NeW tRiCk!!!!

Yesterday was a big day for Avery!  She had her first "pool day" at a splash pad with her friend Julianna (and my friend Kyla).  She loved the puddles and didn't mind getting a little bit sprinkled. At one point we got too close and we got drenched--she was not a fan of that!!  I had to walk around with her since at that point in the day she wasn't walking yet--death grip on my finger, as always.  After splashing around, we sat in the grass and the kiddos ate all that wonderful health food they make for toddlers: Kix and Goldfish, to name a few. :)  She was fast asleep in the car after about two seconds.  I was going to wake her up when we got home but she was limp, eyes closed, head on my shoulder.  What a sweetie.  So she took a nap in her swimsuit. 

On to the real point of this post.
We were in the living room when she got up from her nap.  I got her to stand on her own by distracting her (asking her where the lamp was, the door was, etc).  I scooted back and told her to walk to me.  She knows what walking is.  She kind of shifted her weight from one foot to the next for a second then just started walking towards me.  Here's the second in her life that she walked on her own.  The shot when she has clothes on is later that day. 



Guess it's time to babyproof my house!!!

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Chatterbox

Avery has been quite the chatterbox lately--especially when she is excited about something!  She gets super excited when she notices the front door/wants to go outside, sees a puppy, or sees a swing!  She'll talk and talk and talk and drag me/Matt to where she wants to go.

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Avery's First Word

I poasted (get it?) awhile back that Avery signed her first word - "more."  Turns out this is her first spoken word, too!! 



She's learning and growing so much every day... what a FUN age!!  Love you little girl!

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Goofy Girl

Here is another video of the munchkin - nothing special, just being her silly 10-month-old (!!) self. :)

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So Many Firsts!

This past weekend, Avery and I went to Ames while Matt was out of town for business.  It was our first road trip together, and we had tons of fun. :)  It was SUPER nice to sleep till 9am (thanks Cici!) three days in a row as well as spend time with high school and college friends while Cici babysat.  Avery had four big first this weekend!

1.  She got her first haircut!

Here's a before picture of Avery's almost-mullet.  :)

 Drumroll....

Here's the after picture:

We even got it on video. :)



2.  Avery does "patty cake."  I didn't get any videos because the next one was way more exciting...

3.  Avery does sign-language for "more."  Here's a (long) video from the weekend.  A big thanks to Cici and her freeze-dried apples!



4.  Avery had her first bowl of ice cream!!  Okay, not really.  But Cici froze bananas, raspberries, blueberries, and pineapple and put them in her juicer, and it made delicious baby ice cream.  My favorite was the banana.  Next time we'll have to try it with peanut butter drizzled on top.  Yum.

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Pictures of the Babe from a Lazy Sunday...

 We are trying to "trick" Avery into crawling.  Her favorite toy is an ap on my phone called "Baby Piano Lite" or something like that.  It's a keyboard for babies.  She loves it.  It's the perfect bait.

(As you notice, she doesn't really get the idea of the keys yet)

 But, our carpet is pretty darn exciting, too.  :)

 Do you like my headband?  It's a gift from Callie and Clara.

 Mom, you are goofy.

 Okay, enough already.  Pick me up!

 Please!!!

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Child Dedication

This past Sunday, January 16, we dedicated Avery at church.  It was a fun, meaningful time for Matt and I to stand before our church family and say that we are committing to raise Avery up to follow the Lord with all of her heart.  It a world where success, beauty, money, talent, good grades, good looks, and popularity are our gods, it is a tall task.  Thankfully where I'm weak, He is strong and in my weakness He can show His strength (if you didn't catch it, the capital "H" signify God). :)  It was also a cool experience because Matt and I have really grown to love our church, Calvary.  At the same time that we were committing to raise Avery up to love God, our church was committing to help us along in that task.  And, Avery's baby-crush Miles got dedicated the same service!  It was fun having this experience with our dear friends Peggy and Aaron.

Anyway, my prayer for Avery since even before she's been born is that she would always know the depths of God's love for her - that his love for her does not depend on her performance and that nothing she does can change that. 

So Avery, "I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowldge-that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God."  (Ephesians)

Here's a video of the whole thing... warning: it's long!



(A special thanks to Nealy, Kyle, Callie, and Clara for cheering us along!)

Here's the picture of Avery that we used in the service.

And last, a picture of the fam at home after church.  (both pictures taken by... Nealy!  Surprise surprise!)

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Chatty Avery

One of Avery's top 5 things to do is to talk to her mom and dad. :)  (The other top 4 are nurse, suck on her hand/thumb, watch TV, and see her grandmas.)  Today we had a nice long chat!!

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Likes Toys

Avery is starting to like her toys more and more.  The first toy she really liked was the little monkey that hangs down from her gym.  She'll grab its arms and legs and stick them in her mouth.  She also really likes the toy that goes across her carseat - which is a lifesaver for long car rides.  Here is a short video of her in Clear Lake watching one of Gramsie's toys:

Speaking of Clear Lake - Gramsie got matching hot pink Clear Lake t-shirts for Avery and Callie and herself!! :)  Sorry this is a bad picture.  (And no, I didn't get a camera yet... but my flip will let me take "snapshots" of videos.)

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Naughty Girl :)

Ever since Avery was about a month old, she has liked watching TV.  You don't understand how ironic this is because I pretty much hate  TV (or rather I don't like just having the TV on for background noise, or flipping through to see what's on, or watching it when we could be talking - just ask my husband. :)  I'm not against TV totally - I watch a few shows here and there, but for some reason most of the time I can't stand when it's on. 

I have to admit though - I'd say about half of the time when I nurse Avery, I sit on the couch and do turn on Food Network or HGTV or something.  But anyway, guess what Avery does now??  When I set her on my lap to pull my shirt up or whatever, she turns her head toward the TV!  I laugh every time. 

Today was the first day I "let" her "watch TV" and it was solely for the purpose of creating this video. :)  I do have to say, though, it will be tempting one day to plop her in front of the tube so I can  fill in the blank - take a shower, fix dinner, clean up the kitchen.     Maybe I'll have to get some of those Baby Einstein DVDs or something. :) :) 

Okay, so here's the video!!  She is enthralled!!! 

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Hello Blogger World and Sad Face

Okay, I know it's been forever since I've posted anything.  Why?  A couple of reasons...

1. Life with a newborn is crazy.  All the moms out there know it.  Before I had Avery, I always wondered what stay at home moms did all day. :)  But now I know!!!

2. Truly, I lost my camera.  That's why I'm posting a video. :)  I need to go out and buy a new one - just a point and shoot.  Any suggestions??

3. I'm kind of a perfectionist when it comes to certain things.  I feel like if I'm going to blog, then I need to have a post for every single thing we do - EVER - and it's just not going to happen.  Plus, have you seen my sister's blog?!  Hard to compete. :)  (speaking of Nealy's blog - thanks to all of you who send me blog-encouragement!!)

4.  I cannot for the life of me figure out how to make a picture big, and I hate the tiny ones!! :) 

Reasons why I decided to keep going...

1.  I LOVE reading certain other people's blogs, so I feel like I should reciprocate.  Blogs are a great way to still feel connected to friends even if they are in Council Bluffs or Scottsdale or Ankeny or Ames or ______. 

2.  It will be super fun to look back on and for my kiddos to look back on. 

3.  I can't take the pressure!! ;) 

Okay, now for the baby update!!! 

Avery is almost 4 months! 

Last Thurs she rolled over.  Well, more like toppled over.  I saw her and everything.  So now, the only other time she rolls is when she's in her crib!!  I'm so excited for her because she's rolling, but at the same time I'm so not excited because it means she's not sleeping!! 

Today she LAUGHED for the first time.  I was least expecting it.  Matt was there too and it was amazing.  Little moments like those make my day sooooo sweet.  I'll have to get a video of it soon.

So I will leave you with a video of my little sweetie.  Matt had just woken her up from a nap (something I don't like to do but if she sleeps too long for her last nap of the day, she won't go to bed!)  Avery was not happy about it.  She does this little frowny whimper face when she's sad, or when she is overwhelmed, and it's about the cutest thing I've ever seen.  All for now!  Hopefully I'll see you again before too long!

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