The CUTEST Witch I ever did see!

HAPPY (LATE) HALLOWEEN!!!

I hope everyone is doing WONDERFUL- and we appologize for neglecting our poor blog lately. As many of you know, Ernest is leaving this month to start his deployment. While Avery and I are so sad to see him go, and will miss him terribly- we are both so proud of him and love him with our whole hearts. With that being said, we have been SUPER busy lately! It seems like every weekend we have plans after plans, after plans! Time is flying by way too fast, I sure hope this next year flies by just as quickly.

Now that I have finished defending why our blog is lacking in the update category- I have a couple of posts to share! First one is AVERY HAD HER FIRST TRICK OR TREATING HALLOWEEN!!! She LOVED it. We went to my friend Jenn's house, and hung out with some amazing families. We met a few new friends, and enjoyed spending time with our dear friends Kelly, Abe, their two girls and Jenn along with her precious family. Kelly is one of my closest friends- and I am so BLESSED and lucky to have her in my life. Her husband is deploying with Ernest, so she and I have exciting plans for girls beach trips and staying busy- along with our friend Rhonda and her two boys while our brave men are gone.

So, Avery was a witch... a PRECIOUS witch! Avery kind of decided this on her own; I bought her a $1 children's witch hat at Target oneday, and she wanted to wear it 24/7. No joke, she flipped out if we took it off her. SO... I decided- Witch it is! My sweet friend Kayce made Avery her halloween tutu as a birthday gift, and it was perfect. She is so talented!  Here are some pictures from the first time Avery REALLY went Trick-or-Treating.

 This is Avery and Emily's new band!

 MMMM... Pizza

 Avery making a new buddy

 EEEEK... So excited!!!

We have a goofy girl on our hands!

This is us with Kelly and Lily Kate (Middle) and Jenn and Emily

 Jenn's sweet friends had the AWESOME idea to rent a GATOR... the kids had SO much fun!



HOPE EVERYONE ENJOYED THEIR HALLOWEEN! WE SURE DID!!!

Nap hair!

That was one good nap!!!

HMMMM....

...

Not sayin... but they have the same hair stylist!

Recent update!!

Hey All!
I know it has been a LONG time since we last updated our blog... it has been a super busy/hectic time around the Polk household. Soon after Avery's birthday, when we were visiting my sister and her two precious babies at my Dad and Step mom's house- Avery came down with a horrible fever. It went from 100.8 on Thursday morning- we went down to visit and stay the night- thinking it was teething. By about 3, her fever was 102.5. I of course freaked that Avery had a virus and was spreading it to Griffin and Ansley. BUT, through the night, Avery's fever kept getting worse and worse. It got up to 104 at it's highest. The Motrin helped for a few hours, but only brought it down to 102.5- and after 4 hours, it was way back up. Scared me to death, she was EXTREMELY fussy all night, threw up a few times... it was just NOT FUN. And you know, when you aren't in your own home, it's a little harder. SO, at 5 AM, Avery and I went to the basement so I could say goodbye to my dad (he was getting up to go fishing) because I was planning to pack up all our stuff and head towards the doctor's office so we could be there by 8 when they open. I knew this was a sickness she hadn't had before- and the first thing we all thought was an ear infection. She ended up going back to sleep- and I was NOT going to wake the sick baby. As soon as she woke up, we left, went to the pediatrician. As we expected, Avery had her FIRST ear infection EVER. Lucky us right?? WELL, this ear infection turned into a double ear infection WHILE she was on antibiotics. SO, we switched to a stronger antibiotic, while giving her the natural supplement our chiropractor suggested that would go along with the meds the doctor gave us... NO... neither of those helped. Finally, after 3 weeks of antibiotics and double ear infections- (still infected) they turned to the shot option- which they say works wonders. Hated giving her shots- but we had to get her ears well. After two rounds of the shots- (2 shots each time- over a 2 day period) they said her ears were looking better! YAY!!!! A few days later- she started poking her ears again. NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!! Took her in to the pediatrician (where most of our money has gone lately) and luckily they aren't infected again- but there is fluid in them. Usually common after an infection... so as long as it's gone in 3 months- we're good!

During this entire process, Daddy was gone! No fun at all, and he hated being away from his super sick/sad baby girl. Needless to say- I AM EXHAUSTED!!! I literally started crying when I had to take her back to the doctor this past time- thinking it was going to start all over. Prayers and finers crossed!!!

Pictures from our visit to my dads...The day it all began :)...

When we were speedin on the boat... and Avery launched her cup overboard

Awww, it was SO fun- We miss Aunt Brandi and cousins Griffin and Ansley

She has always LOVED her Aunt Brandi (Does Avee look sick?? NO!)

Bath time with cousin Griffin. (Yes, I blurred the private parts- believe it or not, the bath pictures of Avery when she was born were REPORTED for explicit pictures!)

Our baby is 1!!!!

So, it has been a busy time in the Polk household for sure!! Sorry about the constant delay of posts... I will one day get better!! On an extremely happy note- OUR BABY GIRL IS 1!!! She had a wonderful birthday party- with so many sweet guests. I always feel so bad, because it is hard to constantly talk to everyone... but I think everyone understood. Avery had a blast... and was soo blessed to recieve so many wonderful gifts!! (with no duplicates!!) Here are some of the pictures from the party!

This was my chair when I was 1!

These are the party favors...

FOR THE BALLOON:

Please blow this up and set it free,

Up in the great big sky.

Include a prayer or wish for me,

Written on the side.

This prayer or wish will soar and fly,

Just like I hope to do.

It will stay with me as time goes by-

As I hope you will too.

For the flower pots:

Right now I’m small,

But one day I’ll be tall-

Just like this flower you see.

Each day that goes by,

It will grow just like I-

lovely, as lovely can be.

12 months ago, God blessed this family with a precious baby girl-

Avery Leigh Polk

On August 2nd, at 2:27 AM-

We met what will forever be an example of His love and commitment to us.

She is our pride and joy, our beautiful piece of Heaven on Earth.

Ernest's 30th SURPRISE Birthday Party

Since Ernest was turning the big 3-0, I wanted to surprise him with a dinner to celebrate with some friends around here. The Birthday plans changed quite often up until the day of! Originally, I wanted to send Ernest and his guy friends golfing and fishing. My dad gave the idea for us to all go to Callaway Gardens- an idea which I loved! So I tried to secretively get everything together for us all to go there!... since this is a busy time of year, no one could go. I really wanted him to go golfing since he never gets to... So our friend Sam suggested they use his passes to just go one weekday. (Ernest isn't an avid golfer, but enjoys it whem he gets a chancw). Needless to say, I love this idea... but wanted to do something to "surprise him". The plan then changed to going to eat at one of our favorite places- California Dreaming! Ernest sometimes stops by there on his way home from work and grabs us salads... PERFECT!! We would be there waiting to say "SURPRISE!!!!"
That WOULD of worked perectly... until Sam told me they were all getting off early on Friday. UGH! The oh so wavering plan then changed to he and I "going to get salads I've been really craving lately" and everyone else would be there. Since they were getting off early, he and I could go after he got home, changed clothes and headed out to dinner. BUT THEN, on Friday, Ernest wasn't acting like he was getting off early because of a meeting. I then knew if he left at 4:30-5, he wouldn't have enough time to get home and change clothes... I'd have to meet him there. So I changed the plan again to "we are meeting your sister and Gertjan (her hubby) and Jonathan (their baby boy) to get some more veggies  and jami So we had to be there at 6:30". So we had to meet at babies R us so I could "get something for Avery" while he changed clothes in the car... to waste time until everyone got there. I walked all over that store talking to Rhonda on the phone to find out when everyone had arrived. We went the long way... and when we walked through the door, all the hostesses were walking around... so it wasn't a big SURPRISE factor because he saw everyone when we walked in the door. But all-in-all it was a fun dinner, and he was surprised! :)
Here are some pictures from the night!!

Our Blue Eyed Baby

Brandi and Josh

A preview of Avery's first Birthday!! She stuck her hand in Dada's cake (practicing)

Ernest's sister Marie with Jonathan

The Birthday Gang

"Ebony... Ivory..."

Avery with her Birthday Dada

Sure do love our family