My little gymnast.

Last week we tried gymnastics. It starts with free play for the kids to get used the equipment. Then there is circle time. It includes stretching and singing then follow the leader around all the equipment. After that there is parachute time where they all sit in the middle and we twirl them around singing ring around the rosey.

I was not a fan of the group on Wednesday so we decided to try Thursday. Avery seemed to liked to this group better and the mothers were much friendlier. I think we will try a couple other days, but probably stick with Thursdays.

47 weeks!

MONTH: 11
WEEK: 47
WEIGHT: roughly 23lbs fully clothed with shoes.
LENGTH: 30" by my estimate
HEAD: 17"+
MILESTONES: Avery has added a new word to her vocabulary. She now says Hi while waving. It's adorable. We also have a fourth tooth!
OBLIGATORY ADORABLE PICTURE: It's getting harder and harder to get a good one of her sitting still, smiling, facing the camera, etc.
EATING: What can I say? She's a foodie. 
SLEEPING: Some days I long for the days when she would sleep for 3+ hours soundly in her My Little Lamb swing and I could actually get a little sleep too. Lately it seems that 3 hours is only achieved if we are awake. Withing the first hour of us going to bed she stirs and must be soothed. We are I am regularly getting up to replace the paci, rock, soothe, etc at least 3 times per night. I hope now that this last tooth has broken through we might have a few nights of decent sleep. please.
VISITS/OUTINGS: Avery spent today at Ma'am's while Justin and I shopped for her birthday party. We got tons of stuff and even had a grown up lunch! Tomorrow we will be going to our second installment of gymnastics. Last week we went on a Wednesday. The mamas and babies were nice but not too friendly, so we'll be trying Thursdays to see if we like that group better. 
FAVORITE ACTIVITIES: Avery has taken a liking to babbling incessantly to random objects. It's quite hilarious, actually. 
MOMMY FEELS: tired. Hopefully we get some better sleep this week. 
WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO: Planning Avery's birthday party has been quite the event, but we are so looking forward to celebrating this first year with our family and friends.

Daddy's girl

One of my favorite things about being able to stay home with Avery is that most days Justin can work from home. He is able to take off with us to the park and on Monday's that's just what we did.

I love the way Justin can make her laugh like no one else and how much fun they have together.

Curtain bling.

In our new apartment Avery's room faces East and in the morning it is very bright. It's especially bright right around the time of her morning nap. A couple of weeks ago I bought some blackout curtains that do a great job of darkening the room. Unfortunately once she is up I had been having a hard time finding a way to keep them open so she didn't continuously think it was naptime.

I decided I would make some curtain ties. I printed out a flower shape in four different sizes, pinned the patterns to felt in fuchsia, light pink and white. Once I cut out all eight -- two in each of the four sizes -- I put them together with a dab of hot glue between each layer. Then I took some embroidery floss and stitched a spiral in the center.

Once the flowers were done I stitched a piece of hook & loop to opposite sides of a piece of 1/2" grosgrain ribbon on either end. Then I hot glued the finished flower to one end of the ribbon on the opposite side as the hook & loop.

I love how it dresses up her otherwise blase curtains.

So big!

Avery has mastered a new trick.

When asked, "How big are you?" she lifts both arms over her head to which we respond by saying, "So big!" in a sing-songy tone.

I cannot justify it's cuteness in words, so here is a video taken this morning to show you.

46 weeks!

MONTH: 11
WEEK: 46
WEIGHT: 21 lbs +
LENGTH: 30 IN +
HEAD: 17 in +
MILESTONES: Avery has learned a new trick. If asked, "How big are you?" she will now raise both hands over her head and we say, "So big!"
OBLIGATORY ADORABLE PICTURE: This one was quite a challenge. She did not want to sit still and it was definitely bedtime once we got the shot.
EATING: Avery continues to master the culinary spectrum like a champion. We've even introduced eggs this week. She has had no adverse reactions so onward jeeves with the new foods!
SLEEPING: It's has been hit or miss with good sleep. Luckily for Justin Father's day was a good sleep night. What a great gift for Justin!
VISITS/OUTINGS: Today we tried out a new activity: gymnastics. Avery seemed to have fun, but I think she will enjoy it more when she is a little bit older.
FAVORITE ACTIVITIES: She is a huge fan of biting as of late. We are trying to get that under control. Instead we are suggesting practicing blowing kisses. redirecting her need to do something with her mouth into something less painful and more... cute.
MOMMY FEELS: So loved. Avery has been giving lots of hugs and kisses lately and it is so amazing. 
WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO: We have been planning Avery's first birthday party and I have been working on designing a super cute outfit for the event. I can't wait to see how it turns out!

Blink

Looking at you
looking at me
with heavy eyes.
Blink.

Rocking.
Singing.
Smiling.
Blink.

Looking at you
looking at me
with heavy eyes.
Blink.

Happy Father's Day 2011!

Today was Justin's first Father's Day. All week Avery and I had been working on this project and finally finished it last night during bath time. Here's how it came out! I think it's pretty neat. 

 

During the day we went to Justin's grandparents' house for brunch. After brunch we went to Justin's parent's house for a Father's Day lunch. We had turkey sandwiches and Avery got to swim in her brand new puffer fish swimming pool! She had a blast.

 

 

After all that she was pooped -- and hot. So we rolled down the windows in the car on the way home and Avery's hair got a new 'do. I kind of like it.

Mommy FAIL.

This morning I was laying in bed with Avery since I brought her in bed with my when Justin left for golf at 5:45!! :::yawn:::

I was sort of drowsy and I was letting her crawl all over me and our king size bed just as she does every other day. I had just closed my eyes for a second since it was so bright in our room. I can usually tell where on the bed she is from how much she is pulling on the covers and whether or not she is smacking me in the eye.

Apparently she thinks she is trying out for the US Olympic diving team because in less than 2 second flat she had thrown her paci on the floor and gone down head first after it. She hit her head on the wall on the way down and was laying on the floor all crumpled up like a pile of dirty clothes and crying.


Luckily she is totally fine. She is walking and babbling like usual.

 

I feel so horrible and that huge red mark on the head is just a reminder of my huge mommy FAIL. So I made us both pancakes to make us feel better.

Channeling our inner Dori

And just keep swimming, just keep swimming just keep swimming swimming swimming.

On Tuesday Avery and I started parent/child swim lessons. I'll admit they're not exactly lessons per se, but they're just activities in the pool to get her used to the water and instill water safety. The very first day she was not a fan of the cold water, but after a few minutes stopped crying and at least let me hold her in the water.

The second day she only fussed for a minute and was actually participating in the exercises. Yesterday she was having a blast! I am so glad she's warmed up to the idea because I didn't want her to be afraid.

Aunt Stacy even took some pictures for us!

Day 1

Day 2

Family Fun

Tonight we went to dinner with an old friend of Justin's, Ashlee, her fiance and their adorable daughter, Madison. We went to Compadres where luckily it was loud enough that the girls' (read: Avery's) screaming didn't really disturb the other diners.

Avery and Madison had only met one other time and mostly Avery just poked at Madison. Now that they are both more mobile they were able to interact more and each thought the other was pretty interesting. Avery especially liked the button on Madison's cute shirt.

45 weeks!

MONTH: 11
WEEK: 45
WEIGHT: 21lbs +
LENGTH: 29in +
HEAD: 17in +
MILESTONES: Avery is officially a full-time walker. She definitely prefers to at least attempt to walk to whatever she wants rather than crawl. She even tries to run -- albeit unsuccessfully most times. She also got a third tooth! The top right popped through last week.
OBLIGATORY ADORABLE PICTURE: Taken today at exactly 45 weeks just before bed.
EATING: She is just munching along! Tonight we had tri tip, rice and broccoli. She chowed it all down like a champion. 
SLEEPING: Today we had an unusually early wakeup call at 5:30am. Luckily she took two decent naps and I was able to recover a little. 
VISITS/OUTINGS: We started Mommy & Me swim lessons yesterday and they are a blast. Daddy, Aunt Stacy and Grandma denise have both come to watch.
FAVORITE ACTIVITIES: At first Avery was not too fond of the water in swimming lessons, but today she was great and seemed to really enjoy it. That's a relief becasue we have 8 more weeks! 
MOMMY FEELS: tired today. But great nevertheless. I am so grateful for every day I get to be home with Avery.
WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO: The continued swimming lessons.

Before & After

I have always said that Avery is such a good eater. For the most part Avery eats regular food -- same as we do. I have gotten some flack about her eating abilities and been told she shouldn't have been eating whole foods from the start.

Well, I always knew my girl was a champ, and now here I am to prove it. Last night for dinner we had chicken, broccoli and potatoes.

BEFORE

AFTER

The one thing she didn't eat very much of was her potatoes. Not sure where she gets that from though because mama loves her some carbs!

P.R.E.C.I.O.U.S

Peacful
Resting
Ethereal
Calm
Idle
Out cold
Unruffled
Slumbering

Footloose and fancy free

With the fantastic weather we've been having lately I've been trying to get Avery out into the fresh air as much as possible. On Friday we went to the park and Justin met us there. Since Avery is walking now I had to put shoes on her so she didn't step on a rock or get her feet filthy. She is unsure about walking in the shoes still, but it was pretty cute watching her try!


At the park Avery's two favorite activities are the swing and watching all the big kids run around and play on the equipment. If I let her she would swing and swing and swing all day. I can already tell she is so jealous of the big kids being able to run and play.

A long time coming

My friend, Makayla, and I have been friends for a long time. Ten years at least. After high school we lost contact since we both had other things going on and whatnot.

Last year when we learned we were both pregnant and due very close together we reconnected. here we are at her baby shower almost a year ago exactly.

 June 27, 2010

And here are our babies yesterday. 

June 9, 2011

Finally we found another babe who can handle Avery's bullying. Today at the park when Koa had a toy Avery wanted she would steal it away and he in turn would just take it right back. He was able to take her poking and pushing and he did the same to her. Maybe now that she sees how it feels she might stop. Although I find that unlikely.

Avery's first ebleskiver

In Justin's family there is a recipe for Ebleskiver. It's very basic, but requires lots of dishes so we don't make them that often. Last night I made them for dinner and Avery got to experience her very first ebleskive.

I am including the recipe, too!

Ingredients:
2 c - all purpose flour
2 tsp - sugar
1 tsp - baking soda
1/2 tsp - salt
3 eggs separated
2/3 c - milk
1 c - sour cream
2 tbsp - melted butter set aside for greasing pan

Directions


In a large mixing bowl

• mix flour, sugar, making soda and salt.
• set aside

In a medium mixing bowl

• whisk egg yolk, milk and sour cream
• set aside

In a small mixing bowl

• beat egg whites until stiff peaks form.

Mix:

• create a divot in the dry ingredients in the large bowl
• pour the wet ingredients from the medium bowl into the divot in the large bowl
• mix carefully until all ingredients are combined
• fold in egg whites

Cook:

• heat pan over medium heat
• grease ebleskiver pan with melted butter
• fill each cup halfway with batter

Finish:

• when bubbling (like with pancakes) flip
• when brown on both sides they are done.

Eat:

• Enjoy with jam (Justin's prefers raspberry preserves with seeds) or syrup (I like boysenberry syrup) Avery likes both!

44 weeks!

MONTH: 11
WEEK: 44
WEIGHT: 21.5 lbs (according to the pet weighing setting on the Wii Fit.
LENGTH: 29+lbs 
HEAD: 17+ in.
MILESTONES: She is getting so good at walking. She takes about 30 Avery sized steps which equals about 12-15 feet. It's pretty amazing how she can turn corners and even bend down, pick something up, stand up and keep walking. She's even able to stand up on her own without pulling up on anything!
OBLIGATORY ADORABLE PICTURE: Finally a picture on her actual weekly birthday!
EATING: Avery had her very first Ebleskiver today! (See the post tomorrow)
SLEEPING: Finally the last two nights Avery has been sleeping much better. Monday night one of her teeth popped through which seems to be the reason she is feeling better. 
VISITS/OUTINGS: Today we visited Aunt Stacy at work and played in her office. Tomorrow we have a date with Makayla and kekoa!
FAVORITE ACTIVITIES: Avery loves to toddle around with her newly discovered walking skills.
MOMMY FEELS: finally rested after two good nights of sleep in a row. 
WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO: Celebrating Father's Day with daddy.