Happy Thanksgiving!

TRAINS!

Rylan is fascinated with trains. For a starter, I got him this train set from Ikea for $15. (The Thomas and Brio sets are crazy expensive!) Anyway, he loves it and continues to love trains!

Adoration

Rylan and Ava's first bath together -- just look at her watching him!

A hole in her heart....

Waiting patiently in the waiting room with Papa


Little baby, big exam table


Getting the echo done


So many wires for EKG!


Worn out!

Ava had her cardiology appointment this week in Rome. First she had an echo (heart ultrasound) and then an EKG. Turns out the murmur is from a very small hole in between the two large chambers in her heart, called a VSD. Babies who have a problem with this have trouble breathing, trouble eating, and poor weight gain. As you can tell by looking at her, this has not been the case! Dr. Donner was a very nice and patient pediatric cardiologist, who explained that most of these close up by 3 years of age. So she will be seen yearly until it closes. Ava did so well throughout the whole appointment and all the procedures, not a single cry or frown! We knew she was going to be fine, but it's nice to know exactly what is going on and what to expect! It also reminds me of one of my favorite songs by Plumb, called "God shaped hole". We all have a hole in our hearts that we inevitably try to fill with so many things of this world, but nothing fits except Jesus! Let's make sure and ask him to fill us up daily!

Barn Party

Last week the church had their annual barn party! For the kids they had a costume contest, so I decided to get one more use out of Rylan's Halloween costume. They had a little "runway" they made all the kids walk down and Rylan kept trying to walk it before his turn! Then he was chosen in the top 3 and they picked the winner by audience applause and he definitely had the loudest! It was so funny! He even won a Walmart gift-card!

SMILE!

Ava is smiling all the time now and also I have found her tickle spot beneath her chin! She has more of a cackle than a laugh! So much fun! Also, she is now riding in the baby carrier facing outward!

My boy!

Sometimes I forget that Rylan is only two! He is such a little boy and I love re-experiencing the world with him! Here he is with a centipede, building a "castle" out of cans, trying on the construction toys (real tools! box said age 8+!) from our builder "Uncle Dan", and in front of the fire with Daddy!

Baby Diva!

Having a girl is so much fun!

HOUSE UPDATE

The house is really coming along -- the framing is going up fast! Unfortunately we've had a lot of rain this week. But, Chris' shed is almost done! We just have to make the final decision on the shingles and brick! Check it out! (Chris is really glad he's not building it himself this time!)

TAGGED!

Ok, so Suzanne tagged me to write down 7 random things about me that you might not know. This could be difficult, but I will do my best. Here goes...
1. I have a very sweet tooth. So much so that I could eat ice cream every day, and in fact almost did during the last pregnancy! Ok, I almost eat it every day NOT being pregnant too! Hmmm, could explain why I haven't lost that last 5#!
2. I'm obsessed with my kids looking good! Ok, I've always admitted being superficial - which is why I married Chris - he's hot! (Yes, he has all the other qualities too, thank the Lord!) Anyway, I've discovered that I need to be in control of what my kids wear and have Rylan's hair fixed and face clean as much as possible! A lot of times I have my mom or Chris dress the kids and even though I say I don't care - it always is just wrong!!!
3. I am a sleep freak! I started being a control freak about sleep with Rylan and trying to do Babywise perfectly. This continued through Chris' deployment and somehow then turned into a 6 month bout of terrible insomnia out of no where. Praise God that he healed me of this while pregnant with Ava. I'm now learning to be a little more relaxed about everyone's sleep and go with the flow as much as possible. (You know I'm still a little anal!)
4. I love pictures! I love taking my kids to the photographer once a month for a photo shoot during their first year of life, and I love taking my own photos too! Love my Nikon D40 - just a bit heavy!
5. I am cheap! Love to shop, but never want to pay full price! MUST shop around! Complete opposite of my husband - find it, buy it, done!
6. I love my family! I have the greatest immediate and extended family ever! Including my in-laws! Grew up having Sabbath potlucks with my great aunt/uncle and multiple cousins and that is one reason we have moved back to Georgia -- lots of wonderful family here! God has blessed me with all these beautiful people!
7. I used to be a very good pianist. From age 6 - 18, piano was a big part of my life. There were a lot of positives but also a lot of negatives. It put a huge strain on the relationship with my mom, but thankfully that is behind us. I'm debating for my kids -- I definitely want them to do music, but do I pick their instrument or let them?

Ok, there you go, hope it was interesting!

I forgot to tag someone! So, I tag Lisa Gould! And.....Deb!

2 months old!

Ava had her 2 month check-up at the pediatrician! Unfortunately, Dr. Acevedo was not there so we saw the NP. She was very nice. Ava still has a heart murmur, so she was referred to the cardiologist which she will see on the 17th. Likely nothing, but better to be safe. Ava got 6 vaccines! SIX! (3 injections and one oral) She slept like a dream for the next 24 hours! :) Otherwise very healthy!

Tricycle

Rylan is finally learning how to pedal his tricycle -- we'll keep working on it!

Happy Halloween

The outlet mall advertised trick-or-treating at all stores on Thurs Oct 30 starting at 5:30 pm. We thought this would be a good place to take Rylan. We got there at 5:45 and the only thing Rylan got was 1 lollipop! What a bust! But the kids looked cute anyway!