Changing formats for this blog...

I am going to make a combined blog for both Avery and Ainsley that will be more of a photoblog. It'll be linked to the left. Here I'll continue to add milestones and updates on what's going on in Avery's life. Look for pictures on the photoblog in the future!

Tent + Hyperactivity

= Static.

It's a proven scientific fact.

Also, "Camera Cheese" is on display here. That's what Avery calls this 'smile,' although she looks more like a rabid psychopath.

Here's how Avery spent her day...

Yes, watching TV. She has the flu. There is nothing whatever to do to entertain a child who's sick and clingy and annoying and... you get the picture.

"My mom had a baby...

...and all I got was this cheesy backpack."

Avery loves Ainsley's...

FEET!

She fights sleep...

tooth and nail.

Here's the proof!

One way to pass the time --

baking. Cookies. Oatmeal. YUM.

Avery thought so too. I did let her eat one tiny bite of dough -- despite the risk of salmonella and the crying that followed when I denied her a second taste -- I figured I'd be a BAD mom if I didn't let her take one lick. What's ONE taste?

Besides, I had one or two or three tastes too.

No new sibling yet...

We're just laying low and we're all going stir crazy waiting for Baby #2 to arrive.

Here are some pictures to share just for the heck of it.

Avery and her grandmas

Avery has been enjoying being the only grandchild on both sides of the family quite a bit lately. Just about every day for the last couple of weeks, she's been able to see either her GramZ or her Grammy Gigi. She is in spoiled grandchild heaven, let me tell you.

Trip to the local museum...

otherwise known as killing time.

Grammy Gigi and I took Avery to our local county museum today. Much to our surprise, Avery actually really enjoyed it and cried when we left. They have lots of stuffed mammals and birds -- those are what she was most interested in. Until we discovered they also had a live animal exhibit, of course, and then that became her favorite.

I didn't take very many pictures -- we were on a time limit because we had to meet GramZ for lunch, but there's really not a ton to see anyway. This museum hasn't changed most of its exhibits since I first went there, when I was probably 10 or so.

Here's a cool metal statue of a... vulture? that greets you as you enter.


An engine from the Southern Pacific Railroad line:


Avery and I (and my enormous belly) in front of the coy pond:


I think we're going to invest in a yearly pass, only because it's cheap and they'll credit my tickets today toward it. Avery seemed to enjoy it enough to take her back there on a random morning for entertainment in the future.

Our wishlist items have arrived!

Yay!

These were all sent from Jen, whose wedding website I created over the last several months. Her wedding is this weekend -- I hope it all goes well and I'm sure she'll make a beautiful bride!




Lastly, here's the one we chose to open today. We're saving the rest for crucial moments in the weeks and months to come. Like, the moment when I imagine taking a one-way flight to Bermuda or something. I know that moment is coming and soon.


We opened the above because Avery has a true passion for her fossilized friends -- it's mostly because of the boy that lives across the street. He even taught her his dinosaur chant and dance that she demonstrates on cue for anyone and everyone.

Fun playdate

Avery got to play with a little girl named Ainsley yesterday. I have been friends with Ainsley's Aunt Kelly for many years, and Kelly takes care of Ainsley everyday. We have been wanting to get together forever and just never made it happen until now. We were regretting holding off so long because it's about to get twice as complicated for both of us. Kelly and her husband Erin (yes, that's how you spell HIS name) are expecting their first child (a little girl named Penelope) in about 5 weeks.

Anyway, Avery had fun with Ainsley, even though she did boss her around quite a bit. I don't know what her deal is with being bossy... she's been on a little toddler power trip for several weeks now.

She got pretty good at saying "Ainsley" by the end of their visit to our house, so if baby #2 is a girl, Avery will already have had some practice since "Ainsley" is our girl's name.

Some corny pics...

Avery wouldn't eat the corn I cut off of her cob for dinner. She saw Jed and I eating it right off of the cob and wanted it that way too. I figured, what the heck. She loved every moment of the messy adventure. She kept wanting to bite the same spot over and over though. We'll have to work on that part.

No more monkeys

jumping on the bed!

Wall hanging

I finally finished the wall hanging for Avery's room. I bought the letters to start this over a year ago. Talk about procrastination. Doesn't Avery look thrilled about it?

A new trend

and I think I like it.

Avery hasn't been super willing to fall asleep in the car recently. We've taken several 1-2 hour road trips specifically at her naptime in the past few months and have expected her to sleep, only to wind up with an overtired, cranky baby at the end of the drive -- she never fell asleep like we had hoped she would.

However, it seems that a good book will put her RIGHT to sleep the last few days. I'm thinking maybe we found the secret to getting her to fall asleep in the car again, but I am not going to get my hopes up.

Friday:


Saturday:

Proof of hair and a new way to hydrate oneself

Singing, Dancing, Shapes, and Looking at Pictures

Just a typical afternoon.

video

She is her father's daughter, after all

GramZ gave me some pictures of Jed to scan from when he was two-ish. I cannot believe how much Avery looks like him. I mean, yes, she's his child and all, but come on. She couldn't look just a LITTLE like me?

Nothing more than silly pictures...

Isn't she looking like a full-fledged toddler? And by the way, she does wear clothes. Every day. I don't know how it is that I take so many pictures of her in just a diaper.