28th Birthday Bash

28 feels great! Spent Friday and Saturday baby free. My mom's birthday was the 3rd so they came into town to celebrate together! Did some painting, some napping, and some dinner with friends. Matt got me tickets to The Lion King broadway show - fabulous!

SICK or Treat

With Avery and I both fighting head colds - this Halloween was a bit of a bust. We spent the evening with friends, which was fun, but chose naps over pumpkin carving! The photo below was the only one where my little giraffe wasn't crying. :(

This face pretty much sums up Avery's mood the entire night!

Better luck next year, I guess...

Pumpkin Pickin'

Today we spent some time at the pumpkin patch with friends Stefani and her daughter Cheyenne, looking for the perfect one to carve tomorrow...

This one's too big.

This one's too small.











This one's just right!




Friends!





Do I like the goats?

Nope, don't like goats!

Little Pumpkin Picker.

1 Year Stats

For those of you who care about these things... Avery went for her 1 yr check up today. Her stats are: 17.6 lbs (3%) and 28.75 in tall (38%). Still a pinner. Looking forward to reaching 20 lbs and getting a forward-facing car seat. She was also a trooper for her shots!

P-A-R-T-Y!

Thanks to everyone who came over to celebrate Avery's first birthday! Especially the out-of-towners: Grandma & Grandpa McNeil, Kama, Keni, Kai, Zack and Rebecca!!!

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.