14 Weeks Old!

Avalon is 14 weeks old now!!!


Pretty soon I'm going to have to start saying her age in "months" instead of "weeks"...I just can't believe how fast she is growing up already. I love the way she is changing and developing, but I miss that tiny little baby sometimes, too. We've had another great week.


Today's post is all about photos...pictures from the past week and also a number of pictures that I've wanted to share but finally just downloaded (like Avalon's Easter dress, Mother's Day, and her baptism).

Also, John and I want to extend a HUGE thank you to Juan Turcios for photographing Avalon's baptism. You have a gift, Juan!

Here are some photos of Miss Avalon Grace from the past week:

#1 Avalon sitting up like a big girl in her Bumbo with Bronte at her side.

#2 Love that tummy!!

#3 Avalon enjoying her newest play thing...the Baby Einstein jumper! Yes, our livingroom is filling up with baby gear...pretty soon we will have to move the couches outside to make more space for her toys! :)



#4 Our other girl, Bronte, looking pretty.



#5 I love this photograph!



#6 Mommy with Avalon on the pink Boppy pillow

#7 Such a big girl now!



#8 Snuggling with her Grandpa

#9 The girls

#10 I think Avalon was giving Bronte a little lick

#11 Play time with Grandma

#12 Loving her activity mat. How cute are her little pants?!

#13 With one of my best girlfriends, Kate from Sydney, who visited us this past week.

#14 It was sooo fabulous to see you, Kate!!

And here are some pictures that I've been promising that I would post. They aren't from this past week...but from recent events. Enjoy!

Avalon all dressed up for Easter...

In her Easter dress and sweater...



Some pictures from my first Mother's Day...

With my two girls on Mother's Day!






And finally...the photographs from Avalon's baptism on February 16!

Avalon wore a white vintage gown from my mom, and pink and white bloomers from Niccalina.

Avalon about to get dressed before leaving for the church.

Looking like an angel in her pretty dress...



Avalon with her Haba toy from Sara.

With Daddy at the church...



With Mommy before the baptism.

Avalon with her grandparents.



John, Johanna and Avalon...



With Avalon's Godparents, Mark and Mary Koltko, and their daughters, Drew and Carly.

With my parents at the church.

Avalon looking cute in the pink party dress that she wore to our "After Baptism" party!



We found wine from a Napa Valley, California winery called "Avalon" right after our daughter was born...love the logo!

One of the tables at the party...



Thanks for coming along on the ride with us again! We hope that you are all doing very well.

All our love,

Johanna, John + Avalon xo

13 Weeks Old

It was another great week with Avalon!


Avalon and I have a nice group of mamas and babies that we hang out with. The mamas are all people that were in my prenatal yoga class. It's been great to see all of the babies that have been born and watch them develop. I think that Avalon likes seeing the babies too - although I suspect that she will enjoy it even more as she gets a little older! We went to the Manhattan Beach Farmers Market this past week. I got John a big bag of Kettle Korn...he loved it, so he will probably want us to go to that market every week now! :)


On Saturday 5/16, Avalon was baptized. The ceremony was done at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Hermosa Beach. My parents were in town for the big day, which was really great. My mom gave me a gorgeous long, flowing white vintage gown for Avalon to wear during the ceremony. Thanks to everyone who attended the ceremony. It was so special for all of us. Father Ray made the service just beautiful. Avalon was the best girl - she slept most of the time, and only startled a little when the water was poured over her head, but then went right back to sleeping! Very impressive since we thought that she might burst into tears...


Afterwards we celebrated at our house with a little "Meet Avalon" party. John bbq'ed and we all drank wine from the Avalon winery in Napa, California. Yum! Avalon got spoiled with MORE presents (even though we said not to give any for this occasion since we have already been so spoiled...but people were so kind). She is a lucky girl to have so many people who love her already!


Avalon got four special pieces of jewelry even…a ring and necklace from my Aunt Jane, which were items that she received when she was a baby and now has generously passed them down to Avalon. She also got two beautiful necklaces – one from her Godparents, Mark and Mary Koltko, and one from the Comstock’s. Grandpa and Grandma Kim also gave her a gleaming bracelet with her name engraved on it. Avalon will cherish these items when she is older! Thank you so much.


Another amazing gift was from our good friend Juan, who is a professional photographer. He took photographs during the baptism. Once I get the pictures, I'll post them immediately so that you can all see images from the day.


In other exciting news, Avalon experienced her first (and second) Los Angeles earthquake! On Sunday 5/17 and again today 5/19, we had earthquakes that were centered in a suburb about two miles away from our house. The second one was a little smaller and shorter than the first....4.6 and 4.1 respectively, I believe. I've always hated earthquakes - too scary - but they are even more terrifying now that I have Avalon. She's my greatest responsibility and I want to have her be safe always. Luckily, these earthquakes did some ground shaking, but nothing too intense!


My parents headed back to Seattle yesterday. Mom and Dad, Avalon misses you so much! She got used to having you both around and loved all of the fun you've been showing her...the walks, the activity play mat, "surfing" and "riding bikes" with Dad, and "checking the weather report" with Mom. Thanks so much for giving her so much love. It touches my heart to see you so in love with my daughter. xo


Here are some pictures of the constantly growing girl from the past week. There are tons more photos that I have to download, including some great ones with my parents. I'll add more - hopefully tomorrow. Also, the baptism photos once I get them - stay tuned!


#1 Avalon so pretty in pink. She wears bibs most days now since the drooling makes her shirts get wet! :)



#2 John, Bronte, and Avalon after a bath



#3 Johanna and Avalon enjoying an afternoon out with the Yoga Mamas

#4 Avalon showing off her chubby cheeks



#5 Avalon relaxing after some baby massage from mommy!

All our love, xo

J, J + A

Avalon is 12 weeks old!

Avalon is 12 weeks old today!!!


She continues to get more and more alert each day and keeps John and I on our toes! We have to come up with new ways to entertain and amuse her! :)


My parents were in town this past weekend before heading South to Oceanside for a week at their timeshare condo. They loved spending time with Avalon. One morning, I saw my Dad scooting Avalon around the dining table on a cloth; sliding her across the wood table surface. Needless to say, Avalon LOVED it!


This Sunday was Mother's Day. Here's wishing a big Happy Mother's Day to my Mom and John's Mom, as well as to all of the other dedicated mama's that we know. It was my first Mother's Day and John made it very special for me. Thanks Hubby for a fabulous day - I'm lucky to have joined the mother's club. xo


This coming Saturday, Avalon will be baptised at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Hermosa Beach. It's going to be a special day! Avalon will wear a long gorgeous white gown with a pink ribbon belt. The gown is from my Mom (thanks Mom!). Afterwards, we are having a little "welcome Avalon party" at our house. We will take lots of pictures and post them to the blog soon after.


Here are a few pictures from the week...


#1 Avalon sitting up in her Bumbo seat for the first time!



#2 Avalon's Bumbo close up

#3 Trying to suck her thumb

#4 Picture from Avalon's first trip to Santa Barbara from last week (photo complements of Carrie!)

Hope that everyone has a great week.

All our love, xo

Johanna, John and Avalon