My Dearest Avery,
I have no excuse for not writing sooner other than I was too busy having fun with you! We've done a lot in the past three months and you've done a lot of growing along the way! Here are your official nine, ten, and eleven month photos (see, I didn't forget to take the pics):
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| This one was taken on Easter Sunday - you currently hate having anything on your feet or head (hats, socks, bows, shoes, EVERYTHING) so I was lucky to catch this one before you ripped things off! |
At your 9 month check-up, you were 20.5 pounds, 28.75 inches long, and had a head circumference of 44.8 cm. You have actually stayed that same weight throughout the past 3 months. It's pretty amazing what moving around more has done. You're still a good weight (and still have a belly) - just more active than before. You have hit some pretty significant milestones too: you wave your arms when delighted, cross your ankles as you wish, cruise while walking along a piece of furniture, and even let go of things to stand on your own and take a few steps from one item to the next! You took your first step on March 30, right in front of me! I can't even explain how proud I was...made me so happy to share that moment with you!
So I'll try to recap the past 3 months in pictures. You had an ear infection twice during this time and there were two weeks where I was out of town for work so dad took care of you as a single parent. He did great - you can definitely tell how much we both love spending time with you!
Here are some pics of what happens when dad is taking care of you....shenanigans!
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| Happy girl ready to go to daycare! |
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| Uh oh....ready to drive? |
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| Mocking dad? |
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| Dad dressed you for school...and forgot socks (again)! |
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| Hi mom! |
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| Cheese ball! |
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| Superbowl Sunday....you must've known it was going to be a close one! |
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| Ready for school! (I request photos when I don't get to see you in the morning! |
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| Patriots won! |
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| First time on grass....ok so it was Tucson grass but still... |
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| Bagel anyone?! |
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| I think dad likes dressing you more than he says... |
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| ...and doing your hair! |
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| New backpack for school! |
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| Yes, that's you in the basket....how did that happen?! |
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| Switch seats! You can now climb into this chair! |
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| NOT ok...bad daddy! |
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| You poor thing....yes, that's a toy that dad somehow missed when putting your pjs on... |
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| Driving again? You're getting the hang of it! |
We're having fun picking out outfits for you - here's a couple of time we were trying to get you ready...you'd just rather get going though:
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| I changed your outfit a lot that day....at least you were keeping the bow in for a while. |
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| So cute! |
Ok so there are mommy/daughter days too....usually my off Fridays (thank goodness for those)!
You're also pretty happy all the time....here's one of my faves (love your smile):
You're definitely more mobile now...here are a few times when we've caught you in the act (probably a sign of things to come as you become a toddler):
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| This was when you first started crawling...you startled daddy! |
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| Yup, you like to hang with the rough crowd (aka Baxter)...you use anything and everything to pull yourself up. |
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| Helping mom do taxes |
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| Using the elephant to pull up and walk |
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| Playing with the dogs |
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| You were having fun with the diapers...learning what we can and can't keep out... |
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| So smiley...in one of dad's favorite outfits... |
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| You can now climb up on this chair by yourself |
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| Looking for the dogs to terrorize |
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| Crawling like a boss! |
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| You love playing with the remotes! |
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| Look where I found you! Wanna take care of some laundry while you're in there? |
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| Yup, we forgot a stroller but you drove this one around like a boss! |
You're playing a lot too now - so much that it wears dad and me out. Oh and you love clapping - it's so cute! We try high-fiving but you just like to keep clapping. Love it! And you are addicted to swinging doors open and closed - sometimes I think you're already practicing slamming the door in my face...don't worry, though, we watch your little fingers very closely!
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| For about 4-5 months, you loved jumping in this...it was a life saver... |
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| Your first time in a swing...you weren't really sure what to think! |
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| Meeting Noah, a friend's baby who is just a few days apart from you...you don't like pacifiers but you wanted his! |
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| There you are with your remote - you love climbing around under our bar stools |
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| Laura and Don came to visit - you had a blast with them! |
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| You're about to bust out some serious dance moves here! |
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| My sweet little girl! |
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| You like the swing better now... |
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| Clapping! And you know when to do it too! |
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| Smiley! |
You also LOVE bath time. You actually try to crawl into the bath whenever you can!
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| and this is what happens when you sleep on a wet head of hair! |
You're also eating solids better and better every day. We've even started buying you some things when we go out to eat, like fruit bowls and grilled chicken. You LOVE eating with us....
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| You love chicken and carrots |
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| Egg! And then the dr told us not to do that anymore before your first bday...oops! |
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| Joining daddy while eating... |
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| Which half do you want? Just kidding....you don't have enough teeth for that! |
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| Strawberries and oranges - you loved the oranges but could pass on strawberries for now... |
We also took a couple of trips in February and March - first we went to go visit your new cousin Emma in Kansas and then we went to go introduce you to some of your family is Roswell!
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| On the plane to Kansas - you got your own seat this time! (Mom and Dad were grateful) |
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| Sleeping beauty |
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| Meeting Emma for the first time! |
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| At Aunt Cara's house |
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| Resting in the hotel |
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| Little one-month old Emma |
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| You love your cousin |
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| Playing in the hotel |
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| Plane ride home...get me off this plane! |
Shortly after, the trip to New Mexico...
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| Play time with grandma! |
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| All the cousins! |
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| Playtime with grandpa! |
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| NOT happy in the hotel - fortunately for us, you don't make this face very often! |
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| Road trip! |
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| With Aunt Catherine! |
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| Playing in the hotel |
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| Worn out from all the fun |
And if the trips weren't enough, we were able to catch a few Royals games during spring training too!
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| Family photo! |
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| happy girl watching her Royals! |
And finally, we celebrated Easter with some gifts from the Easter bunny, an egg hunt and dying eggs...
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| Look at all that loot! |
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| You caught on quickly...and you're a fan! |
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| My darling baby....turning into a toddler right before my eyes! |
Well what can I say...it's been a whirlwind three months and we've loved every second of it...except for the parts where I had to be away from you for work - those were hard. You're becoming a very assertive (babbling all the time, almost like you're directing us) and playful little girl. We love you so much and are so lucky to be your parents.
All my love,
