5 1/2 Months

These are late. Sorry! But gosh, are we blessed with this angel.

I think he's about 18 lbs. No clue how tall he is, but don't the beginnings of that mohawk look great! :)

Pretty fantastic that he's already started daydreaming, huh?

Incidentally, I made the outfit Robert's wearing, which I'm ashamed to say, is the first thing I've made the poor child.  I followed these directions which told me where to place the front pocket.  Um, kinda low, don't you think?  I'll move it up next time.

Also, look who started rice cereal...

Mmm. Mmm. Good. I love the taste of paste. 

Emma thought the same thing the first time she had it. Just a bit more expressively.  But that's a female for you.  Always a flare for the dramatic.

Be back soon with our trip to the Airport!

Watch This

This stunningly realistic depiction of the practice of law is for all the non-lawyers out there who haven't seen it yet (and maybe the 2 lawyers who've been holed up in their office covered in mountains of discovery documents, or exiled to a warehouse in Topeka without internet).  Hysterical.

Catching Up

(Sunday, 10/17): I started this post over a week ago.  It is so sad it has taken me this long to complete.  But, this afternoon there is finally some peace for me to publish it.  We've returned from church and I've fed everyone and finished sewing my first outfit for Robert, while listening to this.  The laundry is mostly done, and now everyone else is asleep.  It is peaceful.  I can be still, remember the Lord, be thankful, and take a few minutes to myself.

Whew. I knew it was going to be a busy fall.  Blogging has definitely taken a back seat.  I sincerely apologize to those 4.5 readers out there! :) It has been a good kind of busy though.  Lots of football and some cooler weather.   

Memory Verses:

We're not moving quite as quickly through our memory verses as I originally hoped, but that is entirely my fault, and no reflection on Emma.  It never ceases to amaze me how I am sometimes "too busy" to find even 5 minutes to work on a memory verse.   I am beginning to recognize the difficulty of "manufactured business." The VAST majority of what I spend my time doing doesn't have any eternal significance.  And man, oh man, how I am short changing my children (not to mention myself too) when my priorities become skewed.  They are learning so much by what they see.  Not what I say.  So, I think in this season of " earthly business" my prayer is quickly becoming that we would be "busy with the Lord," doing whatever work HE has for us. Whatever work advances and brings glory to His kingdom.  Praise God for his redemptive grace and mercy that allows us to "start again"--as many times as I need.  He surely is Mighty to Save. 

So, where was I? Oh, yes, the memory verse.  No doubt, Emma isn't quite as proficient with this one (Philipians 2:14) as the others.  But then again, just because I have it memorized, doesn't mean my heart has locked it up entirely either.  Despite these stumbles, the Spirit is moving in our family through this verse as our house is quickly becoming a place of repeated "whining."  Maybe it's being 2 1/2, or maybe it's being 30, but it is SO convicting to realize how often we complain during the day. (I'm giving Robert a pass on this one since the poor child can't even sit up yet...but I'm sure some doctrinal junkies out there would include him, given original sin and all...)

The Avery Family Process

With football season (absent last week's performance) and the increasing need for discipline around our house, we're developing (Saban style) a family process.  It's actually fun to think about listing all the important qualities and priorities we hope to cultivate in our family.  So, what better place to start than with physical toughness. Ok, I can think of LOTS better places to start...(e.g. memory verses), but it was fun to show Emma some of J's cultish-obsession with Tony Horton and all things P90X.

[IMAGINE VIDEO OF EMMA ATTEMPTING A PULL UP HERE. 

BLOGGER IS NOT COOPERATING].

Fall Fun

We made a trip to a local pumpkin patch (with half of the metro birmingham area).  Emma picked out her very own pumpkin (well sort of...). 

Robert really enjoyed the whole trip.  He told me so. He didn't mind one bit that I woke him up early from his nap to ride 40 minutes in the car (through Auburn game traffic) while Emma screamed sang the itsy bitsy spider.  He also didn't mind riding "off road" in the Maclaren stroller because I forgot the Baby Bjorn, OR taking his bottle on a bumpy hay ride.  He was also ok that I forgot his sunhat (which meant he spent a majority of our trip wrapped with a blanket  (or hat) around his head. Don't worry, he could breathe).  Despite all of these "hiccups,"  he told me it was the best trip to a pumpkin patch he'd EVER had! Can you believe it??? 

That's about it around here for now.  Kids are waking up and I'm going to try to run because I've been doing this.  The next question is should I do this? Be back soon!

4 Months

Just call me the broken record, but I can't believe Robert is already 4 months old.  It is so true that some days seem long, but these months have been SO short.  Little Roberto can now roll over.  Emma and I witnessed his inaugural mobility--and it was so special to cheer him on together.  She got really excited for him!!

So here are the stats--ready?

Weight: 16 lbs 14 oz (90%)
Length: 26 " (90%)

That's right. I'm already mentally preparing for our grocery bill in 5-8 years.  He is one growing boy.


And as usual, Emma joined us for the chair pics.

 I like to call this one: "One, Two Three, Stare."

And after reminding them that Alabama pulled it out against Arkansas today!

Emma: Don't worry buddy.  We'll work on your tan.

Roll Tide!

Fall

I've heard Fall is a season, but thanks to the continued 90+ degree weather this week, we use fall more as a noun these days.  For example, Emma had a bad FALL on the slide at the park last week (see above).  Poor child.  It was her first major accident.  And oh the blood.  And the tears.  It was nearly a Shakespearean tragedy.  Luckily, she perked right up when I offered her a milkshake to ease the swelling...

In just a few days, we were back to our normal--hanging out on the play gym.

Let's hope for more seasonal Fall and less accidental falls soon!! Be back soon with Robert's 4 month update.  You'll never believe how big he is! :)

24-3 and Dance

So we were ready for the big game.  Robert even started on Friday.  I'd like to say that he was perfecting his whistle.  More likely, it was just juvenile finger sucking.

We loaded up and headed to Ammy and Doc's for a great weekend.  We took Emma to the quad to see the Gameday broadcast and to tailgate.  She was very impressed.  See?

She did perk up.  A little.

Of course Dad (and Denny Chimes) makes everything better.

Somewhere among the estimated 140,000 people tailgating in Tuscaloosa, I met up with these great friends!

It was a great weekend--and a great W.  But alas, like all things, it had to come to an end. So we loaded back up and came home.  Just in time for Emma to start dance class.  

Of course, we needed to practice a few moves before we went.

And have a little fun too!

What a year it is going to be!

Fall Bookings

Anybody else finding themselves staring at an already overbooked fall calendar (aka football season) and feeling like you'll leave HUGE gaps in your parenting as you plan and prepare to shuffle the family to and fro?  Better still, are you wondering when you'll be able to really spend quality time with your kids? Not to mention spending intentional time teaching them about our Lord? If so, you might enjoy this post from "Like a Warm Cup of Coffee." Another praise that HE stands in my enormous gaps.  And as much as I like to champion myself E's and R's biggest cheerleader, HE is cheering for them, better than I ever could.

Happy Fall Folks!