Thirty

For the next month, Avery and I are the same age. The only difference is a minor multiplier of twelve. Details, right? Avery is now thirty months or two and a half years old.

If I had to choose one word to describe the difference between Avery at two and two and a half, it would be, MORE. Avery talks MORE, she has MORE hair (YEAH!), her tantrums and mood swings are MORE frequent and MORE dramatic, her hugs are MORE powerful and her imagination is MORE vivid. I'm sure everyone can guess the attributes I appreciate most and least, right?

As many of you who have spent even five minutes with Avery know, she talks A LOT. Honestly, I knew she talked more than the average two year old, but I didn't realize how much more until recently. Avery and Logan just started at a new daycare and when I picked Avery up from her first day, I was stopped four times by people saying, "Avery talks really well for her age." I even had two people tell me that she "tells a lot of stories." I think we might be in trouble.

Tantrums. Let me just say, I could definitely live without them. I think all two year olds have slight split personalities and Avery is no exception. She is either the sweetest girl on earth or not. She is quick to say sorry and give hugs if you get hurt or happen to be sad, but often loses her mind when she doesn't get her way.

Avery recently developed the "mommy" gene. It is so sweet. She has a Cabbage Patch Kid baby doll that is her baby. This baby is a girl, and Avery recently changed her name from "baby" to "Logan." Of course this isn't confusing at all when she asks, "Where's Logan?" Avery likes to rock her baby, feed her, read to her and even give her the occasional time out. You see, Avery's Logan seems to have a biting problem. :-) Often, when Avery carries her baby around, she insists that I carry my baby as well. I just love that Avery has become more of a nurturer these days.

Two and a half is fun. I just wish it included potty training for Avery. Dear lord, this is our biggest battle. Miss Avery has NO interest. She will sit there and say, "I'm pooping", but refuse to sit on the potty. I have tried to take her diaper away and just put her in panties three times. She not only refuses to sit on the potty, but will also pee or poop all over herself acts like nothing happened. It drives me crazy, but I think I have almost convinced myself that she won't go to Kindergarten in a diaper.

Well, potty training battles aside, my girl is pretty amazing. At two and a half some of Avery's favorite things are riding her bike, pretending to be a shark or a lion, playing with friends, going to gymnastics, Logan, her cat (Scout) and mommy. She surprises me each and every day with the new things she learns. I can't wait to see what the next six months have to offer, but for now, I will just enjoy my sweet two and a half year old.

Goodbye, 2011!

Well, there goes 2011 and what a year it was! Logan is now one and Avery is, well, almost a teenager. This was a year of many firsts; fist big family vacation (Aruba), I finished my first year at a new job (Ashley says I travel too much), and it's our first complete year as a family of four. It's been crazy and a lot of work, but well worth it and so much fun.

One year ago, Logan just laid there not doing too much and now he walks all over the house, "talks" and insists on using silverware when he eats. He has gone from a helpless baby to an active and opinionated toddler.

Avery has really expanded on her singing career with her favorite songs being "Baby"- Justin Bieber, "Someone Like You"- Adele, and "Party in the USA"-Miley Cyrus. I doubt Simon Cowell would put her through to Hollywood but he would probably let her down easy.

Ashley is becoming quite the photographer and movie editor thanks to her laptop and extreme patience. For those of you who haven't seen Logan's one year video, email Ashley and she will send you the youtube link. I feel like I do a decent job with pictures but that's probably because I use intstagram on my iPhone.

Looking back there were definitely some great times, but then again there were some not so fun times. As many people who have kids who are two or older, this is the time where they develop some strong opinions. Let's just put it this way... if Avery was a model, she would be Naomi Campbell; cell phone and all. She is not always like this, but it has been known to happen. Logan on the other hand is still "mommy's little man". However, you can really tell the difference between him and Avery at one. He likes to roughhouse a lot more but is still a mama's boy at heart.

All in all, it's been a great year for us. We are really looking forward to 2012 and all of the adventures that come with it.

Wordless Wednesday

Merry Christmas

As another Christmas approaches, the Musselman family would like to wish everyone a wonderful Christmas filled with family, friends, plenty of good food and a possible visit from Santa. Who knows, maybe we will even witness a Christmas miracle of a White Christmas tomorrow!

Love,

Luke, Ashley, Avery & Logan Musselman

Happy Birthday, Logan!

Sweet Monster Man-

Happy first birthday, Logan! As I think about the past year with you, I can't help but smile. I so vividly remember the morning you were born. It was such an easy delivery as we talked and laughed with the hospital staff throughout your birth. When Dr. Roelands held you up and announced, "it's a boy!", I couldn't help but shed a tear of joy. You were perfect. The second I held you in my arms, I immediately fell in love with the sweetest, happiest baby boy I have ever met.

And now a year has passed since that amazing day. Throughout the year, I have witnessed your first smile, heard your first giggle, watched you try your first foods and cheered you on as you started crawling and took your first steps. It has been amazing to watch you go from a helpless, dependent little baby to a feisty, energetic toddler.

I feel so grateful to be your mommy, Logan. Because of you, my heart overflows with love each and every day. Waking up and seeing your smiling face and picking you and Avery up at school are the best parts of my day.

Sometimes I stare at you and wonder what you will be like in five, ten, thirty years. Will you play sports, a musical instrument or star in the school play? Will you become a fireman, a doctor, an accountant or serve our country in wars? Whatever you choose to do, I know there is something special planned for you.

So, on your first birthday, sweet boy, my hope for your future is that you become a stable, caring, smart, independent, and strong man. I hope you become a leader. I hope you always treat others with kindness and respect. I hope you fall in love and find adventure. And I hope you know that I will always love and support you.

Happy Birthday, Logan!

Love, mama

Wordless Wednesday

I took this idea from my friend, Katie.

Sporting News

The past couple weeks have been big for Missouri sports. Although I am not a huge sports fan, I do like to follow my hometown teams. First up, the Cardinals won the World Series. Love them or hate them, almost any baseball or sports fan in general can appreciate the Cardinals' road to winning the World Series. In the last month of the regular season, the Cardinals were 10.5 games behind the wild-card leading Atlanta Braves and somehow managed to erase that deficit to steal the NL Wild-Card from the Braves. After making the playoffs, the Cardinals had to power past the Philadelphia Phillies in a best of five showdown and outwin the Milwaukee Brewers in a scary best of seven series. Next up: the Texas Rangers in the World Series. On paper, anyone would have bet on the Rangers to defeat the Cardinals in the World Series. And what a World Series it was. The Rangers and the Cardinals provided some of the best baseball in recent history. In game 3, Cardinals' first baseman Albert Pujols played one of the best games of his career. He had five RBI producing hits and three home runs. And then there was game 6. Wow! If you haven't seen it, I recommend searching your DVR for a replay. Although heartbreaking for the Texas Rangers, Game 6 was amazing! Not once, but twice, the Rangers were one strike away from winning the World Series and the Cardinals fired back. As one SI writer wrote, "If you're deep in the heart of Texas, Busch Stadium just became your own personal Halloween house of horrors." Finally, hometown boy and former high school classmate of Luke's and mine, David Freese, hit a walk-off home run in the bottom of the 11th inning to win the game. It was amazing!

The day after the Cardinals' improbably World Series win, Mizzou defeated Texas A&M. In what is now a rebuilding year for Missouri football, it was great to see them beat a ranked team on the road. To end the weekend, the St. Louis Rams won their first game of the season.

Finally, Mizzou just announced their move from the Big 12 to the SEC. I'm so used to Mizzou being in the Big 12 that I am not quite sure how I feel about the move. Although the money in the SEC will be great for the University, I worry that my beloved Tigers might never make it to another football bowl game. Winning games against teams like Alabama and LSU just seems so improbable. Only time will tell if the move to the SEC is a good one for Mizzou. We will miss our friends at Kansas, K State, Iowa State, Texas, Oklahoma, etc. Thanks for the memories!

Singing In The Shower

Since Avery was a baby, she has preferred showers to baths. Now, when she asks to shower, she often says, "I need to sing in the shower". The following is part of Avery's "concert" from last night. Enjoy! Luke and I sure do.