She's Here!

Expecting GREAT THINGS, we celebrated a belated birthday for Grandma Paula and an early birthday for my baby sister on Monday evening. It also happened to be a big game day for the Oregon Ducks as they played Auburn in the BCS National Championship football game.

My baby sister, Caitlin "Cait" Joy Eckley, arrived on 1/11/11 at 11:08 am. She weighed 8 lbs. exactly and was 20 1/4 inches long. In every way, I am the BIG sister as she was smaller than me when I was born. Here are just a few pictures of her big day.

Top left: We're off to have a baby! YEAH!!

Top right: Mom and Dad got to hold baby Cait as soon as she popped out of my Mommy's belly. It was 11:08 am and Mom was already ready for a nap!

Bottom left: Cait had her first bath and loved it. She got her hair washed and was all clean so that she could meet the rest of her family.

Bottom right: Our first family of four picture together. I was SOOOO excited to get to meet my sister and snuggled up with Cait and Mom as long as they let me. Grandma took me home that evening; I was disappointed that my sister wasn't coming with me...hopefully I won't have to wait much longer to have her with me all the time. I love being a BIG SISTER!

The Big Event

Today is the day! I am going to become a big sister!! Mom has been telling me all about when I was born and I have memorized the entire story. I ask to hear it daily and have been mentally preparing myself for my role as "big sister." I'm not quite sure what exactly that means yet, but I know that it is pretty special. Grandma Paula, Grandma Mary Pat, Grandpa Stan and Aunt Joanna are all here with us...this has got to be big. I have been on cloud 9 for several days and now it's just a matter of hours.

(Here I am practicing with my best friend's baby sister, Daphney. Mom's belly is REALLY BIG!)

I will be going to school today to make a special art project with my friends that I will bring to my baby sister. Grandma will pick me up and take me to the party...the birthday party, that is! We made Baby Honey a special cake and have some presents to open after she arrives. I cannot believe this day is finally here! In my own words, "we've waited a really long time to meet her."

Don't worry, I'll post pictures as soon as I can. Until then, please pray for my sister, my Mommy and our entire family as we embark on this big day!

Love,

The BIG SISTER, Avery!

Christmas Blessings

Christmas 2010 was not just a day, but weeks of festivities in which we all eagerly anticipated the birth of Baby Honey as we remembered and cherished the birth of our Savior, Jesus! I let everyone know that my little sister was coming "after Baby Jesus' birthday." That was shortly followed by, "...and after my Grandma Paula's birthday. Then my sister is popping out of my Mommy's tummy. Then it's my birthday." Well, my birthday isn't actually until May, I know that, but it's the next family birthday! Here are some photos that capture the blessings of the season in which we celebrated, reflected, and embraced each other.

Fun times: the holidays included lots of sweet treats of all kinds. One of my favorite past-times is making cookies with my Mom. We made a few different kinds this year. I also got to spend part of the winter vacation from school with my cousins, aunts and uncles. We tried to keep my mom active at the indoor trampoline place but she just watched us have fun and took pictures!

Of course there are always many parties to attend -- my friends and I had our annual PYK kids' party at our house and exchanged special presents with each other. We also made cookies, of course! Mom and Dad also had their annual Ugly Sweater party but this year kids weren't invited. So...I went to my school party by myself with Misty and Aidan. It was way more fun than Mom and Dad's party. As you can see in the pictures, Mom finally shocked Dad with the news that we were having another baby!

Christmas Eve brought a quiet day with close friends and family. We enjoyed breakfast on the Eve of Christmas with my best friend, Macey. We even had matching pajamas! Then we accompanied several neighbors to a special church service that I sat all the way through! We sang songs and thanked God for the amazing gift he gave us in his son, Jesus. Then it was off to another dinner at Daddy's aunt and uncle's house. I had a ball playing with cousins and being even more doted upon with gifts and goodies.

By Christmas morning, I was nearly exhausted from all of the festivities. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw what Santa left me under my tree: a bicycle and a purple baby doll! So many thoughtful friends and relatives had also sent little treats for me that piled up to become a MOUNTAIN of gifts. Mom and Dad said that I am SPOILED! Just to prove it, Grandma Paula drove over later that day with a special delivery for my new big-girl room: a new bookshelf that
belonged to my great grandfather and great grandmother. I love it and have stowed all my most-special belongings in it. We spent a few days just hanging out as a family and relaxing before Mom and Dad had to go back to work again.

It's hard to believe one little lady can be so blessed!

Breakfast with Santa

On our last morning in Sunriver, Mom and Dad had a special treat for me...

Even though the snow was deep and the temperature was still dropping, we managed to make our way to the Great Hall for a special breakfast with Santa and Mrs. Clause. I waited tentatively on Dad's lap as Santa made his rounds between the tables. I knew he was going to come see me, but I had to get my courage up!
When the time finally came for my visit with Santa, I mustered up all my confidence and told him that I wanted a "purple baby doll with a pink diaper" for Christmas. Santa was a good listener and he told me I had been a good girl this year. I'm on the NICE LIST!

After breakfast was over, we took a family picture together and then I got to pick out a special animal friend to stuff with LOVE and take home. Zane the zebra became my new buddy and rode with me all the way home to Portland.
This year is bound to be a spectacular Christmas!

Thanksgiving Joy

Our last trip (as a family of three) was spent in Sunriver and Bend visiting Grandma Paula for the Thanksigiving Holiday. Mom, Dad, Aunt Briana and I braved the snow-covered Pass and made the drive in just over 4 hours (record time for the weather and traffic).

After a fun belated birthday dinner celebration (for both Mommy and Daddy), we stocked up on essentials at the grocery store and made our way to snowy Sunriver where we found our "snow home." I was a little hesitant at first to stay in a new place, but after seeing my very own room and finding that Mom had packed all my favorite things, I felt right at home.

Thanksgiving was cold but clear. I enjoyed making a pregnant snow woman (a tribute to my Mom), riding on a shovel sled and trying out my new winter hat.

Great Grandpa Ken shared a snack with me and we celebrated an early 93rd birthday for him, while Grandma Paula surprised me with a new pink tutu that I danced around the house in.

Friend Reid Schukart invited me to the local museum where we got to see owls, sea otters, snakes and a special butterfly exhibit. I even saw a new butterfly emerge from its cacoon -- it pooped immediately after it opened its wings and reminded me of the monkey at the zoo! After a quick lunch with Reid, dad packed me out to the car exhausted. I needed a quick rest with a big night ahead of me!

That evening it snowed again, and we braved the cold to head to the lodge to see the Grand Illumination. Lights filled the night sky as Santa's reindeer came to land on the snow with Santa and his sled. I got a quick peek at him, but didn't stay for cookies because I had plans with the bearded man early the next morning!

The Annual EFC

It was that time of year again, a time when all Dad's family gets together to celebrate a VERY EARLY CHRISTMAS. I couldn't have been happier for Christmas to arrive early, except that Baby Honey was supposed to also come "just after Christmas," or so I've been told by Mom and Dad. When I inquired about this last weekend, I was informed that Baby Honey (my little sister) is coming after the "real Christmas" in late December/early January. This past weekend wasn't the real thing... just our family Christmas. How much more confusion can they add to a 2 year old brain?!

Mom braided my hair so I could look like Thumbelinla -- she was my favorite "princess-of-the-day."

You tell me what Santa's gonna say...

NAUGHTY OR NICE?

(Cousin Henry is hilarious!)

With new holiday pjs and a preview of the presents that are sure to come next month,

it's safe to say I'm pretty much ECSTATIC for the "real Christmas" to roll around. Let the countdown begin!

A Day For Royalty

Cinderella was in store for quite a ball today. With two days yet till Halloween there were parties to attend, parades to watch and sparkles to adorn.

Cinderella is all ready to go, thanks to her fairy godmother (aka - Mom) who transformed the sleeping beauty into this beautiful princess.

After a quick stop at Mom's school to drop off treats and see the kids in their costumes, we caught up with our PYK friends for a dress-up party.

We played so hard that Snow White and Cinderella needed a cat nap.

Then on to LO for the Homecoming parade. We saw the cheerleaders, the football team, Pilot Joe and lots of other princesses. I traded in my glass slippers for my pink sparkle keds so that I could get some walking in.

After a quick pit-stop at home to pick Dad up, we finished up our party rounds at daycare for cookies and cupcakes with Misty and the kids. Then we were off to the LO Homecoming game for the rest of the evevning. Though it wasn't quite midnight, our carriage had definitely turned back into a pumpkin and my princess gown was nothing more than a distant memory. Hopefully the magic will happen again in two days!