Our New Vocabulary

Avery has been learning lots of different words lately.  Andrew and I have enjoyed watching and listening to her try to repeat what we say or try to join in a conversation or respond to us when we ask her a question.  Certain words (mommy, daddy, no, yeah, go, uh oh, hi) we all can easily understand, while others may need a little translation.  If you ever visit our house, here is a little cheat sheet to help you. :)

BUP = cup
KICKY = kitty
BAPA = grandpa
A GO? = Where'd it go?
WA HAPPEN? = what happened?

NIGHT NIGHT = bed, or time for bed
GOG, GOGGY = dog, doggy
GUCK = duck
GOOK = book
NUM NUM = food, snack, anything good to eat
NANA = banana
NENNA = Brenna (a little girl I babysit)
BA BUY = buy buy

I know over time, she will straighten these words out with a little more proper pronunciation, but for right now, it is cute to hear her trying her best.  I know each toddler has their own "language" so it is interesting to see what each child comes up with.  What are some unique sayings does your toddler(s) have?

Having Fun

Avery is always trying new things.  I catch her walking around in my slippers or getting frustrated when something doesn't go exactly how she wants.  She copies everything we say and do!  Gotta watch out! :) 

These are pictures of when we last visited Grandpa and Grandma Bergsma.  We found her trying to walk in Grandma's shoes.

These puzzles were a Christmas gift and she has them down pat!  She knows where each piece goes and gets most of them in fairly easily.  The few pieces that take her a bit, she gets frustrated with quickly.

This doll stroller was also a Christmas gift and gets pushed around the house often.  Many items fill her basket and doll seat and not always is it either of her two dolls.  We chuckle at her reasoning and many times would LOVE to see inside her brain, as to what she exactly thinking.

When she climbs up on our bed, she will often crawl all the way to the top, sit with her back against the head board and pull the blankets over her lap.  She likes to sit there and hang out with me in the mornings sometimes while daddy is getting ready for work. 

Tasty Meatloaf

This is probably the tastiest meatloaf I have ever had!  My husband and I just get excited and start drooling thinking about it every time it is in the oven!

Here is the recipe for the rest of you to enjoy it as well.

1 pound of ground beef (you can use ground turkey as well)

1/2 cup of oatmeal

1 egg

1/2 can of tomato soup or vegetable soup (I have also used tomato spice soup - adds flavor)
             - If I have about a cup of soup left over from a meal, I will freeze it and use it here.

1 small onion chopped fine (you can use minced onion, but I prefer the fresh onion - better taste)

1/2 large green pepper chopped fine

Salt and pepper to desired taste

Parsley

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Mix all ingredients together.

Sprinkle extra parsley on top.

Bake for one hour.

Serve with a couple side dishes.  Enjoy!

Linked to: Growing Home

Fun at the Children's Museum

Last week Friday evening,  we had the opportunity to go to the Grand Rapids Children's Museum.  We were only there for a limited time, but I think next time we will have to make sure to set aside more time to play!   Avery liked all the different things she could do there.  Daddy liked it just as much, if not more! ;)

Here are some snapshots of our time there and the things we managed to do.

crawling through a triangle mirror

watching daddy create big bubbles

putting balls into the holes, then dropping them back out the bottom

rolling balls down the track

looking at herself in another mirror

playing in the sand box

sitting in a car

helping grandpa pick up at the end of the night

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

I hope you all have had a wonderful Christmas season and stepping into the New Year with great anticipation with what God has in store for you.  I know we have enjoyed ourselves and look forward to the many fun filled activities being planned already, Lord willing.

Here is our Christmas card I wanted to share with you earlier on Christmas day but never got around to actually doing it.  :)

May the joy of know that Christ came to this earth for sinners like us always remain with us as we "leave" the Christmas season.  The true meaning of Christmas is meant to be remembered not only on December 25th but all throughout the year.

Now that 2014 is upon us, what new resolutions have you come up with?  We have decided as a family to complete certain tasks that have been pushed aside for a while and to simply get them done!  As our little girl gets older, there are certain traditions we hope to start and values we hope are instilled into her little heart (I will write more on that at a later time).  We are ever so thankful for the opportunity God has given us to raise our little girl and we can't wait to build more memories together as a family in 2014!

Any of you have New Years resolutions you are willing to share?