10 Months!

Stats:  21 lbs, 28 inches long

Yeah little love...I'm as shocked as you at how big you're getting.

Milestones: Finally cruising from furniture to furniture, "imitating" what we say (she's pretty good at vowel imitation), eating big girl grown up food at school (she came home one day smelling of tuna fish....she had a tuna bake at school.  I promptly burned those clothes. :) )  Avery also graduated from the baby room at school and into the bigger kid room.  I'm not going to lie...this was hard on momma.

Her new crib in her new room.

Sitting in her high chair at school.  This is probably the same day she ate tuna...

Behavior:  Avery continues to show what a free spirit she is.  One of my favorite memories thus far is when we were out shopping.  Avery was in her stroller and just pleased as punch to be people watching.  She saw this rather large (large as in tall and muscular) gentleman in the store and decided to yell at him, "Hey!".  He was a very good sport and bent down to talk to her.  She thought he was the greatest thing ever.

We still have our moments of fussiness, but they are fewer and far between.  Luckily we've gotten good at reading her so we know when to avoid a crisis at all costs.

Sleep:  Regression as of recently.  I think she's cutting her 9th tooth which could be the culprit.  Avery is a champ at her bedtime routine and is usually asleep by 8 and up by 6ish.  I recently discovered that she loves her Wub-a-nub pacifier thing with the animal attached to it only because she likes to chew on the pacifier.  As far as I'm concerned, that's all she ever needs to know it's for.  We named her Wub-a-nub "Charlie" back after she was first born.  As long as Charlie is in her crib with her, she'll keep herself occupied until between 6:30-7.

Clothes:  We've entered the new realm of 12 month clothes.  I'm not going to lie, the first time we were in Target and I realized that she "graduated" to the next size up, I got reallllly sad.  I won't be shopping in the baby baby section anymore!  She's got her own "toddler" girl section.  Sure there's more of a selection...but still!  So sad!  We had to get another storage container for her 9 month clothes.  She has now secured that achievement of having more clothes and I do.  Actually, I think she has more clothes than Jacob and I combined.

Likes:  Her love of books was reignited for some reason.  She can't get enough books.  Avery loves long walks, her Ellie dog, bath time in the big girl bathtub, big girl food, and her new car seat!

Dislikes: Staying still, getting into her car seat, getting dressed (it's like trying to lasso a cat.), falling (who enjoys that, really), sweet potatoes (I'm a little upset about this....she used to love them....now she gags.)

"Come on Momma....The Bachelor Wedding is about to start!"

Favorite Moments: Learning to somewhat stand up on her own, getting a new big girl car seat, going on lots of shopping trips with Momma and Dada (or, "Adda" as she calls him)

Most Challenging:  The week long virus that had at the doctor, in the ER, and back at the doctor again.  Poor baby's fever got as high as 104.  She was miserable and so was I.  Luckily it was just a virus and she's just fine now...like it never happened.  Building an immune system is a rough job.

How she preferred to spend most of the 6 days she was sick...cuddled up in someone's arms and watching Mickey Mouse and/or Doc McStuffins.

Looking Forward To:  Walking! ....maybe?

Avery's First Valentines Day!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Opening her first Valentine's Day card from Gigi and Granddad

Excited about her new elephant from Momma and Dadda

Big Girl car seat!

Such a happy little love!

9 Months!

Stats:  20 lbs, 27.5 inches long

Milestones: Walking with assistance, climbing stairs, and drinking from a cup....to name a few.  :)

...lest we forget "my first ponytail"

Behavior:  Avery is starting to assert some of her independence.  I know, you're in denial that this kid can pitch a royal fit too.  Trust me- she's done it.  Several times.  She's still hilarious and altogether laid back.  She's got her moments.  Don't we all.

Sleep:  7:30-6:30 or 7ish.  After her 5 new teeth finally cut through, her sleep went back to "normal".  Praise the Lord.  Avery is still a horrible napper.  At school she only takes two 30ish minute naps per day.  At home on the weekend she can sleep for 2 hours.  I'm assuming it's because there's way too much going on at school and she's scared she's going to miss something.  I would be too come to think of it....I guess that's where she gets it from.

Momma's shopping buddy on New Years Day

Clothes:  9 month everything.  She got a lot of 12 month stuff for Christmas but it's still a little big for her.  She's still about a half pound to full pound from being on the low side of the 12 month scale.  I'm fine with it.  I figured the longer she can stay in 9 month clothes the better.  Like I said on facebook, she'll wear Christmas jammies until the summer if I have my way about it.  :)

Wearing one of her new 12 month shirts.  The sleeves are long enough to fit my arms, but whatever.  

Likes:  All of her new toys she got for Christmas, Ellie still is fascinating, being outside, going for walks, bath time, exploring via her walker, and going on adventures.

Grocery shopping is way more fun with Avery "helping".  This was after she grabbed a bag of Doritos and threw them in the basket.

Dislikes: Staying still, getting into her car seat, getting dressed (it's like trying to lasso a cat.), riding in her car seat, being told "no".

Favorite Moments: First Christmas, spending almost a week at Gigi and Granddad's house, seeing a lot of extended family,

Just a girl and her dog.

Most Challenging:  Separation anxiety as started.  Hearing Avery scream "mamamama" at me as I leave her at school for 3 mornings straight is enough to drive anyone looney.

Exploring. ...it's what she does best.

Looking Forward To:  Growing up!

Just walking around...wearing a crown.  Wait...you don't?  She must have learned that from me.

2013: A Brief Review...

January:

First shower for Avery Grace thrown by sweet friends at church.  

February:

We *thought* we still had around 10 weeks to go before Avery would be here.

March:

Staci and I went to Dallas for TSHA conference.  Obviously I stayed super energetic the whole time.  :)

April:

Well well, where to start.  Oh yes...

Our 36 week, 2 day ultrasound to make sure Avery was still breech and to schedule our C-Section date.  Little did we know that 4 days later this would happen....

May:

Lots of visitors!

First Mother's Day

June:

Avery met her friend Benton at his first birthday party

First visit to Baylor and quality time with Aunt Staci.

College preferences were made.

Someone was obviously distraught over starting school.

July:

Wearing big bows became a daily occurrence.

Gigi started making clothes for Avery!

August:

First date night in 4 months!

First time in her high-chair.

Entertaining people at a restaurant by singing "Opera"

Personality....to say the least.

September:

Making questionable fashion decisions.

First time eating carrots and sprouting 2 bottom teeth.

Cue the non-stop ear infections.

Lest we forget the infamous ER visit.

Sic 'Em Bears!

October:

First plane ride to Louisiana

Pictures in the dress MeMe made.

First Baylor Homecoming and first football game!

Baby dedication at church.

Tubes....

First Pumpkin patch.

First Halloween

November:

Avery attended her friend Berkleigh's 1st birthday party.

First Thanksgiving!

Helping Momma do some Christmas decoration shopping.

December:

Test run for Santa

The REAL Santa.

First Christmas!

2013 has been a momentous year!  Jacob and I are so excited to see what 2014 holds.  We are truly blessed.