Update

I want to start by apologizing to all of you who check this blog regularly for pictures and updates. I have been M.I.A. this past month! It's not because there's been nothing to share, but because I haven't had time to sit down and collect my thoughts. So I'm sorry, I will try to be better about it!

Avery with the rocking horse Aunt Heidi gave her.

A lot has happened these last few weeks. David and EJ, David's business partner, have hired a new assistant and a new sales person! Which means I'm off the hook! :) ...almost... We're still in the transition phase. But both are wonderful women who we're excited about, and they've already started doing some great things for the company. David and EJ also found an office building they're going to buy, which is an answer to prayer!

Being silly with David.

On the home front, Avery is more fun than ever! She's talking a lot and has become Ms. Independent. I love watching her entertain herself! When she's had enough playing alone, she'll plop a book in my lap and climb on up. When the book is finished she gets down, walks over to the bookshelf, and grabs another...until ALL the books have been read! It's a long process, but there's nothing more rewarding than when she gets in my lap and relaxes against me so I can start the story...I LOVE being a mom! (and I'm so thankful that now I'll get to 'be a mom' full time!)

Playing with the Little Peoples Manger my parents sent her for Christmas.

Yesterday I was getting some last minute Christmas shopping done. Before I left, I grabbed my camera so I could get some pictures of Avery with Santa Claus. She isn't really into it yet...and wondered why I was putting her on this strange man's lap. She wouldn't look away from him for the longest:

But eventually she acknowledged that I was calling her name, and looked at me for help!

Then relaxed just long enough for me to get this picture:

Then we called it quits and said "bye, bye" to Santa Claus.

We hope everyone has a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!