Avery's 12 month pictures and Family pictures

Something to think about...

I have been getting more and more frustrated with the amount of snide and sneaky comments that I see towards other people on facebook. I realize that this is a public forum and you are entitled to say whatever you want to say. I personally have been guilty of posting comments without naming names of people, but knowing fully that they would realize that my comment was meant toward them. I have also been on the receiving side of these comments. I must say, I don't enjoy it.

I have had to learn to bite my "figurative" tongue on facebook when I have things I'd like to say for myself or in response to others' comments. I guess my question is this: What is the motivation for doing this? If the intent is to hurt someone's feelings or wound someone's pride or reputation...I think that is succeeding.

I am saddened by the amount of Christians on this site who, instead of dealing with their problems face to face as the Bible commands us to do, are petitioning their friends in the facebook community to rally to their side and back-up their feelings. Do we really need that much of a confidence boost that we can't talk to the person/people we are irritated with and must enlist our closest 500 facebook friends to get our backs and assure us that our point of view is the right one?

Or why do people make vague comments that imply something terrible is going on, but then decline to discuss it? What are we seeking? Attention? Confrontation? Aggravation?

I think a lot more of our problems would be solved if we dealt with people, not with facebook. Facebook in some ways, has been the bain of my existence...getting me in trouble for things I have said, haven't said, haven't done, started rumors...you name it! If this wasn't pretty much the sole way that I keep up with so many friends from high school and college, I think I'd be off of here!

If you have something to say...say it! But I suggest saying it in the right way...in a spirit of gentleness, kindness, and love...and if you aren't capable of doing that...maybe some things are just better left unsaid...at least to the facebook world.

I am not targeting anyone in specific with this post, because then I would be ignoring my own advice. This is also NOT in response to anything that has personally been said or done to me...I am just noting a growing trend amoung many of my facebook friends. It is just a suggestion to anyone who cares to read the ramblings and thoughts of a 28 year old, sleep deprived woman...just thought it was something to think about.

Avery's 1st birthday, Chicago trip and Fall!

For anyone who follows my blog on a regular basis, you'll have to excuse my tardiness! I have so many pictures of all the fun things that have been happening around here since my last post!

First of all, my little munchkin, Avery Elizabeth, turned one on October 5th! She is such a big girl!
As you can see, she loved eating her birthday cupcake and ice cream. At first, she didn't quite know what to do with it and then she went to town! It was hilarious!
Avery got lots of fun new toys and clothes for her birthday! We had lots of family at her party...about 40 people! We had such a great time and Avery really loved showing off for everyone.
I am so proud of myself.... I made the cupcakes for her party...24 each of yellow and devil's food. I also made the icing and decorated them myself. It was something I really wanted to try and I am so happy that I did. The devil's food ones were amazing!
I carved a pumpkin for my "punkin" as a centerpiece at her party. We kept the seeds to snack on!
Unfortunately, this picture is out of order, but we went to the Shedd's Aquarium in Chicago. Avery was really tired and slept through a lot of it, but she did get to see the most exciting parts...the whales and the dolphins! (this picture is a beluga whale)
What a great picture of Nathan! His parents came up to visit for Avery's birthday. His mom, Pam, had her birthday the day before Avery on the 4th. So, on the 4th, we took a train from Dune Park in northern Indiana into downtown Chicago. It was cheap, fun and convenient!
We had fun riding on the train! We unfortunately made a mistake on the return trip and got on a train that terminated in Gary (not the best place in the world to be stuck) so we got off at a nicer station in Illinois, had to buy new tickets and caught another train. Still fun!
We got all bundled up for a beautiful day in Chicago. It was a chilly 60 degrees, but very pleasant in the sun. Little Avery hung in there and did very well! I think one of the hardest things about traveling with kids like this is it totally throws off their naps. We managed to work around it somehow. :)
We had a wonderful lunch at Bubba Gump's on Navy Pier. We did quite a bit of walking after getting off the train. I believe it was about a mile or so from the train station to Navy Pier, but it was some beautiful scenery! The staff at the restaurant sang a cute birthday song to Pam and we had some delicious dessert!
A gorgeous day in Chi-town!
My beautiful birthday girl in her party dress! She is walking, running and talking like you wouldn't believe! She now says "Hi dada/Bye bye dada" and "Hi baby/Bye bye baby." She also says "birthday", "church", "bible", "ouch", "puppy", "doggie", "up", "down" and many other things! She can point to just about anything she wants!
She loves to swing! She has learned to say "whee!"
Still my Colts girl! It was so hard to find a Colts outfit for little girls this year! Fortunately we did, although those Colts need to step it up! We want another Super Bowl!
Avery has been getting sneaky. The other day it got totally quiet and it scared me to death. I went in the front room and we had a booster seat that we bought when a store in town was closing. It was sitting on the floor and she was quietly sitting and playing in the seat. It was hilarious! She will drag her baby doll in to the seat, put it in the seat, take it out, climb into the seat and then bring the baby up with her. So funny!
We have been remodeling our downstairs bathroom. It wasn't really something we had planned to do, but our upstairs shower and sink was leaking into the ceiling of the downstairs bathroom. We had to have a contractor come out, fix the leak, and put in a new ceiling. In the process, it kind of "threw off" the paint color in the bathroom so he said he would paint it for us and Nathan gave me permission to redecorate! I am loving it! The picture doesn't totally do it justice, but I am so proud!
Finally, Saturday we did a 1/2 day rummage sale. It was 40 degrees when we started and it was hard to keep little missy warm. So we got her all snuggled up and she played all morning! Hats, mittens, boots, coat...the works! She tolerated all the extra clothes well, so that is a good sign for this winter! We are going to go camping soon too (in a tent), so I think she'll do fine!

Well, I think I'm all caught up for now and Avery is waking up from her nap. Time for lunch! Have a blessed week!