Who gave you permission to grow up?

The other night, Ave and I had a conversation, as she was getting ready for bed, that went something like this:

Me: OK, Ave- here is Pooh (She has been sleeping with her Pooh for the last couple years of her life)...do you want your baby too?

Avery: No, mommy...Just Allison (see post below).

Me: Oh, so you want Pooh and Allison tonight?

Avery: Just Allison, mommy. Pooh is for babies.

I am literally stunned at this moment. It seems this little girl is growing by the second and I can not keep up! Its too early for her to outgrow her innocent and young attachments. What's next- "Mommy, I don't want to be a princess...I want to be in High School Musical/Hannah Montana/Jonahs Brothers groupie?" I don't think so!


Goodbye Pooh- Thanks for being such a good friend!

Hello Allison! May you always be faithful and love my Avery fully!

Another trip to KS!

Avery and I decided we had to be present at our niece/cousin- Brittany's 3rd birthday. I have been to all her previous birthdays (including the party in the delivery room) so this is now our new standard.

We were able to have some girl time Friday-before the party and we got our nails done. The girls had their nails painted and Ave picked out her own color and held very still during the whole thing. Then it was time for the party at Chuck-E-Cheese. It was fun and exciting. The kids had fun- Avery is still deathly afraid of Chuck-E...I don't think that will ever change.

The next day was Valentine's Day and we went out to lunch and to the Build-A-Bear workshop. The line was over an hour long-but my wonderful brother waited amongst the eager children, while we shopped. By the time it was our turn, Ave had already decided on a cute little monkey. After giving life to this monkey, we sat down at the computer to print our birth certificate. I asked Ave what she wanted to name her monkey and she quickly responded, "Allison." Now, I swear- we know NO ALLISONS. None at school, none at church, no friends- it was pretty cute that she was able to come up with such a fantastic name.

I took Avery over to her Dad's house Sunday morning. I dropped her off and spent an hour with Ave, Ave's Dad, and Ave's Dad's now fiancee...I knew Ave was in good hands and comfortable so I made the trip back in time to finish my 2 papers for school.

I always have a hard time when Avery is away. My life is centered around this one little girl and it is very apparent when she is with her dad. The first day is nice- I think about all this stuff I can do. But by the next day, I miss her and worry about her constantly.

I picked her up at the airport Wednesday. She was running to me as soon as she saw me- and she did look bigger. Ever since she has been back, she has been a better listener. I don't know if time away makes her grow up a little or perhaps she just missed me...I'm ofcouse hoping for the latter!

Sweet Surprise

Just when I thought I was finally to the point where I didn't need all the traditional girly cutsie little things- ie signs of love and affection...I come home to flowers and chocolates waiting for me- and it was nice! Avery ofcourse assumes these flowers are for her and she says, "Mommy, do you like my pretty flowers?"

Who loves him more?

I LOOOOOVE being an auntie and I think it probably has something to do with all these cute kids I am lucky to have in my life...

For instance, Tanner, is 20 pounds of pure baby love. He smiles whenever he sees me and is just happy when someone is paying him any kind of attention. We saw him yesterday and he held out his arms for me to hold him for the first time and I could literally feel my heart smile.

I'm not the only one in love with this little guy. Avery is such a great "big cousin" and always wants to play, feed, and read to her baby Tanner.

Who needs to have more kids? I am happy with my share of motherhood/aunthood at the moment and can not get enough of these little ones.

Nothing new 'round here

Not much to report- except the following-

1) There is a new member of the family named "Carousel" by his loving caretaker. He is a cute, little, blue Alpha fish who eats and swims all day long and makes his first public appearance in the video below. Ave was told that if we take care of Carousel , (and he lives past his guaranteed or money back date) we can get a dog...post graduation and house buying, that is, ofcourse.

2) My parents have moved! Well, my dad moved 2 weeks ago and my mom moves in a week. They are selling their house to a family in their ward/church... (yes, an amaaaaazing blessing for them). It still hasn't sunk in that it is actually happening. I just want my life to be on hold until I am done with school. It makes me sad that I won't be able to keep a close eye on them while they are getting older and grayer every year...And I'm not the only one. We were getting to go see my mom today and Ave said, "Mommy, I'm going to take this puzzle to go show Grandpa!" She was sooo excited and I didn't have the heart to explain that one.

3) I have finally mustered up my motivation and togetherness for this last semester. The break from school had put me back- and I was frazzled for the first couple weeks of school. I think I am ready to work hard again and I applied for my first nursing internship. As a graduate nurse, you work, and make money, for nursing internships where you are working under a preceptor, another RN, to help you ease into your own practice and patient load. These range from 8-16 weeks, depending on the field. Well, my first preference is......ER! Pretty much everything in nursing interests me. There has not been any one area that I thought I couldn't see myself working. But, this was my favorite clinical rotation and some may know that this is where I was actually offered a position several years ago, before I was pregnant and moved to the area. I didn't take the job, stayed in Kansas, and decided to some other things instead... Long story short, I feel that this is my full circle of where I am supposed to be and where I will find the best opportunities to learn and grow in my career. So I applied and will see what happens...If its meant for me- it'll work out. Otherwise, there are many, many options that I am sure I will be happy with.

4) Avery is catching up to my intelligence, quickly. She can count to ten in spanish, twenty in english, recite the pledge of allegiance-she did learn this one from school. She was coloring today and for the first time ever, was drawing REAL PEOPLE! I was very impressed- as you can tell from the video and pictures. We're talking people with eyes, hair, ears, noses, mouths...That is smart and that is my girl.