Smith Family Happenings

We had a lovely spring break last week! It wasn't very springy and Jeff might question the break aspect... but it was fun to all be together! Here's a shot of the "spring" on our back deck!We got about 10 inches one day and after it had mostly melted away, got another 3 inches. We're supposed to get about 2 more over the next couple of days. The fast that it melts so fast is still great... but I'm about over the snow!!! Avery however, could handle a few more days of sledding! She and Jeff used her Christmas sled for the first time! She loved it! Avery in her new, hand-me-down snowsuit and enjoying some time on her sled. Once we were forced indoors, the home-improvement projects began! We've had this extremely odd space next to our fireplace that is intended for stereo components. Except, there are no shelves and for some reason, no flooring either! Here's the before picture...And then we put Avery to work!!! We couldn't really stop her!And this is what the end result was!! Toy organization central!! We love all of the space to store everything!!! I took a nice close-up shot of the expert tiling that Jeff did. This is his first attempt at tiling- what a pro! He's ready to take on the bathrooms!!And then I got a bee in my bonnet about the main floor bathroom! It's always grossed me out! It couldn't really get clean. There were broken blinds, a weird towel bar, and a cheap-o fixture. I didn't take any before pictures but here's what it looks like now. We love the color and the clean, crisp, white accents!!!Oliver was around too! He's finally LOVING his excer-saucer! Previously, he'd stay in there about 3 minutes and then start crying because he'd just get mad at the toys. He couldn't figure out how to get them in his mouth and couldn't figure out how to move. What a difference a few weeks makes! He'll spend an hour in there now! This is a little video of Avery entertaining Oliver. She's so good at it! Today, Oliver started fussing about something right after she got home from school. She walked over and took charge saying, "hey buddy, it's ok... big sister's here now!" Then she started singing "Mary Had A Little Lamb" since that will make him stop crying in an instant. So cute! Anyway, here she was shaking her head back and forth and they were cracking each other up! I love how Oliver's head is moving back and forth too- trying to keep up!!

A couple of quick little things for ya tonight. First is Oliver demonstrating the proper technique for executing the perfect push-up. He's quite a pro. Watch and learn.

He's recently taken to rolling around on the floor, scooting, and twisting to get to his package of wipes. He loves the wipes. They're crinkly, they scoot around easily (hence creating a fun game) and they're kind of shiny... who wouldn't want to spend 2 hours chasing wipes around the living room??

Next is another little family comparison photo...notice any similarities?

Ah the beloved blankies... Avery is finally down to having a blankie only in her bed- so at night and sometimes when she wants to go upstairs and have some "blankie time". Then along rolls Oliver and he's already a blankie chewer!! I promise that we don't encourage this! Well now we sort of do because he really likes it!

Part of the lack of posting there a while back was that we just didn't have any pictures to post. So, I'm trying to do a better job taking pictures throughout our days. There's lots of cute stuff that happens here every day, I'm just trying to be more intentional about capturing it!

On that note, we celebrated the first day of spring today by going to the park! Oliver got to go on the slide for the first time! Here are the munchkins getting ready to go. Avery is the best. Seriously. She loves her little brother sooo much!
Oliver's first slide. So exciting!Avery being tricky.Concentration...This picture is just downright scary of me. Close-ups without some superior editing software just shouldn't be allowed. But, it was a self-portrait and Oliver's just cute. He's been chewing on his lips and sticking out his tongue all of the time! Maybe some teeth are coming!This little face just kills me!

Well, here is the update on Avery! Most of you know her and so this statement won't shock you at all. Avery is a girl who likes to be around people. All of the time. If at all possible, those people would be mom and dad engaged in playing with her. Unless the Backyardigans is on. I suppose we should take that as a compliment- that the only thing that can trump time with mom and dad is an unidentifiable creature named Uniqua. But ya know, it doesn't feel like a compliment. It has been wearing on us lately. I mean geesh... we really, really, really love her and think she's got an awesome personality... but man, she asks "will you play with me" about 600 times per day. The last few weeks have been tough. "High need" would be an understatement.

So, here are some examples of her actually playing independently over the last several weeks. We've had to work hard to make these times happen, so maybe I'd like to blog about them just to prove that they've happened!

Still waaay into coloring! Note that she's coloring horses. There is going to be an intense theme with her playing in the next several pictures.Making a parade on the deck with her horses...She recently re-discovered her blocks. It started with building castles. I believe she's currently standing in the garden. Of the castle. Can't you tell??Then, thanks to daddy, it morphed. Now, it's all about building a stage. For the horses. Note the audience in the background. She really is the best big sister ever! You can tell by how Oliver looks at her that she is his FAVORITE person ever! She can make him smile and laugh better than anyone! She's really helpful with getting him toys and trying to calm him down when he's fussy. It's awesome!

She's really into learning her letters and letter sounds right now. She loves trying to sound things out. I think she'll be reading in no time! She hasn't quite figured out rhyming... yesterday she was happily munching her chicken nuggets and said, "did you know that chicken comes from chicken?? (then she gasps) Hey!!! chicken, chicken... that rhymes!!!" Then we tried to have a lesson about how the same word doesn't rhyme, it's just the same word. "No, one word is a food and the other word is an animal." Can't argue with that logic!

Jeff's spring break is next week. Our only plans are to hang around and not do much of anything! Jeff's got some house projects planned (I think) and it will just be a week filled with family time! Oh boy!! I wonder how many games of hide-n-seek we'll play??

I know it's ridiculous to post about clothing... but there's a reason I work at a children's clothing store. I have a bit of a sickness! I pulled these shorts out of the closet this morning and I just couldn't help taking some more pictures. Plaid cargo shorts for a tiny baby??? heart melting.

Regardless, they're both so stinkin' cute I can hardly stand it! I'm the mom, I'm allowed to say that.

Here's a little picture montage of why it seems that Oliver will never sit-up (even though of course, I know that's not true... he's just so funny about this). The kid has no interest in sitting up and experiencing the world in a new way. The only thing he can focus on is whatever is directly in front of him- usually his feet. He's also really into textures of materials- he loves to scratch the couch, fireplace, our clothes. I mean really. You lay the kid on the couch and he gets really excited to roll over and start scratching! He's a little odd that way! In fact, right now, he's rolled across the room, is sort of wedged by the couch, scratching away. Anyway, here's a pictoral representation of what happens every time you sit him up...

Mmmmm, pant legs to eat...

Oh noooo... folding myself completely in half makes me lose my balance....

Are you planning to do something about this??

Nevermind... its kinda fun!

Here's a little video of how Oliver's been expressing his excitement lately! I call him the inchworm. He's like this pretty much every time he wakes up. Pretty awesome!

...we will blog again. I promise.