Christmas/ New Year's '10

Wow.  I can't believe it's 2011!! We are really looking forward to the year to come, but here are some pics from our Christmas and New Year's.  We had a wonderful couple of weeks.  There were lots of family get togethers and time with friends.  O.K. so here it goes...

   The weekend before Christmas, we went down to visit the Townes.  Little Russell is just as cute as ever.  We spend some time with our Aunts and cousins too.  Sophia cooked the most amazing beef bourguignon.  I ate so much I got ill, but it was totally worth it.  The week before Christmas we got a visit from the McWilliams.  We met their newest little girl Penelope and she is precious.  The older girls were so cute with her.  They also spent a lot of time playing a Hello Kitty game with Tim.  That was great to watch.  The day before Christmas Eve we went to Tim's Aunt Anne's house for brunch.  Avery loved all the attention from her Aunts and cousins.

   The Christmas Eve masses were beautiful as always.  We took Avery to the 5 pm children's service.  The cry room was full so we had her in the "big church".  Let's just say she entertained the crowd around her.  She clapped and said yay after every (I mean every) song.  She then would loudly ask for more.  Keep in mind this is at a Catholic church where there is to be silence during mass.  Sigh, we are going to have to work on that :).  Before Midnight Mass, we went to the annual party at Mrs. Sandi's house and got to be with "The Aunts".  It's always one of the highlights of the holiday season. 

    Christmas Day was one of the best ones we've had.  Avery was really excited to open all of her presents from Santa and Mommy and Daddy.  It was amazing watching her giggle and play.  We got a visit from Aunt Carol and Grandma later that morning. They were so sweet and got Avery the cutest little purse that she carries around daily.  By afternoon we finally got out of our pajamas and I started cooking for dinner. I made a beef veggie soup and turkey chili with a Paula Dean cornbread recipe.  It turned out really nice.  We had my family and Ma and Uncle Hollie over (Nancy and Sutton were on a cruise).   You couldn't even see the floor of our formal living room. There were so many gifts!  We had an amazing night.

Boxing day was just as wonderful.  Our friends Alison and Kyle and their boys stopped by for a visit.  They live really far away, so we rarely get to see them.  It meant so much to spend some quality time with them.  I miss my Alison an awful lot.  Her boys are the cutest, sweetest little things. They both have these gorgeous blue eyes are guaranteed to be heartbreakers in the future. 

New year's week we went to our home away from home.  I was bad about taking pictures, but we got together with our friends Matt and Brandi, then Gina, and then Shaunna.  The weather was amazing- 65 degrees!  We had a dream like week.  When we returned home, we hung out with my best friends from high school Candy and Staci.  Candy has two little ones and we met her youngest for the first time.  They are both absolutely gorgeous and sweet.  My friends can't help but have the most beautiful children :).  

That's it, I think...another busy holiday season done and a new year beginning.  I hope everyone has a wonderful start to 2011! 

 Nancy and Sutton came to visit before the cruise over Christmas.

 Christmas at Sophia and Gayle's House

Katie, Cassie, Sophia, and Bella Grace

The gals:  Amy, Katie, Cassie, and Sophia 

The boys:  Carlos, Tim, Dad, Gayle, and Jason

Avery and Russell

The babies playing with Aunt Connie

Avery in the beret from Sophia and Gayle

The McWilliams

 Brunch at Aunt Anne's House

Andrew and his girlfriend, Aunt Patricia and Alex

Cassie, Anne, Adam, Grandma

How cute is the poncho that Patricia gave her?

 Christmas Eve Party at Mrs. Sandi's House

Mom and Julie

Gina and Cassie

Mrs. Bonnie, Julie, Carlos, and Ken

Heather, Mr. Jim, Dad, and Amy

The Aunts with their daughters ( Mrs. Carolyn was up visiting her newest grandchild).

 Christmas Day

Avery with her own "digadugadiga"/ computer

Feeding her baby (trying to get her prepared for what's to come)

My family band

Grandma and Aunt Carol

 Christmas Night Dinner

Hollie, Ma, Poppy, Cassie, Avery, Carlos, Amy, Sitti

With Tim :)

 Christmas Snow!

 The Haddens

Braving the cold.  This was just a couple of days before the 65 degree day.

 Visit with Candy and Staci

Avery, Thomas, and Addie

It was really hard to get all them looking at once!

Cassie, Candy & Addie, Staci & Avery

18 Month Videos

I just got around to uploading some videos from several weeks ago. I've had requests for Avery's football terms and her pronunciation of computer. Here are those and a few funny ones. Enjoy!

Football Terms & Computer

Hair Bow Taunt

Spins

Avery's visit with Santa 19 Months

Avery has been very cute pointing out "Sansa" in her books and on the Christmas tree. We've been to the mall and pointed out Santa as we passed him.  Tonight, we took the princess to go sit in Santa's lap.  We talked it up and she waved to him while we waited in line.  She said, "Hi Sansa" over and over again.  I had a very cautious and optimistic feeling about her picture.  We walked up and I asked Avery if she would like to sit in Santa's lap.  She said yes and here are the results: 

Better luck next year :(

Avery 19 Months

Tim is out getting his last bit of Christmas shopping done, so I decided to post some quick pictures from the past couple of weeks.  We've been doing alright. Avery and I are both getting over colds, but we're on the mend.  The little peanut seems to be doing o.k. in my tummy.  He/She is still making me queasy, but I've been already gained a good bit of weight.  I know that's good, but finding daily outfits are now a challenge.  Avery had her first trip to the dentist (Mom & Dad).  She did really good. She laid on my belly and let my Dad take a peek with a plastic mouth mirror.  Avery did take a little nibble of Dad's finger when he was checking for 2nd molars.  She thought it was funny, Dad not so much.

We're looking forward to seeing all of our family for the holidays.  I hope everyone has a wonderful and safe Christmas!

After the dental appointment, Avery proceeded to unravel the entire box of grape flavored floss.

14 Week Baby Bump

 Avery 19 Months

"Elbow!"

"Knee!"

SEC Championship '10

The Gamecocks went to the SEC Championship for the first time ever!  Tim and I went to Atlanta with the hopes of playing a good game and having a great time.  Well, we had a great time.  One out of two isn't that bad ;).  We went to the fan fare and met George Rogers and Dan Patrick. We got together with some friends. We ran into so many people we knew.  I saw my cousins Roy and Sara and even ran into a dental school classmate.  Alright, the game was ugh.  The Cocks didn't show up, but the first half was pretty good.  The Georgia Dome was a great atmosphere. The fans were going crazy.  The second half was just depressing.  Sigh.  I will now end with the tried and true mantra of Gamecocks everywhere: Next year, baby! Next year!

George Rogers with Tim and the Redskins football card.  Tim has had this card of Rogers since he was little boy.  And now it's signed!

Our Christmas card for this year (per Dan Patrick's suggestion)

The Boys:  Kevin, Kevin, Cary, Dave, & Tim

On our way to the Georgia Dome

Warm-ups

Birthday Party and Thanksgiving

I hope everyone had a great Turkey Day! Ours was wonderful.  We spent lunch with the Sinclairs and got to see Tim's sister and her husband. Avery warmed right up to them. They were so sweet.  After a tasty lunch we had dinner at Mom and Dad's. Momma Barbara, Sophia, Gayle, and Russell drove all the way here to spend Thanksgiving with us.  Not only that, they brought some amazing food. Tim and I made some grape leaves to join Sophia's tabouli. Soooo yummy!  I ate so much that I got sick that night, but it was definitely worth it.  How often to you get lebanese cuisine?
We also had a one year old birthday party the weekend before. Little Gus has the most adorable face. I could just eat him up!  Katie did a wonderful job with his party. It was a sock monkey theme.  I know, how cute is that??  I don't think Avery really understood that all those presents weren't for her.  There was another toddler there also and they joined in the present opening.  Gus just rolled with it.  He didn't seem to mind. Gus really makes me want a little boy. Sigh...of course it would be amazing for Avery to grow up having a sister too :).
Yesterday, our cousins Jessica and baby James came to see us.  It is really wonderful to watch the two babies grow up together.  There only a few weeks apart in age.  James is looking like a little man and is so tall!  He blows the sweetest kisses.  The kids are both learning how to share, so we had to be on our toes ;).  Jessica is pregnant again too. The second babies are due within a couple of weeks of each other.  It's amazing to have Jessica to talk to when we are going through the same things at the same time. Love them!
I had my 12 week ultrasound yesterday and everything looks great.  The baby was flipping around and waving.  The doctor asked Avery where the new baby was and Avery looked in the mirror and pointed to herself.  We're going to have to work on that :).  I hope everyone has a great week and good luck with all of the Christmas shopping.

Gus' First Birthday Party

Avery trying out one of Gus' gifts

Katie, Gus, and BJ

Sock Monkey Overalls! 

 Thanksgiving with the Sinclairs

Uncle Ben and Aunt Gabrielle with Avery and Me

The Fam

Nancy and Ma

Swingin'

 Thanksgiving at Mom and Dad's

Avery and Russell

"Listen to how loud I can yell!"

Avery with her Sitti

Shaunna and Cassie (with a little baby bump :) )

Yes, we are fierce.   Sophia, Cassie, and Shaunna

Uncle Gayle, Russell, Tim, Avery, and Momma Barbara

Hello little Pilgrim

Yes, Avery has her Uncle Carlos wrapped around her little finger

Uncle Carlos and Aunt Amy 

Avery trying to give Russell a kiss

The Princess loved my Mom's turkey so much, she licked Shaunna's fingers!

 Visit with Jessica and James

Jessica and James with 'gangsta' Avery.  Her new thing is to walk around the house with her winter hat on. 

The annual picture