Birthday Girl

Friday was Avery's 1st Birthday! Rockin' the birthday tutu...

Park Relaxation (aka... chase Avery)

At the park from The McNeils on Vimeo.

11, Already?!

Hard to believe there's only one month left 'till this little lady turns one! Eleven months have swept so swiftly by us...

The Great Escape of a Walk-aholic

The Great Escape from The McNeils on Vimeo.

Beach Lessons

In another attempt to beat this crazy heat wave and escape our non-air conditioned condo, we went to La Jolla Cove for the afternoon. Here are some things I learned:

1. I hate the sand. I will admit that the idea of it squishing in your toes is delightful. But actually braving the beach with a crawling infant who eats it is gross. Not to mention the difficulty in hygienically changing a diaper!

2. While proud to rock the bikini... it's not exactly baby-friendly. Especially when your child clutches and tugs your top both from fear of the waves and because she thinks that if "the girls" are visible it must be happy hour! Avery nearly made this an involuntary topless beach numerous times.

3. A hefty prayer goes a long way in the hope that, once home, you can transport a sleeping infant from her car seat to her crib and have her remain asleep there long enough to shower out all the sand dunes that have accumulated in my unmentionables!

4. Despite all that... I love living 15 minutes from the water, the waves, and a place that makes me and my daughter happy.

Park Play

Comprehension

Avery is in the beginning phases of word/action comprehension and it's so much fun when she understands what we say!

Comprehension from The McNeils on Vimeo.

Steps

Steps from The McNeils on Vimeo.

Great Trade

Times are tough... everyone knows this. So these days it's great to have a trade-able skill. One day while hanging out with my fabulous "also-an-at-home-mum" neighbor Amy, she lamented to me about her nasty 80's light wood/dark grain built-in cabinets and how they just weren't grooving with her new "spanish hacienda" design theme. I was complaining about having just paid short of my first born for a haircut! She being a "former" pro stylist/colorist and me being a "former" painter - we swapped. I re-did her cabinets in a theme-appropriate rustic teal with antiquing methods for authenticity. And she re-did my hair with some summer color and a refreshing new cut. Gotta love a good barter...

Wonderful Weekend

This past weekend was so much fun! Saturday we drove to LA to visit Cari at USC. Had a nice lunch, got a tour of the gorgeous campus, and enjoyed catching up. Avery even "walked" the campus and got some nasty dirty feet!

Sunday was spent at the zoo with our other blonde OC cousin, Katelyn! Checkin' out the animals was a blast - not to mention a cardio workout... The SD Zoo has some serious hills! Wonderful for Avery (and us) to get some face time with the family.