Parenting rant... forgive judgemental Breanne please :)

So I'm at the park tonight with Avery and there are 2 other Mom's there with there kids... talking on their cell phones the whole time?!!? And it wasn't like a quick phone call, they were both on their phones when I got there, and until they left, which was about 20 mins after we arrived!

It almost seemed like they go take there kids to the park... to talk on their phones! Wanna know there really strange part, they were together... like a play date??? Really strange...

The one mother's daughter actually got hurt, and the mom was soothing enough to go over and give her daughter a hug... but end her phone conversation... no!

Now here is the funny part (or maybe sad is a better word.) Since I was playing with my daughter and having fun, the little daughter from the one mother (she was probably just a little older than Avery) started to ask me to go ride the slide with her or push her on the swing or just... play with her! Did the mother clue into this... no! I kept telling her politely that she should ask her Mommy! haha, I don't know if that's rude... but its not my kid! And I DO come to the park to play with my child... isn't that idea???

I should say one day I ran into a friend of mine at the park with her kids, and she was talking to her brother on the phone. But he was way across the world and they had been trying to touch base for a while and that was the time he got a hold of her. So maybe I'm judging these mothers and there is a good reason they were on the phone... but you can kind of sense that hey? And it did just seem like chit chat.

Is this what our world is coming too?? Sad. Alright enough of my rant, here is the reason I go to the park :)

My fuzzy wuzzy Valentines :)

Valentines Day can be so much fun, since v-day was on a Monday this year we spent the day as a family (which is the way it should be hey?!)

Me and Avery had some fun during the day drawing on some hearts and decorating the house, and having a Valentines themed lunch.

The hearts that we made, very extravagant... I know!

Avery thought the whole thing was just so much fun! She loved sprinkling the hearts on the table that we punched out and helping me set the table. We are all big fans of the meal breakfast... so that was our Valentines dinner!

I'm reading this book right now, its a very very light non-serous book called "Cherry cheesecake murder." It is about a girl in a small town that owns a cookies shop and there is a movie crew that invaded this town to shoot a movie. She cooks them food, and its really just a simple fun read! Anyways, she gives recipes throughout the book! She had this recipe for "Fruit Pocket French Toast" that made my mouth water just reading!

So that is what I made, delicious! So fatty, and they take a little bit of time.... but so good, and filling!

Avery opening up some little Valentines goodies :) Jordan and I were sitting there too, but of course I forgot to take pictures of my actual Valentine... love you hunny!

And this weekend Jordan and I were able to go out to dinner and a movie and celebrate together :)

Happy Valentines Day!

My little potty girl

Hi ya'll! I couldn't let a whole month slide by without posting something!

I have some big things to post soon, but time is not right yet... leaving you in suspense! Well don't think too deep, Jordan has just pulled out his handy man skills yet again and made over our front hall closet!!! He always blows my expectations out of the water all the time. I had some requests for our front hall, and then... BAM! He pulls out a custom craftsmanship closet with cubbies and shoes racks and hooks for our jackets, amazed! The doors just went up, we just received the handles in the mail (they were hard to find, but Jordan found some online that are perfect!) So once those go on, pictures to come. And then finally a full out before and afters of the house!

We may get to new doors this year, but definitely most of the big projects are done. Our ugly bathroom will remain... our ugly bathroom! I may give it a little thrifty makeover (new accessories etc.) But that’s it! So may as well post the before and afters!

But I have a little bragging to do about another important person in my life... my little Avery! So I think he has been ready to potty train for a couple months now. She sees her little buddy Zach go to the bathroom lots, so I think that as helped. But I have not been ready! haha, does that make sense? We had Christmas right around the corner and I did not want a newly potty trained kid in the car for a 9 hour drive! Definitely diapers are better for that!

But one of my news resolutions was to dive into potty training! I was all geared up for accidents and a big project... but it wasn't! Avery has been such a star! Of course treats of been a motivator, but there are no more treats and she’s still a champ! She’s so cute to see how proud she is of herself and how happy she gets when I get excited!

#2 has been a bit of a different story, not with having accidents; she only wants to go in the potty. But with being stubborn and holding it! But I think she’s coming around and seeing that its not such a bad thing get it out and "push" a little! haha, the first time she went #2 I felt like a birthing coach encouraging her to push!

She now only wears pull ups for night time, and she is starting to wake up in the morning with them mostly dry! Nap times she even wears panties! And Mom’s out there, how cute are the little panties out there!

Things are good, busy but good. I may get a little spontaneous vacation right away. A deal I could not pass up, details and pictures to follow :)

So funny, sometimes she asks for books when shes on the potty! This kid cracks me up!

Mommy I'm a big girl now!

That is a song title from Hairspray - and lately I feel like that is what Avery is telling me! haha, I still call her my baby and sometimes treat her that way, but she definitely is no longer a baby!

Avery turned 2 on the weekends, I can barley believe it!

She is growing and learning so fast! She has become quite the good talker, basically says everything and pronounces it words quite well! She also knows almost 1-10, a few of the Alphabet, and all her colors! She loves to draw, play pretend, be outside, play in the water, pretending to sing, dance, parks, books, climbing, play "night night", fruit, french fries, milk, nursery and her buddies there, animals and making there sounds, helping dad with reno projects and yard work, helping mom clean and she has quite the sense of humor.

She does not like posing for pictures, being made to do anything until she chooses to do that thing (she is very stubborn and independent), still not a big cuddlier (but has realized hugs and kisses aren't so bad, and being woken up from a good nap (sometimes 1:00 church forces us to do that.)

Her favourite TV characters / shows are Dora and Curious George. I could go on and on about this girl! I just love the little person she is becoming!

I've been looking at lots of pictures of her over the past 2 years and missing those ages, but still loving the ones shes in. Here are some pictures of her over the past 2 years!

Newborn - cannot believe she was once this little!

6 months! She chunked out real good!
18 months, Avery is a bit of a Tom Girl - basically a girl version of Jordan!

2 years old! Like I said before, she is the hardest kid to get a good picture of! Right when the camera comes out, she basically runs or turns away! So this was a couple weeks ago at the zoo - best one I could find recently!

I love her and feel so blessed to be here Mommy! Happy B-day Avery!

I AM ALIVE!

Hi blogging friends,

I've been a horrible blogger, and I'm not necessarily promising I will get better. It seems with work and summer events starting, there is not a lot of free time! And that free time is spent with my favourite people... being Jordan and Avery :)

Work is great... but busy! I'm still part time, but I find myself taking work home lately and preparing presentations and working on clients files during Av's nap time and after she goes to bed. That then leaves my "nap time duties" to be done some other times... not sure when that is?! I also like to spend as much time with Avery when I am home from work! But I know this is many working mothers dilemma, this is just me ranting and still adjusting. But I sure am productive when I'm busier!

Anyways, reno projects are still on the go. Until our fence is done, in house things are on hold. More pictures to come! We've had lots of fun family gatherings lately, which I will post pics of once I get them (I hate forgetting my camera, thankfully my sisters and Mom didn't forget.) And I had a baby shower for my dear sweet friend Tara and her son Boston on the weekend which was lots of fun, hes so darn cute! Well here's some updates of my cutie pie lately!

Before church, she loves wearing her dresses.

This is Avey's tome boy side, she loves puttig her daddys hats on!

Oh and please Mothers out there who have had kids addicted to there soothers... this is a bad picture of Avery, but it shows her crazy addiction to soothers! I have a goal that by the time shes 2 I will be rid of that thing! But its going to be no easy task, any tips you mommas have are much appreciated!

Fun on the Farm!

This week we had such a great little play date with some of my girlfriends and there kids. Lisa invited us over to her parents house who have a acreage outside of Sherwood Park. Her dad was a Rancher his whole life and just retired and they bought a smaller place closer to the city. Even though it was a little chilly out, we all had such a great time! Thank you to Lisa and Mr. Conrad for there hospitality!


Dmitri (Lisa's son) and Zach (Rachel's son) on the horse, they were both very brave! You won't see any of Avery on the horse, although she really enjoyed looking and touching them, she was too nervous to sit on them.

I love this little guy, Cori's son Dylan! His face was precious, it was like "should I cry or laugh right now? I'm not too sure?!?!" Pretty brave for a 13 month old!

Such boys these 2, they LOVED the tractor!

Me and Avery going for a quad ride with Lisa and Dmitri

We had a awesome pot luck lunch after, lots of good food, here is the kids enjoying from fruit after lots of playing outside.

Sleepy heads on the way back home, we caught ride out with Zach and Rachel. These 2 just love each other! When I'm at work Rachel watches Avery, so they are best buddies! So it was fun for me to see them together playing!

Catching Up...

I honestly don't know why I haven't been a good blogger lately... we've been busy but I probably had time to blog. Maybe I haven't been too inspired with anything to to important to blog about, but I do think its a little lame that I only did 2 posts in November! Well December will definitely be much more eventful... maybe too eventful!

Well our house is officially and legally 100% ours! It has been such a long long wait for that day. It was official last week, there was 2 permits to get and an encroachment agreement from the city. Both were done and the permit was approved, it just took so long for all those things to be done! So basically we are beginning reno's now and hope to have our suite (in the basement) done before January, which pushes reno's upstairs needing to be done also (since we are using our old cabinets upstairs for the basement downstairs, and some of the old carpet from up here for down there, etc.) So Jordan finishes work on Dec. 18 for 3 weeks, so he along with some help from my brother will be working very hard! I helped much more with other reno's in our pasts houses we've done, but I feel kind of useless this time. And I do like to help, but being 4 months pregnant and a 1 year to watch there isn't too much I can do (except pick everything out, which I've had done for a while since I've had since August to think about it and live in this house and think how ugly it is and needs to change!)

So this Christmas is going to be odd, I'm going to do some decorating, but it breaks my heart to say I don't think we will be putting a tree up! Unless the carpet gets done right away (we are waiting to here back from our carpet guy) then putting a tree up just means one more thing to move when the carpet is installed. At least my Mom's house is just beautiful and Christmasy, and me and Avery will be spending lots of time over there while our kitchen is gutted and our house in un-livable. It will be a bit of a strange Christmas, but I'm glad we are staying here and not traveling, that would have just added to the craziness.

Right now what I'm looking forward too is next weekend! Me and Jordan are going to Banff, just the 2 of us to celebrate our 5 year anniversary! Its actually on the 18th but that weekend didn't work out, but it will be so nice to have some time together away from our crazy house and relax a little!

Thankfully most of my Christmas shopping is done (except Jordan, hes so hard to buy for) to that stress is out of the way, and my Christmas cards are done and out. So now that they have been mailed to close family and friends here is the Heavenor family 09 Christmas Card!!!

And some recent pictures of what we've been up too... or I guess just Avery! haha, kind of funny when kids come I forget to take pictures of us and just her.

Avery's first pony tail! Her hair is sort of at the mullet stage, but I guess we have to get through that to grow her hair out!

Curlers before Church, it always shocks me she doesn't take them out.

New favourite game of Avery's is playing in blankets!

Getting ready to go run erans with Mom and brave the cold!

Sorry if this post is scattered, that's how I feel my brain is right now with getting ready for Christmas and this renovation. Its alot to just schedule everything so our lives are totally disrupted, which they will be anyways! Don't get me wrong, I'm so excited to have a handy hard working husband that is eager to get it done, as well as make my house much nicer and not so ugly (I'm getting soooo sick of this wallpaper wall!) But I'm excited for when its all over!

Halloween!

It was Avery's second Halloween! The last she was 2.5 months for so didn't quite get much out of it, but this one she loved dressing up for! I thought she would want to rip that lady bug costume off, but... nope! She loved it, and still wants to wear it.

When I first put it on her she kept squatting and feeling her big bum and smiling! And since Halloween her costume has been on her chair in her room and she goes in there and brings it out to me! haha, so I'm glad she enjoyed it, it was a comfy warm outfit!

So we had our yearly Halloween party at the church Wednesday, and then my parents and Kamry and Jason and little Talia came over Halloween. We had some home made clam chowder and home made bread (my first home made bread and it was good!) We took pictures of the girls (Talia was a cute little Santa) and then went to a couple houses with Avery. She didn't quite get trick or treating yet, but she didn't hate it! She enjoyed going door to door and seeing all the funny looking people. It was a nice night.

Since in our new house we didn't know how many trick or treaters we would get. We had a total of 6! Pathetic! I don't think many kids come on our street since we are on a busier street (waaaay to much leftover candy), oh well! Now I know for next year!

"Hey, this is kind of fun!"

The big lady bug bum, it was the cutest watching her walk from the back, everyone at the church party got a kick out of her waddle.

Avery and her little cousin Talia, but over a month old! Next year they will have more fun together!

Fall Family pics - 09

So Leah Karch (see side "Leah photography) took our little families pics and Avery's 1 year shots a couple weekends ago, and this weekend I'll be getting the CD of all the pics, but here is one great shot that she put on her blog. I'm sure I'll have more to put up since she did such an awesome job!!! Leah - Thank you, you are so very talented!

Anyways, if you are needing an Edmonton photographer in the Edmonton area give her a call, shes fantastic, and she made taking the pictures (even in the cold) so much fun! I just love Avery's little face shes making in this pic, and usually Jordan hates pictures of couples kissing, but he didn't mind this one! I think its cause Leah did it so tastefully!



So this weekend is the big laying SOD weekend at my parents, which for me and Avery means playing inside! haha, and my sister Kamry's baby shower for sweet little Talia! Should be a fun weekend :)

Will she ever walk...???

Avery is a few days away from being 15 months, and still not consistently walking! Everyone tells us that it is a good thing and your only busier when they walk. Yea... at 12 months sure, 13 months yea its okay, 14 months I guess this is alright..., but 15 months.... COME ON!

She definitely takes steps, probably max 10. Shes getting the concept, but its not a consistent thing. To get around she definitely prefers crawling or bum scooting. I'm hoping by at least Halloween she is walking so shes not bum scooting and getting her ferry costume all dirty! But honestly, at this point me and Jordan just look at each other and say "shes just never going to walk!"

Here are some pictures of attempts at walking, and pushing her hypo around. She does laps around the house with that hypo.

Good new latley :)

With the encroachment issue with our new house and a few other things we've been a little discouraged lately. Don't get me wrong, life is still good and we have so many blessings in our life. But there have just been a few things where we say "man, why can't things just go smoothly!?"

Well things have been definitely turning around lately! First my sister Kamry and her husband Jason had there little baby girl! I was convinced it was a boy - I'm not sure why, our family can't seem to produce boys! I was so exciting to see there sweet little girl, and just moments after she was born! And Avery will have a little buddy just a year and a bit younger! She is Avery's first cousin! They named her Talia Lee Low, and she was 8lbs even and 21 inches long and born at 12:02am on Sept.28. Kamry had a horrible pregnancy, and her birth was not much better! Her water broke at 2:00am on Sept. 26, and she wasn't having very regular contractions, so it was very long! She was eventually hooked up to the drip to get things going, and they increased by very slowly. All day Sunday she has very regular hard contractions! She was exhausted, and then right before pushing around 9 Sunday night her face was facing up which isn't good. Kamry was able to do some good pushy in different positions and Talia flipped last minute! Thank goodness, she would have had a c-section if she didn't turn after all that pushing! My mom was in the delivery room with Jason and Kamry and her birthday (My moms) is on Sept. 28! So when it was getting close to midnight she said hold on! And the doctor said "on Nana's orders" so they held off for a little and Talia came into the world on her Nana's birthday!!! Very exciting! Shes healthy and adorable, very Pizzey. She looks just like Kamry and Kamry thinks she looks like me! I do think she looks more like me than Avery! haha. So that is the first bit of good news!

Me and Talia and Kamry just moments after the birth, Kamry was such a trooper!

The next day Avery and me and Jordan went to see Talia, Avery didn't really know what to think of Talia...


Jordan and his first neice.

And then they city approved our garage encroachment! So they HOUSE IS OURS!!! Finally!!! So now we are just waiting for paper work and closing with the Lawyers which should only take about 15 days! But now we can FINALLY start some reno's! We got new appliances this weekend and moved ours to the basement, they are beautiful! Jordan found a killer deal on barely used stainless steal appliances! They are wonderful, and I finally have a dishwasher! I was getting just about to my max of washing dishes! So we are starting with the kitchen, and will slowly work away at the house as money allows! Very excited, I can't wait till this house starts looking the way we have pictured it!

So yes, things are happening, and Jordan finished his first 2 exams and feels they went pretty good for his CBV. So now he gets a little break and can enjoy some free time (which will probably be filled with reno's, but he enjoys that.)

And fall is so beautiful! I'm looking forward to thanksgiving this weekend and lots of time with family. Its so beautiful out, we had some family pictures done by Leah on the weekend, I'm really excited to see how they turned out, Avery was hilarious and I think Leah got some great shots! We did her one year shots then too, a little late but oh well!

We also enjoyed a relaxing weekend at home watching conference, I just love having conference in the home. Its such a nice feeling, and every time the choir sung Avery stopped what she was doing and danced (which is rocking back and forth.) She sure loves music, I just love this age! Shes such a blast, so hilarious! The things she does and how quickly she learns cracks me up! She is still stubborn and not walking consistently, she was walking much more yesterday, but starts laughing when she does it and falls down. Shes getting there, and just such a joy and blessing to us! And she is consistantley sleeping through the night now! She has been doing it like 75% of the time for a while, but the last 2 weeks she has every night! From 7:30/8ish until 7:30/8ish the next morning! Its wonderful, I don't think I've had this much sleep for a while, sometimes I'm even up before her in the mornings, which never happens, usually shes my alarm clock!

Well have a wonderful thanksgiving, I know we have lots to reflect on and be thankful for.

Some recent pics of Avery, I don't remeber what she was doing here, something funny!

Enjoying her cheerios in the morning, she was giving me a not very ammused face and leave me alone while I enjoy my cheerios.

Avery's Official 1st Birthday Bash!

Jordan my decorating assistant... hes proud of his work.

Well we finally had a chance to have Avery's first birthday. Between moving and family schedules it turned into being over a month late... but she doesn't know the difference! Jordan's Mom had a fitness conference in town so Avery's Grandpa and Nana Heavenor and Uncle Mike were in town from Vanderhoof. We had most of our immediate family and some extended and some close friends. It was a very fun time!

Uncle Cole, Grandpa and Nana Heavenor, Uncle Mike and Blake Hyde

Stefanie Hyde, Jordan, Uncle Jason and Auntie Kamry

Avery playing with her toys with her cousin Casey (Casey is actual my cousin - My Aunt Kerry's little girl but closer in age with Avery, so seems like a cousin.)

My Nana and Grandpa Pizzey

My great Grandma and Grandma

Me, Jordan and Avery

Lighting the candles, we striped Avery down to her diaper, we really didn't need to cause it wasn't that messy.

Avery wondering what everyone is singing?!?!

Avery's friends Casey and Jonah Chiu helping her blow the candles out. I can't believe I forgot to take a picture of the cake, it wasn't amazing, but it was 2 big balloon on top (orange and purple) of a pink base. Kind of cute and funny with balloon candles.

Enjoying her cake, she wasn't as messy as I'd hoped!

Yum! All done, time for presents!

Opening presents with Casey to help.

Sporting her first gymnastics body suite (present of course from Auntie Taren) and enjoying her chair from Auntie Kamry.