Avery Is One!

There's so much to share about our sweet Avery Jane and her first year of life.  Andy, Grayson and I have been so blessed by the addition of this little girl.  She is so full of personality and at such a tender age has shown she has quite a knack for dramatics.  She finally learned not to hit her head on the tile or hardwood when she throws a fit.  She's steadily toddling around and rarely crawls anymore.  She loves purses, clothes and shoes, well at least eating shoes :)  I catch her sitting in a pile of clothes "trying them on" to the best of her ability.  I can only imagine what the future may hold! 

 She has the most infectious smile, lately gaping her mouth open wide.  She does what I call the Andy smile and wrinkles her whole face up, squeezing her eyes into slits and grins!  She giggles like a school girl, especially at her brother.  He gets the best of her joy sometimes!  When she starts falling apart he often can keep her happy a little bit longer. 

 She's kind of a mama's girl but really loves her daddy too.  Lately she's been diving for him when he gets home from work.  Yesterday she threw her sippy, scootched down and ran to the door saying, "Dada!  Dada!".  It's so sweet!  She loves running around with Grayson and is really learning to hold her own.  She pushes him around for sure!  Bossy already :)  She loves to be outside and begs to get down even if she's barefooted.  She's not quite sure about the grass yet but is quickly learning to deal.  It's kind of nice because she'll still hang out on a blanket while I chase Grayson around.  Avery and Grayson play really well together and she loves hanging out in his room with him.  She loves to "talk" on the phone and is constantly stealing my cell phone!  My home phone's been off the hook for hours on end because Avery's stashed it on somewhere. 

 Avery's definitely more of a snuggler than Grayson was, but that's not saying much.  She'll snuggle for a bit after she wakes up but then she's itching to go!  She has a blanket she snuggles at bedtime and although it's her favorite, she will take a different one if need be.  She definitely loves being nice and cozy in her crib.  She's started sleeping through the night the last week or so and it's been so nice!  She was sleeping from 8-6:30 but lately it's been 8-5.  Either way, not getting up in the middle of the night is a treat.  She naps twice a day, although I was convinced she was trying to give up her morning nap.  Some days she'll only sleep a half an hour in the morning, others an hour.  Her afternoon nap is usually 1.5 or 2 hours. 

 Avery's a petite little peanut and quite frankly I love that about her.  She's so dainty and lovely!  She is such a doll and a beautiful little girl for sure.  She's wearing 12 months and 18 months and is almost out of size 3 diapers.  The thing that is so funny is she's a oinky eater (in the sweetest way possible!).  She can put away the food!  A typical morning meal is 2 eggs, a big piece of toast, a banana and a sippy of milk.  She keeps up with me and Grayson for sure :)  She's not picky at all and obviously is a good eater.  I don't think she's rejected anything she's been given.  She loves everything from casserole to mac 'n cheese, spaghetti to pizza and everything in between!  I hope she keeps up her good metabolism!  She'll be one lucky girl! 

 Avery's been weaned for a little over a week now.  It was a bit of a challenge as she HATED milk to begin with.  She is awesome at a sippy cup, straw, you name it with water in it.  I gave her milk, she tasted it and spit it out!  Warm cold, lukewarm, thirsty, hungry, morning, night, it was a no go.  I tried everything.  I just kept at it and slowly she'd take more and more.  I had her down to nursing once a day which was hard for her.  She'd crawl up into my lap and throw herself sideways.  She was definitely emotionally connected to the whole process!  She's doing great now and I'm so thankful it wasn't more difficult than it already was.

 Our family loves Avery and she gives the love right back.  She loves her cousin Hazel!  Watching them squeal back and forth at each other is a riot.  They're just over 5 months apart and will hopefully always be close.  Since Avery might not ever have a sister it's nice to know she'll have a cousin to pal around with.  They'll both go to Prospect Point and be in the same grade together.  We are really lucky to have cousins, yet alone cousins that are close in age!

Avery's such a fun sister for Grayson and he a brother for her.  She's high energy and fun, right up G's alley!  They run around together, share sippy cups (ew) and push each other around.  It cracks me up when he gets in her space and she pushes him.  I know quickly it will turn to all out fights, but for now it's kind of cute to watch her bully him back a bit.  He goes and makes sure she's okay when she's hurt and was so upset when she got her shots at the doctor.  It seems like she looks up to him already.  I hope they stay close and really look out for each other. 

Avery's really starting to communicate her needs these days.  Not so much in the traditional way of words of course :)  She points and signs her quirky "more" when she wants something like a sippy or more of what she has.  She waves her hands "all done" and points and says "dat".  She also points to the dog when you ask her where he is.  She'll put things back when we're cleaning up toys or things she's stolen from my purse.  She really seems to understand a lot these days.  The little things she does to communicate goes on and on.  It's so amazing how smart babies are and they can't even talk yet. 

 Avery had her one year check up the day after her birthday.  The closest we've been on an annual check up yet!  She has been so healthy this first year, it's really been a huge blessing!  She's 17 lbs 4 oz and 29 inches long.  Our Dr. laughed when I told him she ate like a cow, I think he was a bit shocked that I talked about my sweet little girl like that :)  He was impressed how healthy she's been and how well she gets up, down and all around.  She's currently pulling a giant box through the house with her brother and a box in tow.  She far exceeded all the circles on the sheet which is always nice.  You leave feeling less of a failure as a parent even though you've really had nothing to do with it and all kids are at all levels at all times!  She had three shots, one in each arm (traumatizing for me, my mama bear came out at the nurse) and one in the leg.  She's been feeling fine since having them and only had Tylenol before bed last night when she seemed tender. 

 I have so many hopes and prayers for our little girl.  I pray often that she will be completely satisfied with who she is and how the Lord created her.  That she will get her identity and self esteem from who she is in Him.  I think kids struggle so much to fit in and need a strong sense of who they really are.  I pray she grows up loving Jesus and following him.  I want her to be a strong woman that's full of respect for her hopefully respectable husband.  It's so easy to get damaged along the way and I so badly desire that she not let the world sway her or tell her who she's supposed to be.  As heartbreaking as it feels to think of her all grown up, (Have you heard the Taylor Swift song, "Never Grow Up"?  Tear jerker!) I am so excited to see the woman she becomes!

Avery baby, mommy loves you so much.  You made our family feel good and right.  You made Grayson a brother and your daddy gets to experience the love and protection he has for his little girl.  You make me feel so happy every day when you give me your great big hugs.  There's nothing better than you rushing over and throwing your arms around my legs or your little arms reaching up for me.  I truly believe this world is and will be a better place because you're in it.  You're bound for great things and I can't wait to walk next to you through them!  Love you baby girl.