3 years...

Has it really been three years? I mean that in a good way, really I do. But I will say, it doesn't seem like its been three years. It actually seems that its been both shorter and longer than 3 years. Hard to imagine I know, but thats how my mind is working. In three years we've done a lot which makes it seem like a longer period of time has passed, yet at the same time it doesn't seem that long ago.

Three years ago, at this very moment (2:28 PM) I was standing in the lobby at Chestnut Ridge Church, waiting to walk down the aisle. I can remember being very calm until the moment before it was my turn, when I decided I needed to go to the bathroom....too late! (I do that when I get nervous.) With my Step-Dad at my side, I nodded to my sister (the flower girl) to go ahead, and then we walked down behind her. I don't remember seeing a single person in the crowd, only the smile on Nathan's face. Even the few moments it took to trade off my Step-Dad with my Dad, or when he told me to "scoot over" as I was apparently walking in the middle of the aisle (it was my day wasn't it? hehe) didn't take my gaze from my soon to be husband. Shoot, I didn't even get to hear my friend Juls' beautiful voice as she sang "Only Hope" as I walked to the front.

The ceremony was quick, and although we had a few little things happen, they were all quirks that added to the amazement of the day. (Okay, so I have to list a few of the little things: the aisle runner wasn't taped down and it was upside down - my Mom ended up standing on the end of it; my brother Jack got sick and about passed out - had to be escorted off the stage by Luke; the rolling slideshow wasn't turned off until after the ceremony started; the music at the end wasn't started soon enough; all our pictures are off center with the tree behind us; I about punched someone at our reception :o) ; and the list goes on! If you want all the info we'll talk later!)

The day turned out wonderfully, and although I don't remember a lot of it I'm thankful to have pictures to remember it by. I hope everyone had as much fun as we did. And honestly, I still look back and think our wedding was one of the most beautiful weddings I've ever been to, I just loved it. I guess every bride says that though.

So its been exactly three years, and we have done a lot. We've moved from WV to VA, and from VA to PA, changed jobs several times, changed churches, bought a house and added to our family, and I don't mean Acey. We've done a lot in a short period of time, but like I said before, it doesn't feel like its been so short. Either way, short or long, its been wonderful. I couldn't ask for anything better.

Today we celebrate our 3rd anniversary. We won't do much as Nathan is still kind of sick, but just spending the time together with our daughter will be enough. I am looking forward to another 3 years, and many more than that.

Santa...

On Saturday we took part in that annual tradition and went to see Santa. Luckily my MOPS group was having a "Pajama Party with Santa" so we didn't have to go to the mall, added bonus we could take as many pictures with Santa as we wanted....as as time permitted. Plus, it was really snowy on Saturday and we live a good half hour from the mall, and only 10 minutes or so from the Clubhouse where Santa was.

We weren't quite sure how Ava would react, given many children find the big man in red quite scary, not to mention the fact that she is overwhelmingly a "Mommy's girl".... ask Nathan about my nights out at MOPS. (so far I haven't made it through a single one, and there has only been 3...well 2 that I made it to).

Anyway, we got Ava dressed in one of her many Christmas outfits and headed out in the snow. But of course we took a few pictures first.

wide eyes, she isn't too thrilled to be dressed up....my child hates, I mean HATES bulky clothes! She had a hate that matched, but we prefered the bow.

a picture with Daddy by the tree

(yes thats a random green ribbon on the tree, its there because Ace would have eaten it had I left it on the table and so I threw it on the tree expecting to take it down, but forgot)

Ava and Santa. This was picture #3 that we took, all the other Ava either had her hand in her face or was looking elsewhere. Just happens that Santa isn't looking at the camera in this pic.

The three of us, courtesy of Andrea (Santa's bouncer and our close friend! Thanks Andi)

We didn't stay at the party long as we were surrounded by preschoolers and they were WILD. I ate a cookie and then we ran out the door as fast as we could. We then headed over to Jon and Val's to hang out them and Nate until Andrea was done with her bouncer duties. We had a great time seeing Santa, and spending time with friends. Hope you had a great weekend yourselves.

the tree...

So far so good with our Christmas tree this year....at least the cats haven't torn it down yet. I thought I'd put up a couple of pictures. Enjoy!

I don't know if you can tell, but the majority of the lights are at the top as well as the ornaments because of the cats, they like to chew on things and pull things off the tree... shoot, they will even eat the tree!

Thanksgiving...

This Thanksgiving we decided it would be easier for us to stay at home, especially since we were heading to Morgantown to see Nathan's siblings on Saturday morning. So we got up nice and early on Thanksgiving day, I got the turkey started and then we hung out with Ava for a while. She was having a ball laying on the floor talking to her toys and getting Mommy & Daddy's full attention. It was really nice to have Nathan home for 4 days straight.





Eventually we went up and got Ava a bath and then dressed her in her Thanksgiving Day outfit courtesy of Andrea. Ava was actually the only one who got dressed on Thursday, Nathan and I stayed in our pjs... oh so nice.

she wasn't too happy about the pictures after about 10 of them

Then on Friday we got ready for the WVU vs. Pitt game. After Pitt's first touchdown I turned my attention to putting up the Christmas tree. Yes we actually put it up this year, hopefully it will last longer than 3 days. The cats have already started pulling the ornaments off, so I took off the lower branches and moved all the decorations up so they are about 3' off the ground. It looks funny, but we needed a tree for Ava's first Christmas.

Ava was a bit worried about WVU after the first half. We had hoped for a better game and were very disappointed at the outcome. Ava was not a happy camper and got really upset at the very end. Eventually she gave up and cried herself to sleep.....

we hope you had a great Thanksgiving!!!

Susan & Morgan...

I talked with my aunt Susan (& cousing Morgan) today and she said that I needed to post some new pictures... and that with each post I do, there should be a requirement of new pictures. Apparently its the hightlight of their day when they get to see pictures.

So here are some new and relatively new pictures of Ava for Susan and Morgan... and everyone else too. Enjoy!

she found her thumb...takes after Mommy

Ava with Reese's Bear

hanging out with Lambie

(dumb picture rotated on me!)

she is learning to stick her tongue out

she didn't want another picture taken!

hanging out with Daddy

more sleep...

Last weekend we finally moved Ava from our room into her crib. She had been sleeping in a basinet next to our bed, it was the basinet that I used as well as my Mother and Grandmother when we were babies. But Ava had started to outgrow it. She would wake herself up when she moved her arms about at night because they would hit the sides... not to mention she'd wake me up as well anytime she moved around. So we figured it was time.

The first night was a little scary for me, for some reason I thought something would happen to her. But I was good and I didn't get up and check on her a thousand times, I actually slept. It was nice getting 4 hours of sleep in a row. But since then our sleep has increased and increased.

Yesterday I mentioned to Nathan that on Dec. 1, thats two Mondays from now, we should try "sleeping through the night in 7 days." By then Ava will be 3 months old and able to sleep through the night by herself. Actually they say any baby that is over 12 lbs doesn't need night feedings and should be sleeping anyway. Not so much the case with our Ava, but anyway.

So last night, just for fun, I decided to lay Ava down in her crib to see what would happen. She was tired anyway, and it was bedtime. She fussed for quite a while, although I didn't let her go too long. I ended up picking her back up and she almost immediately fell asleep. I walked downstairs with her, still sleeping, and turned off the TV and lights, walked back upstairs put her in her crib again. She woke up for maybe 5 minutes and then fell asleep. EUREKA!!! Then to top it off she slept until 6am! I couldn't believe it. I got almost 7 hours of sleep in a row last night.

Oh... there she is. I better get going, the princess is up. I'll try to update again soon, but wanted to share our exciting news.

Ava's Room

So we finally finished Ava's room a few weeks ago and I've been meaning to post a video of it for some time. Unfortunately I'm not camera or computer savy so the video is sideways... so please tilt your head to the left and enjoy!