No pics today...new computer

It may be a while until I get some pictures posted.  My trusty (or as luck would have it, not so trusty) computer  (PC) is on it's last limb.  I took the plunge and got a new MacBook - which Im learning.  But I also decided to update all of my photography editing software - so that's going to take a while.  I am giving one of the parent presentations at this years Pediatric memorial service at Unib of Md - so I have been busy preparing that and nearly having a nervous breakdown over the computer situation.  First... Vista wigs out - wont let me copy and paste - super frustrating since I have written so much before - I WILL NOT retype it all - argh!  Then I get that part working and the power cord (which has been frayed for months and reinforced with tape  - how safe is that?) begins sparking - so now my program is marginally working - but the computer has no battery - and no powercord either.  My MacBook is pretty cool - but Im clueless about working it...  learning curve :)   Brenden did have his game last night - played first base, ss and center field - he had three AWSOME hits and did not whine which is a mega bonus!!  Avery is getting closer and closer every day to crawling - but for now she just does "the worm" - ha ha 

A HOT weekend!

A few snapshots from this weekend - what a whirlwind! Friday night started off with some adult beverages amongst the neighbors and smores made with leftover Easter candy. Let me just tell you how yummy smores are when their made with peeps and milkyways - YUMMY! The kids had a blast - with the exception of Avery who went to bed at 8pm and missed the whole thing. Still cant believe she went to bed that early and slept a full 12 hours staright!! Saturday we had Brenden's 2nd baseball game - where it was mega HOT - but much better that the first game. Brenden got two really awsome hits (coach pitch - yeah Bren!) Oh.... and he played short-stop!. We headed to the draft party at M&T after baseball - and it was like 1000 degrees - HOT! We lasted about 2 hours before packing it in and coming home. It was so hot - it wasnt really even fun. Sunday we went to Camden yards for the kids little league parade. Brenden got to go on the field (ok... just the warming track - but still cool) Then we watched the O's beat the Texans. Brenden went up to the dugout and aked a player for a baseball - and they game him one which was definatly the hightlight of his day. Now it's the start of a totally crazy week....... and Im blogging - I need to make better use of my time. I am speaking at the Univerity of Maryland pediatric memorial service on Saturday - and I need to get my thought together and get something prepared. I know it will go well - I seem to do pretty well public speaking. I just hope I can somehow help newly bereved families to see that there is life after the utter devestation of losing a child.

Avery picture post

8 months today!!!!! Adjusted 6 1/2 mos

So... today Avery is 8 mos old - I just cant believe it - she has changed SO much over the past 2 months - it's really amazing to watch her. As you can see by the pictures - she is wearing baby food - cause that's about all she does with it these days. I remember Brenden being difficult to feed - but Avery takes it to a whole new level! She turns her head so quick and locks those lips - no way food is getting past her. I have stopped fighting with her and the other day I let her do it herself...... *BAM* sweet potato explosion! She had fun from start to finish - even the bath it took her to get clean afterwards - the only part she protested was getting her earrings cleaned from the 6 layers of dried up sweet potato behind them - YUK! she is now enjoying puffs and cheerios and loves biter bisects! She has not developed the finger (pincher) grasp yet- so she has some trouble getting them into her mouth - they mostly get stuck in her drool covered hands, but she does eagerly open her mouth for you to feed her. She is getting so close to crawling - she gets her whole belly off the floor and rocks forward - kinda looks like the "worm dance" (lol - as I'm picturing it in my head) She no longer wants to stay still anywhere - even in your arms. She is getting to be a wild little monkey - as I affectionately call her! It is SO much fun to see her doing all these new things and starting to get into trouble - simply AMAZING! I have some really incredible pictures to share soon!

Almost 8 mos - ......What?

16 pounds 9 ounces

Holy cow... Avery will be 8 mos in only 4 short days? Where did the time go - the sleepless night, the teeny weeny baby - gone. Im glad about the sleepless nights - this kiddo is a rockstar sleeper :), but I do love little itty bitty babies. She is sleeping about 12 hours straight at night - yeah baby! She had her infant and toddler appt yesterday - and still...all good news. She is placing right on the developmental charts for her chronological age - which again is super exciting - since really she's just 6 1/2 mos adjusted age. She is sitting up like a pro, she cant get to a sitting position by herself yet, but when I put her down sitting - she stays for a really really long time. She is also reaching up for us when she wants to be picked up - it is seriously the best feeling in the world - go Avery! She is not crawling yet - but she is heading in the right direction. She is getting on her hands and knees and also pivoting in a circle on her belly - so the nurse says - she's getting there!. I want to get her outside for some pictures - but we just cant seem to kick this cold weather - or this dang rain. The grass is turning neon green - it's rained so much :)

Some pettiskirt pictures

Some cool beach pictures

Avery 7 mos 2 1/2 weeks

Soooo..how many pictures can one person take with a camera that has a dead battery? Apparently quite a few , albeit I had to manully focus the entire time to spare the little battery that was left - what a pain! - lol. Brenden talked me into going to the beach for a couple days...well actually he harassed me until I gave in. I tried to explain to him that it was going to be freezing down there - and super windy. He politely told me "your not the weather person". To say the least - he believed me once we got there. We got there Tuesday morning - went to the beach for a little bit - mostly for a photo-op (which is when I realized that my battery was dying and I hadn't unpacked the charger from the Boston trip) After a quick and cold walk on the beach we headed to one of my favorite places - the outlets. Wednesday's weather was much of the same - wind, wind, and more wind. I was sulking in the morning and just wanted to come home - but I'm super glad I stuck it out. We went to Assateque Island - and there were ponies everywhere!! It was really amazing to see the on the beach and in the dunes - SO COOL!! I will post some more pics later. We flew Brenden's kite which is a frog in memory of Conner. It was perfect kite flying weather! After Assateque we went to fish tales for lunch - always awesome! Then off to mini-golf, indoor of course. I was a little worried about going golfing with Brenden and Avery, but "Mr. I have an answer for everything" says - you hold her while I golf and I'll hold her while you golf - how funny! I put her in the bjorn and we golfed, It was actually super fun. We didn't even keep score - so it was just pure fun :) We headed to the bay for the sunset - which BTW was incredible. We want to the pier - and walked to this tiny beach on the bay for some photos. I snapped a couple then, it happened.... finally ca put. The camera has had it - no more pictures - ugg. By this point we are all sitting in the wet sand getting our pants soaked and getting the beat down by the wind. I had the absolute perfect picture - the sunset lighting their faces - and CRAP!!! I couldn't take it - bummer! Now, I cant wait to go back (when it's a little warmer and a lot less windy - for more photos!

Avery 7 1/2 mos - adjusted 6 mos 2 days

We are finally home from the Tay-Sachs family conference. It was sorta bittersweet - I have a ton to say about it, but Im feeling a little ugg tonight and I think I need to reflect and re-group before tackling that one. Overall it was great to catch up with old and new friends and see the beautiful babies and children. Of course - one of my favorite things is the addition of Soulumination to the conference. This year 14 affected children and their families were photographed - simply amazing. The bad thing is that a dear friend Sarah let me try out some stellar lenses - and now..... I want them all - lol Avery did incredible!! She did great on both flights - actually slept the whole way home today (it was only a 1 hour flight) She was definitely a hit at the conference. She is starting to do so many new things which is . . . simply put . . . AMAZING! The normalcy is so wonderful. She is reaching up and out to be picked up. During the conference - she would let people hold her - but only if she could not see me - if she could she was practically diving from their arms to get to her mommy - (which is fine with me!) She is protesting if you take something away that she wants and boy she gets fired up if she cant get her way - it's wonderful!!! She is sitting for much longer and keeping her balance pretty well - she still has the sideways fall over's and occasionally the backward head bangs- but, definitely doing it longer (as you can see from the picture) Now that she is starting to sit - mommy has so many picture ideas - watch out Avery. A special thanks to Amy and Bryce (and you too, Ben) for helping me out during my sessions by watching her - you rock!

Spring is springing...

We have a lot of action going on in Conner's garden! Our very first bloom of the year on the white star magnolia is budding. We have shoots from the lilly's, aster's, hydrangia and gladiolus sprouting - WOW - here are some pics :) Wont be long now - it changes every day.