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| She insisted on grabbing this book for our little photoshoot. |
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| While she appears to stand unassisted here, she is leaning on the chair for support, but is still very close!! |
I just can't believe that today marks 9 months since Avery's birth. This means she has officially been in the world just as long as she was in my belly. Crazy how that happens…the anticipation and aches and pains of pregnancy seem to make the months drag on, but once that little bundle has arrived, time goes faster than ever. Especially this summer. I have enjoyed being off work and hanging with my girl so much that I'm kind of in denial that my trainings start NEXT WEEK!!
They say "It takes nine months to gain the weight, and nine months to lose it" well it's been nine months and I'm still hanging on to these last 10 stubborn pounds. I really can't complain though, because I still haven't gotten back into my exercise routine and I no longer have the excuse that I don't want to overdo it and affect my milk supply. It's been nine months and I still sleep with my body pillow from pregnancy. It's been nine months and I occasionally still wear some maternity clothes…like today's pants. After nine months, we still resort to Ramen or cereal for dinner a couple nights a week because we are too exhausted to cook. It's been nine months and I still haven't managed enough time for a haircut. In nine months I've had one pedicure, when I used to go every two weeks. It's been nine months and I still have emotional breakdowns at least twice a week, because my child is a perfect blessing from God or because she's growing too fast and I am going to miss out while I'm at work or some sappy reason or another.
I have this fear that going back to work means I'm going to miss more of her firsts or that she is going to need me less. What's sadder is that she is actually starting a really bad separation anxiety stage so I'm scared that she won't trust that I'll always be there for her. She already freaks out when I just walk more than 4 steps from her while talking to her the whole time. The other morning when I had to go the dentist, her cry and wave was so pathetic and sad that I thought about not going to my appointment. I'm the most sad that I'll be missing my favorite times of the day with her, which is the sweet morning cuddle time I get when she first wakes up, followed by our rocking chair sessions before her naps. My little girl is growing so fast and she figures out new things each day it seems. I know once I am back to work I will cherish every second with her that much more, though. This feels like the end of my maternity leave all over again, except this time she knows I am leaving her. Although if she stays on her current schedule she will still be asleep when it's time for me to go in the morning, so it won't be so traumatic for her…or me.
I have to remind myself of why I work, so that I don't have to battle with the separation anxiety on my end as well as working-mom guilt. 1. She needs me to, so that we can live comfortably and provide experiences for her that she otherwise wouldn't have, AKA we can spoil her, take her places and hopefully give her a nice college fund for the future instead of pinching pennies and having money be a stressor in our marriage. 2. I love kids and teaching so much! It's truly my dream job and I am so blessed to have a new opportunity to teach in Frisco this year! I am anxious to see my new classroom and meet my new team next week. I think I will be much happier and less stressed in this district…I hope. :-) 3. I have the best profession to be a working mom. I get nights, weekends, holidays, spring breaks, fair days and summers to spend with my babylove!! <3
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| Our family dinner date for our anniversary. |
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| Jon and I went to the drive-in movies for our date night. So much fun!! |
This past month Jon and I celebrated our 3rd wedding anniversary, which had us reflecting on how much this year has shaped us. In one year we have changed from a couple, to a family, we were just two people that have become parents to the sweetest little angel. Although this past year, we have seen great friendships dwindle to mere acquaintanceships with the change of our family dynamic, the bond between Jon and I has never been stronger. I know that the only person on earth that knows and understands my love/obsession with Avery like I do, is her father who is wrapped around her little finger and just happens to be my very best friend. In this past year we have fallen in love all over again just seeing each other be parents, and we have gotten into a parenting routine that works like a well oiled machine.
We also took our first family vacation this month. We went to Galveston, because I didn't want to drive any further then 5 hours with a baby in tow, and the thought of dealing with airport security and baby equipment seemed like a total nightmare. We seriously had the best time on vacation! I was worried after our Memorial Day mishap, but the house we ended up staying in had a nook in our bedroom that we used as Avery's own room and she only fussed a little the first night. Sure we got a little off schedule but she adjusted beautifully and was such a good sport. She had the time of her life crawling around and splashing on the beach. Although she won't remember it, I will never forget seeing her precious face light up while playing with her cousins and hearing her squeals of joy on our morning sunrise walks.
Milestones wise, Avery hasn't changed much in the last month. She is still a speed-racing crawler, pulling up on everything and now trying to climb stuff. She LOVES when I chase her around the house on my hands and knees too. She likes to go around the corner until I yell "Get back here!!" and she comes cracking up laughing, back to me. She is slowly getting more confidence in standing unsupported, but is still terrified of letting go. She does love "taking walks" with me holding around my fingers and has just in the last two days started cruising the furniture. She has perfected her wave and practices it often. She is still working on clapping, but she thinks she's doing it right. She has her pincer grasp down and can pick up the tiniest things, like a tiny piece of foil that you had no idea was on the carpet, because your husband vacuums obsessively, until you find it passed through in her diaper…yep parenting FAIL!! My kid ate foil and I have no idea when or where it happened. Oops.
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| My lil monkey climbed up in my lap and back over to her high chair to get a couple more bites of her Chipotle. I had to anchor her ankles because she was on all fours on top of it!! |
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| She loves getting ready with mommy in the mirror. She can't get enough of herself. I don't blame her! |
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| Her latest trick--climbing the back of the couch! She would probably climb the curtains if she could get away with it! |
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| Getting tired while eating and she ended up with this hilarious photo and very sticky peaches in her hair.! |
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| And this was her reaction when I told her she had to take a bath to wash her Ace Ventura hairdo. |
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| She loves her new Minnie car/ push toy!! |
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| The only reason Abby tolerated this nonsense is because it was storming outside and she's more terrified of thunder than of Ave. |
This month her top two front teeth have FINALLY broken through!! Those were so rough on her. Poor baby had horrible teething symptoms with these for over a month before they finally poked through the surface. Verbally, Avery is talking more and more each day. Sometimes she'll try to mock a whole phrase but still refuses to say "Mama" again. Each time anyone prompts her to, she replies with a "Da-da?" It's irresistibly cute!
And the thing I'm most proud of...my lil skinny Minnie has jumped from the 7th percentile in weight to the 22nd!! She's evening out and now weighs 16.5lbs and is 28" long, in the 66th percentile for height. Also Avery's hair is growing fast and getting much thicker; she even has a couple of curls coming in!! I can't wait to do her first ponytail!! When we were at the coast her whole head had slight little curls and this delights me so much! I am just loving watching her grow into a little girl, but she'll always be my baby. Time to start planning her first birthday…. Eeeeekkk can't believe it's only a couple months away! Very bittersweet.
