i know i'm a day late but i just wanted to quickly let these boys know how much i love them!

trae is such an amazing dad. probably the best. he loves his little avery so much. i just love watching those two together. she lights up whenever she sees him. so cute. i probably don't tell him this enough..but thanks for all you do for our family. i sure love you!!


and then there's this guy. i've been so blessed with the greatest dad. i don't even know what to say or where to begin. he is amazing. hands down one of the greatest, most spiritual, funny, supportive, loving, determined, patient (etc. etc.) people i know. thanks for all you do dad. i wouldn't be where i am and who i am now if it wasn't for you. i love you!



i couln't find a picture of my father-in-law but i hope he knows how much i love him. he is such a good dad and grandpa. i love seeing how much his kids love him and look up to him. i really am blessed to have such amazing men in my life.

stay tuned for a post and our wasatch back experience. so fun!

silly girl

i usually get one of two things when i'm trying to take a picture of avery.

1. her chewing on her bottom lip....

OR...

2. her hands in her mouth.

she cracks me up all day long. seriously.

she's 5 months old now. my goodness. 5 whole months. happy to say that she is still filling out. i love this chubby little girl. here's a few things she's been up to.

- still sleeping through the night. YEAH!
-sitting up.. well, at least trying. (see picture below)
- not loving solids. she gets a few bites down, but thats about all. we've only tried rice cereal and oatmeal so maybe we'll try fruits or veggies soon.
- still wont even think about sucking on a binky or taking a bottle. (stubborn girl)
-smiling and giggling all the time
- fake crying. if we dont pay attention to her she starts the hilarious fake cry.
-screaming and squealing all day. not the i'm ticked off scream, the 'hey, i'm funny and i like hearing myself all the time' kind of a scream/squeal.
-loves, loves being outside.
- she could listen and watch her dad play guitar all day long. so cute.
-goes down for naps and bed all by herself and is usaully asleep within 5-10 minutes.
-rolling over from belly to back. she doesn't roll too often and hasn't really even attempted the back to belly yet. i guess she's just a content baby.
-growing up way too fast.

love, love, love her!!

we're 23

well duh, i just got done reading meags blog and i dont think there is any way i'm topping that post so i'm totally not even gonna try... (but read it,my feelings are mutual)

what i can say is that hands down i have the most amazing, talented, outgoing, healthy, in shape, gorgeous (etc, etc..) twin sister ever.

i freaking love her.
where in the world does the time go though..honestly.
seems like just yesterday we gangly, awkward jr. highers. (those were good days)
meag is quite the gal..i'll tell you what.
so amazing i named my first daughter after her.
23 years ago i met my very, very, best friend. seriously. cant imagine life with out her.
she cries, i cry. she laughs, i laugh.
i'm so blessed to have had an automatic best friend my whole life. i guess i didn't really have a choice but if i did, i would have chose this gal.. i just love her.
honestly, i could probably type and type all day and still not many people could understand the kind of relationship we have. but let me tell you..it rocks!
we've been through a lot together, she and i...
boyfriends, girlfriends, sports, school, moving, college, a divorce (our own), marriages, a kid.
23 years worth of stuff (thats a pretty long time).
and i'm so happy i got to do it all with you.
meag, i love you.
thanks for 23 amazing years.
lets make this one a good one.
okay.
starting tomorrow.
happy birthday sister!

(i'm totally stealing a few pictures off her blog cause i don't have any on this computer)

rolling and running

(no pictures tonight, cant find my camera at the moment..i think i left it at my parents house, at least i hope thats where its at.)

just a quick post to let you know that avery rolled over today. i layed her on her belly to go to sleep last night and this morning when i went in to get her she was on her back, just laying there giggling and talking to herself (she thinks shes pretty funny). she did it again when i layed her down for a nap. i have yet to see her do it in person but i'm pretty happy to know that she can. it is however posing to be a bit of a problem since i lay her down for naps in her bed when she's awake and now she thinks she pretty tricky and resists falling asleep because of her new found talent and she doesn't quite know how to put herself to sleep while on her back.

on another note, if any of you read my sister meagans last post you know that we're running a crazy race called the wasatch back next month. i dont know what i'm thinking. i just got back from a little 4-miler and i need to know when or if it ever gets any easier. its like pulling teeth to get me out the door, and then while i'm out running, even though i really enjoy it, it kicks my butt. so for any of you avid runners out there, please fill me in on any running advice or let me know how long it takes for an average person to really get in shape.

thats all.
hope you have a great night.

my little girl...

is four months old! she weighs 14 lbs 6 oz. (72%) and is 25.5 inches long (83%). She keeps getting more fun everyday. the doc says that she is looking great and we can start her on solids whenever we want. I think that i'm going to wait a few more weeks. we are really in no hurry since she already sleeps so good and is plenty big. i love, love, love this little girl.

My first mothers day was wonderful. I cant believe how much of a blessing being a mom is and how happy it makes me everyday. Motherhood has been the greatest blessing in my life. Now that she is here i can not imagine our lives with out her. On the rare days when being a mom is frustrating and challenging i just have to look back and recognize how lucky i am to have a child and understand how divine my role as a mom is. I am so lucky to have such an amazing mom and mother-in-law that have been such great examples to me.

When we were at church Ashley and and i were in the mothers room feeding our girls, who are like three weeks apart. We decided to snap a few pictures to capture their size difference. Ellie is just the cutest little petite thing. Her and Ave are complete opposites in size...i told ash that Ellie could borrow a little fat roll anytime she wanted..we have plenty to go around in that department.

uplifted

just got back from our saturday session of stake conference. it was nice. elder dallin h. oaks was here. i love listening to apostles when they speak to smaller congregations. it always seems so personal. i had the husband take some notes while i was out with the babe... she was a jabber mouth tonight.

here's a few little things i learned.

- do your best and it will all work out... whether your in school, just graduated or a new mom, etc.. it all works out.
-his hardest financial times came the first two years after he graduated from law school (well thats just great). But he said the happiest times of our lives come when we have little. during those times we grow closer to the gospel and to our spouses and families.
-dont expect life to be fair or easy, expect it to be possible with the help of the Lord.
-hang on to the gospel!! no matter what circumstances you face, you will need the gospel.

yep. i was uplifted. and theres more to come tomorrow.

as for a little avery update.... shes getting bigger believe it or not. i've got myself a healthy little baby. she has her four month (can you believe its been four months) check up on monday. i'm interested to see how big she really is. i think its about time this little girl starts eating solids. i'm always curious whether she will like solids or not so i let her get a little taste of real food every once and a while and she loves it. today she almost took my pumpkin chocolate chip cookie right out of my hand.. maybe i should have let her, i didn't really need another one today anyways. most exciting news is that shes giggling for real now. its my favorite thing. it doesnt happen a ton yet but when it does she sure cracks up.

this is what i got when i walked in to her room today to get her from her morning nap. i love happy babies, especially this one. she was just laying there chillin and talking to herself till i realized she was up. i'm a lucky mom to get to snuggle up to this lovely lady all day long.


thats all for today.
goodnight.

easter weekend!!

we just got back from a spending the weekend with our families. i love easter weekend, love easter parties and i especially love easter candy... depsite the fact that my body is begging me not to eat anymore. Trae and i even got to go out on our first date with out the little lady.. (thanks grandma and grandpa jones and morg and mal for watching ave)...

on saturday morning my cousin alli put on a 3 mile or 5 mile run/walk for her senior project to raise money for cancer research. I got brave and did the 5 mile run... it was a work out but felt so good. everyone in my family except for my brother and his cute wife brandi made it and everyone in traes family were there.


My dad pushed ave in our stroller while i ran (thank goodness)..have you ever tried to run and push a stroller at the same time...not fun at all. After the run my dad wanted me to jump some hurdles for old times sake.. after i did he thought he would show me how its really done. Check out that rock star of a dad of mine... great form.



heres our little easter bunny. she is so so smiley and on the verge of giggling. i still havent gotten tired of kissing those chubby little cheeks. We forgot to get a picture of her in her cute easter dress so i'll make sure i get one this next sunday...she was pretty darn cute!! the easter bunny brought ave these cute sunglasses/baby goggles. they are pretty funny on her.


every time we go to trae's parents house trae thinks its hilarious to put these tiny grandma glasses on her. she doesn't think its near as funny however.


the rest are just for pure enjoyment. Cant get enough of her.