Cancer Stinks

A few weeks ago a very close family friend left this world after a 16 year battle with cancer.  Toni Burris was actually more than a close family friend for my in laws.  Toni and her family were "family" to the King family.  Through dating Trey and our relationship growing into a family, I was also able to experience the love and joy Toni brought to so many.  She was every one's biggest cheerleader and one of the sweetest people in this world.    

Toni was a true gift from God and now she is living eternal happiness and free from that monster we call, cancer.  We celebrated Toni's life on earth on September 17th with her friends, family, past student and many others.  Toni's life on earth will forever be celebrated and fondly remembered.  I can't wait to see her again!

 Last week Avery rocked her breast cancer awareness onsie in honor of Toni.  Avery will never remember Toni holding her or all the love that Toni showed our family before and after Avery came into this world, but I know Toni is up there looking down on us.  I aspire to be as great of a mother, wife, sister, and friend as Toni Burris.

This is Avery's "Cancer Stinks" face.

A New Season

A new football season is among us and we are having fun cheering on the Pack.  Avery has joined in on some tailgate and even game fun this season.  She was there for the season opener at Carter Finley, well at least for the tailgate and first half.  Thank you Aunt Robyn for picking her up at half time.  Avery didn't have to leave the 6pm game because she was misbehaving, but more because it was bedtime and she was having too much fun climbing the stairs and all over us. 

 Playing with her new doll from Grammy.

Hanging out with Pepaw

 The next home game also had a 6pm start time, so Avery, Gigi and Papa joined us for some tailgate fun and then went back home to play and get ready for bed.  We are very blessed to have family nearby and willing to help. 

The next home game is against Florida State and starts at 8pm.  Hopefully we can find someone that wants to watch from home and hang out with Avery.  Go Pack!

Avery's Got Big News

Avery is going to be a BIG sister.

Baby King #2 is due St Patrick's Day 2013.  We are very excited and thrilled to be into the second trimester.  We made the big announcement to our family at our nieces birthday party and at daddy's surprise 31st birthday party.  Avery helped break the news in her BIG sister t-shirt made by Alice from Needleworks.  We are hoping to find out the sex of #2 towards the end of October, but we are planning to save the surprise for Thanksgiving when we are surrounded by our  family.  We will have to wait and see if we can keep it secret for over a month.  It's a good thing Avery can't tell secrets, because her aunts might try to get her to squeal.

15 Month Stats

At the beginning of the month Avery had her 15 month check-up.  She was all over the exam room and barely sat still long enough for her exam.  Avery is right on target for her age and is such a good eater.  She likes water and milk, but we have to cut back on the milk a bit since she was drinking over a gallon per week. Avery has started using utensils with her meals and enjoys feeding herself.  She loves to play and read books.  Avery can point to her ears, nose, belly and many objects.  She has learned the touchdown sign just in time for football season and loves to play with her babies.  Everything is a telephone and she walks around with stuff up to her ear while babbling.  Avery is napping 2-3 hours every afternoon and sleeping 12 hours at night.  She loves the park and can go down the slide all by herself.  Being outside is always fun for Avery.  She has 4 molars and 7 other teeth.  Still missing one on her bottom row.  Our sweet girl is growing like a weed, and she learns something new everytday.

Avery's Stats at 15 Months:

Weight: 24 pounds 10 ounces (75%)

Height: 31.75 inches (86%)

Head: 18.25 (63%)

1st Day of Preschool

Wednesday was Avery's first day of preschool. She is going to a Mother's Morning Out program for 1 year olds.  It is less than 5 miles from our house and something that is going to be great for all of us.  We met her teachers last week, and I knew she was going to love this new milestone.

Here is Avery playing in the kitchen when she went to meet her teachers and classmates.

I was pleased to make it home from work early Wednesday morning and well rested. Avery had fun looking in her new tote bag for school and trying to carry it around the house as we got her ready.  She smiled pretty for some pictures on the front porch.

"Alright, Mommy, I'm ready to go!"

We shared an egg and cheese bagel on the way to school.  She has developed a love for Brueggers.  Grammy and Pepaw's house was on our way, so we stopped to say "hey."

Avery was all smiles and ran down the hall when we got into the building.  Her buddy, Ava, from down the street was there too.  She went right to Miss Erin and went straight to playing with all the toys.  Avery adjusted right away, and she never looked back.  I am proud that she was such a big girl, but part of me knew my baby was growing up.  I watched her through the glass for a few seconds and then walked to my car with a big smile, proud of my little girl and thinking about what I was going to do with all my free time on Monday and Wednesday mornings.

At pick up time, she was still going strong and playing in her classroom.  There were a lot of tears from her classmates, and when they opened the door my little peanut continued to play.  All her teachers said she played incredibly hard the entire time and that she did awesome. I was so glad to hear this news and excited to give Avery a big hug.  Her little hair was full of curls so she must have really played hard when outside on the playground.

 Avery enjoyed a snack on the way home.  Next week she goes for the full 3 hours and will be eating lunch at school.  This will be nice because Mommy can take her right home for an afternoon nap.  I hope she continues to love school and her teachers.  We are excited to see how much she learns and grows in the coming school year.

Labor Day Weekend

We packed the car and headed to the coast for the Labor Day Weekend.  It was perfect weather to celebrate the end of summer.  Aunt Roni and Uncle Mike were in NYC for the US Open, so Avery's cousins joined us, as well as Aunt Robyn and Uncle Ian.  We got the girls out of school early on Friday and began our ride.  We got there in time to get settled and for some fun by the pool.  Daddy and Uncle Ian met us down there late that night. 

We were hoping for more Wolfpack touchdowns on Friday.

 Avery was ready for the water with her new float. 

It was perfect and gave Avery a lot more independence. 

 Tan creases are adorable.

 Playing with her toys before dinner.

Taking a break on the beach.

Daddy finished his round of golf early on Saturday and we had a blast at the pool and beach.

Avery had a blast in the kiddie pool. 

She really enjoyed the water fall and had so much fun dancing to the music.

Avery loved eating seafood.  She really enjoyed shrimp and crab legs.

Avery and Alexis on Saturday night.

So much fun running around Barefoot Landing.

Avery loves stairs and playing "chase."

Aunt Robyn and Uncle Ian with Avery

Sunday morning she woke up ready to go to the beach. 

Avery loves to talk on the phone.  She puts everything and anything up to her ear and babbles.

Ready for the pool.

Avery played in the sand and pools of water for hours. 

Occasionally she would make a run for the ocean.

 This girl loves the beach.  She was not afraid of the water one bit.

She carried this shovel around and wouldn't let go.

 Daddy had to pull Avery out of the water on many occasions.

 Family Beach Picture...(too bad my lens kept fogging up).

Enjoying some dinner on our last night before some Putt Putt action for all the big kids.

Daddy won in Putt Putt.


Ride home after our last beach trip for the summer of 2012.