Baby's First Football Game

It’s Sunday afternoon and the leaves on the trees are just beginning to relinquish their green to tones of amber and scarlet. At our house, that means one thing: you can find Michael and me plopped on the couch, watching the game. Our little Chargers girl donned her team onesie for today’s season opener, an outfit which I’m pretty sure consists of exactly the same amount of fabric as an actual Chargers Girl uniform. And, as the Panthers scored a final touchdown in the last two seconds of the game to beat the Chargers 26 to 24, Avery learned the first rule of being a San Diego sports fan: despite the fact that they inevitably lose, we always, always root for the home team.

California Girl

Michael has always said that one of his reasons for moving here from the Midwest was that he wanted his children to experience all California has to offer. So it was with great pride and excitement that he dipped his new daughter's toes in the Pacific Ocean for the first time last weekend. Grandpa Joe and Grandma Linda, visiting from Idaho, were on hand to witness the momentous event, just one highlight of a great weekend spent enjoying the sights of San Diego.

Little Cutie

It's not like I don't realize that every mom believes their child is the sweetest, cutest thing ever. But when Avery and I were in the back yard enjoying the fresh air the other day, I couldn't help but think that in my case it's actually true. I mean, really. It made me want to sop up her cuteness with a sponge and bottle it and save it for later, like when she's a teenager and not acting quite so cute. I did the next best thing; I grabbed my camera.

Planes, Trains, Automobiles and Strollers

We returned last week from Avery's first summer vacation, a trip to visit Grandma Lynn and Grandpa Rich in Wisconsin. She did great on the planes, sleeping almost the entire time. And she was fascinated by all the people and sights in the airports.

Mercifully, Avery reached an important milestone on the trip -- her first time sleeping through the night. I awoke feeling better than I have in two months. While it has only happened one time since, I'm encouraged to think full nights of sleep are right around the corner.

In the end, it's tough to tell who enjoyed the trip more. Avery and her grandparents loved visiting with each other, and Michael and I got some much-needed rest (and a couple jumps off the rope swing).

I'm Losing Sleep

It's difficult to quantify the depth of exhaustion I've experienced over the past two months. But it's been worth every minute of lost sleep, especially when I get to take naps with Avery and wake up to this.

Our Nest Is Complete

It's been a little busy around our house lately. I've been meaning to post pictures of the completed nursery for a while, but haven't gotten around to it until now. Here are some shots of our cozy little nest. With the arrival of our beautiful little chick, it's now truly complete.

She's Here!

Avery Paulette Berberick made a surprise early debut into the world and our lives at 3:25 a.m. yesterday, May 15. She weighed six little pounds, six tiny ounces and measured 19 itsy-bitsy inches. She has ten fingers, ten toes and two dimples. Here are some pictures from Avery’s birthday, which she spent surrounded by family and friends, as we hope she will be for the rest of her life.

Countdown

It's now 11:23 p.m. on May 12th, and I turn 30 in exactly 37 minutes. I think that right about now, many people are having panic attacks at the prospect of their 20s slipping away. I spent the day wrapping up my last day at work before maternity leave, seeing a chick flick with my friends, then coming home and joining in a round or two of Guitar Hero with Michael, Brent and Scott. It was a great day. It's been an awesome year. And overall, I've really enjoyed my 20s.

But how cool is it to know that in just eight days I'll be ringing in the early days of my 30s with an even bigger "birth day?" I'm really excited about all that Michael and I will experience together with our new family in the next decade.

And so I say, good riddance, 20s. It's been real. I had a great time finally drinking legally with you, even if it meant paying ridiculous cover charges and $10 per cocktail. It was great throwing a few dollars on the blackjack tables in Vegas with you. I was glad we got to stop paying rent together, even if it meant a mortgage payment, HOA fee and property taxes. And I'll always remember how you were with me as I found a career, and an amazing husband, too.

But I've got things to do, 20s, so I need to say goodbye and welcome the adventures my 30s have in store. And none too soon, either. Only 11 minutes left...