57 days until we try that new mexican place you were telling me about....

Do you see that?? It used to be over 100 days.

No one can take amazingly flattering pictures with me like

Rachey Baby can.

Have you introduced the blog to your bf?

You should.

Have him take a look at what he's getting himself into, okay?

And make sure you tell him about our 4 vacations we're taking a year.

So he better make a lot of money, because we only do things in a

big way.

Also, tell him about how much we like to shop, get our hair done, nails, pedi's,

any excuse for eating out, mainly spending money at any given chance. Make sure he knows all of that so he doesn't learn the hard way like mine did.

My computer is broken, so all I had to choose from

were these priceless beauties.

I wish I was really rich so I could pay for a ticket for you to come see me.

Because last time that you were here, lots of great stuff happened to me.

Mainly:

Cutting extensions out of my hair for over an hour, because they decided

to become dreads over night.

Forgetting my wallet and car registration when I got pulled over

by a crazy police officer, who stalked us for 40 blocks....not even exaggerating.

Losing my phone at the mall.

Is that it? Or am I forgetting something?

See why you should come? Only awesome things happen when you're here.

Love you, Rachey Baby.

Sing him the song.

Favorite pics:

Top Middle.

Bottome Left.

Attack of the ducks...

We decided to take a little stroll around the duck pond to take some pictures and feed the ducks.

Little did we know the ducks hadn't eaten in years

or something because they went crazy and chased us!

I probably looked like a crazy person to

all of the passerby joggers

screaming for Avery to run, pushing Jax in our jogging stroller

with 50 ducks chasing us!

Make a wish.....

Who can get a 3 year old to sit still and smile?

Not me.....

Here is where the fun starts.

We thought, look at those ducks, they look nice.

Ducks are so deceiving....

Come here ducks, we have foooooood!

Ok, that's a little close.....

This is where we started walking the other way...and they started

to chase us...

I thought we lost them, turned around and they were

right behind us!

And that's when the screaming and running,

looking like a crazy person took place.

Stay back ducks!

We survived...

Guess what?!

It's been 9 months of trying to get her to do it

and this week, after staying home for 4 days in a row,

doing nothing but staying in our pj's and underwear,

it happened!!

This little sweet & sassy girl is potty-trained!!

And apparently she's annoyed that I'm

taking a picture of her while she's doing her business.

But this is a right of passage...

and you've gotta document it, right?!

WE'RE SO PROUD OF YOU AVERY!!

Jax is 1!

One whole year has passed since our lives changed forever.

One year ago today, Scott and I got up before 5:00 am, I did my hair & put some make-up on, I wanted to look nice when I met my son.

We got to the hospital for the amnio test to make sure his lungs were developed enough, I really didn't think it was going to happen.

But after an hour of waiting on the results, Dr. C came in and said "Are you ready to have a baby today?"

I looked at Scott, and I think it went without saying that we thought we were ready…

I was in labor for 9 hours when his heart rate started dropping with each contraction.

Then the next thing we knew, I was being rolled down for a c-section, praying and telling myself that it was ok and I was not going to be ‘that’ mom who got emotional over having an unplanned c-section.

It took forever for the anesthesiologist to get me completely numb, but I wasn't about to have surgery and be able to feel anything.

Jax was born at 7:09pm.

He looked and sounded surreal, his cry was so quiet.

I touched his foot, and they took him to get cleaned up.

They brought him to me for a minute and then he was gone.

For over 2 hours.

He was fine, so I don’t know why it took forever, but I just remember thinking and telling the nurse that I really wanted to see my baby.

They finally brought him to me and I held him until I couldn’t keep my eyes open.

It took 3 days to name him, our last night we decided on Jax Adam Boyce.

This last year has probably been the hardest and most rewarding year of our lives. Jax has brought so much joy into our home. His sweet spirit is exactly what our family needed. He’s been the sweetest baby, we love him so much!

Jax loves Avery, they hold hands in the car and make each other laugh all day. We went from having the quietest baby to now hearing dadadadadada, loud screeching, dancing, playing with his toys, banging things on anything that makes loud noises, laughing and clapping. He is into everything and never wants to be left out. He follows us around like a little shadow. We are so blessed to have him in our family!

HAPPY 1st BIRTHDAY JAX!

Can you guess what happened???

Thank you self-timer!

Opening presents....

We went to the Zoo and Red Robin for Jax's birthday.

Luckily he's 1 and didn't realize that it rained the whole time we were at the zoo,

we forgot to bring our camera there…

and our waitress was really lame and forgot to sing to him at dinner.

He loved watching the gorillas and eating his ice cream sundae so that's all that matters

right?

What's the number to poison control??

This little man gets into

EVERYTHING.

His last and biggest mess happened Saturday.

Imagine my sweet husband waking up earrrrrrrly with the kiddos,

letting me sleep in.

I wake up a couple hours later.

Walk down stairs.

Look at my coffee table, covered in pink gel nail polish.

Then look at my 2 day old, brand new leather couches to see

more pink nail polish, this time, a hand print is visible.

I inhale loudly, yelling for Scott.

To which I hear, "I know!"

Then I look at my sweet baby boy, and his entire mouth is

covered in pink nail polish.

Scott is trying to get it off the baby, kitchen floor, coffee table and couch

all at the same time.

Then we figure, okay, we don't know how much he's eaten.

Should we call poison control?

What is the number to poison control?

AHHHHHHHH.

We called, they said it happens all the time, just try to have him

drink lots of fluids.

Which for this particular little man, means nurse. all. day.

We put him in the tub and scrubbed, but this nail polish isn't normal nail polish,

so soap and warm water and a little scrubbing just isn't doing it.

His breath smelled like nail polish all day.

I didn't think to take pictures until the end of the day at dinner time,

when most of it was off, luckily.

Maybe mommies just shouldn't sleep in??

Little man, is thisjust a sign of things to come??

Avery, did you open the nail polish bottle???

So many questions unanswered....

3 years old!

3 years ago, this little girl made me a momma.

I can't believe how fast time goes by when you have kids, it's crazy!

Avery, we have said this for months,

first you're sour....then you're sweet! You have the cutest, sassiest little personality.

You can make us laugh with all of your quirks and witty remarks, without even trying!

You have become the best big sister, I always hear you introduce your

'baby bruffer' to everyone you meet.

We have heard from so many that you are so sweet to those around you,

especially sad kids in Primary, you always try to make them feel better.

It makes me so proud to hear that you think of others, and want to

make everyone happy!

We love you so much!!

This year we went to McD's for dinner, per request of the birthday princess.

And then we headed over to Chuck-E-Cheese, because since last year,

that is all this little girl talks about!

Her favorite thing is putting the coin in the game and ripping the tickets out

of the slot.

It's the little things in life that bring Avery happiness!

Happy Birthday, baby girl!

We love you more than anything!

Princess Party

Avery got to have her first birthday party!

She invited all of her little friends here in our neighborhood and

was so excited to have a birthday party!

They decorated jewelry boxes with glitter & gem stickers....

They played pin the crown on the princess...

They made edible jewelry with stringing different candy on

licorice...

This was too tempting to have out for 2 hours before her party....

"Is it time for my party yet??"

The cake

The group!