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.

Avery's First Christmas!

The Friday before Christmas was the start of the best little 6 day vacation we've had in a while!  Avery went to school with her teacher gifts in hand (she was naturally way more excited about putting them in her mouth than handing them over.  She's got to learn the art of "giving"...)

 Jacob took half a day at work the Friday before Christmas so he could get everything loaded up.  We literally had the Tahoe filled to the brim...he couldn't even see out of the rear-view mirror because things were packed so high.  Since becoming more mobile, Avery has absolutely loathed riding in her car seat for longer than 10 minutes...which makes traveling to DFW interesting.  She did well until we hit Waco.  4.5 hours after we left Round Rock, we were at Gigi and Granddad's house!

Saturday morning Avery helped Gigi and Momma do some last minute Christmas lunch shopping at Sam's.  Girlfriend loves her some bulk bargains too.

Saturday evening we went to the Candlelight service at Gateway church where Avery's Uncle Jeremy and Miss Valerie work.  Avery did really well sitting through the service.  She lasted a little over half way through before Jacob and to leave with her because she was "helping" Pastor Robert preach.

(She discovered her tongue earlier this date...and this is literally the face she made all day.)

Photobomb...level: Momma

Uncle Jeremy and Miss Valerie

Candlelight service.  I may or may not have dripped hot wax all down my hand....and on the seat in front of me.

Monday morning we sent Dada off bright and early to get in line for tickets to see Santa at NorthPark Center in Dallas.  I'm entirely convinced that he is actually the real Santa therefore we were willing to do whatever it took to get Avery an audience with him.

Granddad bought Avery her first red & white Minnie Mouse

Seriously people...he's real.  Don't tell me otherwise.

Seeing Santa and shopping with the rich and famous can wear a girl out pretty quick.

Tuesday was focused on spending time with family.  Granddad is a pro at getting Avery to laugh  cackle. 

Her newest trick...clapping.

Wednesday was THE day.  Christmas day!  Avery had more toys to play with than she knew what to do with.  In all actuality, we totally could have just gotten her empty boxes and bows and she would have been just as happy.  :)

Christmas evening Gigi and Granddad offered to watch the Little Miss while Momma and Dada got to go on a double date to ICE! at the Gaylord Texan resort.  I had never been before, the thought of spending any amount of time in a room that was purposefully set to 9 degrees isn't my idea of a good time, but- it was fun.

 

Thursday morning we woke up and started that monstrous task of re-packing the Tahoe to head home.  It was sad to say goodbye to everyone, but, it just makes us want to come back soon!

Avery with her Great-Great Aunts Faye and Mary Lou

Jacob and I have both decided that Christmas was waaay more fun with Avery around.  We can't wait for next year!

8 Months!

Stats:  19.5 lbs.  No clue how long she is.  I'll know officially at her 9 month appointment.

Milestones:  Cruising around like there's no tomorrow.  Avery has also started eating more and more solid food.  She tried her first bites of mashed potatoes at Thanksgiving and wasn't really a fan....she'll learn....eventually.

Her top 2 teeth have finally broken through.  Finally.

Behavior:  Still a goober and I love it.  She's a comedian at heart, I'm convinced.  I've repeatedly heard her laughing at herself.

Sleep:  We went back to normal and then she started cutting her top 2 teeth and regularity went flying out the window.  How long does it take for all their teeth to come in?  I'm ready to have my good sleeper back.

Clothes:  9 month everything.

Likes:  Exploring, standing up, reading books, bath time in her big girl rubber ducky tub, school, Ellie, and Sophie the Giraffe.

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 Thanksgiving, first taste of mashed potatoes, gaining independence, wearing shoes (!), increasing interactiveness.

Most Challenging:  Sleep regression, teething, ....gaining independence (it's a double edged sword, really).

Looking Forward To:  First Christmas at GiGi and Granddad's house!

7 months!

Stats:  Around 19lbs and somewhere in the neighborhood of 26 inches long.  No doctor's appointments this month (can I get a hallelujah) so no official weight/length.

Milestones:  We're now crawling AND pulling up.  Oh- let's not forget walking while holding onto momma or dada.  The speech therapist in me is super proud of the variegated babbling happening since around the 7.5 month mark.  This kid is on the fast track.  Slow up sister.

Still no top teeth.  We've been "expecting" them for almost a month now.  Hopefully soon.

Behavior:  Avery is a ham.  A Christmas ham.  She cheeses it up when a camera is brought out, she laughs at herself, she mocks us laughing at her, and she'll do just about anything to get someone to smile at her.  She's continued with the displeasure scream/whine too.  Avery is super friendly and has yet to meet a stranger.

Sleep:  We went through some sleep regression over the last month, however, she's almost back on track.  Her internal clock is forever messed up because of daylight savings.  What used to be acceptable (6am) as a wake up time has morphed into a "begin to stir" at 4:45, up ready to go by 5:15 type of behavior.  Yeah.  Not happy.  We've started keeping her up a little bit later thinking that would adjust everything, but no.  We're still the earliest of birds..

Clothes:  9 month everything.

Likes:  Exploring, standing up, reading books, bath time in her big girl rubber ducky tub, school, and Sophie the Giraffe.


Dislikes: Staying still, getting into her car seat, getting dressed (it's like trying to lasso a cat.)

Favorite Moments: Reaching a ton of milestones, going to a football game, and celebrating dada's birthday, and our first Halloween!


Most Challenging:  Sleep regression.

Looking Forward To:  First Thanksgiving and growing!

Trick or Treat!

Avery was the cutest little pumpkin I've ever seen for Halloween....

...I mean really.  

Avery's First Pumpkin Patch!