Averie is 3!

Well, I think my posts are going to be going backwards now because I can't find my other camera anywhere to upload the pictures and these are the ones I've got on the DSLR.

SO!

Averie had her birthday on the 3rd of this month.  I can't believe she is already 3.  I have never been one of those moms who gets weepy over how fast it's going but holy cow, I was like, "How she can be THREE already?!"  I think it's because we have Declan now and I can remember when she was that small, too.  Seems so long ago.

We had a small party with my family and some of our good friends.  Averie's best little friend ever made it and they were so happy to see each other!  If you've ever tried to take a picture of two 3-year-olds looking at the camera and/or smiling at the same time, you'll understand why this is the best picture we got.

Per usual, being our first child and the first grandchild on my side of the family comes with its perks.  She was very spoiled this year (who am I kidding?  Declan is the second and he's just as spoiled :P).  We've WAY cut down her TV time but I still couldn't turn down the deal I found on a DVD box set of her favorite show ever -- Word World.  I wish I had the "WOW!!!!" on video :).

There were more blocks, books and baby dolls than I thought possible for one little girl to own but she loves them all.  She always gets one big influx of toys at the end of the year between her birthday and Christmas (oy, Christmas is going to be like a Toys 'R Us explosion in here!) and I love how she delights over all the new things.

She had worked on her blowing skills and this year, we got to have cake not covered in a light spray of toddler spit.  Yum!

Balloons were the highlight of the evening.  She chased this one all over the house and I was glad that they had long strings so they weren't lost for days to the vaulted ceilings :).

Declan was there too.

Averie had had enough of the camera by the end of the night.  I was smart enough to put it away after this.

The following week, she had her party with Chris' side of the family because she has two cousins with birthdays very close to hers.  She got lots of dress-up stuff from Grandma and we got this awesomeness on camera. 

 

Mickey (and Minnie, too) is her other favorite show in the world so this was a big hit, as well as some Minnie Mouse puzzles.  She's into jigsaw puzzles now and is doing a great job with them.  I remember working on the huge thousands-of-pieces puzzles with my mom and I can't wait to do the same with her one day :).

Chris and I spent the previous night and then the afternoon of the party baking and decorating Mickey and Minnie cakes.  Holy moly, I had no idea what we were getting into signing up for that task but I think we did pretty well for a couple amateurs (Mickey not pictured; just visualize Minnie without the bow).

We love you, Averie.  You are a fantastic big sister and my favorite little girl (disclaimer: 50/50 possibility of amendment to "one of my favorite little girls" in a couple years!).  Thank you for all the laughter and joy you've brought to our lives.