My dearest Avery,
What a month it's been! We've had a lot going on and you've done quite a bit of growing along the way as well! Here's your official four month photo (it took me many takes but mostly because of mommy errors like forgetting the notecard and having the bear turned on its belly)!
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| Four months - celebrating with mom! |
Your stats: 16 pounds, 2 ounces (89th percentile), 25.25 inches (80th percentile)!
As you grow, your personality is beginning to show more and more. You're learning what you like and what you don't like (and daddy and I are learning with you). Here are some highlights from this month:
You don't want to be held all the time - you like having your space sometimes which I hear is unique for babies. You also love moving in your sleep (this may be because you have gas). Yup, you have lots of gas - good thing you like the taste of your gas drops!
You like to suck on your bottom lip and your thumb (and your blanket, when it's handy).
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| Being silly and sucking on your blankets :) |
You've also become better at holding things with your hands - I was shocked when you started holding and moving your pacifier by yourself:
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| Attitude - you popped this right out and I swear I thought you were going to start talking to me, matter-of-factly. |
One day daddy was blowing raspberries at you and you responded later that day by blowing raspberries at mommy. I don't think daddy's ever been so proud! Speaking of which, you're totally in love with dad - you are mesmerized when you look at him - it's adorable! Dad also likes to carry you around in your carrier on his belly - you LOVE looking at the world from that carrier - now that you stay awake while you're in it, you are laser focused on everything going on around you when you're in it.
Here are a few pics of when you were with dad:
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| Daddy dressed you (sorry) |
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| As you were learning to hold your head up - you're a pro now! |
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| One weekend morning when mommy went to work - you and dad were happy to entertain each other! |
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| Diva! Dad bought you sunglasses while mom, Aunt Cara, and Grandma Dotty were shopping! |
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| Your four month birthday gift....and a sanity saver for mom and dad! We call it "going to work" for you because you are so intense when you're playing with those toys! |
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| Headed to lunch with daddy! |
Some other things you like to do this month:
Roll! You first rolled on August 22, from your belly to your back but I have yet to get you to do it again. Since then, you've really loved rolling from your back to your belly in your sleep (which worries mom and dad - please feel free to stop)!
Tummy time pics, when mom was trying to get you to repeat your roll to your back:
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| No thanks, mom! |
Hold your feet:
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| You're actually really good at holding them for us when changing your diaper. |
Giving the pouty lip....yet another thing I can't seem to get a picture of!
Drooling (thinking teeth are going to hit sooner than later)!
Squealing! I think this is your effort at getting to know the sounds you can make but you're definitely beyond the cooing period now - I think it still surprises your daddy when you have a high pitched squeal!
Supported sitting and standing - it's like you want to be a big girl right now! You LOVE putting weight on your legs!
Watching the ceiling fan, looking at that "other baby" in the mirror, and sleeping on your side!
We had your first trip out of state this month! We drove to Colorado to see daddy get his Master's. It was a beautiful trip - both grandparents were able to come and so were Great Aunt and Uncle Belinda and Bob. Of course, you felt the need to mark the occasion by pooping on daddy's robe right before the ceremony started - ha! Thanks for the memories, kiddo!
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| With Grandma Dotty before we left. |
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| At the hotel with grandma and grandpa |
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| Right after the hooding ceremony. |
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| At Bob and Belinda's house - Bob was arm wrestling you (but he was no match for you)! |
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| From one of the hotels - just got ready for the day! |
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| On the road again! You were a great travel companion - Grandma Dotty rode with us on the way up! |
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| At graduation - cue you pooping on daddy any minute now! |
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| At the hotel with Grandpa Mark at breakfast - yum! |
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| On the way home, we stopped to see Aunt Jessica in Colorado Springs! |
Then Grandma Dotty and Aunt Cara came to visit over Labor Day! Here are some highlights from your first time meeting Aunt Cara:
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| Riding in the car with her. |
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| Aunt Cara feeding you - she's practicing for when your cousin arrives in January! |
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| Picking apples and pears at a local orchard - it was a beautiful day (you're in the carrier again on daddy) |
And finally, you've been getting ready for football season.....tell me who your favorite team is....
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| Go State! One of your favorite outfits (from Aunt Laura) - still a little room to grow into it! |
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| Whew, that was a close win against Iowa State but we'll take it! |
Avery, it's been such a fun month with you - you're interacting a lot with us and we're having a blast trying to teach you new things. Looking forward for all that's to come!
All my love,
Mom
