We're All Still Here

Apologies for not being around and posting much lately. I always mean to get around to blogging, but it never really seems to happen. Bedtime calls all too quickly for me. I just wanted to post an update to keep everyone informed about what is going on around the Rogers' house and how we are all doing. So in true Tiff fashion, I thought I'd make a bulleted list, because I love lists!

• Ava and I have both been vaccinated for the regular season flu, as well as the H1N1 flu. Ava will go back in another month for her 2nd flu shot, but we decided to go ahead and vaccinate rather than risk it (this was important to me especially since I am pregnant).



• Last weekend's weenie roast was cancelled due to the flu in our family, but my parents are planning to visit tomorrow to make up for us not getting to visit last weekend.



• I went to the doctor for a check-up on Wednesday and my blood pressure was elevated. I had tons of blood pressure problems with Ava, so I am being very conscientious about this and trying to keep a check on it and rest.



• I have been CRAZY busy with photo shoots, orders, and trying to reschedule sessions cancelled because of the rain. I have lots of people trying to get pictures done before I go on maternity leave so I am hoping this blood pressure stays down a little longer.



• I go back for an Ultrasound on 11/4 and we will get to see how big the little guy is.



• Bradley has been doing a lot of things that I used to do around the house now that I am pregnant and getting bigger and bigger. One of those is giving Ava baths which I just can't bend down and into the tub for. Thank you for all the extra work you have been doing!



• Ava makes checks pretty much every day in Baby Brother's room to see if he happened to come yet. I guess she thinks that maybe Santa is bringing him?



• Baby Brother still has no name...

• And because I know you like the pictures, here is one of Ava from last Halloween. My how fast a year goes by!
  

Pictures from last Thursday

I didn't take many pictures last Thursday. I had to work for part of the day, and then the ones I did take are really random ones. I know I am behind on my blog, so I am trying to catch up, but I am so swamped with things lately. I have had lots of photo sessions and we have been busy trying to get ready for the baby. So here are a few from last Thursday:


Ava had thought she would get to go to MO with Daddy to work and they were going to stop at McDonald's for lunch. She was mad when I got through with work early, so I took her to McD's anyway. However, they put a "boy" toy in her meal which she proclaimed was "stupid!"


Ava was awfully quiet so I went to find here. She came out of my bedroom and said, "Momma, I'm big. I'm 3 years old!" I said, "What did you do?" and she replied, "I ate bubblegum because I'm big!"
Decorating our Halloween Tree.

Pictures from last Wednesday

Last Wednesday I had to go to school and do some paperwork, of course, I took Ava along who was content for maybe 20 minutes and then ready to go. I promised her if she was good we would go to the Ag Barn and see the animals. She was excited about that because it has been a over a year since she has been. She loved seeing the animals, but said her favorites were the two barn cats that live there. After the farm, we had a picnic on the porch and enjoyed one of the last "warmer" and sunny days we have had in the last 2 weeks.

Wednesday-Halloween Photo Shoot

On Wednesday afternoon, Ava and I went out hunting for a field to take some pictures of her in her Dorothy dress. (This is the dress that Nana made for Ava for her birthday/Halloween.) You can tell how our day was going by the conversation we had before leaving the house.


Ava: Am I going to play Dorothy at the photo shoot?


Me: Yes, Ava, you are going to play Dorothy.


Ava: Then Momma you will be the wicked witch!


Thanks, Ava!

Anyway, we finally found a nice little field close to a cemetery/memorial and I got a few good photos before we were literally covered by mosquitoes. Ava had fun though and was very intrigued by the "magic beans" growing in the field.

A Few Pages That I Am Filing Away

In all of my cleaning, I found some scrapbook pages that need to be filed away. So, I took a few pictures to share with you all. I really need to get hopping on some recent stuff... and especially on the one for Baby Boy...

I thought I had posted this one before, but it is from Ava's first Christmas.

One from last year's Halloween Photo Shoot

A Double Page Spread from last year's 4th of July

A closer look at the butterfly embelishment that I made.

A layout for Baby Boy's album. This will probably be his title page.

Tuesday-A Week in the Life

Tuesday-October 6th

• Woke up to a rainy day.



• Ava watched Care Bears while I got ready for a doctor's appointment.

• She was eating a chocolate Pop Tart and came running up to me, "Mommy, I spilled Pop Tarts in my bed!" It was just crumbs, but chocolate Pop Tarts are known as "Pudding Pop Tarts to her.



• Ava found some decorations I had bought for her room and loved playing with the letter "A".



• Dropped Ava off at Nana's on the way to the doctor.



• It rained all the way on our drive to the doctor.



• The doctor said, "Well, you're pregnant!"



• Bradley and I ate Chinese food for lunch in Union City.



• When we got to Nana's house Ava was watching Little Bear on OnDemand cable, which she loves!




• While I was working on pictures Ava came in and said, "Mommy, I brought you a coin. Put it in your pocket. It's a booger coin!" Yuck!



• Ava pooped and peed in the potty. Yay!



• Ava and I snuggled in her bed, I love that she has a full size bed now!



• A package with photo samples arrived.



• While opening a box of Halloween decorations I found some things we had purchased on clearance sale last year. New goodies=fun surprise!



• We hung up ole' Jack Skeleton on the door.



• We visited with Nana and Pop before they left for vacation.



• It was late so we ran through the McDonald's drive-thru. In typical Ava fashion, she had to have her window rolled down so that she could talk to the workers.



• I worked on pictures until bedtime.
  

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• Our bag of goodies and Potato Head we found.
  

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Monday-A Week in the Life

Well, it's that Fall Break time of the year. The time when I try to catch up on all things that I am behind on. I decided to do another Week in the Life even though this is far from a typical week for us. I still like seeing the week and the things that Ava and I get to do. So I have been trying to take tons of pictures, but I have also been hugely busy with photo sessions. If you haven't been to my photography website lately, you should check it out. Lots of new goodies going on.


Anyway, here is what Monday was like at our house.

• On the first day of break, Ava woke up at 8:00.


• Ava watched Peter Pan while I worked on photo orders.


• We worked on various clean up jobs (the main one being my craft room).


• Ava is absolutely enthralled with Max and Ruby. To the point where it is utterly annoying!


• Ava made a train of Little People and various items.
  
• I worked on catching up in Ava's baby book (better do that before the next baby arrives!).


• Ava spent time cooking at her kitchen.
• Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup were perfect for lunch on a gloomy day.


• A picture prop I ordered made its way from Hong Kong.


• Headed to town and stopped at the post office, the mall where we bought Ava two pairs of shoes (her foot measures 8 and 1/2 to a 9), Sweet Peas (where Nana called and wanted to meet us at the mall to buy Ava some shoes, lol), back to the mall where Nana bought Ava some light up princess shoes and some Dora boots.


• I had a chiropractor appt where Ava proceeded to spill a whole bag of M & M's all over the waiting room.


• Ava wanted to see Daddy at work so I let her stay there while I ran to Hastings and bought the Nov. issue of Creating Keepsakes and a baby book for Baby Rogers.


• We ate leftover chili.


• Ava modeled her new shoes for Nana and Pop.


• During DWTS Ava threw a fit, so we put her to bed, and then continued watching DWTS.

Typical of what Ava wants to show me when I want a picture:

I think she is really saying, "Woman it is too early to have that camera in my face!"

True to form, we spend a lot of time in our underwear lately...

I bought this baby book because it is the same artist and artwork from some of my favorite Golden Books.

Ava modeling her new princess shoes and petticoat from Hong Kong.

Ava with her new black shoes on. I think they really complement those panties!