It's the 25th, you know what that means!

Birthday post time!
9 months?!?! Can it be? Yup, and 9 months brings a lot of changes for Averie. Here are her marks this month:

Weight: 18 pounds 10 ounces 46th percentile

Height: 28 inches 66th percentile

Head Circumference: 86th percentile (She has the "Payne" big head)

This month has been full of changes. Averie is getting so close to crawling. She scoots backwards and turns in full circles. She has even started getting up on her knees and rocking back and forth. When she is sitting up she will lean forward and get her knees under her. So close, I can't believe it!

With the new independence, comes new things that I am not so fond of.

1. No more snuggling. Averie wants nothing to do with it. In fact, she often wants "down" now.

2. Tantrums. She is so strong now. She kicks and arches her back and screams. Oh boy it is something else when you are used to having a really mellow baby. I am getting through it, but sometimes I get really frustrated with her. I just keep telling myself that she is too young to understand what she is doing and that it is just a phase.

3. Along the line of the tantrums, she gets super mad if you take something away from her that has caught her interest. So be careful if you give her something, you might not get it back! Like this comb for example.

Ok, enough with the negative, she is such a wonderful part of our lives and here are some fun things she is doing!

She is getting to be quite the talker. She makes sounds of pretty much every letter. She still says mom and da da. It is not just me that thinks she is talking. The other day she started getting fussy and said "MMMMOOOMMMM!" My friend that was with me said, "Did she just say Mom?". Yup that's my girl!

Here is a picture of her holding her fingers like I explained in last month's post. Finally got it on camera!
She has started this new thing where she scrunches her nose and blows in and out. It is adorable, but since she has a runny nose, there is snot everywhere. Lovely...

A face only a mother could love? Ha ha. She does the scrunchy nose thing when she smiles too.
She still only has two teeth. They are pretty much all the way up though.

She is terrified of public restrooms. I am pretty sure it started because I was changing her at a restaurant that had one of those automatic toilets. When I moved it flushed super loud. It was one of those super powerful flushers. Averie was hysterical. She was screaming and sobbing. It was so sad. People probably thought I was beating her in the bathroom. Ever since that experience she has started crying when I go into the bathrooms to change her. Poor girl.

Averie has started eating other things besides baby food. She pretty much is the best eater ever. She will eat ANYTHING you put in her mouth. She loves these new baby biscuits we got her. They are a mess though.

Averie, like most babies, loves being naked. I discovered this doing a little photo shoot. I wanted some pictures of her just wearing her leg warmers. The only time she really has been naked is in the tub so I didn't realize that she would think it was the greatest thing ever! I couldn't get very good pictures, as you can tell. She was all over the place. She is such a sweetheart and we just love her so much. I love being a mom and the past nine months have been so much better than the 9 months that I was pregnant! (Well technically 10 months, but who's counting). Thank you little girl for coming to our family! We love you!

19 Days Down...

from 2011 so far and WOW it has been crazy! So let us talk about the things we have planned between now and May!

First things first, BABIES! Fortunately, I am not having one this year but several of my friends/family are. I am so lucky, I am doing THREE baby showers between now and April. If you need a baby shower, I am your girl! I will be super good at it by the end of this spring. I am so excited for all these little boys to get her for Averie to play with. Yes all three are having boys. It does make planning the showers super easy.

The second thing that I already mentioned in a previous post is my brother's wedding. They are getting married March 14th and you know we will have to plan something fun for Holly.

The third thing and closely most important, is HOUSE HUNTING. I thought it was going to be so much fun. Ya notso much. I am slightly more stressed about it than I thought. Mostly because we haven't decided if we are going to build or buy an existing home. Ryan and Holly are going to be moving into our place after they get married so we have just a couple of months to get moved. I can't wait to have a decision made so I can just relax with this piece of my life.

Remember back a couple of years ago when I was freaking out about my job? Well it all turned out ok and they transferred me to another facility and gave me a different job. Well I just found out that they will be doing the same thing again this year! I am not sure if I will be transferring or what but it is kind of crazy not knowing what is going to happen. I am having a better attitude this time around because everything turned out fine last time and I know, even if it is different, I will be fine again.

Hopefully in the next couple of months we will be going through the temple. Something I am not so stressed about. In fact, it is one of the major things going on that brings me some peace. Phew, I need some peace.

The last major thing we will have coming is Averie's Birthday! Can you believe I'm planning it already? Ha ha. I have lots or cute ideas. Can't wait!

So many exciting things coming up. I can't wait to see how it all turns out.

Meet the Newest Payne

I am so very late posting this, but I have been a super busy crazy person lately. I would like to introduce you all to my new Sister in Law, Holly! Ryan FINALLY proposed to his sweet girl friend. I helped Ryan pick out Holly's ring and I have had the hardest time keeping it a secret. I am so glad that he asked her to marry him and that she said YES! Let the wedding plans begin!

Good Bye 2010!

2010 is over! Can you believe it? It was definitely one of my favorite years so far. I hope that 2011 will be as good to us! We celebrated New Year's with a couple of my friends, Alyssa and Reece, and their husbands, Jeff and Dean.
We had so much fun that night. We munched on goodies all night and played games. It was so fun to have them come over and we definitely need to do it more often!

It wouldn't be a family photo without Brian pulling a face in the first one.The second one wasn't that great of me, but at least Brian doesn't look like a creepo.Just the girls. Love these two!
Brian and Sergeant. He was such a good boy staying up so late with the grown ups.Averie on the other hand, was fast asleep and a complete angel all night.
I am not a big one for New Year's Resolutions, but this year there are a couple a life changing things that I would really like to accomplish.

I would really like our family to go through the temple and be sealed. We have been working very hard at it for the last few months and I am hoping that we will be able to be sealed some time this spring. We are hoping that we will be able to get into a new home this year. We are not sure if we are going to build one or just buy an existing house, but this is definitely the year we want to move. It has been such a stressful decision. Mostly because we cannot sell our town home. We have decided that we are going to keep the town home and rent it out. Now we just need to find a home that will suit us better. I can't wait! Well a new year is an exciting time. I can't wait to see what it has in store for us! Good Bye 2010!

Christmas 2010

Christmas came and went. I can't believe it is over. It feels like every year goes by quicker and quicker. I remember as a kid it took soooo long for Christmas to come. Now it seems like it was just yesterday that I was pregnant with Averie opening little cute outfits for her. Now she was the one opening the presents. I must admit though, Christmas is WAY more fun once you have kids. Even though Averie was too young to understand everything, I loved watching her experience every second of it. Here are our highlights this year:

Every year we go up to Tremonton to spend Christmas Even with Brian's family. This year we got together at Brian's brother's house. It was so nice to spend that time with family. We don't get to see them very often do it was great to spend the entire day with them.

Averie of course peed through her cute Christmas outfit the first ten minutes we were there so she got stuck wearing frog pajamas all day. At least she still had the Christmas bows.Brian was dressed for the occassion too. Dork..
At first, Averie didn't like unwrapping the presents. Or maybe it was just the gift?Brian got me the sweetest gift. He had molds done of Averie's hands and feet. I'll admit that I am getting a little torn up about Averie growing up. It meant so much to me to have replicas of her hands and feet. Now I will always be able to look back and remember how she was at this time. I have such a sweet husband.

Probably Averie's favorite gift, besides the paper, was this soft teddy. She just loved this thing!

"Oh Mom, clothes are boring!"Grandma Anderson with two of her granddaughters.
Now to one of the most special gifts we received.Brian's dad made us this chest. I just love it! Brian and I have been searching for a while for something exactly like this and BOOM wish granted. How amazing is this?

Well the next day was Christmas! Santa came of course because we were all nice this year.Let me just say that Averie was super excited. She loved the "sit and play" toy. Whenever the music comes on she starts dancing and it is the most adorable thing.
She also loves her puppy.

Brian was happy with his gift from Santa.I did not take a picture but I was super duper excited to get my gift from Santa. Some how he knew I have a really strong annoyance of shaving. Solution. LASER HAIR REMOVAL. I know, you are all jealous. The hardest part will be deciding what I want zapped. I am pretty sure I am going with the legs. I can't wait! Thank you Santa!

Onward to the Payne Family Christmas. This year we were finally all able to make it to my parents' house. Can you believe this pile of presents?!? This wasn't even everything when I took the picture.

My mom and "Santa".
The crown says it all.

Here is my mom opening an Oh-so-Special gift from my dad. He wanted to surprise my mom with a new wedding ring and he wrapped in in several boxes inside of each other. It was so cute to see her reaction.
Among the wonderful gifts we received were a new Camp Chef from my parents, a Nintendo Wii from my little brother, light room for photoshop from my older brother, too many toys to count for Averie, and so many other wonderful things I can't even list. We are so blessed and grateful for the thoughtful gifts, but mostly grateful for our families. I love this time of year so much and I love our family so much.
This post isn't over yet! One last thing to mention for 2010. We will be expecting our SECOND...
Nope, just kidding. I wanted to make sure you were paying attention though! The last thing I wanted to post about was the "Boyack" Family Christmas Party. Every year, well almost every year, we try to get together with Brian's cousins for a Christmas Party. This year was an excellent turnout! Almost all of Brian's Aunt Debbie and Uncle Chuck's family made it. Which is quite the accomplishment since there are six kids and they are spread all over the country. We did attempt to get a few pictures:

Trying to get a picture with all the kids "behaving", not an easy task!

Here is the Boyack Family.
Slightly larger than the Anderson Family! We had such a great time and it was great to see all the family that traveled so far to be there. I can't wait until next year!

Well this is it, the last post of the year. 2010 was so good to us. We have been so blessed. We are in pure bliss and I can't wait for 2011. I hope everyone has had as wonderful of a year as we have and I hope for the best for everyone next year.

8 Months

Averie, oh Averie, would you please stop growing?!? Every time I turn around another month has passed. Eight months have gone by since this little cutie came to us.
I know I might be a little obsessive about documenting every single month, but I don't want to forget anything! Plus it is so fun to look back and see how she has changed.

Here are her stats:
Weight: 16 pounds 4 ounces
Height: Approx 27.5 inches?? I tried to measure her while she was sleeping. Yah, that went over well :)She is really starting to look like a little girl. I can believe we finally achieved the pigtails as I mentioned earlier.She is starting to get the little girl attitude also. I shouldn't encourage it, but her tantrums are so dang cute. She is SOOO dramatic! Averie AKA Dramatica. She throws her arms up in the air and puts one hand over her face and cries, "Mammma Mum!" I am so mean. I take pictures of her instead of picking her up.She has been doing the funniest thing for a while now. Averie touches her fingers to her thumbs all the time, but for some reason she just can't get her middle finger to stay down with the rest of them. She is flipping the bird like 90 percent of the time. Amazing that she does it so often yet I don't have a single picture of it. It is hilarious though!

She has also started twirling her feet. It is so adorable. The first time she started doing it, I was really worried that something was wrong with her foot. She just kept twirling it around. Now I have realized that she probably just figured out how to do it so she is entertaining herself.

Another cute thing she started doing this month is that she likes to rock back and forth when she likes something. So when she is eating, she will rock her head back and forth and hit in on the high chair. I really need to put some padding behind her head. She also does it when she is sitting on the floor. When she gets really excited she will rock so far that she will fall. Silly girl.
I am enjoying the immobility, but I really thought she would be a lot more mobile by now. She is scooting backwards and will do full circles. I have actually seen her roll from back to front and front to back now. Amazing! Eight months old and she finally rolls over! Ha ha.She has a new favorite toy, a toothebrush! This started when I would put Averie on the vanity while I fixed her hair in the morning. Well she would instantly go for my toothebrush and stick it right in her mouth. I decided that even though I didn't mind her chewing on mine, she really should have her own. Well once I gave her this, she was not giving it up very easily. Every time I would take it away she would scream. We really need to work on the tantrums.She loves sugar. Well duh! Here grandpa is giving her first taste of frosting. Yum yum. I think she likes it! Check out that tongue too. She has the longest tongue and she is always sticking it out now.For most of you that have been around Averie, you would know that she is not a snuggler. This month she has started letting me snuggle her a little. She will put up with it for a little while where before she would have nothing of it. I of course am soaking it all in.Well I am sure it will be a few more months before it is all intentional, but Averie is definitely saying, "ma ma, da da, mom," and even "daddy!" I am so mad that I can't remember exactly what she said the other day but it was so clear that it caught me off guard. It wasn't like your typical baby babble either. I think she said something like "here" or "there". Urgh! I can't remember, but it was amazing. My smart little Monkey!

Well she is doing oh so many amazing things, but these are the highlights. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoy writing it!