Brady's Baby Dedication

Hi Everyone ~ We hope this finds you all doing great! We are each going to take a turn telling about the pictures...Brady will go first since it's about him, and then I'll go next and tell about my Mommy's fun night...

Here we are at our church, Christ Community, for my baby dedication. Daddy & Mommy made a promise in front of the church to raise me in a Godly home and to tell me about Jesus. Then, our Pastor prayed for me and with my family...it's a very special time for us. I also received a children's Bible and a Bible verse for my name. I am so glad that my family was there to be a part of this special dedication with my parents, Averie, & me.

Pastor Jack is talking to me and telling me the meaning of my middle name, "Joseph."

Then, he held me as he talked to me some more...Daddy & Mommy agree with him that "Children are a gift from God."
Then, we prayed together...Pastor Jack with me, my Mommy, my Daddy, & Averie.
A picture of our night...with our Pastor!
I had several family members there to see me...Here I am with my Mommy & Oma...3 generations!

Me with my Poppy & Nana!

Me with Uncle Thomas & Miss Lindsey

Me with Uncle Michael & Aunt Courtney
Me with Uncle Todd, Aunt Helen, Carter, Kaitlyn, & Stephanie
The Karaffa Family
My Family ~ September 10

Mommy's Surprise Party!

Well, our Mommy turned the big 3-0, and our Daddy gave her the best surprise party! We had the best time. Mommy thought she was going to The Melting Pot with Daddy, Uncle Todd, & Aunt Helen, and Oma offered to babysit Brady & me. When we got to Oma's at 7:00, Mommy walked in with Brady (Daddy & I were right behind them!) and everyone shouted, "SURPRISE!" Mommy said she almost dropped Brady...she was SO surprised. She had NO idea. In fact, she even looked at Daddy and said, "Did you know about this?" And, of course, he laughed and said that he had planned the whole thing!! Daddy (with Oma & Aunt Helen's help) had planned this whole party just for my Mommy...to celebrate her! It was a great night...yummy catered food (including a chocolate fountain, cheese, and pasta...all Mommy's favorites!!), beautiful decorations (hot pink/lime green colors), live music, & fireworks at the end of the evening...all with family and friends! Mommy was so surprised and so happy...it was a wonderful night.

Here she is...walking in!!

We attempted a group picture...well, we got most of the people in the picture!!

Then, we sang "Happy Birthday" to Mommy. That's one of my favorite songs :)
Then, as is tradition at most parties at Opa & Oma's house, someone always ends up in the pool. Well, Daddy thought it'd be perfect to let Mommy go in...so he got her in the pool...of course, he went in as well...and some of Daddy & Mommy's friends too. It was really funny! Here they are right after getting out of the pool!
Then, they let me get in the water too...I got to go swimming late at night...from about 9:30-10:30, and it was so fun. I didn't have a bathing suit, so I got to swim without one on...actually, I put my cousin Stephanie's bathing suit on, but she is much smaller than I am, so it just covered my rear end!! I stayed up until 12:00, and I was such a good girl.
Here is the gang that got in the water...good thing it wasn't too cold!

And, since Daddy was already wet, he thought it'd be fun to jump in with me. It was great!
And, our family picture...minus Brady, of course, who was asleep and couldn't get in the water!

Daddy's side of the family...minus Brady & McKinly who were both asleep.

And, of course, Daddy dancing with Mommy...I got to dance with my Daddy too, but I let him dance with Mommy also since it was her night :) What a great night celebrating Mommy!
Then, Opa let off fireworks at the end of the night...I thought that they were amazing! It was a great end to a great night. Thanks Daddy, for celebrating Mommy...and letting me celebrate with you!

Brady is 2 months old!

Hi Everyone ~ It's me, Brady, and I just turned 2 months old on Tuesday. Daddy & Mommy sure can't believe how fast these past 2 months have gone by. I am growing too fast (that's what they say!), and I am a very happy baby...smiling all the time! I had my 2 month well visit at the doctor's today, and here are my stats...I weighed 15 pounds, 12 ounces (off the charts in percentiles), I am 25 3/4 inches long (also off the charts in percentiles), and my head is 16 3/4 inches around (surprisingly for my family, this was not off the charts, I was in the 95th percentile...close enough, right?) (Oh, and my sister was 12 pounds 2 ounces at her 2 month check-up...she was also 24 inches long, and her head was 15 1/4 inches around...just so you can see the difference!) So, I am doing great. Here are a few pictures of me, and then it's my sister's turn to tell about her first day of preschool!

The First of many "first days of school"...

Well, I started preschool this week, and I had the BEST time. It's so fun! I go from 9:00-1:00, and I get to be in the same class as my cousin, Stephanie. My teachers are a lot of fun, and I am having a great time. I miss Mommy when she first drops me off, but then, after a hug and kiss from her & Brady, I start to play with fun toys as they leave. Then, I sure get very excited to see them come and pick me up...that makes my Mommy feel so good. So, preschool is awesome, and though Mommy & me (& Brady too) miss each other, it's a lot of fun!

Here we are the night before preschool...Mommy & I thought it'd be fun to take some silly pictures, so we did. I thought it'd be really funny to close my eye for one picture...it was a lot of fun...we laughed a lot!

Just me & my Mommy!
Then, the morning of preschool, I got up, had my breakfast, got dressed (I got to help pick out my outfit!!), and was ready to leave. Of course, Mommy had to take a gazillion pictures, but I didn't mind.
Check out my cool backpack...it even has my name on it (& so does my lunchbox)
All grown up and ready for 2 year old preschool!
Another shot outdoors before getting in the car...what will my Mommy do when I start kindergarten??

Heading to the car...

Here I am in my classroom with Mommy before she gets ready to leave! I had a great first day!
That night, we (Daddy, Mommy, Brady, me, Aunt Helen, & Kaitlyn) went out to celebrate the first day. We went to Kabuto's (which is "big fire" for me) and I had the soup, rice, and noodles. It was so yummy!
Kaitlyn started kindergarten. so we were celebrating her as well!
Here I am enjoying the soup. It was such a great day...full of lots of fun!

The Day Before Another Milestone...

Hi Everyone ~ It's the day before I (Averie) start preschool for the first time, and I can't wait. I have my backpack and lunchbox ready to go, and I even helped Mommy pick out my outfit for tomorrow. So, for the day before preschool, I got to go to Monkey Joe's again...it was my pick, and I had so much fun. Since it was Labor Day, Daddy got to go with me too. I had the best time!

Of course, Mommy & Brady were there too!
Here is Mommy & me getting ready to go down the big slide. Mommy has been wanting to do it but couldn't until now since she was pregnant with Brady before!
Then, I go to go with my Daddy too. What a fun day! I'll let you know how preschool goes later this week...I'm sure I'll have some pictures :)

A Fun Labor Day Weekend

For the Labor Day weekend, my Great Mamaw and Great Aunt Cookie (on my Daddy's side of the family) surprised us with a 2 day visit. They are from Ohio, and I hadn't seen them since last summer when Daddy, Mommy, & me went up there. We had the best time. On Saturday, we went out for Italian, and it was yummy! Then, on Sunday, Great Mamaw, Great Aunt Cookie, Poppy, Nana, Aunt Brittany (Uncle Blair had to work...), & McKinly all came over after church for appetizers, dinner, and a day of fun. I showed them all my toys, and we took lots of pictures. Then, this morning, we all met for breakfast at IHOP (yummy!) before Great Mamaw and Great Aunt Cookie had to drive back home. I am so glad that we got to see them...and that they got to meet Brady for the first time! I'll miss them!

On Sunday....

Here is me...with Great Mamaw & Brady!

The 4 Generation Picture with Brady...I had mine taken last summer. It's Great Mamaw, Nana, Daddy, & Brady!
Me with Great Aunt Cookie...
And, Great Aunt Cookie making Brady smile...so cute!

And...another smile!
Great Aunt Cookie giving Brady lots of kisses...We all had lots of hugs and kisses to give...they just loved on us!
Nana with her 2 grandsons...McKinly & Brady are 5 1/2 weeks apart!
Then, today...

Here we are at IHOP, and Great Mamaw & Great Aunt Cookie brought Brady & me a gift. I got a baby doll (I LOVE baby dolls!), & Brady got a baby blanket with his name on it.

I named her "Baby Lynn" after my Great Aunt Cookie's middle name.
Can't you tell how much I love baby dolls? :)
Of course, there's always time for a grandparent picture...me with Brady, Nana, & Poppy!
And, it wouldn't be complete without a family picture...Daddy, Me, Mommy, & Brady!
In the restaraunt, Great Mamaw loved holding Brady...and talking to me.

Great Mamaw & Brady
Great Mamaw, Great Aunt Cookie, & Brady
Poppy & Brady
Then, one last picture...Great Aunt Cookie, which is Nana's sister, Nana, Daddy, Aunt Brittany, & Great Mamaw. Sure was a fun weekend. We love you, Great Mamaw & Great Aunt Cookie...thanks for coming to visit!