Averyisms

How have I let so much time go by without updating this thing?  It's so fun to look back and read! If you could compile my text messages to Matt and my mom and then add in my Instagram account you'd have a pretty good record of funny stuff Avery does :)  Here are some recent ones.

Avery started pre-school last week (what??).  Today her teacher told me that she was really sweet and was concerned about one of the kids that doesn't talk very much.  She was sitting next to him and whispering "Do you talk?  Do you use words?"  which probably came out more like "you talk? you use words, yeah?" I'm glad she is sweet and wanting everyone to feel comfortable.

We had another child!  (I'll post about that soon).....and Avery is being very, very sweet with her!  Avery is always wanting Riley (our baby girl) to have toys and blankets.  When Riley cries Avery tries to calm and will say, "It's OK Riley, You sad? It's OK."  She's the best big sister!

Avery was watching the movie Zootopia.  I went upstairs to change the laundry from the washer to the dryer and Avery followed me up and started helping me.  Then she heard the song that plays at the end credits of the movie and started looking around saying, "dance!"  Then a few seconds later said, "Sorry mom.  I've got to dance!."  She put the lint trap down, and ran downstairs.  When you've got to dance, you've got to dance.

Avery had to get 4 cavities filled (this is in addition to the 2 she got filled 6 months ago!).  Matt took her this time.  Luckily they were able to get her calmed down and get them all filled without having to "tie her down".

Avery loves to pretend to talk on the phone.  Her favorite people to call are Grandma and Grandpa.  It's fun to see how her "conversations" have progressed!  She used to just say "hello".  Now she is asking questions and pausing for answers!

Averyisms

I promised myself I'd write down funny things Avery does or says, and so far I've totally failed! Here are a few funny things from this week.

When it's time to get Avery dressed for the day I've been trying to give her a couple of options to choose from. I hold one shirt in one hand and hold it up and ask, " this shirt?" And then I hold the other shirt up in the other hand and ask, " or this shirt?" Then I lift each shirt up again. 

We were at a kids clothing store and Avery took two of the same shirt of the rack and kept holding them up and babbling something like she wanted me to pick one! It was just how I do it when I get her ready....apparently I'm rubbing off!

Avery now has a bed full of things she has to sleep with! There is her ladybug pillow pet, her soft baby doll, her blanket, her sea horse that lights up and plays soft music, and her plush Minnie Mouse that sits in the corner. Some mornings, when I get her out of bed, she makes me carry all of it AND her, and then she usually points at Elmo sitting on her toy shelves across the room and says, "Elmo, hugs."....and we end up having to carry him downstairs with us too! Talk about an armful! 

Avery just got a new Tigger toy that bounces and sings the "Tigger song". One morning when she woke up she wanted to give Tigger a hug and bring him downstairs with us. Then she wanted to pick out a movie. So we were at the tv picking out a movie and when she picked one she turned it back to the couch to " show Tigger" and said, "ok?" Like she was checking with him to make sure he was ok watching that show! She's so thoughtful! 😂😉

One morning she randomly asked for ice cream for breakfast. I told her we didn't have any( and hadn't for a few weeks), but she said, " bowl, ok?" and then went and checked the freezer. She luckily gave up without a breakdown once she saw we didn't have ice cream!

Someday I'll Miss This

If there is anything I've learned in my almost year and a half as a mom, it's that babies change quickly.  Things get better and harder all at the same time.  You get used to something, and they change it!  I also know someday you will miss the thing that you can't wait for them to change.  I have to constantly remind myself of this. It's how I try to live in the moment and enjoy my little, while she is little!  I repeat over and over, "someday I will miss this, someday I will miss this."
How she always climbs in my lap when we are eating a meal.  My first thought is always, "Why can't you just eat off your own plate, in your own chair?"  Then I think, "Someday I'll miss this."  I'm sure there will come a day when she can't wait to run off with her friends, or some boy (cringe!), and I'll think back to the days she used to climb in my lap and think, "I miss that."
How she pulls me over to the stairs so I can help her climb up and down them over, and over, and over.  My first thought is always, "you know how to crawl upstairs by yourself!  Why can't you just do that?"  Then I think, "someday I'll miss this."  I'm sure the day will come when she won't want my help with anything!  I'll think back to the time she used to need my help and think, "I miss that."
Or, how at this very moment, she woke up crying in the middle of the night (10 minutes after I crawled into bed) and she needs cuddles.  My first thought is, "When will you sleep through the night for more than a few weeks at a time?"  Then I think, "someday I'll miss this."  I know the day will come when she's out with her friends doing who knows what, and she'll come home in the middle of the night, and wake me up to let me know she's home (hopefully it's shortly after I've crawled into bed!!).  I'll think back to the time she used to want to cuddle often and think, "I miss that."
One other thing I've learned is that being a mom is challenging, and I know I will have to remind myself over, and over, and over again, "someday I'll miss thus."

Post Christmas

Matt had to go back to work the day after Christmas....I hate that...so Avery and I just played with her new toys.

Some day I will do a post of all the pictures I have of these two doing similar things side by side.  

Christmas 2013

What a day!  This was the first Christmas of our married lives that we've got to stay home all day.  We were lucky enough to have our families come and visit us.  I can't seem to find some of the pictures....unfortunately.

We had lots of presents to open....well Avery did....so many that she had to do them in phases.

We started out by opening some of the HUGE presents that Santa left for us.

Avery got an Exersaucer.  Matt and I got a BOB jogging stroller!!  We also got a new TV!  Avery got a bunch of other toys!! 

Matt's sister Jenny came over for breakfast.  Then she was kind enough to help Matt put the Exersaucer together while I took care of Avery.  

Avery's reaction to the Exersaucer was better than I could have guessed!  I wasn't even sure she'd have a reaction, but she loved it!  She would laugh so hard it would make her cough.....at least I think that's what was happening...hopefully she wasn't choking on some small piece of wrapping paper or something.

Of course by time we starting recording her she stopped doing it so much, but I really didn't expect her to do more than sit there staring at everything.

She really did seem enthralled with it.

Next, Matt's dad dropped by.  He brought Avery some more presents.

She got lots of fun toys!

Jenny had brought some Tamale's for lunch, so Matt's dad joined us.  We had soooo much food!

Matt had bought a new entertainment center for us for Christmas with his "perk points" at work so Jenny helped him put that together....she was extremely handy to have around!

Then it was time for the next phase.  My parents stopped by to see Avery and all of her presents....but she hadn't even opened all of them yet...oh well.

We had invited them for dinner since no one was going to their house for dinner like we have in the past.  We had some tostadas with pork and green enchilda sauce and other yummy toppings.  We didn't intend on having a Mexican food themed Christmas day..it just ended up that way.

After my parents left and we got things cleaned up a little bit, it was time for Avery to open the rest of her presents and her stocking.

It is insane how many presents this cute, cute girl ended up with!!

We just couldn't resist the cuteness!  We will have to remember to tone it down next year since her grandparents and Santa seem to be covering things for her!  :)

Christmas Eve 2013

We spent Christmas Eve with my family.  We had yummy dinner and appetizers (my mom always makes lots of food for Christmas!), played with some toys, and of course opened presents from Grandma and Grandpa!

These kids sure have fun with each other and everyone has fun with all the babies!

Before all the chaos of presents started we tried getting a picture of my parents and all the grandkids....

This was the best outcome...everyone except Ethan is looking.  You'd be surprised how many my dad isn't looking at the camera in!

Once again, thank you Google Photos for the special effects!

When it was time to open presents my mom had a plan.  Two grandkids at a time got to open their presents...this would hopefully minimize the chaos.  She basically gave them each one big box that had all of their presents in it.  Clothes, toys, books....the whole deal!

Luke & Ethan were first.

They were getting another present to share....so their boxes were a little smaller.

Kylie and Avery were next.

Avery was really into the ribbons...naturally.

Finally, Baylee and Owen got to go.  They were very excited to finally get to open their presents!

Those two are fun to have around because they get so excited!

After everyone got to play with some of their new toys, we packed up and went home.

A tradition from my family that we are keeping for our family is that you get to open a present on Christmas Eve...and that present is always pajamas! :)

No, Avery did not get 4 new pairs of pajamas for Christmas Eve....two of those are for Matt and me!

She did however, get two new pairs...plus the ones from grandpa a few days before.....spoiled girl!

We had worn the poor girl out....it was definitely bed time!

Then it was time to get the cookies ready for Santa and go to bed ourselves!

Santa got the same special treatment our neighbors did....and so did anyone we saw for the next week!

Matt's Family Christmas Party

We have started doing our Christmas party with Matt's side of the family a few days before Christmas.  It's nice because it frees us up a little bit to enjoy Christmas instead of having to rush to family stuff all day.  Don't get me wrong, I love family parties..but sometimes it can be a bit crazy or stressful trying to get to all of the activities, especially when they are all crammed into one day.

The best part about Christmas with Matt's family is the nativity.  We dress the kids up and have them act it out.

Here they are patiently waiting for everyone to get costumed up.

Everyone had to take a turn standing on the stool....because during the story only the star/angel gets to stand on the stool.  Emily, Matt's oldest niece, decided to be the narrator this year.  It's kind of fun that these kids are getting older....even though I'd love it if they stayed little and silly for a long, long time!

The past few years Matt has had the pleasure of playing the donkey.  We had a different Mary and Joseph than we've had in the past.  

My favorite part...which few people noticed I guess....was when Mary got tired and gave the baby to Joseph....and I'm assuming went off to have a little girl's night/de-stressing ...or even just taking a nap time, because let's face it, newborns can be exhausting!

Luckily Joseph is a good man and held down the fort while Mary took a break...which I'm sure was well deserved!

After the nativity it was time for presents!

Grandpa gave all the grandkids new pajamas!  Rachael was the sweetest aunt every and held Avery while she took a good, long nap!  I'm pretty sure Rachaels arms were dead by the time she was done holding Avery.

Avery's cousin, Hallie, is just a few months younger than her.

Notice that they are wearing the same shirt, just different colors?  I'm pretty sure they will be the best of friends when they get a little older.  They already seem to get a long great!