6 months today

Hard to believe but Avery is already 6 months old.  Time goes so fast.  She is still toothless but teething like crazy.  She is also up on hands and knees.  Rocking like crazy and pretty good at going backwards.  She has found herself stuck under the couch several times already.  Not too good at going forward yet although sometimes she kind of just jousts herself forward.  She is turning and rolling everywhere.  She also loves her jumper.  She hasn't been sleeping the best since our trip home but I am hopeful it will improve.  She is also not a huge fan of baby food, especially the fruits.  I think they are too tart for her.  She is also pretty good at sitting up.  Almost well enough for her 6 month pictures.  She absolutely knows her name and loves to hear it.  She adores her sisters.  Daddy too!  She is still somewhat perplexed by her reflection but likes to look at it.  She loves her thumb!!   Today Jerry took her for her well visit.  The nurses were so impressed that he was there with her by himself.  He is such a great dad.  I told him if this job in Birmingham doesn't work out he has become one heck of a good house wife.  She weighed in at 17 lbs 11 ounces (80% percentile) and was 25.5 inches long (50%)  She has the shortest chubbiest hands and fingers.  It's so cute.  She took her shots like a champ.  As soon as she saw Jerry he said she just laughed.  She gets so excited she just gets both her arms and legs going at the same time.  Her laugh, like Ansley's, is totally contagious.  She is a happy happy kid!

New Year brings New Blessings

So I had the pleasure of working New Years weekend again.  Jerry is such a trooper and had the kiddos for 3 straight days and nights.  During that time I was able to reflect on what was probably one of the hardest but most blessed years for us as a family.  Financially it was a tight one.  In all of our married years we have never made so little, yet somehow neither of us could think of one thing we felt like we did without.  Ally has had the most difficult start of the school year thus far but we are finally making progress in the fact that she is being tested and we should have some answers soon.  My third pregnancy was definitely a hard one physically but I was blessed with the birth I have always wanted, natural and quick.  The best part, a beautiful baby girl who we couldn't imagine living without.  A lot of fighting between the girls lately but also some of those sweet tender moments that make it all worth it.  The blessing of a husband worthy to baptize a child of God, and a daughter faithful enough to desire it.  A husband who after much struggle and defeat finally passed his comps.  An adjunct position at the University of Hartford to help pay for some extra expenses.  A crazy year of weather, 70 plus inches of snow over the winter, an earthquake, a tornado, a hurricane and then a freak winter storm in October.  A total of 12 days without power but a stronger testimony of the blessings of preparedness and heeding the words of the prophet.  It has truly been an amazing year.  And if all of that wasn't enough in what was almost the final hour of the year we received one of the biggest blessing we have EVER received.  A job offer better than any we could ever imagine.  So with that we look forward to our next big adventure in Birmingham Alabama!  We are sad to see this chapter of our lives coming to an end.  We will miss so much about Ct but we are thrilled to see what the future hold for us.  I truly believe that the Lord works in ways we will never fully comprehend.  He loves us and wants to bless us.  I am grateful and humbled by the trials and blessings of this past year and look forward to 2012.  Happy New Year!!!!

Avery Lorette Rice

Today we welcomed Avery Lorette Rice to our family.  She was born at 1:01 pm and weighed in at 8 lbs, 4 oz.  Her length was 19 3/4 inches long.  She has the cutest chubby cheeks we've ever seen on a baby and she loves her thumb!  The girls are ecstatic! 

Crazy New England Weather

So from 2 weeks of straight rain, to a week of high humidity and almost 90 degrees, to deadly tornado's just a short distance away and now back into the 60's my body is completely confused.  Jerry has even said he is cold.  Really 69 degrees, it's not cold.  I have loved the retreat of temps back into the 60's because it has lead to a return of what I once knew as my ANKLES!  For the last 3 weeks they have been swollen beyond recognition.  It's been so bad that it hurts to walk on them.  Sunday was so bad that I couldn't get my feet into anything but a pair of 2 dollar Old Navy flip flops.  I thought it was something I was just going to have to endure but it seems like it is related to the heat.  Because as of right now (almost 10 pm) I could still pick them out as my own in a lineup.  Something I usually cannot do by 10 am!!  So as far as I'm concerned, it can stay sunny and 60 FOREVER!  Or at least for the remainder of this pregnancy.

Ansley

So today while I was at work Jerry calls me to tell me that Mrs. Oliphant, Ansley's pre-school teacher, made him blush today.  Ansley has a little friend at school who is smitten with her and follows her around.  She is not phased by his undivided attention one bit.  Jerry had no knowledge of this until today.  Apparently it has gotten so bad that his mother told Jerry he only wants to wear one shirt to school everyday because it is Ansley's favorite.  Well today, while out on the playground, he put a flower behind her ear and told her she was as beautiful as an angel.  When the teacher told Jerry this he apparently turned multiple shades of red.  I fear he may be in for some trouble as these girls get older.  They have both had admirers as early as preschool.  Thankfully for now Ansley is still set on marrying her daddy!

Great Day!

Today was storybook character day at school.  Ally went to school dressed as the witch from Snow White.  Ugly nose wart and all.  After school we had Allyson's second parent/teacher conference.  She is improving in almost every area of school, especially reading.  She is now reading at a k level, which at the beginning of the year, looked like it would never happen.  On another fun note, I was able to score 4 packages of diapers, 2 boxes of envelopes, 4 candy bars, and a package of feminine hygiene products for under 10 bucks at Walgreens today!!  I think I have enough diapers to last until the 6 month mark!!

Ansley, oh Ansley

Ansley is obsessed with playing with Jerry's karate sword, (it's a wood practice sword for anyone wondering what the heck is going on at the Rice's).  She is almost as obsessed as he is.  Today she was holding it and says, "Daddy I want to see you fight with your sword for real."
Me, "Ansley, someone could get hurt."
Ansley, "I know, he needs to fight a bad guy."
Me, "But Ansley, daddy could get hurt."
Ansley, "Mommy, Daddy has a sword, a knife and a gun.  He's like a special agent or something.  He could do it."
Jerry, "Well that is true."
Way to encourage her daddy!