Time FLIES!

I can't believe Avery is already 3 months old and I haven't posted ANYTHING since her 2 month post! Guess that's what the Holidays will do to you!! (And by "Holidays" I mean Thanksgiving/Christmas/New Years...)

We've been keeping busy this past month, that's for sure! Avery is growing and developing at warp-speed, it seems! Everyday she seems older and wiser and there's always something new to discover. Recently she's been drooling more and chewing on her fists so much that she has her "Gram" wondering if she might be getting ready to cut a tooth! (That should make feeding her REAL fun!) She is SO much fun to listen to these days too as she is truly in the "babble" phase! She makes the cutest sounds... and she seems to know EXACTLY what she's saying even though it doesn't make sense to us just yet.

I've been busy too as I started an at-home business of specialty papers/custom designs for invitations and announcements. To kick off the business, I did Christmas card designs for a few families and had SO much fun! I can't wait to see where God leads me in this work. It's an exciting time! You can find more information on the business at poageproductions.blogspot.com

And Collin is always busy, but he's been extra-on-the-go this month with another job opportunity presenting itself. After all was said and done, he's decided to stay put at KPMG, but he'll tell you that he's learned a lot about what he wants to do through this process. As always, I am SO proud of him and all he does to support and provide for me and Avery. He is amazing.

I hope everyone had as much of a Merry Christmas as we did! We can't wait to hear all about it from each of you... For now, hopefully pictures will say the thousands of words that my fingers would love to type if I could just keep my eyes open long enough to do it. :)

Hugs!!...

Look what Santa brought!!...


Avery at Daddy's company Christmas Party


At the party with Mom


Sweet smiles...


Avery with Nana celebrating her Birthday!


Here with Nana, Aunt Kendra, and even Uncle Jordan came to the Birthday celebration!


And Uncle Josh too!


Avery "talking" to Uncle Jordan


Jordan had the magic touch and put Avery to sleep a few different times


Making Christmas ornaments for family...


Paint was EVERYWHERE!... Why were we doing this "craft project" with an infant?... with paint?... in our leather chairs?!... Rookie parents.


At least she was sleepy... that made it a little easier to get a hand print without smearing.


SNOW DAY!!!!


Family Picture!


All bundled up! :)




Oh Christmas tree, Oh Christmas tree...



Howie in his Christmas bandana given to him by Gram


Too much Christmas fun made Howie sleepy


Avery reading with Gram and Grandpoppy




Avery with Uncle Andrew and Aunt Jen in the shirt that Kobe gave her (Look closely at the shirt to see why it was a gift from Kobe.)




Shopping at World Market




Aunt Kara is snuggly...




Avery with Lindsay at Johnny Carino's




With Kristin at Carino's


The whole crew, minus a few spouses and the Arnolds (who have a good excuse!... Welcome to the world, Tate Elizabeth Arnold!!)


Avery with Uncle Jonathan


Reading with Uncle Jonanthan & Aunt Kara




Just about to fall asleep...


I'm THREE MONTHS OLD today!!


Here's my 3 month old smile...


Cold nose!!... Burrrrrr!....


I love my doggie, Howie!


And MORE Christmas pictures to come............... Most of the good ones are on my Mom's & Sister's cameras! Hopefully I'll get copies of those soon so that I can post pics from Christmas morning, etc.

Two Months Old!!

Avery turned TWO months old today!


We had a fun day! We went Christmas Tree shopping, had friends over for dinner, and took the monthly "blanket picture" before going to bed. Avery was too cute and I had to snap some pictures to document the day. You KNOW I can't resist posting the pictures on the blog. :)

Happy 2-Month Birthday, Avery!!


Bouncy seat time!


Poages out tree shopping


Got one!! ...Avery was REAL excited as you can see...


Play time just before bed!

Over the river and through the woods... :)

Well, we made our first road trip with Avery and "to Grandmother's house" we went! :) Avery had a blast with her first visit to Gram & Grandpoppy's house, but it was a whole new experience for me and Collin trying to pack up the Jeep with our luggage for a 4 day trip, all of Howie's things (crate, bed, food & dog dishes, toys, leashes, etc.) AND packing up everything needed for Avery (clothes, diapers, wipes, blankets, burp cloths, travel swing, activity gym, blah, blah, blah....) From the looks of the Jeep, you would have thought we were leaving the country never to return.

Even funnier-- I sat in the back seat with Avery for the trip while Howie road "shotgun" with Collin! :) He felt like top-dog for sure. :)

The only "downer" of the trip was that even though it was our year to spend Thanksgiving with the Poage side, hosted by Collin's older brother and sister-in-law who live in Pflugerville (just north of Austin) we weren't able to hang out with Collin's family because our nephew, Ian, was running a fever. Poor Ian. Avery would have LOVED to play with him if there hadn't been a risk of illness. We missed being with the Poages for actual turkey-day, but we caught up with most of the group back in Dallas for a yummy brunch on Sunday morning.

But we have a lot to be thankful for this year, and it's always wonderful to be able to gather with family and friends to acknowledge every blessing the Lord has poured out over us since the last Thanksgiving. This year we are most thankful for Avery and for the joy that she has brought to our lives, the laughter she brings to our home, the refreshing way we get to see the world all over again through the eyes of a child, and the countless ways she has already pointed us towards the Lord and His Majesty. We are also-- as always-- truly thankful for YOU, our family and friends, and for the treasures you each are to us.

Love and Hugs-
Steph


Some pictures from our trip!...

Shopping with Gram the day before Thanksgiving


Us at Breed & Co. (A specialty gift and hardware store in Austin.)


Avery meets Santa! She's on the "nice" list this year for SURE! :)


Grandpoppy and Avery hanging out


Visiting with our friends, Thomas Kowalski & Heather Bossen on Thanksgiving




Howie cheers the Aggies on to a BIG WIN in Austin!


Avery's first Freebirds experience! Burritos as big as SHE is! :)


With Aunt Jen


Hanging out with the Poage side back in Big D... Free from fever germs but so sad that we missed out on Thanksgiving with this crew. Above: Avery with Aunt Kendra and Uncle Erroll


Avery chillin' with Uncle Jonathan


With Nana


With Aunt Kara


Avery and Aunt Kendra smile for the camera. (Gorgeous eyes obviously run in the genes on that side of the family.)


"Yawn" :)