Done and done

So I'm finally done with law school, and this weekend was the culmination of the last three years. Although we had to sit through the marathon that was graduation, the weekend was filled with excitement as my dad met Avery for the first time. I was also pleasantly surprised that one of my best friends, Rich, and his wife Janet flew in to surprise me as well. There isn't much other news on the home-front, but we wanted to post some pictures for your viewing pleasure. Hope everyone is well!

Nate

What a Great Weekend!

I was lucky enough to have an amazing first Mother's Day and anniversary weekend. It started on Saturday by me getting to sleep in (WooHoo!) because my excellent husband got up with Avery. We had a lazy morning and then dropped Avery off at my mom's house for her first sleepover at Grandma's. It was really hard to leave her for so long, but let's be honest, she is probably in better hands with my mom. Anyway, we checked into the Bellagio and got ready for our big night out. I forgot what it was like to take a shower without a time limit. 

After getting all dressed up, we went to what was one of the best dinners either of us had ever eaten. It was a benefit put on by Bon Appetite, showcasing 5 incredible chefs (Michael Mina, Todd English, Jean-Georges Vongerichten, Julian Serrano, and Jean-Phillip Maury). Absolutely ridiculous. 

Sunday morning we checked out of the hotel and went to my mom's house for brunch and to pick up Aves. In addition to Mother's Day, Sunday was also my dad's birthday, so we went to dinner to celebrate that. All in all, a pretty incredible weekend. Also, Avery is smiling more and more so I've included some pictures so you can see those dimples!

I hope that everyone is well. Sixteen more school days and I am officially a stay at home mom! I can't wait to spend everyday with my peanut :)

Two months old!

Sitting like a big girl

Smiles

Even bigger smiles

Our big night out

My first mother's day

Back to Work

I've officially been back at work for two days and they have been the longest two days of my life. My heart's just not in it right now. I don't want to do anything except hang out with Avery! All day long I just wonder what she's doing. Let's be honest; it's either eating, pooping, or sleeping for the most part, but she definitely has her playful times. She's smiling a ton and I know that a giggle isn't too far off. I really hope I don't miss the first one. 

I feel really lucky to have the opportunity to stay home with her next year. I know it's not a luxury everyone gets, and I want to take advantage of it. Being back at school has been slightly entertaining however. Today I had a couple of girls in my class come and tell me that one of my boys has been giving them sex education on the playground. The funniest part was, he wasn't exactly correct about what goes where if you know what I mean. It's crazy how young fast these kids are growing up! Or should I say, want to be grown-ups. I swear, I'm locking Avery away until she's 25, just to keep her away from boys like the ones in my third grade class. 

Nate has one final down and two to go before his law school career comes to a close. Please pray performs as well as I know he can. He's so smart, but I would imagine the lack of sleep makes things a little fuzzy. As for me, I'm counting down the days until schools out (16 if anyone cares). Summer, here we come!

P.S. Here's a couple pictures that were requested...

Back From L.A.

Avery and I just got back from LA with my mom, where we visited my sister and some friends. It was a great trip, and wonderful to see "Auntie Priscilla". Avery was great on her first road trip, although I don't think she wants to see the car seat anytime soon. What can I say, she's a free bird and doesn't like being confined. On Thursday we were able to go to lunch with my best friend Sarah, her mom, and her baby Harper. Avery and Harper hit it off and I see many adventures in the future for the two of them. I need to go get Avery down for the night, but I just wanted to give you a quick update. Enjoy the pictures!

Our First Family Photos

Hi everyone, 

Nate, Avery and I went to our wedding photographer on Tuesday to get some pictures done. Of course, we wanted pictures of Avery, but we also wanted to get our first family photos. The proofs are up and I thought you might want to check them out. We think they're pretty great.

Enjoy!

go to www.trentblackphoto.com

click on "client login"

the event ID is "AveryR"

Our First Date

No, no, not our first date ever (although that was great too), but our first date since Avery arrived. We feel really strongly that one of the best things we can give our kids are parents with a strong marriage. To maintain that, we know that we need occasional nights to ourselves to stay connected. With a baby, it seems that they days pass so quickly. Nate's at work or school and when he gets home, it's time for dinner, then feed the baby, play with the baby, give the baby a bath, feed baby again, and then time to get some much needed sleep. Don't get me wrong, we are absolutely loving spending all our time with Avery, and I'm a little bit embarrassed about how much I missed her in the four hours I was away from her today. However, it was really nice to not feel like we had to rush through dinner, or even better, eat with one hand while holding her with the other. We talked and laughed, and just enjoyed each other. We decided that we need to do it on a regular basis. Maybe not every week, but definitely 2-3 times a month. We feel really lucky to have my parents so close, and so willing to babysit!

On a side note, Avery had her one month check-up today, and she is doing wonderful. She is now 20.5 inches long, and is weighing in at a whopping 7lb 8oz. The doctor told us what we already know...she's perfect. 

We hope that everyone is doing well and has a restful and relaxing weekend. Until next time...

N, B & A

One month old today!

Avery is officially one month old today! She has gone through a lot in her short time here, but she has proven what a strong little lady she is. She has her one month check-up tomorrow, and we're excited to see how much weight she's gained. As of last weekend, she was 7 lb. 5 oz.! Avery's getting bigger everyday and it has been the biggest thrill of our lives to watch her as she grows. She does new things all the time, and her latest is to stick her tongue back out at you when you do it to her.

Stay tuned for new pictures!

Love, N, B & A