ave this year!

 He even left a ton of eggs in the yard and the house before the rain.  Good thing Avery got up at the crack of dawn that morning to retrieve them all!  Ha!  We hunted eggs before our neighbors were up!

 Hurrying before the storm!

 She found "monies" in some of her eggs!

 Busy Easter Bunny and little girl!

 Playing with her Mickey dressed as a bunny who smells like marshmallows! 

Ready for church.  Could not get a smile.

In front of the cross!  Daddy, Avery, Momma, and baby Ansley!

 

Our set up!  The week and weekend was super crazy so while lunch was finishing up, we colored eggs before everyone got to the house!

 Momma helping her!

 Such a beautiful little girl inside and out!

She had so much fun!

 Avery eating lunch and Maddie waiting for anything that drops!  Pitiful!

Ready to eat!

Craig Ranch Easter Egg Hunt

With Daddy home now, we are making sure to do as much as a family as possible.  So if there was a hunt this year for Easter eggs, you better believe we were at it!  Weather permitting!  Our neighborhood hosts a hunt every year and it is nice because there are not that many people who come!  Here are a few pics!

Ready to hunt!

 She is a pro by now!

 Avery and Momma (Momma feeling like an Easter Egg!)

Her loot!

Fill the Cross

Thursday before Easter our school had the kids bring flowers to fill the cross.  It is such a beautiful sight after it is all filled and I loved doing this with Avery that morning.  We got to do it again on Sunday morning but the crowds were a little different!

 Avery putting her flowers in.

Momma and Ave