First Reptile Friend

I say first reptile friend because I know Ricky had several reptiles that found a "house" at his parents house. I recall snakes while I was dating him. Yikes, maybe I started something I don't want to have to keep up with. Anyway, the story goes something like this...Caden, Avery Lynn, and I were on our way home to meet Ricky for lunch. As we were driving down our street I saw a turtle in the middle of it. I pulled over and parked with the intention of getting Caden out to let him see it and then go on home. Well I decided it would be cool for him to get to take it home, because I remember keeping a turtle in a box as a kid (I think for a few days) and it was really cool. However, I am a girl and don't really like to pick up random reptiles, but I guess I'm also a mamma who loves her little boy because I picked up the turtle and put him in the back of my explorer for the couple of house drive home. (I only did this after I tried to call Ricky and he didn't answer. There was no need for me to pick it up if we could just stand there by it for a few minutes until Ricky drove by. But when he didn't answer I opted to go ahead and pick it up.) We found a box for it when we got home and the turtle lived happily (I guess) for about a day and a half at our house (on the screened in porch) until Caden and Ricky set it free at a nearby creek. It was a fun experience and Caden enjoyed playing with it.

Checking on Mr. Turtle (Caden never could come up with a name for him)

A little time for the turtle to play in the grass

He was a nice turtle


Caden being a turtle, in his wagon ride to set the turtle free

One last pet

Goodbye Mr. Turtle. Run while you still can!

4 Months

Avery Lynn

This post is all about Avery Lynn, Caden will get one of his own shortly. I noticed that I don't post for a while and then I do several posts in a row. Take what you get, I guess. I'm only 10 days past Avery Lynn turning 4 months old for this post, but she is still technically 4 month so here are her stats from her doctors appointment, a few fun things she is doing now, and of course some cute pictures of her.

4 Months old

Weight: 12 lbs, 14 oz

Height: 27 inches

She is growing up so fast. She is rolling from her belly to her back a lot and she has gone from her back to belly once. She is smiling and laughing. We love to hear her laugh, it is too cute! I think she is going to be loud and talk a lot, like her brother. I was hoping for a quieter child but I think we might just have the loudest house on the block once she can talk too. But to get a chance to talk at all I guess she will have to be this way. We"ll see, but I predict she will be a talker. She's a cutie and we love her!

Getting dry after bath

Her Big Blue Eyes

Enjoying the swing

Trying out the highchair for the first time

First time joining us up at the table for dinner. She didn't eat anything, her dinner came shortly after, but she did enjoy putting her feet on the table and chewing on her fist.

Doesn't she look thrilled.

Two of a Kind

Avery Lynn loves her big brother. She's a big fan of his and loves watching his every move. He is plenty of entertainment for her and he thinks that is pretty cool. He likes making her smile and laugh. They are very cute together.

I sat her in the highchair for the first time the other day and Caden needed to see what was going on. I think this picture accurately captures them right now. He talks (a lot) and she listens and smiles.

I was taking her picture the other day because I got her out of the bath and didn't brush her hair. It dried and had some cute curls up on top. We like to call her our little "Curl Ball."

Caden needed his picture taken (in the bumbo seat) too because Avery Lynn had hers taken

Our Curl Ball, chewing on everything.

A shot from the top of the curls

April in Review

I can't believe that April is almost over. Crazy! We have had a nice month; we've played a lot outside, spent a weekend in St. Louis, had a visit with grandparents in Cape, done some projects around the house, celebrated Easter, and now to end the month my household is sick. Ricky has been coughing like crazy and feeling terrible all week, Caden has been coughing as well and now is running a 103 degree fever. I'm sure Avery Lynn and I are probably going to follow, but I'll hope not and Lysol everything in the mean time. But while I'm still healthy I wanted to get some pictures uploaded. : - )

Ricky's latest completed project. A fire-pit table for the screened in porch.

Avery Lynn at the beginning of April

Caden loves going fishing with his Daddy! His first fish!

Caden driving a boat at the "Tons of Trucks" event here in Columbia.

Avery Lynn on Easter morning

This picture cracked me up when I looked at it. Avery Lynn appears to be saying..."He did it!"

The kiddos before church

Not the best picture of us, but here I am with Caden and Avery Lynn

Avery Lynn is getting so big

Baby Girl Nursery

Here are a couple of pictures of Avery Lynn's nursery. I took these pictures a few days before she was born but I never got around to posting them. I'm saying that because you may notice the picture frames don't have pictures in them at the time I took these. They now have newborn pictures in them, but retaking pictures of the room now would require straightening it up so it looks presentable and it would require taking time to take the pictures and uploading them to the computer. All time I'd rather spend doing something else so you get older versions that still give you an idea of what we did with her room. We like it and I think she does too so we are happy!

Two Kids for Two Months

We are all still alive : - ) Which is an accomplishment I'd say. Honestly though, it really hasn't been too bad. We are all somewhat adjusted and most days go pretty well. Avery Lynn is doing well and growing like a weed. At her 2 month check up she weighed 11lbs 1oz (50th percentile) and was 25.2 inches (97th percentile). So it seems like she will be tall, or at least taller than me. She is social...like her big brother (and daddy too). She loves to talk and be talked to. She is always cooing and making baby sounds when she is happy. I initially figured that she wouldn't talk until she was like two or something because Caden is never ever quiet and I just figured she wouldn't be able to get a word in, but now I think that she may just fight him for it. Caden is a good big brother and as you see in the last picture he does his best to comfort her when she is sad. Well at least some of the time...other times her screaming and crying get the best of him and he starts yelling too....just to totally make me go insane. : - ) Because everyone knows it is overly helpful to have a yelling 2 yr old when you are trying to calm a screaming infant. Nice. Anyway here are some recent pictures.

Avery Lynn at 2 months. In a cute hat and a cute diaper cover that I made for a friend and she returned to me when her little girl out grew it.

She currently still has her blue eyes...we will see if they stay like Caden's did

She was happier sitting next to him than being held.

Caden and some stuffed bunny rabbits

We've had some nice weather so the other night we roasted marshmallows

And made some cookie smores

Big brother brought her a stuffed animal and was bouncing her...but didn't seem to help much. : )

Spare Time

HaHa...funny. There is no spare time in my world. Between feeding a baby, a 2 year old, diapers, pottying, crying, screaming, etc. I don't find much down time....imagine that. I am talking about Caden's spare time. Here are a few pictures of what he has been up to lately. As far as Avery Lynn goes, she is doing well. We go back to the doctor next week for her 2 month check up so I will try to post some info on her after that.

Watching a video with some of his stuffed animals. Videos are a life saver when you have to feed an infant. : - )

Playing with cousins! Tons of fun!


A new favorite is putting on all of Avery Lynn's bibs...at one time.

A shot up close...crazy kid. Whatever keeps him busy. : )

Posing for a picture with his baby sister

Great-Grandparents

We were able to make a trip back to Cape a couple of weeks ago and Avery Lynn was able to meet her great-grandparents for the first time. Here are some pictures that I took.

Great Papa and Avery Lynn (my Grandpa)

Great Mimi & Great Papa (my Grandma & Grandpa)


Great Mama Ogles (Ricky's Grandma)

Great Papa (sometimes called Big Papa by Caden, Ricky's Grandpa)

Can't believe it has been 4 weeks

We are all doing good. Here are some pictures from the past few weeks. We had a blizzard up here last week, with 20 inches of snow! So that kept us inside for a few days. Avery Lynn is doing well. She is now 4 weeks old. She is nursing 7 times a day and sleeping for a stretch of about 5 hours at night. We can't complain too much. Of course I would take more sleep if I could but she is doing well for a 4 wk old baby.

Avery Lynn laying on the couch, unconcerned that I am trying to get her to wake up to eat.
Tummy Time

Caden likes to entertain his baby sister


20 inches of snow!

Caden walking in his tunnel Ricky dug for him.

Ricky and Caden got to feed Avery Lynn for the first time the other day!

4 wks old. She was moving all around so they are a little blurred.
An action shot