My Dearest Avery,
My how you've changed in the past four months! You've not only become more mobile than I ever imagined, but you've become more independent, willing to "speak" your mind and defiant at times. Your freedom is showing you a whole new world. Let me list the new things you're having fun with:
- walking in mom's and dad's shoes
- saying words like hi, no, yaya, daddy, momma, doggie, hello
- giving us five (low five - you don't understand high five yet)
- sticking your finger in your nose (you don't know what to do with it once it's up there, but you can get it up there pretty far)
- climbing! oh my, you're a climber - you just started moving things around to climb to get on the master bed!
- moving furniture - don't know why but you LOVE moving chairs and whatever else you can push around on the laminate flooring
- very tightly hugging (I can't even tell you how much I love this one)
- naps on the floor with a pillow and blanket instead of in your crib
- moving around with something in your hands and arms - you always have to have something there
- playing in the backyard (it's really hard to get you to come inside)
- dancing! you love to dance, especially to "drip drop" by the Drifters and anything Taylor Swift
- crying more....yes, this is a sad one but you cry more now than ever before!
- wearing socks and shoes more!
One last thing is that you're now getting sent to time out for things, especially at daycare when you're interacting with other babies. You've bitten (many times), pulled hair, and hit. Yes, our sweet little can-do-no-wrong baby is a bully!! Don't worry, we're working on it but it's definitely taking some time, especially since you don't yet understand most of what we're saying to you yet.
Ok, so for pictures... first, we had our anniversary a the end of May, so we all went to a nice restaurant on the other side of town...
Aunt Cara, Uncle Will and Cousin Emma visited in June. Here are some highlights from their trip:
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| They brought you a Sophia the First kit with purse and gloves! |
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| cousins playing together! |
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Aunt Cara and you in our poorman's baby pool...maybe one day we'll get a real pool!
Emma wasn't as big of a fan of the water as you are.....yet! |
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| Will and Emma watching poolside |
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| play time! |
It was a good trip for all - we even got to have them stay an extra day due to flight delays!
Speaking of trips, we took a couple the past few months as well....we went to Vegas for a small vacation and to visit Aunt Susan and Uncle Steve. And we also went to Albuquerque so dad could participate in the alumni board meetings and we could take family photos...
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| we didn't get many pics in vegas but this is at the aquarium at the Mirage, I believe. |
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| showing off your walking skills in Albuquerque |
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| your in-flight entertainment.... |
Some of the resulting family photos:
On the home front, you're still in love with the dogs, although they mostly try to get away from you (Baxter, at least, is a good sport)...
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| one of the many times you took over Baxter's dog bowl....poor boy has nothing that's sacred from you... |
And to my great fortune, we've had many mommy-daughter moments/days lately. Here are some highlights:
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| on the move, as usual now...messing with mom's shoes |
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| this is one of my off Fridays...we went to visit dad for lunch! |
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| and followed that up by playing at the park...you LOVE to swing! |
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you're a big fan of the train table at Barnes & Nobles bookstore -
we just have to make sure you're not hoarding the train cars! |
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| playing in the pool in the backyard - a win for mommy! |
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swinging again! yes, that's grass in your hands
(like I said, you always have to be holding something) |
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| holding fake wood chips at the park |
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| a new water park went in nearby...you LOVE this place! |
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| we went to the park with daddy! |
Of course, dad's getting in his special moments with you too:
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| yes, he did.... |
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| going wild while mommy's away! |
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| you've started to like slides more...a LOT more! |
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| reading the wall street journal with dad at starbucks... |
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| you ran the remote recline like a boss! |
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| just having a daddy-daughter walk... |
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| cheering on the Chiefs at Cardinal's stadium! |
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| showing a bit of your attitude...chillin' with dad! |
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| ok, you were actually into the mask thing! this was your first trip to Toys-R-Us! |
And of course, we have a few more keepers from the past few months:
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| daddy did the first pig tails! |
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| sassy baby! |
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| mommy's first ponytail on you |
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| after a day of wearing a ponytail - haha! |
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| crazy scientist...or the normal way you look after wearing your hair up all day. |
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| yeah, you like to undo your diaper |
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| trying to steal candy and gift cards from the grocery store! |
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| and there's the finger in the nose in action! |
So it's been a very busy and fun four months! We've had a great summer playing and running around together. One last thing that we've done is we completely weaned you by the time you were 13 months old! That was a feat, but I think both of us were ready to move on (to more messes around the high chair, thank goodness for the dogs)!
I love watching you grow and think things out. You are definitely a problem solver and you're happy to do things on your own. I love you so much, little girl.
All my love,
Mom
