Abigail's Christmas Morning

Did I mention that Abigail had croup on Christmas and the surrounding days? I think this picture perfectly captures the sleepy-eyed confusion she felt that morning.
It wore off quickly.
Some background: at the very beginning of December, the kids got to make marshmallow menorahs. Each candle was stuck in a large marshmallow, then the mallow was glued to a foundation with frosting. Fast forward 3 weeks: the menorah is on the table and falls off to where we are sitting opening gifts. Abigail, with her perpetual sweet-tooth, of course can't pass up a marshmallow and bites into it. Her reaction is next.
"That was gross. Maybe the candle-wick and wax taste better." The funny thing is, she kept trying the other marshmallows to see if she could get a soft one.

 

Warren on Christmas Morning

So Christmas morning for Warren began with us having to remind him what day it was. He straight up just walked out of his room like it was any other day. He quickly snapped out of that as he saw his stocking, which had previously been empty, was now full.
I love that look in Warren's eyes: pure delight. The greatest thing about it, was that whether he was opening underwear or seeing his sandbox for the first time, he was so excited.
This was Warren and Abigail's gift from Grandma and Grandpa Blake. Isn't it great that we have concrete floors?
Trying it out and having a blast.

 

'Twas the week before Christmas

We found the ultimate Santa visiting spot at Pollack Investments, right here in Mesa. He is accompanied by his wife, his balloon-twisting elf and over 500,000 lights. Did I mention there was also no line and no charge? Andy and I loved that, and Warren loved Santa, happily jumping right into his lap.




















Yes, we took Avery along. The people that arrived just after us asked, "How old is your baby?" I sheepishly replied, "4 days." We did have her bundled up very well, though.

I love these snow-people sweaters the kids have on. I esp. love that Abigail's hat matched the snow-woman's hat on her sweater. That was Abigail's hat of choice through out December. Isn't Warren handsome? (Just like Andy--don't tell Andy I wrote that...)
Jennings Family tradition is to gather at G-ma and G-pa Jennings' house on an evening before Christmas. Those who have spent any time in the toyroom/bedroom in the back will recognize the pillows that make up Warren's "Tunnel Fort."

 

Avery's Birth!!!

On December 18, 2006 just after midnight, Avery Hoku Jennings entered the world. This is her first photo.

She weighed 8 pounds, 5 ounces, and was 20 inches long.

This picture is funny because Avery looks SO mad--like, "What did you just do to me?" Considering I gave birth to her naturally, I think I should be asking her that question...||

Did I mention that she came out ready to eat? Of our three children, this one sure figured it out the fastest.

Just a sweet photo--I'm crying, of course : )

My favorite photo of me and Avery. It is such a motivating, awe-inspiring and humbling experience to look into the eyes of a child so fresh from heaven. I can't say all the emotions that surface in that moment, but it is definitely a moment that begins a long relationship of trust and commitment.

Abigail meets Avery for the first time. I have to say, as excited as she was--and Warren--to see Avery for the first time, they initially ran into the hospital room most excited to see me, a rare occurence with all the visitors we had coming and going :)

Andy and I decided that next time around, we are skipping the pediatrician's initial visits and just hiring Abigail instead. She was just as good at checking for every finger and toe and identifying every body part. She loved--and still loves--to find Avery's ears, nose, eyes and eyes. She even yanked off the hat to find her ears and was thrilled to see that they were there.

Warren meets Avery. He is now the proud older brother or 2 sisters. He loves letting people know that he has 2 sisters and often, in his prayers, thanks God for "my sister, and my sister."

Making her fashion runway debut, here Avery is sporting the fabulous winter palette of baby pink and blue, designed by the hospital.



This is Avery's going home from the hospital shot. Notice the Christmas pajamas. She still loves curling up on my shoulder like she's doing in this picture.

Did I mention that Warren loves Avery?

I put this picture in because Warren loves building forts out of the couch pillows, and he is learning that those forts cannot be built around Avery, even if her "nose isn't covered," as he likes to defend himself.

Our first family photo [Thanks Gordon]. We are having a blast being a family of 5. Andy and I are outnumbered and that sometimes leaves me feeling like I'm running a pre-school, but it is all good. Warren and Abigail are so sweet with Avery, Andy is a huge help and I am feeling great. We are so blessed.

NOVEMBER & DECEMBER (Pre-Avery): The biggest event of November was the Merkley Family Reunion, held here in Mesa, AZ. (We beat out Washington, Utah and NY for the location with the best weather, at least in November...) Warren and Abigail are pictured here with Great Grandma Cleone Hoku Merkley, Great Grandpa G. Warren Merkley and 2nd cousin, Cooper Spence.

My grandparents wanted a picture with "all" of their great-grandchildren. The woman in purple is my cosuin, Megan Peterson Garcia, who is expecting her first child, a boy at the end of January.

I've mentioned in several previous posts how much Abigail loves hats. Apparently she didn't have enough of the winter variety for her tastes, and employed her toy bucket, made of felt. She kind of looks like a toy soldier, don't you think?

This picture was taken Thanksgiving weekend, about 3.5 weeks before Avery was born.

Ever since Warren discovered this summer that we own an apple-peeler-corer-slicer, he has been asking to make apple pie. I told him, "When it's fall, we'll make apple pie." So now, every time the leaves fall from the trees, he excitedly calls out, "Mother! It's fall! Let's make apple pie!" This picture is proof that I kept my word; we like to call these "apple noodles" and yes, Warren really ate quite a bit of them.

I have two favorite Winter outfits that Abigail wears; this is one of them. Abigail is such a doll; her smile truly is pure sunshine and she exudes happiness.

In downtown Mesa each year, we have "Sculptures in the Streets." One Saturday afternoon, we took a walking tour of them as a family. Here, Warren plays with some polar bear cubs.

Here, Warren is about to be smashed by a rhino foot. I'm a good parent.

This picture brings to mind the story of Goldilocks and the 3 Bears: "but the chair was just too big."

Yes, Abigail went along for our walking tour, but she was in a stroller most of the time. (Now that I think of it, Warren had brought some rope along, and he held one end and I held the other--it kind of looked like he was on a leash--or was I the one on a leash?) Near the end, we stopped off at the Mesa Arts Center, which has some great fountains. Both Abigail and Warren really enjoyed them.

Abigail's fascination with hats, as shown previously, extends beyond those items created solely for that purpose. Yes, that is a potty seat on her head; Warren's bum is too small to sit on the regular seat, so we have that one to go over it. Apparently, Abigail felt left out of the action, and wanted to try it out, too, but on the other end of her body.

This is a photo of me the week prior to Avery's birth.