And I Shall Watch The View Every Day

I have decided to stay home.

I gave notice at work yesterday. I will not be returning and I will be accepting the title of Stay At Home Mom. It's been a huge weight lifted off my shoulders too. I'm excited to be able to remain by Avery's side, to watch her grow and help her reach her milestones. I'm excited to be able to spend more time with Ryleigh, to be able to have breakfast together in the mornings and to be able to make dinner together in the evening. Ryleigh will continue to stay in school part-time, as she has since Avery was born.

Jeramy and I have been toying with this idea since last summer, however with his company going through a merger, we just didn't see it as a good idea until we knew what was going on with his job. Last week he was offered a promotion within the new company. This sealed the deal and made our decicison very easy.

We had a great time in West Texas. Avery has started to make lots of cooing noises and follow objects with her eyes. She especially loves to talk to her bugs that Sara and Kalman gave her that hang from her car seat. She has also started smiling a lot. People, her smile could melt the polar ice caps. She is certainly all girl and Jeramy and I were just talking about how we haven't had a single person mistake her for a boy.

Our family computer is temporarily down, but as soon as we get a new battery, I will be posting lots of pics from our vacation.

Conversation

Mom: "Ryleigh, where did you get those scratches on your arm?"

Ryleigh: "Hannah's cat did it."

Mom: "What did you do to the cat?"

Ryleigh: "I didn't do nuthin', she's jest mean."

Mom: "We've officially spent too much time in West Texas, you's talkin' like Grandma."

Why I'm Here

We've now been in West Texas for five fantastic days. The girls seem to really be enjoying their bonding time with their grandparents, uncle, second cousins great aunts and uncles and great grandparents. Ryleigh has spent a lot of time with Papa Dale (my mother's father). He even took her to a basketball game in Ft. Stockton. It's so great to have her at an age where she can kind of do her own thing. She begs everyone she comes across to play with her and usually wins them over with her big smile. There have been many, many bear hunts and lots of hide and go seek. Avery is just hanging out, doing her thing. Her thing includes, eating, sleeping, filling her diaper and puking on my shoulder. Daddy should get her tomorrow and then Aunt Becca and Uncle Blake on Saturday. We're going to really have a full house. Here is our crazy schedule:

Saturday Night: Wood Family Christmas in Midland
Sunday Morning: Church in Monahans
Sunday Afternoon: Robinson Family Christmas in Odessa
Monday Evening: Steen Family Christmas in Monahans followed by the annual viewing of National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
Tuesday Morning: Presents at my parent's house
Tuesday Afternoon: Combined family dinner for 30 at my parent's house
Wednesday: 6 hour drive to Granbury to visit Richey Family
Thursday: 4 hour drive home to Sugar Land

Merry Freakin' Christmas Everyone!

love, the montgomery clan

Updates

Avery went to the doctor last Thursday for her 2 month check-up. She weighed in at 10 lbs. 3 oz. and measured 21 inches in length with a head measuring at 15 inches around. All her measurements are right where they're supposed to be on the growth curve. Everything else about her checked out just fine as well. I got a little more lecture on why I shouldn't let her sleep with me. However, the doctor at one point looked at me over her glasses and said...you and I both know that babies have been sleeping with their mamas for thousands and thousands of years...yes ma'm, I promise that I am very safe.

On the same day, Ryleigh went and had her eyes checked. All is stable on that front as well. She has a small change in her prescription and we can ease up on the patching a little bit. Of course, the best thing about the appointment is that another surgery was not mentioned. So long as she has her glasses on, her eyes are staying straight.

Currently we are out in West Texas, visiting lots of family. Ryleigh is driving everyone crazy and Avery is winning over all the relatives. The plan for the week is to pretty much just hang out. On Friday we're going to have a birthday party for Jeramy and he should be in that day. I have some pictures that I need to get uploaded, but not today, maybe tomorrow.

Happy Holidays to all...jenn