First trip to Oklahoma

We took Avery on her first long road trip to Oklahoma for Labor Day weekend. We were smart parents though and stayed coming and going in the Dallas area. We just knew almost 10 hours would be hard for a four month old. Avery actually did very well in the car despite it taking us two and half hours to even get to Conroe. We had a great time and Avery met her great-grandfather, Bobo, for the first time.

On another note, Avery went for her appointment to be measured to see if she needs a helmet. We found out she will need the helmet. We were a little sad, but again so thankful that it is temporary. She will have to wear it 23 hours a day so I am sure there will be tons of pictures to come in her little helmet. We decided just to go with pink since her skin is pretty pinky anyway, and we might decorate it too. Thank you to all of you who have been praying for her. She has really made a lot of progress in therapy. Please continue to pray that once we have the helmet (in about a little less than a month) that her head would move quickly and she will adjust to it pretty easily.

Here are a few recent pictures. She is now a tummy sleeper even if we put her on her back she immediately rolls over.

First afternoon nap on her tummy.

Avery's visit with her great-grandfather, Bobo. She loved sitting in his lap and play with the remote.

"Aunt Susan holding me...I am so sad Daddy is making me stop pulling Bobo's hair" (Bobo is not phased at all).

Our girl is getting big.

Second cousins, Kristen and Matthew holding Avery (just after a little crying fit)

"Look at me..I can stand on one foot. "

Second cousins, Gus and Emma with Avery. She loved playing with both of the girls.

Emma and Gus's mommy, Jennifer, holding Avery up. She wore about four outfits a day there.

The girls having a great time.

Aunt Susan trying to get Avery to smile at the camera, but the fan was more important.

Avery and Aunt Linda playing.

Granny Helen talking to me so sweetly.

Eating oatmeal in the hotel on the way home.

4 months and growing...

Today, Avery is four months old. My how time has flown by. We started rice cereal on Saturday. Avery has definitely been challenging us lately with her night-time sleeping. She was sleeping 11P - 7A since she was six weeks old, and in the last two weeks she has reverted to waking every hour or two. So, we have tried EVERYTHING! My pediatrician said that the rice cereal probably won't help her sleep, but it has been so much fun seeing her eat it. Enjoy a few of the pictures of a our little one.Look at me...on my tummy. I am rolling all over now. Video soon to come. (Thank to mommy's friends, Jennifer and Greta for my activity mat - I love it).Staring intently. Can you see my pretty tutu ballet outfit from mommy's dear friend, Cori.Still have my pretty blue eyes. Thanks Pops! Josh and I both have hazel so they look to have come from Erin's dad. Me and Aunt Kristin. Hagen is looming behind. She loves being around Avery. Avery has really started to notice her more and more. She even enjoys when Hagen licks across her face. First bite of rice cereal is about to happen.Yuck! More cereal got on my bib than my mouth. Look at mommy's face too.

Check out the video of her first attempt with rice cereal. We are both making crazy faces.

Our dear friends, Scot and Nicole's daughter, Hope, with Avery. She was such a big helper with Avery's bath and getting her to bed.

Their son, Will, holding Avery. Josh and I started dating when Will was just two years old. Time has flown so fast.
The kids together with Avery. They just got back from the beach...Avery needs a little tan..she is glowing.

Celebrations and trying new things...

I had a wonderful birthday weekend with lots of celebrating with family. Josh took Avery and I to Galveston for the day on Sunday. We just went to lunch and to the Strand, but it was so hot. We only got a picture with the water far behind us. Next time, we will go when she can wear sunscreen and get in the sand and water. Avery is also starting to enjoy her Bumbo in little increments of time. She is also giggling up a storm. I will try to post a video soon. Here are a few pics of what has been going on lately. Take care!Avery and her mommy in Galveston. You can barely see the water behind all of those cars.

Another precious outfit. We can barely get through all of them. Thank you Uncle Owen and Aunt Pam. Relaxing with lovies! Her favorite teddy on the left and taggie doll on the right. She is holding them so tight. "Look at me in my Bumbo"These huge blue eyes make us melt. We hope they stay blue.

Avery is doing very well at therapy for her neck. She fell in love with this toy called the Happy Apple. I am sure some of you all our age had this as an infant. We found it on ebay. She is memerized by it. Who knows why Fisher Price stopped making these?

Look at me wearing shoes...

The first time shoes stay on Avery and she is smiling for the camera! Happy Tuesday everyone.

3 months and counting

It has been several weeks since I have posted. All is great here in our family. I started back to work last week part-time and what a blessing that has been. I love working part-time because I truly get the best of both worlds with work and Avery. Avery turned three months on August 1st. It is so hard to believe that time is passing by so fast. She is reaching out for things, smiling and giggling. She is also starting to drool a lot. I told Josh she needs to start wearing a bib, but he thinks bibs are only for eating...haha!

I took her to doctor last week and she noticed that she had a little bit of a flat head on the right side. She was diagnosed with torticollis. If you don't know what that is, it has to do with her neck muscles being tight forcing her to tilt her head and look mainly one direction. The worst case would be is that she might have to wear a helmet. It doesn't matter because it is completely fixable. We went today for her first visit with her physical therapist, and it went so well. Avery was such a trooper. She loved Jane her therapist.

Here are a few pictures of the happenings in our home lately.

I laid Avery in her bed one night while I was putting up clothes and working in her room. She loves her bear so much. If I pull it away from her face, she puts it back. Don't worry she doesn't sleep with it. I tried to pull it away from her face.Avery with her new best friend. She is really starting to notice Hagen now. Hagen licks her hands and sometimes gets her face too. "I am three months old today!" August 1, 2009"Look at me in my new jogger stroller...even though my mommy doesn't jog.""I had to wear my shades because it was so bright.""Wearing a bib for the first time. My clothes were soaking wet from drooling. I promise I do smile...just not for the camera."

3 Months Old...Almost

On August 1st, Avery will be three months old. Here are a few pictures that we had taken. You can get totally sucked into buying all the pictures.

Our Precious Girl!Big SmilesYucky feathers but they were oh so cute.My hand was in the way...it was such a cute smile thoughBig girl!!Have to have a semi-naked one.Such a big girl.

Happy Birthday to Daddy!!

We celebrated Josh's birthday this past weekend. It was tons of fun. Avery and I gave Josh a smoker for his birthday. Josh was so excited to smoke some ribs....needless to say we ordered Chinese food after his attempt. Check out the pictures below. The good news is that he learned what not to do next time.Happy Birthday Daddy! Avery is loaded up to take Daddy to breakfast for his birthday.We died laughing at the ribs. They were so charred there was very little edible meat remaining. We realized it wasn't how long they cooked, but Josh wanted to keep adding wood to the fire. It was a great try honey! Look at all those carcinogens. Uncle Jason and soon-to-be Aunt Chrissy holding Avery. Avery was far too into watching the fan. The whole family minus me...someone had to take the picture. Happy Birthday again Daddy!!I made Josh a Neapolitan ice cream cake for his birthday. It was so yummy! Look at the perfect layers. It was a HIT! Let me know if anyone wants the recipe. Finishing the weekend sporting my Hoot Owl onesie. My best friend, Brooke, gave Avery this precious outfit in hopes she will be a Chi Omega someday like us. "Hoot Hoot, I'm cute!"