Memorial Day Weekend

Friday
We started our long weekend off getting together with some friends, some having never met Avery so it was fun to show him off to more of our friends. He got passed around to a few people before he got to his daddy, who has been working a lot this week and hasn’t had much of a chance to see him (with his eyes  open anyway) but time with Daddy was short because he is good to share and let someone else hold him. When Avery had just about enough excitement for the night and was back with Daddy, he gave the group the signal he was ready to go home with one big yawn, and it seemed all at once everyone in the group was aww-ing about how cute he was, but I must admit baby yawns are pretty darn cute.

A tired out after meeting new friends

Saturday
We all slept in, and we took advantage of the knowledge we had an extra day to our weekend by just relaxing and spending some time doing nothing.  It was great, a well needed rest for everyone. Next we packed up and headed out to have a “trash can turkey” with some friends. The sun wasn’t out but it wasn’t raining either so we got to be outside and enjoy the fresh air. The food and time with friends was great.

Hanging out 

I almost fit in this chair

I prefer my chair

Party is over for this little guy

Sunday
We were invited to lunch with grandma and grandpa. Both sets of grandparents have something we don’t have at home, a toy that Avery can jump and bounce in, the Exer-Saucer that we have at home has springs and he can bounce in that but it is not like a real bouncer/jumping toy. My parents have been storing one for us until we move some other things around to make room, for such a small guy he sure has a lot of big things.

I love my new toy...jump jump jump

I jumped until I could jump no more

***New Trick Alert***
After leaving Avery to nap and play and grandma & grandpa’s while Jon and I went to the grocery store, I came back to pick him up and we decided to play a little more, and since we had not had much tummy time because of all the bouncing we had done earlier tummy time was needed. So while playing on his tummy he looked up and over he went, he rolled from his tummy back to his back, three times. Way to go Avery! 

Rolling over is hard work I need a nap

Monday
Last year Jon and I went to watch a friend’s dad as part of color guard ceremony in St. Clair so that was our  play again this year on Avery’s first Memorial Day. Dressed in an Army fatigue inspired outfit we headed out. Avery decided to use the car ride to the cemetery to take a little cat nap.

Car ride cat nap

It was a nice day, windy and starting to get muggy but it was early enough that it wasn’t unbearably hot, the wind moved the leaves in the trees and Avery seemed to notice that more then the seven guns shooting three times. He didn’t even flinch. After the cemetery the ceremony is repeated at bridge in town and that time the shots sounded louder and this time Avery jumped a little at the first shots but he did cry and didn’t seem to be bothered by it at all.

Not sure what to think

Daddy had to go work for a little while so Avery and I used our time to play, he figured out that if pushed on the buttons on his Exer-Saucer that made noise, it was great, he would look at the buttons and push them, you could really tell he knew that he was doing.

I push the button and it makes noises, I get it!

The rest of the day we just spent relaxing and playing as a family, weekends take a lot out a boy and he just needed relax with mommy and daddy, so we ordered pizza and played with toys that didn’t light up, or make noise, and he was happy, and then was hungry and then he was sleeping.  It was another weekend of firsts, and another great weekend.

Another full day

New Toys

Checking out his new play center

As Avery gets stronger and stronger he is able to play in toys that he sits upright in. He still needs to work on his arm, neck and back strength and being on his tummy is how that will happen so I try to give him every opportunity to play on his tummy but it hard to resist letting him play in those big fun toys, he has so much fun with them.  

So much to play with!

Favorite Things

I don’t know if Avery has any favorite toys yet, he plays with some more only because I give them to him more.  
I think if he had a favorite things list his jungle gym would be on it, and his little blue tag blanket, 

Favorite thing: Jungle Gym

Favorite thing: Blue Tag Blanket

funny face stuffed hanging toy, various books (fabric and paper), 

Favorite thing: Funny Face Toy

his crib side Rainforest peek-a-boo soother, and his mobile, and now Bun Bun a little white stuffed bunny that was mine. 

Favorite thing: Crib Side Soother

Favorite thing: Bun Bun

It’s so fun to watch him play with his toys, it seems like everyday he is adding a new thing to his favorite things list, cause when your a baby and all the world is new you love everything you can get your hands on....Oh yeah I forgot his two favorite things....mommy and daddy!

My Baby the Pin Cushion, Part 2

Yesterday was the second half of Avery’s 4 month well baby visit... Time for his shots 

Waiting in the Doc office,
not knowing what was coming

Like the last time he had to drink one "shot" and 2 others went into in little legs,  he let out a cry with each poke of the needle, but one cry and he was done, no tears, he took the shots like a champ. 

Post Shots

Not having had an afternoon nap and now having had his shots I thought for sure it would be nap time, but he wasn’t ready for that yet, but 45 minutes later it was. 

Avery taking a cat nap

After his cat nap he was ready to play until  bed time, sleeping soundly from 10:30 pm to 6:00 am Avery had a great night,. He still had some swelling in his leg from one of his shots but other then that, with Band-Aids removed he was ready for another day full of new adventures.

Want to see how much Avery has grown...check out the March Post "My Baby the Pin Cushion" 

All Smiles

All Smiles!

At least for the moment.... Today is round 2 for Avery and his shots.

It wasn’t the end of the world...just another weekend

This weekend Jon, Avery and I had the opportunity to go to another of our friends wedding. Saturday the day began with rain but cleared in time for the wedding, so dressed in shorts Avery went to his 2nd wedding. 

Party Time

The first wedding he attended was a month or so ago and he cried (very unlike him), but this time the results were different, he slept thru the ceremony, but Grandma G was ready and waiting (she was the church’s wedding planner) just  incase Avery just wasn’t a wedding fan. 


After the ceremony Jon and I decided that Avery would most likely have a better time playing at my parents house rather then at the reception (and so would we), so I dropped Avery off to play.  

Play Time

Jon and I helped celebrate with our friends and Avery played, it was a great night. After the reception we got Avery and headed home for bed. It really was a great weekend. 

Bed Time

Every weekend is so great, we get to see how much he has learned during the week, cannot wait until the next one and it will be a long one too.

Take me out to the ball game

Sleepy Avery with Daddy

     As the days and nights get nicer we get more and more opportunities to spend time outside. Last night Avery and I took advantage of the nice night and we set out to go to Jon’s softball game, Avery’s first softball game....we were late, Avery wanted to eat before we went, so we only saw 2 innings but that was enough for the first night, it was warm but windy. A little fresh air and our baby was all tuckered out so after the game it was bed time, and Avery didn’t mind because he was out cold before we got home.

4 Month Well Baby

Yesterday Avery had his 4 Month Well-Baby Visit. He weighs in at 14lbs 13oz and is 26in long, he is in the middle of the pack percentage wise, healthy and happy. He was suppose to have his shots yesterday but we decided not to because he is still getting over what remains of his cold and his Doc thought he could use one more week before we introduced foreign things into his body, so next week we’ll go back and have round two of my baby being a pin cushion.

Waiting for the Doc

Playing with my toys

Look what I have, :)

Avery the Artist

Heading off for another fun day at Daycare

 One thing that I really like about daycare is that they do fun projects, fun art projects. And if you know me, you know that I like art  projects, especially art projects that my baby made. In the past month Avery has painted two beautiful projects, one was my mother’s day flower and the other is a toad or frog with google eyes that was hanging up on an “Infants are Toad-aly Awesome!” bulletin board. 

Avery's Art

Eat, Play, Nap!

All tired out after a hard day of play

We had another busy weekend, Friday night, we had dinner with friends, Saturday morning, I did the Golden Heart 5K, Jon went fishing and Avery went to play at my parents. After an afternoon of playing we got ready to go to a college grad party, dressed and ready we went out to help a friend celebrate, then we came home and crashed. 
Sunday morning we got up early and had breakfast and played, played so hard and for so long that Avery fell asleep under his jungle gym, the rest of the day went the same way, eat, play, nap...it was a great day, what a great weekend. Ready for the week ahead.

Faces Are Fun!

According to all the information out there, one of Avery’s favorite things is faces, faces on toys, faces on people, just faces in general. Usually he just looks but yesterday he decided looking at Daddy just wasn’t enough, it was time to reach out and see what he would find.

Playing with Daddy

Besides the fun of discovering Daddy’s face with his hands, he spent some time on tummy, something he doesn’t seem to mind so much anymore. He now props himself up on his arms to get a better view.

Checking Things Out

Kicking Up His Heels

Sunny Days

Mr. Cool with sunglasses on top of his head

     There has been some wild weather lately, we start out May with snow and then we have a day hotter and more humid then some summer days. Now we have had a stretch of rainy days but when the sunny days come  back Avery will be ready. We can’t use sunscreen until  Avery is 6 months but when the sun does finally come out to stay we will be ready, sun screens for the car windows, hats to shade him, shades that attach to the car seat, and sun glasses.

Daddy and Mr. Cool

Family Photo

Happy Mother's Day to Me!

First Mother's Day

My first Mother’s Day was great. Friday I got my first gift, Avery had been doing some painting at daycare, he painted two paper plates that combined with two hand prints for leaves turned into the perfect flower, with a picture of my baby in the middle, what is not to love. 

Mother's Day gift Avery made at daycare

Sunday Avery got me flowers and Jon made me breakfast.

Mother's Day Breakfast

After breakfast the three of us did a little art project for the my and grandma’s mother’s day presents. Getting the perfect little hands to print on clay was not the easiest task, but I figure no matter how they really turn out they would be cherished because they love him and he made them.

Mother's Day Gift for me and the Grandmas

Let the craft project gifts begin, I am so lucky to have a happy healthy baby to love.
Had a great first Mother’s Day, with many more to come. 

Watch Me Grow - Four Months

Today was not only my first mothers day, it was also Avery’s four month birthday. Four months not sure where the time has gone!. 

Four Months

Big Boy Pants

    Not very often does Avery get dressed in clothes that resemble yours or mine, usually they are footed sleepers and comfortable knit pants (things most of us would prefer to wear if it was work place appropriate) but this past weekend Avery went out partying in some big boy pants and big boy shirt.  Dressed in some Old Navy Jeans and a Adidas polo shirt, and a pair of shoes. 

Kisses from Dad

Spring Party 2011

    Avery has 7 pairs of shoes, only one pair fits right now, and he wont even be able to walk for at least six to eight more months. I cannot seem to resist little shoes, and their friends the little socks, Avery’s first socks were the kind that look like shoes, and I most recently ordered him some more shoe-socks, they are so cute. 

Avery's new Shoe-Socks 

    Every time I  put him in a new outfit, one he hasn’t worn before, I find myself wanting to take a picture of how cute he is, and I usually do.....and I use “need something for the blog” when Jon rolls his eyes at all the picture taking, and besides he will only be little once and everyday is an adventure and pictures make it easier to share. 

Doctors Office

The day Avery was one  month old was the first day he went to a doctor because he was sick. As unhappy as I was that he needed to go to the Doc I was glad he could see his Doc who “knows” him, especially because I wouldn’t be the one taking him because I was out of town at a ski race for the day. We took him in because he had puffiness around his eye and some gunk, as a result he was treated for possible pink eye. After 7 days of daycare I was called to come pick him up because he had undiagnosed drainage from his eye (aka symptoms of pink eye) we couldn’t get in in see his Doc so if was off to urgent care to again be diagnosed with pink eye (not a surprise since 8 of 12 kids in his room at daycare were out with the same thing) as a bonus I also developed pink eye and so did my mother, contagious stuff. 

All smiles from the day he got sent home from daycare

  The day before Avery turned three months he again got to visit his doctor due to illness, he had been coughing and congested and sounded a little wheezy for a few days and I felt it was time to see if it was more then just a common cold, and it was, he was entering into the early stages of what sounded like bronchus and had what appeared to be some nasal congestion caused by a virus, so we treated with an antibiotic.
After we finished 10 days of antibiotic, most of his symptoms had cleared , his breathing was better but he still had some nasal congestion so we waited a few days and back in we went. His Doc said his lungs were clear, the cracking she had heard was gone ( a good thing) and she hoped the congestion in his nose was also on its way out but gave me another prescription just incase later in the week his symptoms changed.
    Ended up picking up and using his just in case prescription because he got a fever and the wheezy sounds came back. While using the antibiotic he got better but after day 6 and we were done using it, the wheezing came back.  I made an appointment for him to be seen on Monday because I was not happy with the sound of his breathing, again his Doc was not available, but not feeling we could wait until his doc is back we went in to see a different doc. Not wanting to give him yet another drug (me or the doc) (because the previously prescribed antibiotic would still be in his system) we decided to wait and see.
    Well we waited, and we went back to see the same Doc yesterday, worse then Monday. This time wheezy-ness was a cause for action, his breathing was labored, so a chest x-ray was done to see if there was something going on, to get a good chest x-ray of a baby they have to get him to cry, so when they brought him back to me he had big tears on his face, breaks my heart every time I see that. Turns out that his lungs have some swelling which is causing the difficulty in his breathing, two Docs saw him today and both agreed that it was most likely caused by a virus (the one that had plagued him weeks before, but could also be cause by  allergies (but those really aren’t able to be diagnosed for until he is 2 or so) So he was treated in the clinic with a nebulizer and prescribed some meds to help reduce the swelling and hopefully put an end to all of this. We go back in Monday to be rechecked. So hopefully this will be the end of all this breathing issues, fingers crossed

Hard to believe that this
 happy baby has been sick for so long

Urgent Memo: It's May

Avery in his stroller the last time it was nice out.
(not sure what this face is about)

I know the calendar is showing that it is May but I am wondering where January, February, March and April went, the time has gone by so fast. Avery will be 4 months old next weekend.it's funny, I remember somethings from the last months but as I look back at the photos I realize I have forgot as much if not more as I remember. With everyday he changes and learns and grows so much,  it makes it harder and harder for me to believe that he once couldn't do all the things he does now. 


I think mother nature didn't get the memo that it is spring, if someone could please pass the word on that even though we do live in MN, snow is not necessary in May.