Monday

After a truly terrible week last week, it's finally Monday again.  Today a new week starts and we put last week behind us.  I have a happy, healthy, growing, learning, amazing, beautiful daughter.  I have a loving, caring, providing, handsome, hard-working, sweet, wonderful husband.  I am extremely blessed in this life.  As only God can, He has once again filled me with a peace that surpasses all understanding.  This week was a sad chapter in our lives, but Michael and I have had far too many of those in our short time together and they have taught us to be strong and lean on each other and God to get through and see the light.  So this week I will count my blessings and not dwell on what could have been.  God has a plan for our life and another child will come in His good time.

Thank you to everyone who has been praying for us.  We have felt your prayers and know that God is working on our hearts.  We appreciate everyone being brief or not discussing the situation with us at all.  This has made things easier on us.  We'll be able to talk about it eventually, but for now we just want it to stay in the back of our minds.

In happier news, yesterday was Father's Day and we celebrated my best friend.  Michael is the most incredible husband and father.  It was a joy to celebrate him and his role as Avery's Daddy.  I tell him all the time that he's amazing, a gifted father, an incredible husband, more than we could ever ask for.  But yesterday was all about him, and I tried hard to make sure he knew how much we love him and care about him, and what a blessing he is to our lives.  He got a French Coffee Press, a Guitar Center gift card, and a picture frame that says "Sweet Child of Mine" and has a picture of Avery in it.  We also grilled steak and shrimp and baked potatoes.  It was a delicious dinner!  Only the best for the greatest Father in the world!  We love you, Michael!

As always, Avery is growing bigger and stronger each day.  Learning to do more and exploring the possibilities.  Yesterday Avery decided to get her balance about her and stand.  She will only let go and stand on her own for 2 or 3 seconds, but she's trying.  It will only be a matter of time before she's walking and running around our house.  She's barely over 8 months now.  She crawls like a speed demon, and now she's working on standing!  Where did time go???  She's also coasting well!  She's been pulling up for more than a month now and she's taking several steps once she's up and holding something like the fireplace, coffee table, or couch.  Like I said, it will be no time at all!  Another thing she picked up on yesterday was mimicking a song Michael and I were singing.  She says her "baw" syllable well, so naturally, Michael and I began singing Barbara Anne to her.  She repeated (in correct time) the "Baw's" at the beginning of the song!  It was pretty stinkin' impressive.  But then again, she's always been gifted when it comes to music.  In utero she would dance and kick when we played "More Than a Feeling" to her.  But she was particular and refused to dance to any song but that one.  When she was an infant we noticed that when she was sleeping, she would breathe along with the beat of a song on the radio or a song in church.  She did it so often, we knew it was no coincidence.  Her favorite song at the moment is Natural Disaster by Zac Brown Band, and when we turn it on in the car she gets quiet (even if she's been screaming previously) to listen.  She will stomp, clap, kick, or bounce along with the beat of most music when she hears it, and lately she's begun "dancing" and she first hears music begin to play, especially upbeat songs.  It will be so much fun watching her grow more into this simple love for music that is already obvious to see.  I'm excited to see her talents grow.  :)  Finally, my last update on little miss, she had her 3rd tooth pop through yesterday!!  It's been 2.5 months since she got the first two.  The 4th one is not far behind.  I expect it to come through in the next few days.  :)  She's getting so big!

Well, that's all I have for this morning.  Trying to keep on the sunny side.  ;)  Hope you all have a great week.  Thanks again for your prayers.