Four Months Already!

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)!

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).

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:

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:

Daddy dressed you (sorry)

As you were learning to hold your head up - you're a pro now!

One weekend morning when mommy went to work - you and dad were happy to entertain each other!

Diva! Dad bought you sunglasses while mom, Aunt Cara, and Grandma Dotty were shopping!

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!

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:

No thanks, mom!

Hold your feet:

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!

With Grandma Dotty before we left.

At the hotel with grandma and grandpa

Right after the hooding ceremony. 

At Bob and Belinda's house - Bob was arm wrestling you (but he was no match for you)!

From one of the hotels - just got ready for the day!

On the road again! You were a great travel companion - Grandma Dotty rode with us on the way up!

At graduation - cue you pooping on daddy any minute now!

At the hotel with Grandpa Mark at breakfast - yum!

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:

Riding in the car with her.

Aunt Cara feeding you - she's practicing for when your cousin arrives in January!

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....

Go State! One of your favorite outfits (from Aunt Laura) - still a little room to grow into it!

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

Three Months!

My dearest Avery,

My how you've grown! Here's your official 3 month old photo, although I must admit it is getting harder and harder to capture you, as you're moving a lot more lately...surely a sign of things to come!

Hard to get my busy little girl to stay still...

There were a lot of firsts during this month, as I'm sure there will be with many months to come. But this was really a cool time for you. I went back to work (boooooo) and daddy took care of you for three weeks! It was definitely an eye opening experience for him, for sure. Here are some highlights:

One happy girl with her daddy!

Waking up in the morning with daddy - a perfect fit!

The whole family, making dinner for when mommy gets home!

Uh oh - this is trouble - dad of the year!

Another dad of the year moment - dad was working on his thesis -
you were dangling over the fire pit while watching the rain!

Clothing optional....apparently!

I think you and dad had a really great time getting to know each other a little better. And even with that, you keep changing every day so there's always something new to learn about you. Here are some more firsts from this month:

First time in a sling...so tiny!

First time sucking your thumb - not quite an expert yet!

There it is!

First day of daycare. You didn't miss a beat going to daycare -
part of me loves that and part of me hates that.

Also the first day of daycare - dad and I both took you and you gave dad this present
(now I bring you in your carseat so this doesn't happen to me)!

And this is what dad found when he came to pick you up that day! Already making friends with the boys!
Daddy said he kindly informed the little man about his gun collection :)

First baseball game! I know, you don't look thrilled - it was the Pirates versus the Diamondbacks. Unfortunately, we couldn't make the Royals game because it was in the middle of the week. You had just been changed because you blew out your diaper (again).

Here's what you were wearing - so cute!

First time sitting (with support)

First time in the bumbo chair - you have gotten the hang of it better now.

Another first that we weren't too happy about is you had your first cold. We honestly thought we'd ruined our perfect baby by taking you to daycare to get sick. BUT, you got through it like a champ and we're seeing how much you enjoy looking at the other babies at daycare that we decided to keep you there for now. You didn't let it get away without giving it to daddy, though, who then got bronchitis! You're already so good at sharing ;)

Some other highlights along the way:

You love bath time and daddy is now in charge of giving you baths.
You've moved from the kitchen counter to the bathtub already!
You also started peeing in the bath, making it lots more fun for dad!

Sleeping beauty!

You're grabbing things now - lots of things. Your toys or your blanket are always in your hand (you also like putting your toy rings on your arms like bracelets!

Such a ham!

Peekaboo is one of our favorite games right now

Not so sure about the lights on your bouncer but you do really enjoy looking at things that light up, especially some light up books we got you. You also really like looking at yourself in the mirror :)

At Chipotle - overall you've been a very good baby to take out in public

Daddy bought you an Olaf stuffed animal - not sure if you or mommy likes it better!

One of several onesie choices by your dad (I'm sorry)

It is definitely hard working a new job and trying to spend a lot of time with you, but I SO enjoy spending time with you. You smile all the time and I love seeing your reaction to things. You're so much more interactive now and we're really enjoying it. I never thought I'd say this but having you has made me want more kids!

I love you more and more each day, Avery.
All my love,
Mom