Ashlyn's Birthday

Sunday the 23rd was Ashlyn's birthday. For her party she invited us all to her grandparents cabin for some 4-wheeling. We first started the party out with a yummy lunch, and then we were off to play. Its such a fun place to ride 4 wheelers because there is so much property to roam. Avery rode the 4 wheeler with Brett and I and she loved it! She was smiling and giggling the whole time. We ended the night off with cake and presents. Thanks Ash for having a birthday! We had a great time!!

Update

Avery is getting so big! and learning so many new things. I just wanted to post all the things she loves lately.

-She loves dolls. She snuggles and talks to them. Its so funny how girls at such a young age love dolls.

-She loves her bath. She now cries when she has to get out. As you can tell in the picture she puts the turtles head in her bath as she crawls around. Its not only in the bath, but she carries stuff in her mouth all day.

-She loves to drive the car. She gets the giggles..so cute!

-Loves to look in the mirror and give herself kisses.

-She is becoming a little walker. She took her first steps a couple of weeks ago, but she is walking all the time yet. Yesterday she took 10 steps, so before we know it she will be cruising around.

-Everyday she becomes more of a talker. I love to hear her cute little voice.

-She now screams when she is done eating or when she needs something. She has quite the scream.

- She is a great sleeper. She goes to bed at 8, and doesn't wake up til 8:30-9. And takes 2 naps a day.

-She loves to be outside, but you really have to watch her because she wants to eat the rocks.

-She still puts everything in her mouth, so I really have to watch her.

-She gives kisses and is a little cuddle bug.

Everyday Avery suprises me. Its so fun to watch her grow and do new things.

A day to reflect

So today is Avery's official birthday and I am feeling so many emotions. First off I can't believe my little girl is already one...how time has flown by. What sweet memories I have of this time one year ago. I remember when I got the call on August the 12th that Samantha was going into labor. Brett and I were so excited we hurried home to start getting ready to go meet our sweet baby girl. I remember the butterflies, the excitement, and the anticipation we were feeling all at once. We didn't get on a plane until the next day which was the 13th, and we thought for sure Sam would have the baby that morning. But little Avery was not coming very fast, and poor Samantha was in labor for 30 hours!!! We arrived at the hospital when Avery was only 3 hours old. When we got to the room and we saw our beautiful baby all the nervous feelings left. She was absolutely perfect in every way. I will never forget what I felt that day, and I hope I will always remember so I can tell Avery one day.
As I ponder on this past year I just get so overwhelmed with emotion. First I just get a little teary because how blessed I feel and how lucky I am to be a mother. At one point in my life I never thought it was going to happen for me, but it has and I feel so grateful. I also get a huge smile on my face because Avery just makes me so happy. She is such a bubbly and one happy go lucky little girl. You can not be around Avery without smiling. Like what Brett put in her one year video sums it up... Laughs, smiles and a few screams entered our home. Now that she is here I can't imagine my life without her. She is my life, my love and my happiness. Avery this is such a special birthday for you, and will be something I will never forget. Dad and I love you so much and are so excited to share many more birthdays with you.

Happy 1st Birthday Avery

Avery's first birthday party!

Saturday August 8th we celebrated Avery's 1st birthday. Her birthday is on the 13th, but her birth mom was in town, so we celebrated a few days early. We had a full house with all my family and Brett's and our friends. We had about 40 people, so many people that love Avery she is one lucky little girl. We started the party by having a BBQ and just hanging out. Then the real fun came when we went inside to stat Avery's party. She loved when we all sang happy birthday she was looking around at everyone wondering what was going on. She had the funniest faces through the whole song.

Then the time came to let her dig into her cake. I wasn't sure what she would do since I haven't given her any sweets yet. She did not hesitate at all she was loving the cake. She was digging in and enjoying every minute of it. Brett then painted her face with the frosting, and then the frosting was off into the hair. She was covered and she didn't mind at all. She was giggling and being so cute! Maybe it was the sugar high who knows.

Avery had so much fun opening her presents. She got so spoiled from everyone. Some of the things she got were: car seat, doll, shoes, clothes, and millions of books I think she got like 20 and most of them from her birth mom. She got a few toys, but mostly books which is good because I want Avery to love reading. She also got the cutest bows and a flower thing they hang on. Thanks everyone for all the gifts! After the gifts we went into the movie theater to watch Avery's first birthday video that Brett made. It was such a cute movie and everyone really enjoyed it. Thanks honey! it will be such a fun memory that Avery can treasure forever. What a fun first birthday she had. It was so fun to have Samantha the birth mom here to celebrate this special birthday with Avery. Thanks again to everyone who came we had a blast! Avery Happy Birthday we love you!

Muir family pictures

Getaway to the cabin

Our birth mom came in town on Monday for a week. On Tuesday we headed up to the cabin for a couple of days to show her what the beautiful mountains have to offer. It was also Avery's first time up there. I love being up at the cabin to get away from our busy lives, and have time to just spend with family. Ashlyn also came she hasn't been since she was a baby. We didn't get up there until about 3, but it was still enough time to have lots of fun. We first started by taking a walk and enjoying the beautiful scenery.

We had a great night by the campfire eating hobo dinners and having smores. We stayed by the campfire telling stories until it got too cold, then we went inside and played games til midnight. Nothing gets better than that! Avery missed out on all the fun, but maybe next year she will be able to stay up later.

The next morning we hung out at the cabin making breakfast, and taking another walk around the cabin. We cleaned up and headed out to mirror lake.

Mirror lake is one of my favorite places, and has so many memories for me. We wanted to show Samantha some of the beautiful places that Utah has. We spent a little while at the lake having a picnic and taking a walk around the lake. We also drove to the Provo river outlook such beautiful waterfalls. As a tradition as a kid we always stopped in Kamas for ice cream. We couldn't go home until taking her there. Its just a drug store, but it has the yummy leatherby's ice cream. We had a great 2 days, and so nice to have Samantha there to spend it with us.

Growing up too fast!

I gave Avery her first taste of spaghetti the other night for dinner. As you can tell she loved it! She made a huge mess, but loved being able to feed herself. She is such a good little eater lets hope she keeps that up.

She is standing up like crazy. Brett started clapping for her every time she stood up. So now its game for her and she loves when she gets the applause. I can't believe she is old enough to be in the stage of taking her first steps. She is so ready, and I think it will happen any day now. She is such a smart little girl and learns so quickly. The little step she is on is her little stage. This is where she goes to entertain us its so cute! Watching them grow is the funnest part of being a parent, and seeing how excited they get when they take their next big step. Avery we love you and couldn't ask for a sweeter more loving girl than you. We are so excited for tomorrow because that is when your birth mom is coming. She will just fall in love with you.