Happy December 1st & Due Date

Happy December 1st! We had a light snow all day yesterday and through the night. This is the only evidence I have as it has mostly melted away!

Today we start the big countdown to Christmas! My Aunt Linda made our advent calendar that Ava and Jane will add an ornament to each day. It took Ava forever to decide which should go on first...we decided on the teapot for today!
Ava also started her very first chocolate advent calendar today. Thanks Aunt Sissy for sending us a December 1st surprise. Today her treat was a chocolate train. Be sure to check William's blog for their "Favorite things about Christmas" countdown each day in December!
Last but never ever least...Today is baby Jane's true due date. We are SO thankful she is here and healthy! Happy due date sweet baby girl! You are so so so very loved!!

One Week Old

Today is Jane's 1 week Birthday! Ava sang to her before bedtime this evening. The first week has gone by way too fast! Mum and Papa were here all week and left this morning....we were very sad to say good-bye...but Christmas is just around the corner. Grammy and Pappy have been here as well to spend time with their girls. The help from all Grandparents has been simply wonderful! The 8 of us had a fun Thanksgiving yesterday with MUCH to be thankful for! Jane's true due date isn't until Monday, but we're sure happy she came early...she is one sweet baby! More pictures to come...

Our Sweet Baby Jane

Jane Ryan

November 21, 2008

10:16am

8 pounds 10 ounces

19.5 inches long

...sisters...

"Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you.

Before you were born I set you apart."

Jeremiah 1:5

She's Here!

Our sweet baby girl arrived 9 days early! My water broke late Thursday evening and Jane Ryan "popped" out at 10:16 Friday morning weighing in at a whopping 8 pounds 10 ounces! We just got home from the hospital today and are adjusting to life as a family of 4....Lots and lots of pictures to come later today! We are all doing well and are so thankful to have a happy healthy baby!!

Beach Ball Baby

Ava thought it was quite fun to walk around the house today with a beach ball baby to match her baby sister. She told me it was very easy to "pop" her baby right out! Scott thought it was picture worthy...so here we are with twinkie tummies...We are on the countdown to December 1st! We are ready and waiting!

Sissy Weekend!

Kristin came on Friday for a girls only (+ Scott) weekend. It was so much fun! We shopped Friday night and played around in town all day Saturday! The most helpful thing of all was decorating for Christmas...Kristin helped a ton and we got the job done. She gave Ava a "Big Sister" charm that will be added to her bracelet when she's bigger...it's so sweet because they are both the big sisters in our family! What fun! Unfortunately, we didn't get many pics....too busy having too much fun! Thanks, Kristin, for a great time! We Love You!!

New Nephew!!

We are so excited to introduce Ava's new cousin and our new nephew!! Nicolás Andrés made his grand debut into the world yesterday afternoon and is SO CUTE! We went to meet the little guy this morning and everyone is doing great! Congratulations Jeff, Lorena, and Big Sister, Isabella!!

We are so happy for you!

Recycled Christmas Crayons

Last February my Sister-in-Law, Lorena, made homemade heart crayons...I decided to make gingerbread man shaped crayons for Christmas....they are so easy and super cheap if you have broken crayons sitting around... ....peel them

.....break them

.....sort them

....bake @200 for 18 minutes...
I put them in the freezer to cool and they pop right out of the pan.

...so cute...

Baby Shower

Hostesses....Karyn, Heidi, Elizabeth, Kelli, me, and Anne

My sweet friends gave me a baby shower on Saturday. Caroline was also an away hostess and she was very missed! Everything was so beautiful and thoughtful! Our sweet girl was blessed with a ton of cute and fun things! My Mom was able to be there along with lots of family who live close by.

The spread of food was so yummy!
Here is a quilt made especially for the baby from Grammy....

Family Fun

We had fun with the whole gang trick-or-treating Friday night

....the girls with Mum, Papa, Grammy, Pappy, and Uncle Jeff...

Two Ladies....a Lady Bug and Lady - the dog

The Ladies and the Grandparents

Ava and Papa made pancakes this morning....Ava was so proud of her "Ava Cakes"

Ava with Mum & Papa!

We Love You So Much!

Fall Fun!

We had a fun Fall day!

Ava had an extra special time at Pre-School with super-fun Fall activities!
.....My Sweet Little Puppy.....

....Beautiful Arkansas Fall...

....This afternoon, we went Trick-or-Treating with some friends....

Jack, Ava, Spike, Jamey, baby Amilia, and her Mommy Joy

Corn Maze & Pumpkin Patch

This afternoon we took a trip to the Corn Maze/Pumpkin Patch...Ava had a ball picking out the perfect pumpkin...
....We sang Happy Birthday to Spike and ate tasty cake....

....Jamey and Ava having fun...

...the hayride and potato sack slide were Ava's favorites...she went again and again and again...

Happy Fall!

Ava Meets Evie

Our friends, Rob and Jessica, had a sweet baby girl a few weeks ago. Ava got to meet Evie for the very first time on Saturday. It was good practice to have a teeny one in the house for a few hours. Only 5 weeks to go before we are a family of 4!

Cupcake Friday

Ava and I had a "Cupcake Making Marathon Day." One of our 3 projects was Spidercakes. They turned out pretty cute! I had to post this picture of Ava....please pardon the panties...this was the look she was going for today...very fashionable, Ava! We will improve on our postings...This Mama has been tired and busy! We're on the big countdown to December 1st...and nesting has officially begun! XOXOXO

Happy #3 Isabella!!

Yesterday we celebrated Isabella's 3rd Birthday...Minnie Mouse style...
...Ava taking a whack at Minnie...poor Minnie...
...Happy Birthday to Isabella...We Love You!
...Our family...

Weekend Visit

Mum and Papa came for a weekend visit. We worked hard and played hard. Ava now has a big girl room (almost complete) and baby girl has a nursery that is just about ready! We are getting closer and closer and I am feeling a little more prepared for what is to come! We will post pictures soon of our new girly rooms. Scott is definitely out-numbered...but loves it more than anything!
Saturday morning snuggles and playtime....
We had Community Group on Sunday night so Mum and Papa took Ava out on a very special date to the park, McDonalds, etc...

Thanks, Mum and Papa, for a fun and productive weekend! We Love You!!