Our big news

That's right, we have big news! Ava is going to be big sister! I'm 10 weeks pregnant. My due date is April 14. (Don't get your hopes up, Catherine! I'm hoping for an early delivery with this one.) We feel so blessed by God to have another addition to our family. Ava is still a little too young to understand what's going on, but she does know where mommy's baby is when you ask her and she'll usually hug my belly or kiss it. It's sweet! I will try to keep you all updated during my pregnancy as much as I am able to.

I thought I would also share a few pictures of what Ava's been up to. She's been helping me do the dishes...everyday. She loves it!
Ava's favorite new phrase, "One more, and then all done." She wanted one more picture of herself, which is a first for Ava. She normally hates the camera!


Look Mom, no hands!

Beach pictures

Sorry for the lack of posting. We have had such a busy summer, as most of you can relate. We have been traveling a lot this summer with summer camp, visiting family and work trips for Jonathan. He's working in Ft. Wayne, IN this week. It's just a few hours from my parents house, so Ava and I decided to spend the past few weeks with my parents while Jonathan is working. It's been a nice and relaxing time. (Although, Ava misses her daddy.) I have been horrible at taking pictures since we've been here. I did take a few pictures when we went to the beach, so I thought I would share them. This was Ava's first time at the beach. It's not the ocean but it sure feels like you're at the ocean! We had a blast and the weather here has been so nice. I'm looking forward to the fall.

Mama and Ava getting their feet wet in the ice cold water!

Ava's favorite part was feeding the seagulls. She definitely didn't get that from me.

The "other" Amber Newell

My friend, Amber, watched Ava for me a few times this summer. Amber just sent me these pictures , so I thought I would post them. She is such an amazing girl. Her love for the Lord is incredible. I have enjoyed getting to know her and her family the few years that we've been here...and not just because we share the same last name! (I'm sure we are related somehow!)

Ava trying on Amber's sunglasses and "hiding" from Amber.

And now trying on Amber's shoes.

We love you, Amber. We feel so blessed that you are a part of our lives!

Tomatoes & Lemons

Jonathan and I planted a few tomato plants in our back yard this past spring. We were both pretty excited about it and now we finally have tomatoes!!

Look how many tomatoes we have!

And Ava loves them too!

We've also had this lemon tree for about 3 years now. It has only produced one lemon so far, but now look....we have 2 huge lemons! Jonathan loves this lemon tree...it's like his baby!

Visiting Family

Sorry it's been so long since my last update. It has been a busy few weeks for us. As I said in my previous post, Jonathan and I helped out at our church camp for a week. We had a great time getting to know the kids. It was also a great spiritual bond between all the staff leaders that were able to be apart of the week. I did surprisingly well without Ava. I knew she was in good hands but also we were so busy all day at camp that I didn't have a minute to think about her, which was a blessing! Sadly, I didn't get any pictures of the week. (There are plently of pictures on Facebook posted by the kids!)

As far as what we've been up to, well, we've been busy seeing family. This week Ava and I went to my grandma's house. My sister, brother, mom and dad were there as well. My brother, Jeromy, has never met Ava, so it was great seeing him and his two precious boys. If my brother would've let me, I would've taken those boys home with me. They were so sweet!

Ava, Emma & Elsie (They were all smiling!!)
Jackson cuddling up with his brother Samuel.

Here are all the kids minus Ava. We were having snack time in the car waiting very patiently to leave.

My brother, Jeromy, and his son Samuel.

Elsie and her daddy.

Jackson, me, Samuel & Ava.

It was so fun getting to see my family again. It's a little crazy when we're all together, but it's always worth the craziness!

Family Photos

Next week, Jonathan and I will be leaving with our church to take the youth group down to summer camp in Florida. (I won't be posting anything for a while.) Please pray for the leaders of this trip, the kids attending and for our pastor, Byron, as he will be the speaker next week. Jonathan and I are really looking forward to getting to know all of the kids better. You can also pray for me as I'm leaving my daughter for a whole week with my parents! She (and they) will have tons of fun, but I pray that I won't let my emotions distract me while I'm there.


A few weeks ago my friend, Catherine, took some great pictures of our family. I wanted to post a few before we left town. She did such a great job!

Hope you all have a happy fourth!!

Sounds Baseball game

Last weekend we met some friends at Greer Stadium to watch the Nashville Sounds play baseball. We know the pitcher, Tim Dillard, so we like to go cheer him on. It's a lot of fun, especially when all your friends are there to enjoy it with you.

Me & Ava, Angela & Madison, Lauren & Ruby

Chattanooga

Over Memorial day weekend, we took a trip to Chattanooga. We had never been to Chattanooga before, so we thought it would be fun to get away for a little while. I thought I would share a few pictures from our trip.

The first few pictures are at Coolidge park where Ava loved to run.

The fountain in the background was very crowded with lots of kids in their swimsuits running around. They had statues of animals circled around the fountain. Ava just wanted to sit on the statues and watch all the kids.

After the park we ate dinner at a restraunt downtown. We didn't know our child loved corn-on-the cob so much. Ava's balancing act.
After dinner, we went back to our hotel to go swimming. And as you can see in the picture below, Ava loved it!
She also loved riding in the elevators. She would get so excited every time.
On Monday, we went to the zoo. This is a picture of Jonathan and Ava in the petting zoo. Of course I preferred to stay back and watch, especially at this zoo. They had goats everywhere!
If you look closely in the picture below, Ava is holding her chest. That means that she's scared. (And I can understand why!)

And of course you must wash your hands after the petting zoo!

Adios Amigos!