11 Months!

I can't believe it. My baby's first birthday is only 1 month away!! What the what?? Yep. There is only 1 more Sticky Bellies sticker for our  monthly photo shoots. Only 1 more month to buy formula. Only 1 more month to call my baby a baby(yeah right, I'll always call her baby)….at 12 months she enters the world of toddler. This brings a complexity of emotions. The excitement of planning her birthday party is, at the moment, outweighing my sadness and tendency to be overly sentimental.

Thinking back to one year ago,  we were just finishing up buying all the baby gear, and completing the nursery. Now we are chasing around our hilarious, almost toddler! In this sense, the year has flown by in the blink of an eye. But thinking back to being big-as-a-whale pregnant... it is all a distant memory. It is true what they say, mother nature has a way of making you forget the aches and pains of pregnancy and labor, so that you can do it all again. I am missing the sensation of baby kicks and twirls inside my belly, but then I remember sleep and how much I love getting a full night's worth. LOL Seriously though, we do want to give Avery a sibling sooner rather than later, but we are enjoying letting her be the baby for a little while longer.

This month, not much has changed with Ave. She is still refusing to stand unassisted, but we have seen that she CAN, when we kind of trick her into it. She wants to walk everywhere and drags us around from our fingertips with a death grip on them, refusing to even try to let go. But that's ok. I don't know when it'll be the last time…the last time that she needs me to help her walk across the floor. I joke about her reaching this milestone so slowly, but really she is right in the normal range. It is just surprising when she reached the other physical milestones so early. Soon enough though, I know she will let go and not look back. She will be running around and climbing everything in sight.


Verbally, Avery is making new noises and sounds every day. She says "Dada" "Ab-dog" "Key-Cat" (kitty cat) "Oh!" "BAH" (Bottle, bye and bite), "Omma"('Momma' but only when she is really upset)  and she will randomly repeat things we say like "Hello" "Stop it" , "Uh-Oh" and "Okay" to name a few. I feel like she is just going to start spitting out full sentences one day!

Some of Avery's favorite things at 11 months are blueberries, bananas, mandarin oranges, crackers, singing, dancing,  taking walks, petting Abby, crawling all over mom and dad's bed, Curious George, playing "tag" around the house, looking in the mirror, snuggling her blankets, making funny noises, peek-a-boo, playing maracas, reading, puzzles, all other babies, pillows, shoes, giving kisses, climbing everything she can, watching tv, and being a drama queen.

Some stuff Avery dislikes at 11 months are being told "no", when fun things are over, and bedtime, recently.

 This month Avery has been getting over being sick. She is also still in a very high separation anxiety phase and an adjustment period of me going back to work and has been teething again on top of it all, so needless to say, we have had a few sleepless nights. Although it leaves me tired, I do love rocking that sweet baby, even if it's in the middle of a school night. It's those moments that I just want to freeze and remember forever. Again, I never know when it'll be the last time, so I just try to cherish those times she is crying, because she just needs her Mama. Except when it happens every hour and a half for the night and I can't physically open my eyes again, then it is Dada's turn!

This weekend she cut 2 new teeth though, so maybe this week will be better! She has 6 teeth now. Four on the bottom and two on the top, and her top gums look swollen too! This baby is growing so fast!!

10 Months/Summer Recap/Back to School!!

I

Photobomb!

George and her car--2 of her favorite things!!

Well I'm about 10 days late on my 10 month post, but so much has been going on. First of all, Momma is back to work and it has been a tough transition on us both. Avery is having a bit of separation anxiety from me and has been struggling with going down for naps and bedtime. And I am having major working-mom guilt. It didn't help that Avery was sick for 2 solid weeks with a sore throat virus, topped off with an 11 day tummy bug that coincided with my staff development week. The long hours it takes to prep for a new school year, at a new school is totally insane too.  I know it will get easier as my routine gets more established and I won't have to stay so late.  This 3 day weekend was exactly what we all needed to recharge after a hectic first week too!! It is also nice to have the support of a large team though, especially with most of them being mommies too. I love my new school, class and teammates so much already!

So at 10 months, Avery is looking more and more like a big girl and less like my wittle baby. She is figuring out so much every single day. She is FINALLY holding her bottle at most feedings instead of being a lazy bum..just in time for me to start weening her off of it. LOL! She mimics everything we do and it is making this age my favorite so far!! She blows raspberries, tries to make a fishy face, is pointing at things she wants me to see, shares her food by giving us bites, clicking her tongue, whistling with her flute, putting hats on her head, shoes on her feet and combs in her hair. She is starting to help us dress and undress her by trying to put her head, arms and legs through the holes. She does the "little piggies" to our toes, and finally got the clapping thing down and thoroughly enjoys participating in a good game of pat-a-cake or "happy and you know it". She knows how to go get the toy baskets and pull them out to get what she wants and is actually really good at entertaining herself with her toys and books. I love just watching her explore, going from toy to toy, playing and singing to herself then crawling over to show me something, or sit in my lap and give me a kiss. Playing with her is so much fun too. She loves playing "tag" all around the house and giggles like crazy when I'm about to get her. She still loves peek-a-boo, especially under and around stuff, and riding on her Minnie car all around the house. She is  finally starting to push her little car around, but she does it sideways instead of standing behind and pushing it like you are supposed to! She tries to climb on the car all by herself, because it is clearly her favorite toy, and it is so cute!!

Fishy face!

Some of Avery's favorite things at 10 months are: of course, the Minnie Car, any and all stuffed animals--most recently Curious George, her activity table, the BeeBop Band set, her new shoes, going on walks to the park, her blankies, shopping, looking in the mirror, cruising the furniture, and taking walks around the house by holding on to our fingers.

Bringing puppy to lunch and later dipped him in ketchup! Lol yuck!!!

Picnic'n

Some things Avery dislikes at 10 months are: being told no or not being allowed to have something she wants (we have officially started temper tantrums, but luckily they are quick as she is easily distracted), she suddenly hates baths again, she does not like to miss out on anything so she doesn't like napping anywhere but in her cozy bed with her sound machine and blankie, mommy or daddy leaving, and sitting in her high chair/jumparoo/exersaucer for too long, because she wants to have her freedom!

Mommy told her "no" to having my coffee!!

Our proudest moment this month-- While wearing Ave in the carrier at Kroger, she projectile pukes all over a magazine/gift card rack while we were waiting to check out. All I can say is, I am glad I wear her facing outward!! That poor baby. We were mortified, but most of all I felt so bad for her. This was the 11th day of her tummy bug and the night before school started, so I was just praying for her to be better so I wouldn't feel so terrible about leaving her for work while she was still sick, and luckily that was the end.

It is hard to believe that our beloved summer is over, but it was the best summer of my life. This was the first time that I wasn't working or babysitting over the summer and I just got to enjoy every minute with my favorite little girl. Jon and I had a great, quick river trip with friends, we had a wonderful family vacation in Galveston, trips to the splash park, library, park, Aunt Jamie's pool, a last mintute trip to spend a few days with Jenn and lots of cuddles and playtime together.

Bows+sweat=crazy hair!!

Our sweet baby snuggles!!

 One of my favorite moments was this weekend. I took Avery to the mall Saturday to get a pair of good walking shoes for her narrow little foot. ( I really wanted some Toms, but they run way too big, so we settled for some cute Stride Rites) She was just a doll about trying on all the shoes and once we picked these out, she just had to carry them in the stroller. On Sunday morning when we woke up, she crawled right over to her new shoes and tried to put them on. Well she's basically had them on for every waking moment since! She is in love with them. They are magic too! They give her the confidence and stability she was lacking. While wearing her magic shoes, she can stand on her own, and she WANTS to walk everywhere! She grabs my hands and we have gone everywhere! She was not very interested in standing or walking before, because she is such a speedy crawler and super cautious about falling, but this weekend a switch has suddenly flipped. It is only a matter of time before we are chasing after her little feet instead of being their guide. Our little girl is growing up and witnessing it all is so extraordinary! We just gush daily about how much we love being her parents, and although I know one day she will disappoint us, I hope this adoration never fades.

In her magic shoes :-)

9 Months

She insisted on grabbing this book for our little photoshoot.

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

Our family dinner date for our anniversary. 

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.

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!!

She loves getting ready with mommy in the mirror. She can't get enough of herself. I don't blame her!

Her latest trick--climbing the back of the couch! She would probably climb the curtains if she could get away with it!

Getting tired while eating and she ended up with this hilarious photo and very sticky peaches in her hair.!

And this was her reaction when I told her she had to take a bath to wash her Ace Ventura hairdo. 

She loves her new Minnie car/ push toy!!

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.