New Years Eve

Ready to party on New Years Eve

2011 has been a great year for us. Can't wait to see what 2012 brings. 

Look Mom, No Hands

Last night Jon pulled Avery up on the cough to sit with him, of course that only lasted for a minute before Avery wanted back down. After climbing down from Daddy’s lap he stood holding to the couch and Jon’s leg, and then... he let go, and just stood there, not holding on to anything! He wobbled a bit but stayed standing, we clapped and cheered and I scooped him up for a big hug....

When we tried to get him to do it again so I could take a picture of this milestone he wasn’t interested in doing it again, so no picture of our little free stander....maybe next time.

Hand Made

As people flock to stores to return the gifts that were the wrong color, wrong size or just wrong, that their loved one lovingly purchased for them, I am glad to not be one of them, having given and gotten the best sort of gift. The best gifts are the hand made kind, especially when then are made from the little hands of the sweet baby boy.

The gift Avery and I made

The gifts Avery made at daycare

P.S......The tooth tally is now up to 5.The tooth next to his left front tooth just showed up.

Merry Christmas!

For Avery’s final Christmas celebration of the year we loaded Avery and some of his toys up and headed down to my aunt and uncles house for some more family time and food. 

Avery, Mark and Kathy

Dressed in a new “fancy” tee shirt, with a bow tie and suspenders, Avery was too cute. 

Fancy Tee Shirt

Check me out!

Avery again sampled some new foods, green bean casserole, pork chop, jello, ice cream and whipped cream. 

New foods

Twas Night Before Christmas...

Twas’ the Night Before the night before Christmas and all through the house all the creatures were stirring... Avery started his Christmas celebrations Friday night at GG & GT’s house. Food and family, with presents mixed in are the core elements for our holiday gatherings and Avery got to experience everything. Avery started his Christmas with some pictures, then a real treat, meatballs and lil’ smokies cut into small pieces....

First Christmas

Three Generations

Meatballs are so Yummy!

After the food came the presents. Avery started out helping unwrap his presents, but after opening one he wanted to play with his new toy and Dad opened the rest. He got so many great things. A Little People bus, "legos", tub toys, stuffed bear, and a blanket, a trike.

Opening gifts

New Toy Bus from Uncle Justin

Checking out his new tike

It wasn't too long after opening presents before it was time for Avery to put on his pjs and get ready for bed. He took a little snooze at GG & GT's house before we loaded up and went home for the night.

Ready for bed at GG & GT's

The morning came bringing us to Christmas Eve. Avery woke up and started his day out playing with his new toys, then it was time for a bath before a quick nap before getting ready for our next Christmas celebration.

Ready to play some more

Dressed in his new Christ-“moose” overalls we headed out for lunch with my side of the family.

Merry Christ "moose"

After lunch we headed back to my parents house to open presents, once nap time was over that is. After nap time it was present time, and the wrapping paper and bows came off revealing all the new toys, and with 4 kids, 3 years or under there were lots of new toys, all of which had to come out packaging to be played with right away.

Free the toys!

After playing with the new toys for awhile it was time to to eat again, after a few laps with his basketless shopping cart and “Bernie” riding along it was time for some dinner. Avery sampled some new foods again, including a frosted roll out cookie.

Rollin" with Bernie

My first Christmas Cookie

Then it was again time for pjs. 

Ready for Bed

We packed up and headed home, playing a little more when we got there before it was finally time for bed, and Santa to come! 

Playing before bed

Two celebrations down and one more to go. 

Merry & Bright

Happy Holidays from the Barbeau family - Jon, Lori & Avery

Spoon Skills

We have been working on Avery’s spoon skills recently. We put a small amount of something on his spoon and set it on his tray and let him pick it up and feed himself. He is actually pretty good at it, some times he misses his mouth and sometimes the spoon gets to his mouth but the food has slid off. Learning to use a spoon is a messy job, with some tasty rewards.

Missed...just low

Where did the applesauce go?  

I think I got it now. 

Nailed It!

Christmas Spirit

Finally with less then a week until Christmas, some Christmas Spirit finally arrived at our house, and our decorations are up. Not wanting to constantly be moving things out of Avery's reach or telling him not to touch I decided to just do the tree and stocking and skip some of the other things I usually set out. Because it took me so long to actually get the task to putting up the tree I debated several time of not putting the tree up at all, Avery wouldn’t remember if there was a tree his first Christmas or not, Right? But I just couldn’t not have a tree for his first Christmas. So after rearranging all the furniture in the living room three times (then ending up with everything back where it started, except 1 book case) I put the tree up and decorated it. I left off a lot of ornaments this year deciding that they were either too small or too breakable, and stuck to a theme of soft, safe ornaments. 

Our Tree

Both grandparents have had their trees up and decorated for some time now and Avery leaves those alone for the most part (except for the ornaments he has been approved to play with) but between Avery and Diesel I will always keep one eye peeled I incase one decides to play with the tree or any of the fun bobbles hanging from it. 

Oh look toys on a tree...

Once the tree was up and decorated  I finished off my holiday decorating by hanging our stockings.

The stockings were hung....

Avery's Stocking

Avery’s stocking was an early Christmas gift made by my talented aunt, who also made Jon, and my stockings for our first Christmas, along with our tree skirt. I am very excited to share the excitement of Christmas with Avery, even if he won’t totally get the concept for a few more years.

Avery's Chicago Bear

Avery and his new "Chicago Bear" 

Not wanting to come home empty handed I found the perfect stuffed animal for Avery from my trip to Chicago. A bear, not a “Chicago Bear” but a bear he already knows and loves, Brown Bear! While I was drawn into the book store by something else, I discovered Brown Bear Brown Bear hiding among the books and knew he had to come home with me. Avery got the book “Brown Bear, Brown Bear What Do You See?” from my aunt as a gift.  He loved the book from the first time we read it together, the pictures are big and bright, the words have a great rhythm and flow, it is just a really great book. And no, Avery has his very own Brown Bear.

Nice List

Avery & Santa

Sunday we met the grandparents at the mall so that they could be a part of a big milestone in Avery's life, at approximately 4:45pm  on December 11th, Avery met Santa for the first time! It went well, he wasn't scared at all, he sat on Santa's lap and smiled for some pictures. I don't think he asked for anything special this year but I know he has been a good boy and he will defiantly be on the "Nice" list!

Near & Far

Almost every night after Avery is done eating we play "Near and Far" while he is in his highchair. Grover (my favorite Muppet)  is famous for his "Near & Far" skit where he runs back and forth to demonstrate the concept. Our game is played the same way, I pull him close (his highchair has wheels) and say,"Near" and he laughs and smiles, then I push him back and say,"Far" and he laughs and smiles more, we love to play this game.

"Near"

"Far"

 This morning when I dropped him off at daycare I said "Near" and gave him a big hug and kiss. Then drove to the airport and boarded a plane for Chicago. So now I am far.  

Tis the Season for New Toys

Last night we opened a new toy Avery had gotten as a gift, the Playskool Busy Ball Popper. While we put batteries in his new ball popper Avery made due with the box as a new toy. 

I love my new toy...oh this is the box...I love my new box

When we were ready to play we set popper next to him in the off position so he could check it out. He noticed that there were balls inside and kept looking at the popper then us, as if asking us to get the balls out for him to play wtih.

Checking out his new toy

When we pushed the plunger down the music started playing and then the balls came popping out and rolled back down the ramp. It was really fun to watch him with it, he really seemed to enjoy it. It took us showing him a few times where to push before he knew how to start the popper by himself.

Busy playing with his Busy Ball Popper

He played and played finally we had to stop because you could just tell he was getting tired. So daddy scooped him up after the popper stopped and took him to his room for bed time. And that is when for the first time ever Avery cried because it was bed time and we had put his toys away, it was funny in a way, he was voicing his dislike for it being bed time before he was done playing with his new toy,  I am sure this will not be the last time we say it’s bed time and he doesn’t agree. But Avery was tired and went right to sleep it was just he desire to continue playing with his popper that lead to the tears. Guess he was in need of a new toy and this one was a big hit.

Playing Pool

Avery & Daddy "playing" pool

A hobby of Jon’s since middle school (if not longer) has been playing pool, it is something he and his friends have enjoyed together for many many years. Avery had his first exposure to the game (or the table and balls at least) when we were having dinner with friends. Rather then put him on the dirty floor to play, we put him on the dirty pool table to play and crawl around.

Crawling on the pool table

The room to roam and the rack made Avery happy but it was the cue ball that was his favorite (of course it’s a ball why wouldn’t he love it) But it wasn’t just the ball itself he loved, but it was the the game for putting the ball in the pocket and then looking into the pocket to see where the ball had gone. It was so cute to watch, we would give him the ball and he would crawl over to a pocket and put it in and then he would press his face into the pocket to see if he could see where it went.

Where did the ball go?

That was his first pool experience  I am not sure if he will want to play when he is bigger but we have a while before we need to worry about it.

Watch Me Grow- Eleven Months

So Big!

Avery is 11 months old today! It’s hard to believe that 11 months have passed and in one more month our baby will be a year old! At 11 months he weighs in at 23lbs and is getting close to 29 inches. His favorite things are walking with his mail cart, playing with balls and trucks, he needs to constantly be on the move. He loves to read books and explore the world around him. He says all sorts of things, MAMA being the most repeated. He waves bye bye, gives high fives and is working on blowing kisses. He is also working on eating table foods and feeding himself and drinking from a cup.  Everyday is a new adventure!

Eleven Months

Ear Infection

This is my I have an ear infection face

For a few weeks now Avery has been fighting a cold. Cough, runny nose, rosy cheeks (the same thing all his friends at daycare have going on).  Finally we  decided it was time to have it checked out, and low and behold, Avery has his first ear infection. Both ears were red but his left was red and bulging, so for the next 10 days he will be on an antibiotic and hopefully that clears everything up. 

Let It Snow

This weekend Avery discovered the snow. Sure this is technically his second winter but I don’t count the last year because every time he was outside he was in his bucket covered by the blanket and wasn’t to aware or concerned with the world around him. This winter on the other hand he is in fully aware and wants to see and discover everything. Saturday marked our second snow, first snow of any real measurable, lasting amount. While Avery and I watching the snow fall outside, Daddy went out to clear the drive way with the snow blower, and blew even more snow into the air for Avery to enjoy. When Daddy came back in, he brought some snow in with him and offered to Avery to touch and taste. 

Checking out the snow with Daddy

Having a taste

When we finally left the house Avery was really interested in the flakes falling from the sky, he looked up in the air with a smile as they fell on him. We haven’t ventured out to play or sled just yet but we will soon. I think our boy is going to be a snow fan just like his mom and dad.

Move, Walk, Go!

Avery pushing his Mail Cart

Avery has been working on his walking for a few weeks now, he doesn’t walk on his own yet but if you give him something he can walk behind or push, off he’ll go. It is so fun to watch. His favorite things to do now are: move, walk and go! He’s speedy too! We’ve gone from a few timid steps to doing lap up and down the hallway with his Mail Cart, not sure when he will be ready to walk without support but I am sure it coming.

Glass Blowing

For many people the time after thanksgiving is when then shop for gifts and put up trees and decorations in preparation for Christmas but the time after Thanksgiving is also Glass Blowing season. As the weather starts to switch from fall to winter it is the perfect time to fire up the kiln and blow some glass. Glass blowing is truly magical, and when done by talented artists who have worked together for along time they turn that magic into a dance right before your eyes. I am lucky enough to know two such talented artists who have the dance mastered, and create the most beautiful things. And last night in a small metal hut behind a house a few down from ours, Avery saw glass blown for the first time, by two of the most talented glass blowers in the state.

Avery watching the show

 Like most people when they see glass blown for the first time Avery’s eyes were wide open! He was looking at everything, so many new things, the glowing from the “glory hole” and movement of the artists, the sounds of blow pipes on the bench, it was really amazing. I got two shows last night, the one put on by the artists and seeing Avery as he discovered new things. I have been watching glass be blown for years and I am always grateful for the experience but last night was even more special because I got to share it with my baby. Thank you Curt, Bob (and Lu and Bella) for sharing your passion, and talent with us last night.

Curt, Bella, Mommy & Avery 

Happy Thanksgiving

1st Thanksgiving- Thanks for the Bib Gpa H

We kicked off Avery’s first Thanksgiving Wednesday night with a combo Birthday/Thanksgiving Dinner with my family. Avery wore his Birkenstock socks in honor of the birthday girl. Of course there  was lots of food, and daddy even gave Avery a taste of a pickle, or the juice at least.

Birken-socks in honor of the birthday girl

pickle time

Thursday was another big family day, with Jon's family, which included food, football and Avery meeting his cousins for the first time. We have a lot to be thankful for this Thanksgiving. Dylan and Freddie born premature came home from the hospital 2 weeks ago after over 3 months in the hospital, and are happy and healthy at home with mom and dad.  I think that this was the last quiet Thanksgiving we will have, next year will be totally different with 3 toddlers.

Dylan & Avery (and Justin) 

Freddie & Avery (and Lori & GG)

GT & GG and the Grandkids

We had some great food, Avery had a taste of stuffing, green casserole (the soup part),  and pumpkin pie.

For dinner we went back to my parents for some leftovers, what’s Thanksgiving without the leftovers? There Avery sampled the non baby food version of one of his favorite food, sweet potatoes, and had a little more stuffing and pumpkin with with whipped cream. 

Real Sweet Potatoes

Whipped Cream

Happy Thanksgiving!