Off to the Beach...

We have been busy getting ready for Halloween even though Avery will not remember her first Halloween. More pictures to come. We took Avery to another Pumpkin Patch at our favorite nursery, Enchanted Forest. We took a day trip to Galveston. Here are a few pictures of our recent events. Happy Halloween everyone!

A prayer request...the insurance company denied Avery's helmet. We are appealing. Please pray that the insurance company would see how much it can affect her growth rather than seeing it as cosmetic.

Our little family in Galveston. It was pretty windy that day so Avery had a hat versus her normal helmet. (Thanks Cori...the hat is so adorable!!)
Kristin, my sister, Andrew and little Carson. Erin's parents with their grandchildren.

Avery and her cousin, Carson, getting their pumpkins from MomZ and Pops (erin's parents).

Avery playing with her very practical gift of toothbrush/toothpaste.

Posing! This is the last picture you will see with the ladybugs on her helmet. They all started to scratch off and then it started looking trashy so I scratched them all off. I need to decide if I am going to try again with something different or leave it pink.

"Check out my onesie that my Daddy bought me....TEETHING BITES"

"My serious face."

Avery is about to eat the leaf she pulled off this bush.

"I love my fingers and anything else I can get in my mouth."

Basking in a sea of pumpkins.

Had to take this picture...wouldn't it be great to be a cat. This is at the nursery, Enchanted Forest. Josh and Avery just chillin while I shopped for plants.

Check out our handiwork...we planted dianthas, violas, and red cabbage. I will post pictures when it grows.

Fall Fun

We took a trip to Beaumont this past weekend to see both of my grandmothers. Before we left, I painted Avery's helmet. It turned out pretty cute, but it is already starting to peel a bit so I have to figure out a new sealer. Here are a few pictures.

Avery's helmet all decorated with Lady Bugs.

One of my grandmother's church had a pumpkin patch. We took her on a spur on a moment to take a few pics. Out of the 20 pictures taken, the majority of them she was looking down at the pumpkins.

She is watching all of the little kids.

Big girl sitting on a hay.

Playing on the floor at Grammy's.

Avery staring at her great-grandmother, Grammy.

Avery and her other great-grandmother, Nanny, getting ready for church.

First bath sitting in a deep sink. She had so much fun playing with the water and splashing.

Bath time is tons of fun!!!

Ready for some football...

It has been several weeks since I posted last. We have had so many things going on and lots to share. On September 29, Avery got her new pink helmet. We were a little worried that it would be a hard adjustment for all of us, but she has adjusted very well. We have been so surprised. She does not seem bothered by it at all. It is a little harder on the parents, but it makes it better that she is tolerating it well. She wears the helmet 23 hours a day, and she gets it off for the one hour to party a day. She is loosing her hair a little bit in the back but other than that, things are going great. The average time for a baby her age is to wear it four and half months. It could be more or less...we are praying for less! I am going to decorate her helmet in the next few days. Pics to come!

Josh and I went to the Tech vs. U of H game a few weeks ago, and it was a blast since we went to opposing schools. It was sad for my Red Raiders, but Josh and our friends were elated for U of H. Here are a few pics.

Avery turned five months on October 1st. Hard to believe time is passing by so quickly. She is definitely more vocal and laughs all the time at the dog, Hagen. She has recently started sitting up, but we have to stay close by because she will take a nose dive when she is reaching for things. She also started eating some fruit along with her oatmeal. So far she has not met a food she hasn't liked besides rice cereal.

"I love to clap in Daddy's lap"Getting ready for the big Tech vs U of H game. Josh said Avery needs a new outfit after the big U of H win.

All dolled up to root for the Red Raiders.

First day with her helmet on. They intially put this piece on her left side to help with her tilt, but it was removed because it limited her range of motion in her neck. Thank goodness it was removed because it was hard to feed her with that on it.

"I love to read books before bedtime."

Intently watching cousin Carson play with my toys

"Look at me sitting up by myself playing with Carson"

This is really the closet they have gotten, and I think Carson has realized she will be a fun friend to play with. Before he didn't know what to do with her.

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.