My Avery Noel

This sweet girl, my Avery Noel.

I sincerely could not have made it through this summer without her.  There were so many times I struggled as I was adjusting to the changes in our family with a new baby and kids home for the summer and changes in my body and no sleep and a fussy baby and trying to adjust my diet and this girl was such a champion.

Baby fussing at dinner time?
Hand him to his sissy.  He loves her, always has.

Corban and Penny need attention?
Avery can you please read to them?

OH MY GOSH someone just texted me and is dropping by!
Here hold the baby while I frantically clean up.  Or I'm nursing so, AVERY!! PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE CLEAN UP THIS ROOM, youhavefivesecondspleasejustdoitIoweyou

Or simply, mommy is just having a little cry in the bathroom because these days are long and hard and she is tired and hungry and bedtime is much too far away.
And she looks up and there is her daughter, her eldest child, standing next to her, waiting for mom to come to her senses so she can show me the picture she's drawn of our beautiful little family.

Anyways, it's the middle of the night while I am posting this and I'm feeling very sentimental, but I just love and need this person in my life.  I am truly blessed.  Also I don't intend to use my eldest as my slave or assistant for my whole life, but this summer I needed her, and she rose to the occasion. And so, one day when Corban and Penny had a birthday party to attend and Avery wasn't invited, I was blessed to get to take this sweet girl out for a little "pampering" and mom (baby was sleeping) time.  We went to a cupcake shop and she got to pick out a special cupcake and then we took it over to the nail shop and she got her first ever real manicure/pedicure.





And I almost laughed out loud when they were scrubbing her feet and she was giggling. She tried desperately to keep it in, but when those ladies are going to town, sometimes a girl's got to let out a good chuckle.  I didn't want to ruin her fun by taking more pictures, but I'll never forget that memory.  Avery if you ever read this, THANK YOU for being my right hand this summer.  You were beautiful and patient and kind and you were just what I needed to make it through.  I miss you when you go to school and not because I need your help any more.  I miss who you are, you brighten my day. XOXOXO