Sarah & Brett

Family Photos!

2011-01-21T16:15:00.000-08:00

November 2010

Photographer: piedpiperphoto.blogspot.com

New Year's Resolutions?

2011-01-07T20:52:00.000-08:00

Resolutions? Nope, not for me. I find that my inability to make and accomplish goals results in a lot of, well, GUILT! It always starts out the same; eat healthy, exercise, read scriptures, go the temple (you get the idea). And it always ends the same. So now, you see, I have a dilemma. How do I progress and improve my life without setting unrealistic goals that always end in failure? And then it occurred to me, a mantra. I... need... a mantra. According to wikipedia, A mantra is a sound, syllable, word, or group of words that are considered capable of "creating transformation." I know what you're thinking and the answer is no, I'm not crazy :) But it just might work. So after much thought and self evaluation, it came to me.

"Worry less, Love more." That's it.

Now, to more important things. Miss Avery Jaye is about to reach her 1st Birthday. So exciting and so sad. My baby it growing up and there's nothing I can do to stop it! But she is so fun!

7 Months

Her first tooth! Now she has 8, but I'm a few months behind :)

Crawling like crazy! Now she's walking (still behind)

I left Avery alone for a few minutes while I was doing laundry, and this is what I found!

And yes, she tried chewing her way out.

8 Months

Standing up all by herself!

Hole-In-the-Rock at Papago Park.

Avery was a cheerleader for Halloween and Daddy was a football player. Happy Halloween!

This is her scary Halloween face!

9 Months

Hanging out at a football game with Grandpa J and Daddy.

My sister had baby girl #2 on November 18. Avery and I spent a week in Utah playing with cousin Shayne and helping out with baby Brooklyn,

I convinced myself that running the Turkey Trot was a good idea. And some how I convinced Brett to run it with me and push Avery in a stroller. And now we have vowed never to do it again! But I am proud to say that I ran the entire race. (Brett says the word "ran" is debatable since he could walk faster than me while I was "running")

10 Months

Ho Ho Ho! Avery met Santa for the 1st time at the Tolman Family Christmas Party. Does Santa look familiar?!

Playing dress up with Grandma Nettie!

Christmas Eve

Christmas Day!

Santa's little Helper

11 Months

Avery got a baby stroller for Christmas. She loves to cruise the house with her baby. And this is my new favorite face, not sure what it is, but I love it!

Thanks Grandma Nettie!

Drum Roll Please...

2010-11-05T17:08:00.000-07:00

Introducing the latest and greatest of Miss Avery Tolman. I wish I could take all the credit, but I can't. My Mom watches her on Tuesdays and every week Grandma Nettie teaches her a new trick! It is so cute! And just in case some of you were wondering, yes... she can do more than stare. Here's the proof!

Snuffy Face

No, No, No, No

Hi-Hi!

Growly Bear

More Growly Bear

Lick-a-licious

Samoa!

2010-09-29T14:40:00.000-07:00

Brett's parents are currently serving a mission in Samoa. They left last October and Avery was born in January. About a month ago we spent a week there and they finally got to meet baby Avery. She sure loves her Gammy and Papa!

Apia, Samoa Temple

Gammy and Papa's house

We were so spoiled, we got Daddy for a whole week. No work, computer, or cell phone!

Brett and I climbing the waterfall at Sauniatu.

...more waterfalls!

Brett got really thirsty at this one! :)

Brett cracking open a coconut. And yes...the person on the right IS a woman. But she sure doesn't crack a coconut like one!

Once you husk and crack the coconut, you get to drink the yummy coconut milk. Cheers!

Papa showing us how to shave the meat out of the coconut.

Brett gave it a shot.
And not to be out down by the men...I had to try it! It's a lot harder than you'd think!

Sua Trench

I love, love, love this picture. Brett says she reminds him of those expensive dogs that cost more if they have lots of wrinkles! Let's just say...Avery would cost a pretty penny! :)

Sportin' the shades.

Eating her shades...or in deep thought, you choose!

Brett really wanted this to be the photo on our Christmas card this year. Yeah...maybe not.

Only in the South Pacific do you see colors like this.

Avery loved to snorkel...or at least chew on them!

Beach Babe! The pack-n-play at the beach was genius. It kept Avery from packing her face with sand!

Gammy and Papa took us to the most beautiful beach on the other side of the island. I have never seen water so blue and clear. It was incredible!

Avery got to take a nap with Gammy!

While her crazy Dad decided to climb a coconut tree! Sort of :)

After a long day at the beach...she was wiped out and slept the whole way home.

Every morning Papa and Brett would take Avery on a walk. She loved it!

Gammy and Papa, thank you so much for such an amazing week. We will never forget it. We love and miss you both!

Avery Update!

2010-09-18T13:19:00.000-07:00

She sits up like a big girl and is working on crawling.

She also cut her first tooth last week! Ouch! :)

She fell asleep on the way home from church and took about a twenty minute nap before we even noticed. Does this make us bad parents?

Yes, she is wearing a diaper. And, yes...Daddy was babysitting!

She loves to snuggle with her Daddy.
She's pretty good at scooting backwards. Only problem is...sometimes she scoots right under the bed!

For example, one day I left her playing on the floor in our extra bedroom and when I came back she had vanished. I stood there for a moment thinking that I had either lost my mind or my sleep deprivation was out of control. Then, from under the bed I saw a tiny little hand. I lifted up the comforter and this is what I found!

She still loves to swim at Grandma Nettie's!

And once again...yes, she does have a diaper on. Somehow it seems to get lost in all those rolls! :)

Finally, with her new talent of sitting up, she has discover the world of sitting shot gun in a grocery cart. And by the look on her face, I think its safe to say she absolutely loves it!

Next blog...our trip to Samoa! Stay tuned, its gonna be a good one!

6 Months...and so cute!

2010-08-08T12:14:00.000-07:00

The other day Brett asked me if I liked being a mom. Talk about a loaded question! I had to think for a second and take a deep breath. Then I looked over at our cute little rug rat and told him, "I don't always like being a mom, but I LOVE being Avery's mom!" Hopefully some of you veteran mother's can relate.

Avery is already 6 months! Here are her stats.

Weight: 16 lbs 12 oz

Length: 25.75 inches

Head: 16.75 inches

She's rolling all over the place!

PF Chang's for Daddy's Birthday! He's 28...so old!

Some of her Favorite things...

Prunes

Nanas

Carrots

And anything else she can get her hands on!

I was brave and decided to take Avery to SLC for a week to go visit my sister, Holly. Brave...because I took a 6 month old on airplane alone. Boy do I have a story for you!

While I was in Utah we went and visited my grandparents in Price. My Aunt Lisa and cousins, Kristen (and her 3 kids), MiShelle (and her little boy), and Brynna (due in October with baby girl #1) made the drive from Vernal to come see me and of course meet baby Avery. It was so much fun. It's always a party when the Hendersons show up! It meant so much to me that they drove 2 1/2 hours (each way) with 4 adults and 4 kids in one suburban, just to spend a few hours with us. Family means so much...we love you all!

Here is Avery with her

Great-Grandpa Don (my names sake: Sarah Dawn)

The weather was beautiful and we spent a lot of time outside. We went to the park and on walks almost everyday.

Aunt Holly and Cousin Shayne even took us to Hogle Zoo.

Holly is expecting Baby girl #2 the end of November!

I couldn't get her to look at the elephant. She was way too entertained by her cousin Shaynie bug!

Aunt Holly let her try out her jumper.

And she loves it!

Cute cousins!

Shayne was so good with Avery. She would tickle her tummy and toes, splash in the bath with her, and of course share her binky! She is going to be such a great big sister!

Thanks for letting us come visit Holly. We loved getting out of the heat and we love you! Let's do it again soon!

Next stop...Samoa! In three weeks we are going to visit Brett's parents on their mission. It will be the first time they meet Avery! Gammy and Papa...here we come!

First Time for Everything!

2010-06-28T15:36:00.001-07:00

My parents had a pool party on Memorial Day!

Avery went swimming for the very first time!

Despite the look on her face...she loved the water.

She kicked her little legs the entire time!

First time having rice cereal. She's still deciding if she likes it :)

First time visiting Daddy at work!

First Diamondbacks game!

First time on the jumbotron!

If you look really close, my mom is hold Avery

and I'm holding up my camera taking the picture!

First fireworks!

First family reunion!

My mom's side of the family had a reunion in northern Utah.

It was so fun for everyone to meet Baby Avery!
First off-road walk in the mountains.

She got to play with her cousin Shayne!

First time at Uncle Danny and Aunt Holly's house in Salt Lake!

She finally found her piggies...for the first time!

Picture Overload!

2010-05-27T17:16:00.000-07:00

Brett just had to take this picture of her sleeping on the floor.

He thinks she looks like a flying squirrel!

Totally milk drunk!

Hanging out with Dad

She just loves her Daddy!

My daughter was starting to look like she could blend in at a county fair somewhere in Alabama. It was definitely time to say good-bye to the rat tail!

Avery's first haircut!

Thanks Auntie Chul!

Throw back to the the 80's baby hair style! The Mohawk curl!

She loves eating her wash clothes!

Crazy Uncle Jason! And yes...he buzzed his head the next day. Thank goodness!

Go Diamondbacks! Thanks Grandma Nettie!

Big Smiles! And her favorite toy butterfly.

She also loves to play with her binky.

4 Month Check-up...

Height: 50%

Weight: 75%
She didn't like her shots, but she took it like a champ!

She loves her entertainer!

She thinks the flip-book is super cool! :)

But her favorite part is eating and drooling all over the sides.

Thanks Gammy!

2010-05-12T13:02:00.000-07:00

Avery was finally blessed on April 11th.

These are the same shoes I wore when I was blessed.

The Tolman Family

The Justesen Family

Weekend in Sedona.

Thanks Aunt Rachel!

Avery's first pony tail and my first Mother's Day!

Those hands must taste yummy! :)

2010-04-06T18:44:00.000-07:00

Week #9

Week #10

Baby Bjorn with Daddy!

Ahhh-choo!

What's not to love about this one?! :)

She just discovered her hands.

Happy Easter!

This one reminds me of the bunny costume on "A Christmas Story!" Minus the bunny ears :)

2010-03-25T17:59:00.000-07:00

Week #7

Week #8

"Isn't she lovely...It's she wonderful"

2010-03-15T18:47:00.000-07:00

When Avery was about two weeks old I had these photos taken.

Here are just a few of my favorties! :)

Photos by: Jen Roberts {www.greenappleimages.com/blog}

Bloggin Ain't Easy!

2010-03-08T14:25:00.000-08:00

Ok...so the weekly blogging hasn't exactly happened. It seems like a week has come and gone, while the idea of blogging hangs in the back of my mind like a term paper I know I should have started weeks ago! Isn't that the worst feeling?! I think it has to do with the fact that blogging takes me FOR-E-VER! The whole "posting the picture you want first, last" thing totally throws me off. What I need is Blogging 101. But now that I've vented and gotten out my frustrations, its time to blog about more important things, the babe!

Week #5

Just one of Avery's crazy bed head looks!

Mommy...trying to be creative.

Week #6

Still trying...

Ahhhhh! Blogger rage! I can't get it to rotate!

But we are starting to smile :)

It Goes By So Fast!

2010-02-24T09:27:00.000-08:00

Avery is almost 5 weeks old! I can't believe it. She is changing and growing so quickly. In an effort to preserve and capture every moment, I've decided to update my blog every week. I'm sure this is a regular occurrence for all you avid bloggers, but for me its a stretch.

So let's play a little catch up...

Week #1

Week #2

Week #3

Week #4

Her favorite sleeping position!

She wasn't too excited about her jungle gym. But she had a great nap !

She's Here!

2010-02-08T13:44:00.000-08:00

Avery Jaye arrived on January 22, 2010 at 3:36 a.m.

Weighting 7 lbs. 3 oz. and measuring 20.5 inches.

We are so in love with this baby girl!

Finally...A Reason to Blog!

2009-10-03T16:11:00.000-07:00

Baby girl due January 15, 2010!

First time bloggers!

2007-09-23T17:59:00.000-07:00

We are just starting out, so it may take us a while. We enjoy looking at others blogs, so we thought we would start our own.