avery taylor, almost 3.

"Please mama, can I please have some goal-fish in a cup...in a orange cup...with some am-mul cwackers on top please?"

"Avery, thank you so so much for being such a good girl and minding mama today. You make me so happy when you listen, and when you say please. Yes, you can have goldfish and animal crackers. Here. Don't you see, when you are a good girl and ask nicely, you get to have fun stuff!"

"Oh yea mama, I know! Like when I say pllllease can I ride the carousel today, you always smile and say oh yes you can!"

She's getting a little too smart for my own good.

That's my first born. Avery has grown up so much, so fast, and at an even quicker rate since Christian was born last January. While she definitely has her moments, (and she DOES have them) she had turned into one of the sweetest, smartest, imaginative, curious, and thoughtful little girls I've ever known.

The thing about being a parent to Avery that always makes me smile is how truly alike we are. Even in the smallest ways. I see myself in her almost every day. The way she fixes her hair...the way she organizes her toys, or puts her markers in a straight line...the way she sleeps...how she eats...and the list goes on and on.

On one hand I have no idea how my mom put up with raising me. On the other hand, I feel like our having similar personalities has helped me to know best how to motivate her. Traditional scare tactics never work. With her, I often find myself thinking ahead to what I would have liked to do or see or touch or investigate in any situation, and then try to provide opportunities for her to safely (and mess-free) be involved. It's no wonder to me that one of her all-time favorite cartoons is Curious George. I don't like the cartoon myself. George the monkey is always getting into trouble.

Well, cartoon or no cartoon, Avery finds her own trouble. But, she never leaves me empty handed when it comes to funny one-liners or surprising antics. She is a smarty pants. She is a daredevil. She is a fabulously loving big sister to Christian. She won't take no for an answer. She's learning how to share. And, she's my favorite little almost-3-year-old in the whole world.

Avery Taylor, you are indeed loved.

and then there were four.

He is here! And, has been for over 2 months now. Christian Timothy Finch is the newest love of our lives. A boy. An infant. A house of (now I can say it in the plural) kids! I've often thought of writing about him during his 3am feedings, and his 5am feedings, and his 6am feedings, but have yet to write down how much I love him.

I do. Very much. He's just so soft, and his face is such a perfect blend of Finch & McDiffett (with maybe a little more McDiffett) this time round. His big big big blue eyes match his sisters', and he has his dad's rounded (more normal-looking) ears. As of now, at our 9-week point, he has only 1 dimple on his right cheek. His thighs are chubbing out, and he's started to grow into his storing-up-for-the-winter squirrel cheeks. But, the best part...has got to be his smell. I could nuzzle my nose under a cheek, into that neck and stay there. All. Day. Long. Maybe chew on that said cheek while I'm at it.

Originally, Avery couldn't pronounce his middle name Timothy. She said Tumbally. That was it. He has been Tumbally and Tumbles and Rumblin Tumblin ever since.

Here is our little Monster, Inc. at 8 weeks...