South Carolina and some...

As many of you know we had some really great family adventures this past week. Despite the fact that we were SOOOOOO stressed getting out of town, we made it and had a great time (the reason for being stressed was that we had to be prepared before leaving for my birthday, andy's birthday, sending something for Kathy's birthday, Father's day cards out, a father's day present for andy, and invitations ordered for avery's birthday...woof!) But we had a great time nonetheless and would do it over again:)

Our adventures started Friday afternoon when we got picked up by annie (one of my bluefield roomies), drove to mountain view where we unloaded the car, loaded into a honda accord, pick up her husband dan, and start our long drive to LA (at approximately 3:30pm! with avery's carseat being as big as it is the backseat where annie and i sat was quite squishy but we had fun. we stopped for things like potty breaks, cherries for sale on the side of the road, food, and needing to get the baby wipes from the trunk. it was a really great adventure, one that lasted about 7 hours. we pulled into Torrance where we were staying at Anne's (another bluefield roomie) grammie's house. everyone was up and it was so great to see them all. we all stayed very comfortably at grammie's house. saturday we hung out and went to aubrey and dave's wedding saturday night. sunday we got up and went to the airport to fly to S. Carolina! avery did amazingly on the airplane, we gave her play-do for the first time which entertained her for a while. she also napped well and we borrowed a portable dvd player from my cousin lacie which kept her happy.

our week in S. Carolina was great, we stayed in the most amazing house with the whole koning clan (minus brian and daniel who couldn't make it and steve and tim who stayed in a hotel). we spent our days playing in the ocean and the pool which was so much fun. avery is now a little fishy and is constantly under water. we also went to ft. sumter one day, which despite the fact that it was so hot, was super fun to learn about the beginning of the civil war.

we flew back on my birthday, then i worked the next two nights (as did andy that weekend at church). yesterday we were finally able to relax for andy's birthday, we went on a bikeride as a family (sounded like a good idea but then went all the way to target to get groceries, turned into a very long ride!) at night we met the pratt's, the hibbs' and brian (erica's husband) for a bocce ball tournament at sycamore park and a picnic of domenicos sandwiches, it was very fun. so our birthdays are over, now we just have to get through avery's! this week will be busy as i work the next 4 in a row and andy's trying to play catchup but we always get through:)

we're already 18 weeks pregnant and baby marylou is definitely starting to pop out! we find out next week if it's a boy or girl, crazy! instead of re-uploading all the pictures i'm attaching a link to the ones that i've put on facebook, hopefully this works for everyone as it takes a huge step out of the process for me:) love to everyone!

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.639947793017.2124262.68602760&l=5ae3ba243e

Wedding Weekend!

Wow what a great weekend! The three of us headed to Holman Ranch in Carmel Valley on Friday afternoon. The ranch that we stayed at (and that the wedding was at) was absolutely incredible. It was kind of like camping because we were all together but we each had our own room and bathrooms! After unloading and getting a tour, we all got ready and headed down to a local steakhouse for some grub (with a group of about 15 others). When we headed back to the ranch we hung out in the gameroom which was fully equipped with a pool table, food, drinks, etc. We stayed up way too late playing games with everyone and having a great time!

One set of the rooms we stayed in

Mom and Dad relaxing in front of our rooms:)

The next morning about 15 of us headed out to Monterey to go to the Monterey Bay Aquarium, it was crazy busy but worth going, Avery absolutely loved all that she got to see! Later that night was rehearsal and dinner back at the ranch, it rained so we had to move everything into the "carriage house" but it was still a glorious night!

Me and my eshmay before heading to the aquarium

Avery and Daddy gearing up for the busy day:)

The cute couple!

She wanted to be with anybody BUT mommy and daddy...here she's learning about stingrays!

With Daddy "inside" a wave!

Later that night at rehearsal...the whole wedding party!

Practicing the first kiss:)

The girls

the boys

The whole pratt clan!

We started getting ready about 10am the day of the wedding, us girls got our hair done (and some got their makeup done) and we just hung out until it was our turn to take pictures. The day was a complete success! Kaitlin and Chas had a ton of fun and were such a beautiful couple! We were pretty nervous about Avery being the flower girl, but our brother in law Brian was her "handler" and he was so good with her...when it was her turn to walk down the aisle she ran behind the guests to the right, then the left, then finally down the aisle (oh and thanks to Kathy she looked amazing)! So she did great, during the ceremony she just walked around and sat with various people, we couldn't have asked for her to do better! Unfortunately I only have pictures of before the wedding so I don't have any of the happy couple (because between the baby and her stuff we weren't exactly carrying around a camera:) but when I get some I'll post them. Avery stayed up dancing the night away with us until we all went to bed around 10pm...AND she slept in a big girl bed for the first time! She's getting just a little too big for that pack and play, she did great!

So beautiful!

Avery practicing her walk (she wouldn't practice unless she was holding flowers:)

The cutest flowergirl in the whole world! (and no, she didn't wear these shoes for the wedding:)

The Konings all dressed up!

So great!

She kept telling daddy to smell her flowers:)

at the reception, they're officially married!

p.s.... 14 weeks today!

That's a doosy...

Well...you thought our update was a big one when we told you that in two days we found out Andy got a job AND that we got a place to live; the reality is within those two days we also found out WE'RE PREGNANT!!! wow wow wow! some have been requesting details so here's what we know: we're currently 13 weeks pregnant, thank goodness we're through that first trimester! It's been a rough go full of nausea, but unlike last time around, i'm taking a lot of zofran:) (an anti-nausea medication). I keep telling myself that every day it's getting better, but I'm not sure we're there yet. So being 13 weeks means we're due Nov. 28th, a Thanksgiving baby! We will definitely be finding out the sex of the baby, right around the week of july 4th. Avery is really excited, we've already had 2 ultrasounds, the 2nd one Avery got to go and the baby was waving to her, it was so cute!

So that we avoid calling the baby "it", the fetus' name is currently "Mary Lou"...it has nothing to do with what the baby's name will actually be so don't start getting any ideas:)

I think that those are pretty much all of the details we know for now, but we'll definitely keep you updated. As for this week, we're going to Monterey for a wedding, woohooo! We'll post pictures as soon as we have them!

A Very adventurous Mother's Day

Due to the fact that CHO (Children's Hospital) went on strike for 5 days, I had a good long chunk of time off! Mom and Dad asked if the babes and I wanted to join them for a little trip to Winnemucca, NV (where Connie's parents live) as a special Mother's day surprise. We of course did not hesitate in saying yes to this adventure, so we packed up our stuff and headed out Friday afternoon. Mom and Dad picked us up, then we drove to Sacramento where we packed up the motorhome and hit the road. Avery LOVED the motorhome, she was so good! She colored for a while (coloring being her new favorite activity), and then just sat with her Nana (my Mom) and cuddled as we went through the mountains. We stayed the night in Sparks, NV where we over-indulged ourselves at a steakhouse for dinner and then all 4 of us slept in the "bus", Avery and I haven't been in the same room while sleeping for a long time (she cries a lot in her sleep, poor thing!) We got up and hit the road again early Saturday and surprised Grandma right as she was pulling her car out to hit up the pharmacy, she was so surprised, she cried. That made the trip worth it:)

The weekend included a lot of hanging out in the house hearing Grandpa tell stories (which always ended with how the world now is so terrible:) and watching Grandma Bea just smile as Avery ran around their house. Mom cooked an amazing meal Saturday night for all of us, Avery's belly got so big we had to take her clothes off:) Sunday morning Grandma Bea said we had to go to the Winnemucca Inn for brunch, all of us were expecting breakfast, it was definitely lunch. A few hours later Grandma finally decided we could leave and after we all took naps, we headed to my mom's cousin's ranch where the babes got to help feed a goat and a calf from a bottle, as well as hold puppies and moo and cows. She LOVED it! Can't wait until she gets older and we can send her to stay at their house:) We had Round Table for dinner then watched a movie, it was a great time.

We left Monday morning and drove through all kinds of snow on the way home, again, Avery did amazingly. If she wasn't coloring or eating, she just snuggled. I put her on the queen size bed in the back for her nap time and she was out, her first time on a big girl bed, it was too cute! Despite the fact that we missed Andy terribly, all in all it was a great trip and we're so very glad that we went. Here are some highlight picture style:):

Just hanging out with Grandpa

Torturing Rascal (their dog) with a duster...

G and G's tenant Mary stopped by 5 different times with presents for Avery, the first present was a ring pop, she loved it but I didn't love the sticky mess that it made:)

After eating a big meal Avery sticks her belly out, grabs it, and attempts to say, "unbelievable" (I can tell you the back story some day:), Grandpa didn't know what to think of this habit!!!

But they were both pretty happy!

4 generations on Mother's Day!

At the ranch...Mom is demonstrating how big the bottles were! And they were warm...

Feeding the goat, I think his name is Homer.

Then feeding the calf, don't remember his name, but he has a lot of issues, one of them is that he thinks he has to be in a head lock to be fed, as evidenced above:)

Avery kisses any and everything, here she is kissing one of the puppies (mommy wanted one soooo bad!)

Cuddling with Grandpa and Rascal watching TV, she sat there forever!

She wasn't allowed in the front seat unless the roads were super flat...Here she is with Nana enjoying her last presents from mary, bracelets, necklaces, and cute hair ties!

Andy had cookies made for us when we got home...yummy! The strike is over, we're just waiting for results and hopefully more negotiations...more updates to come!

April Update!

I know I know...it's been way too long BUT our life has seriously been CRAZY! So, now that I have a moment to update you sit back, relax, and enjoy this long update!:)

So about a month ago we had a really big couple of days, we found out Andy got a full time job (whoooohoooooo!) and we were accepted to rent this really great townhome in Danville, lots of transitions! The week before the move got really crazy because the Pratt house became a sick house...I (Haley) came down with the stomach flu late Tuesday night/Wednesday morning and my mom had this horrible cold that literally wiped her out. Andy had to call out sick from Domenicos to stay home to take care of both of us and the baby. We were bed bound the first day, and then the second day when Andy had to go back to work it was pretty pathetic to watch the two of us try to take care of Avery...a couple days later Avery had a temperature of 103 (of course when our Oregon family was visiting:( which lasted for 5 days! It then turned into the awful cold that my Mom had where the poor baby even lost her voice! A few days later, and the week that Andy started at his new job, Andy got the cold (thankfully a more mild form). He started getting it around Monday, started working Tuesday, and we moved Wednesday and Thursday. Needless to say, we were all a mess and super stressed BUT it all worked out well! We're now settled nicely into our little townhome. It's about .5miles from downtown Danville, it's two bedrooms, quite cozy but working out well. Our neighbors have been very welcoming and friendly and we love it so far! (although it hasn't even been a week:)

The more exciting update (obviously) is Andy's job. He's now the worship pastor for Canyon Creek Church in San Ramon. It's a new church, about 25 years old, and has an amazing new facility. We love the pastor Marty that Andy works closely with, and the woman Anne who has been the worship pastor since the church's inception is slowly fading out so Andy doesn't have a ton of pressure on him right off the bat and he can learn the ropes. The people there are so friendly and constantly encouraging both Andy and I and we feel so blessed to have a new church home. They love Andy for his amazing talents which, as a wife, has been so great to see. Not only is it a real salary job but he gets an i-phone stipend AND we get 50% off daycare as well, how crazy is that? We've been thinking a lot about getting Avery into daycare either once or twice a week just so she can be more socialized and have fun playing with other kids. We went to see the facility and get more information today, and it was quite overwhelming (just cause it feels like she's so grown up, she'll have a curriculum!:) so we'll see what we decide.

Otherwise life just keeps on going, we spent Easter with the Pratt fam. which was fun and we're all gearing up for this wedding in about a month!!! Oh, also I'm going on strike:) A 5 day unpaid strike...ugh. Unfortunately I guess this is part of being a union, so next week I have some extra days off:)

Below are some pictures for your viewing pleasure, we didn't get any of the Oregon clan when the came to visit, sad, life was a little crazy. Enjoy!

In case I haven't mentioned how excited I am for this wedding, this is Kaitlin and I at her bridal shower!!!

Auntie Co Co came to visit the day after we moved (she was a HUGE help in all the un-packing!) and Avery absolutely loved hanging out with her!

My beautiful little girl in her Easter dress!

We hid eggs full of confetti, she loved them!

The only picture of our family that turned out okay...not our best:)

Avery got to meet her new cousin Elliot for the first time (this is Haley's cousin Nadine's son)...she was soooo excited to hold him!

They gave eachother a lot of open mouth kisses...

She hasn't stopped talking about the baby since Sunday, and she often tells me that he's "sleeping"...

A family photo op, terrible background but great picture!:)

Wow that's a big update!

I made time to sit down and put some videos up for all of you! No fancy songs or anything but I hope that you still enjoy them...

The first two are me (Haley) and the Avester making cookies for Daddy for when he gets home from work, as mentioned in the last post, she loves to help!

We've been working a lot on singing lately, she loves: "twinkle twinkle little star", "itsy bitsy spider", "in a cabin in the woods" (i think this is a pratt one...) and the abc's in english and spanish. It's been really fun to watch her learn all of the songs and do the hand motions! Here is the beginnings of twinkle twinkle, but hopefully we'll get some better video to you all soon.

She's also really into making faces (unfortunately she gets distracted by the camera). Her best face where she pulls her cheeks apart is not included, once again hopefully we'll eventually get that on camera too:)

See any resemblance? ha ha, Avery wakes up with crazy hair, then we found this picture of me when I was young...WOW, she is definitely my daughter:)!

As far as updates go, we do have an announcement...we're moving!!! While we are not giving up hope on eventually buying a house by any means we decided in the meantime we'd rent this really great town home we found in Danville. For those that know the area, it's off San Ramon Valley Blvd. just past the mercantile across from the fire station. There were multiple applicants so we wrote a letter on why they should choose us, including a picture of our cute family, and they sent us the lease yesterday! It turns out that the owners were two of my high school teachers that I really liked, CRAZY!

You can see pictures if you google "1103 San Ramon Valley Blvd. Danville, CA" not sure how much longer the pics will be up but you can get an idea. We'll sign the lease, send it in, and hopefully be moving in April 23rd! We're so excited!

That's enough for now, never want to spoil everyone too much! Hope you enjoyed all the videos!