Pictures galore.. WHAT A WEEKEND!!!!

Saturday was Chad's big 1/2 marathon & was also the day Avery turned 4 months old! It ended up being 13.4 miles of nothing but windy road & hills! We drove the course a few weeks prior to the event and we new it was going to be tough. Chad had a goal to finish in 1 hour & 59 minutes but ended up finishing in 2 hours and 8 minutes. BUT, it was supposed to be 13.1 miles to technically he finished it in an even shorter time.

Chad's whole family, my family, and our close friends Melissa & Chad came with us. Melissa's husband Chad is also a runner but hurt himself before the race while in training. He was my Chad's trainer and moral support for the entire race! I bundlend up Avery & the whole family watched him take off at 8am. A bunch of us ended up getting in the car and driving the route and found him and his friend Alex at about the 4 mile mark & cheered them on and screamed! We even had to tell Chad to speed it up if he wanted to make his goal time; which I am sure he didn't care at the time when he was at 6 miles. Man, what troopers! My sister in law Missy and I were crying when he finished.. WOW.. what an accomplishment. My husband is my role model. In everything that he does, he says he will "FINISH IT"... and always does. Chad never leaves things 1/2 done. He always sets goals and completes them. I am so proud of him and I am honored to have him as a father to my daughter, and to teach Avery those great goals as well.

Afterwards we all celerbrated at Cracker Barrel. Although Chad wasn't all that hungry, we enjoyed visiting with our family and friends and laughing/smiling as always! We took TONS of pictures,(of course because we are a picture family)! I believe in catching EVERY moment of life... every single one! It was so great to be with our family on Avery's 4 month! That's right, she officially turned 4 months old yesterday!


































Chad and I then decided to make our way to War Eagle Mill that is about 25 miles out from our house. We took a nice drive with Avery and took pictures and enjoyed family time together. I love nature and love seeing all the beauty God created! I especially love drives with my hubbs and baby girl!







Saturday night we went over to our good friends Rachel & Shane's to watch the HOG game. It was so much fun! Rachel knows how to throw a party in style and loves to decorate in themes.. totally up my alley and my kind of p-a-r-t-y! She had several of our friends over to enjoy barbaque and some sweet treats! Us girls all sat around and laughed and talked about everything under the moon while the boys watched and SCREAMED at the TV. It was such a good game, the hogs even won- YIPPEE!

Birthday night out with the gals

Last night was girls night out celebrating out friend Kim's Birthday! We enjoyed a nice dinner at Bonefish. We had a delicious cake from Rick's Bakery and celebrated with some wine and laughs. It was really fun to get together with the girls & share stories and talk. I seriously laughed until my tummy hurt! I love getting together and laughing with my gals!

We are swamped this weekend! Tonight we have dinner with our good friends Chad & Melissa & then their race is tomorrow! We have to be there EARLY so I need get in the sack early tonight. Chad is running 13.1 miles tomorrow and the whole family is going. We have matching outfits for Avery and her cousin Stella and they are darling. My sister in law and I made them! They are adorable! Afterwards the whole family is going out to lunch together! Saturday night we are going to a Razorback party at Rachel & Shane's house to celebrate the HOGS since we can't make it to Dallas with Avery. I have the cutest outfit for her. Her and Bree are going to be supporting those HOGS in style!

Have a great weekend!

Show us your life- BABY GEAR

Okay, so I am pulling a 2 day post! I wanted to go ahead and do this because since I am a new mom to a 4 month old, I feel it's very important to share this information!!! Kelly hit most of the big points, but here are a few of my "MUSTS":

WHAT WORKS (WORKED) FOR AVERY:

Bassinet, (first month, or 2)- Wow, this was a life saver. We were able to have it beside us in bed and I could also push into the living room so I could nap during the day. It's small enough for the baby and easily rockable. VERY HANDY.

Wedge- This hold the baby in place. Although they can't roll their first few months, it is so nice to be able to have so you can lay them on their side and in different positions. I liked the comfort of knowing this was there!

SWING- We love our swing. It's a Fisher Price Swing from Target & is our life saver. It is wonderful.. has a mobile and wonderful music that she loves to listen too!

Bouncy Seat- LIFE SAVER! It vibrates, but it's nice to place her in this while I am getting ready in the mornings. I just put her on my bed with some cartoons and she is golden!

Bumbo- Avery is now 4 months and we ADORE this. It's great to have around when I am cooking so she isn't lying down, she is able to sit up like a big girl on the floor in her seat and watch mommy (of course away from the cooking so I don't drop things on her)... but in my sight!

Carseat/Stroller Set- We have one that is CHICO and love it! I have had several people ask me where I purchased it. We got it at Baby's R US & it's been perfect so far. I have loved it because she fits so comfortably in it & it's VERY easy to place into the stroller. It has a lot of support for her head and was perfect for when she was a newborn.

Bathtub- we got one with a little sling in it so it fit her body perfectly! It has been so nice to this day and she loves bath time!

Monitors- I just have the Fisher Price one's that vibrate too when she makes noise, but I love them! I have them everywhere and they work such a great distance!

Swaddle- we used this for the first month only! You want the kind that Velcro's so you can swaddle them and hold them in place. It was a life saver our first few months!!!

Pack N Play- we use it every night so far. Was wonderful when we went on trips!!!

Stations- this was for the newborn stage. I created stations. Wherever I was, there were stations with everything I could possible need for her. So if I was in the living room, I would have a basket with anything and everything I would need by the recliner so I didn't have to get up. Being a new mom is confusing so having all the little things I could need in a basket helped (thanks momma)!!!!

THINGS THAT DIDN'T WORK FOR AVERY:

*Kelly pretty much summed this one up, but here are a few that didn't work for us*

Diaper Genie- waste of money in my opinion! Good ole' WMT bag works wonders.. but I know this may have worked for others, but this has just been what worked for us!

Bottle Warmers- Just heated HOT water in a cup and went from there. If you breastfeed you won't have to worry about this... but I do a little of both!

Pretty much this sums everything up! Most everything is basic, but all those extras that you worry about as a first time mommy become quite UN-important to the main basics! I sure hope this helps!!!!! Oh, and if any about to be mommies need a hospital list of what to take to the hospital... e-mail me and I will send you a fantastic list!!!!! You will never believe all the things you thought you wouldn't need (nipple shield) that you wake up in the night screaming for!!!!

October 1st.... SEASONS

Well blogger friends, it's October 1st. Hard to believe that it's already time for fall. Before you know it, Christmas will be around the corner. I am for sure having Christmas fever because everytime, (which seems like everyday), I walk into good ole' Hobby Lobby, I see Christmas decor and have to pop down the aisle to take a look. I already have Avery's tree picked out for her room! It's going to be bright and colorful!

Today feels like a fall day. It's windy, getting cooler, and kind of overcast. These days are so great! I light candles, stay inside, clean, and play with my little girl! Which reminds me.... she is officially 4 months old on Saturday! She has grown up before my eyes. She smiles all the time and is just a joy to be around. She has become my best friend. October remindes me of the month my first baby was to be born. Im sure most of my readers new this but I miscarried in 2008 & the baby was to be born in October. I rejoice because I know that he/she is in heaven and one day I will see it's sweet face. But, God is so good and blessed me with Avery and on this October day I am reminded of my princess who is a God send. Im also reminded as the seasons are changing, so do our lives. God plants seasons in our lives for a reason so that we can change, and grow in our walk with Him. I am not a perfect woman by ANY MEANS... I make tons of mistakes and I totally sin... But, I ask for forgiveness and do my best to walk with Him daily. I have found in doing this, he has blessed me in my life tremendously. When I left my Woman's Bible Study Tuesday a girl that sits at my table asked me how I am so happy always, and that early.. because I love life, & love what God has blessed me with! I hope someday when I am gone I will be remembered by my joy of life!

Hope you will think about the "seasons" today as we enter October, and think to yourself what you want God to do in this season of your life.