Five Months!

My dearest Avery,

My Aunt Amy said I'd love every phase you go through and so far, she's right. At five months, you've become much more interactive and you're definitely starting to show your desire to be a baby on the move! Here's your official 5 month old photo:

And this is basically representative of your demeanor right now too - you're always so happy!

And since you're moving a lot more, I have to post some of the outtakes from your 5 month old photo - now I understand what people say about trying to get a good photo of their kids!

Lots of things have happened this month - you're always smiling and happy. Even your daycare (which has changed in the last month) says you're the happiest baby they've ever had! We certainly love having a happy Avery around...

Although you're normally very happy, you've shown us a bit of a serious side this past month too...

Even your serious side is cute, though, so we can't complain! Some other things of note from this month: you love blowing raspberries, you've started to really laugh (which is the best thing in the world to hear), and you really like to stand up on our laps! Here are photos of your progress this month...

You're wearing more bibs because you're drooling a lot (a sign of teeth coming)! I feel like every time I put a bib on you, you turn it around - you must be saying "mom, you put my cape on backwards again!" It's because of this that your dad bought you a girl's batman outfit, complete with removable cape!

Sitting up and playing with dad!

You LOVE to squeal with excitement as you jump up and down in your exersaucer - you can stay in this thing for up to 90 minutes! It's a lifesaver - we call it "going to work" because when you first started in it, you were so serious but you loved it!

Because you're sitting so well and when you're reclined, you always try to sit up, we went ahead and got you a high chair. You have mixed feelings about it right now but at least it gets you sitting up (the dogs ate the bumpo)!

Skyping with Grandma Gail in your new high chair!

This is what dad calls "sleeping like a boss" - you have slept in this position since birth. We thought it would go away but you're still content sleeping this way!

And this was you waking up one morning - such a happy baby!

You also got to meet a few special people this month...

Lindsay and Jason came to visit on their way to a wedding in Phoenix - you loved playing with your Aunt Lindsay!

And while mom was out on an overnight business trip, dad took you to watch the football game and meet Todd!

We also attempted to embrace fall, although it was too hot to stay to get pumpkins so we'll have to go back later. We went to the Marana Harvest Festival where you got to go to your first petting zoo and corn maze!

On our way in to the festival!

In the corn maze! Thank you for helping us find our way out! 

Farmer Avery has a ring to it!

Your first petting zoo!

No picking his nose please! You like to put your fingers in your mouth all the time! 

You've also helped us cheer on our favorite teams lately. The Royals are in the playoffs for the first time since 1985 (and mom's so happy)! And, of course, you're a Pats fan!

Some other happenings from this month: you are getting more and more interested in the dogs, especially Baxter. You actually reach out to pet him whenever he's near. He is still a little hesitant with you but he's very patient! You are squealing like a champ - dad says that's the Wadsworth side in you coming out, since we're all big talkers :) You are rolling both ways now - you started rolling pretty regularly from your back to your tummy but you can now go both ways and even do a 360 roll! I'm so proud - you're such a big girl! You like your tummy a lot more now and you're even rolling to it in your sleep sometimes (not to our excitement but I am glad that you like your tummy). You're also ALMOST fully sitting on your own - you still eventually fall over so we've been giving you some support but you're definitely advanced for your age!

And your hair has come in much lighter than it was when you were born. It's beautiful but doesn't show up in pictures very well. It's also a variety of different lengths so daddy mentioned cutting it but I put a stop to that - crazy man!

We're so in love with you, Avery - you just make everything so much better! I love you and can't wait to see what the next month has in store!

All my love,

Mom

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