Busy Bee

As Avery's half birthday approaches, we've stopped to reflect on all the new things Miss Busy Bee is learning to accomplish. Look who is working hard towards sitting all by herself:


Not to mention, our mornings and evenings spent mastering stage one foods. Peas have been a hands-down favorite! Although she's not drinking from a sippy cup yet, Fred and I found this personalized mug and had to get it. She loves playing with it!

On Saturday, 45 days after my grandfather passed away, my grandma went to join him. I have no doubts that my grandma is thankful to be reunited with him. I have many fond memories of my grandmother, who was always there to talk to, listen to, to be with, to love. I'll never forget her voice as she read us stories when we were younger, her spunky and sassy attitude that always made us giggle, her unbelievable memory, her amazing homemade cooking, and the way she always wanted her grandchildren to sit on her lap so that she could rock us - even well into our twenties!

One of the few times I was lucky enough to play golf with Grandma

She was a wonderful, selfless woman who cared deeply for her family, putting all of our needs above her own. She was a big part of my life...a truly tender and genuine grandmother. She touched many, many lives. I'm so thankful that I was close to her. I'll never, ever forget her.

Grandma with Avery Jeanne

I distinctly remember the day I shared the news with grandma and grandpa that I was expecting. She knew it would be a girl. She asked about "the little girl" every time I went to visit her...she used to always tell me the cure for morning sickness was peaches and whipped cream (I'll go along with that)! When we found out that we were indeed having a girl, I guess I shouldn't have been all that surprised...my grandma was always right. It was only fitting that grandma's first great-granddaughter be named after her. I look forward to when I can share with Avery Jeanne all of the special memories of her wonderful great-grandmother, Florence Jeanne.

I'm so sorry it's been awhile since I last posted. I couldn't wait to post about my amazing first Mother's Day and how Avery rolled over (from back to tummy- twice!) and our visit with Grandma and Grandpa Leist last weekend...but I just haven't had a minute to write!

I had a wonderful Mother's Day. I'm blessed to have a wonderful daughter. She's easy-going and loves to talk, play and watch the world around her. I'm thankful to have a selfless mom who puts her family's needs ahead of her own. I cherish the time we spend together. I'm also lucky to have a great mother-in-law who loves us so much. We enjoy our visits to Silverdale (and their trips to Ellensburg)!! For me, Mother's Day was a day of thanks to all the mothers who have helped make me the mother I am.

My mom with Grayson

My mother-in-law with Avery

Avery's Woobie

Since Grayson was little, he had a small fleece blanket with ribbons along the edges. Jody and Ryan called it his woobie. He loved his woobie so much that my mom ended up making him a second one so that he could always have one with him no matter what. My mom made Avery one also. It's bright and she loves grabbing at the ribbons. By the looks of it, it seems that Avery now has her very own woobie. She was playing on the floor in our room while I was folding laundry. I happened to look down just as she set in for a nap with woobie.