Avery is here!!

Here we are!! Avery is here, and doing great! She was 6 lbs 11 oz, and 19 1/2 inches. We delivered at Clovis Community Hospital this time via c-section, and thankfully I was out of there in under 24 hours!! I was able to come home to my own bed, and have as many people over as I wanted. It was a blessing! Little baby Avery has been claimed by Grace as her own, and she wants to hold the baby, but I don't think she really understands the whole picture yet because when she is done holding her she just pushes her away (toward the floor, if I was not there to supervise...) just like she was one of her dolls. We have been dressing her "babies" in Avery's clothes, feeding them bottles, and giving them diapers to make her feel more like a "big girl." Overall, it is fun, and exciting, yet I know the hard part is yet to come when Avery feels like it is time to stop sleeping so much, and wake up to her new world. Dave and I are taking one day at a time, and enjoying both of our girls! Dave has been wonderful! He has gone beyond my expectations and really taken over all of the household chores, errand running, coming home from work early, taking Grace to daycare and picking her up...and the list goes on while I am recovering from everything. We are so thankful for our family and friends that have helped out and brought us meals and and spent their time with us. Enjoy the pictures!!

Grace is becoming quite the artist now days...We found sidewalk paint at our favorite store (Target) and she loves creating masterpeices outside. I cannot believe how big she is getting. She is really starting to talk now, and I think is ready(for the most part) to be a big sister. Baby Avery is coming very soon! September 15th is the big day! Y0u can be praying that everything runs smooth with the delivery (c-section) and that Avery is healthy. Pray for Dave and I too because everyone knows that a newborn is HARD!!! but wonderful...Some other news is that I have decided to get my masters in administration through Fresno State, which starts in January. Dave is plugging away at his job, and loves it, but is challenging in an economy like ours is right now. Our plates are full, but we are blessed to live in a house we love, and have a healthy family!! I feel rich!!

We went to Monterey Bay Aquarium with my whole family. It was so much fun. As you can see Grace wore a leash, but we called it a "backpack" since she is into Dora the Explorer and her backpack these days. I used to say things about people putting their children on leashes...until I had kids! I will never judge again!

This was crazy!! Dave came in and told me there was a hot air balloon outside, which we have every once in a while...it was nice and high at the time...minutes later I heard the fire from the balloon and it sounded rather close. I walked out in my backyard without my camera (darn) and was startled to see the basket of the balloon about 20 feet above my roof. I could have had a conversation with the people that were along for the ride. They proceeded to land in a resivoir that is right behind the houses that are across the street from us...It was quite a sight!

Grace is turning into a big helper!! She likes to do things herself, which is good now that a new little one is coming in the picture...