Routine

Hanging out in his crib

Avery doesn’t have an official bed time, but he does have a time that he usually goes to bed. For about a month now, we have starting his bed time routine at 8:30 –8:45: a clean diaper, pjs, a book or two then a bottle, holding him until he’s sleeping, then into his crib. Some nights he wakes up in the night for a snack and other nights he doesn’t. Recently the timing has changed, for the past few nights we have started this process an hour later,  because Avery just wasn’t tired yet. Also for the past few nights he has slept thru the night, waking at 7. Three nights, Avery’s longest running streak of sleeping thru the night (knock on wood). I hope it keeps going. He seems to have a nice routine going for himself, happy days filled with playing and nights filled with sleeping to prepare for the next adventure filled day. 

Ma Ma Mum

Avery & Me (Ma Ma Mum)

Avery “talks” to us all the time these days, he has a variety different sounds but his most repeated is Ma Ma Mum Mum....That’s me! I am Ma Ma, I know he doesn’t know what he is saying yet and that Ma Ma means me but Ma Ma is still what he repeats the most. Some of Avery’s other more consistently repeated sounds are da and ga. It is so fun to hear his little voice chatting away.

Baptism

Yesterday was a beautiful fall day and we spent it together with our families celebrating Avery's baptism.

Waiting for everyone to arrive 

Standing with Gpa T

Family Pic

Avery with his God Parents, Parents & Pastor

It was a short private service with just our families. After the blessing we headed to Jon's parents for sandwiches and cake (and of course watch the football game).

Avery's Baptism Cake and Flowers 

 During a break in the eating and the game we opened some gifts.

Our gift to Avery before the baptism 

Hand Stitched by Avery's Great Aunt Carol

Truck from Aunt Jen & Shawn 

So many new books & puzzles! 

Avery is so lucky to have so many generous people who love him. It was a great day all around...except the Vikings lost...again

Public Transportation

Avery ridding in his first cart

 Avery has gone shopping with me many times, riding in a stroller, he and I usually pick up  only a few things. When its time to do some more serious shopping, like for groceries, usually Avery stays at home and either Jon or I go or we drop him off with grandparents so we can both go but needing only a few things for our weekend plans it was good time for the 3 of us to venture to the grocery store together. We left the stroller in the back of Jeep opting for a cart ride around the store instead. This was Avery’s first time in a cart, his first time using public transportation, baby style, and he did great. At first he wasn’t sure what was going on, but he adjusted to his new ride quickly, even holding on to the bar in front of him, so cute. I am guessing the grocery store is a great place in the eyes of a baby so many new and different things to see, and Avery had his eyes were wide open, and he was looking all around taking it all in. First cart ride, successful!

Going for a cart ride with Daddy

Bumps, Bruises, and Bites

Now that Avery is really on the move, more and more things have been moved to "safe" places, baby gates and outlet plugs are being put into place, everything that can be done to keep him safe from household dangers is being done. Bumps and bruises are going to happen even with all the baby proofing in the world, and this is okay.
Exploring the world and learning to crawl, stand, and walk  all come with the possibility of some bumps and bruises that is just the way is it. Avery found this out when he was investigating a glider rocker and it came back and hit his head, not a real big deal, but there were some tears, but after a little loving he was back to playing.

A little bump on the head from a Glider Rocker

At daycare bumps and bruises are bound to happen too, but paper work is involved there. When Avery got his room moving paper work  it mentioned that now that he is more active and moving into a room with other more active children it could be likely I might see an accident report. Well I have seen an accident report, day 1 in his new room Avery got bit. It didn’t break the skin but I am sure it hurt since you could still see all the tooth marks hours later. 

Tiny teeth still leave marks

Avery is as tough little guy and will most likely have a few more bumps and bruises along the way, but I’ll be ready with Band-Aids, hugs and kisses.

Avery the Future Athlete

Jon and I are both fairly athletic and enjoy watching and participating in a variety of sports and activities. From early on in the pregnancy we talked & joked about what sport (s) our child might do or not do. When we found out we were having a boy that took some sports off the table (at least at a school age level). Neither Jon or I will ever tell Avery he has to do/play a particular sport or any at all but our guess is he will want to at least try one or two sports out. Our plan is to expose Avery to as many different activities / sports as possible so that he can choose for himself what he likes. So far he has been directly exposed to softball and skiing, and this past week he went to his first college volleyball game and first pee-wee football game. While at the volleyball game Avery helped GG sell tee shirts and other souvenirs, and Gpa Terry took him court side to get a better view :) Avery also got to meet the mascot Stomper.

Getting a better view with Gpa 

Best sales guy of  the night 

Meeting Stomper...not so sure about him

GG and Avery and the ball the team gave him

The football game was little bit chilly so we bundled Avery up and headed out to the grid-iron to watch some 6th Grade tackle football. Avery loves being outside and all the whistles and people made it even better.

Ready for some Football!

Having fun already 

Keeping warm at the game

Post game nap

From Pooh to Tigger

Avery's first day of daycare 2/28/11

February 28th was the day I first took Avery daycare. The first days/weeks he was there he spent most, if not all, of his time sleeping, waking only to eat.  I would drop him off asleep and pick him up sleeping. Soon enough he napped less and played more and his daily reports reflected the growing changing baby he was. Every morning I drop him off and tell him to have a good day and every night I pick him up excited to see what he has done that day. He learned to hold his head up, roll over, sit up and army crawl, and so much more since stating daycare. New babies would join his room and older babies that were ready would move on to the next room would move out. Slowly but surely the list of babies older then Avery got shorter and shorter as they moved to the next room until Avery was the oldest (most active one) and it became his turn to move the next room. 

Starting a new room at daycare 9/19/11

This morning was Avery’s first official day in his new (Tigger) room at daycare. In his new room are his friends that he shared a room with when he first started, but now they can crawl and stand and some can even walk. This new room has more room to crawl and explore and is filled with fun places to climb in and out of and lots of friends and toys to play with. I cant wait to see what adventures he will have and all the new things he will learn in his new room. 

Thank you to all of the “Pooh” staff for taking such good care of Avery! 

Round of Applause

At daycare, outside his room they have a calendar where they post achievements and milestones. This month Avery’s name has appeared a lot, army crawling last week, pushing back into sitting from tummy, and waving bye-bye this week, and last night Avery showed us he has learned to clap. Like when he waved bye-bye, when he started clapping I wasn’t sure he meant to do it but when he repeated us after Jon and I clapped, we knew he had another new trick.

He has been one active little boy, which is one of the reasons that also listed on the calendar for today is his last day in that room. Monday morning he will move to the next room where he can learn more new tricks from his friends. 

Mommy & Daddy are so proud of all the things I can do!

Fender Bender

Damage to the Jeep

Yesterday Avery had another first, a minor car accident in the parking lot at day care. Both SUVs received a small amount of damage but no one was hurt and that is what really matters. I don’t even think Avery noticed when the two bumpers met. He just had a good time being outside looking around while we waited for the police to come so we could fill out an accident report. Hopefully that will be Avery’s first and last fender bender.

Weighing in

Between well baby visits we weigh Avery just to see how much he as physically grown. We strap him into his bucket and get a weight, then we do a little math to subtract the weight of the empty bucket and come up with his weight, usually we use a luggage scale, but being silly, we (Jon) used a deer scale in a friends garage (didn’t work too well, Avery was too light). 

Daddy & his little buck

Avery weighed in at 20 lbs 5oz which was confirmed at the doctors office yesterday (20lbs 7oz) when I took Avery in to have his ears looked at. He had been pulling at his ears and had a cough for over a week or so and I thought it would be good to just have him checked out. After charming all the ladies at the receptionist desk and in the waiting room it was a quick once over from the doctor, we discovered he has some congestion and both ears were red.  He doesn’t have official ear infections but with his other symptoms we were heading that way so the doc put him on an antibiotic. Hopefully after 10 days everything will be all cleared up.

Ready, Set, Go....

That day has arrived, Avery is mobile, and we’re off to the races! Yesterday morning he could only worm a little way and by yesterday night he had it figured out. It’s not a full crawl with his tummy of the ground but he gets where he wants to go. Baby gate isn’t up yet , but it will be.... 

Watch Me Grow- Eight Months

8 months, 8 whole months, where have the days gone! In the past month Avery has gotten his first tooth (lower front, my right), started feeding himself puffs and other quick dissolving foods, he can go from sitting to  his knees (and back) and pulls himself up from sitting to standing, he “talks” a lot more (some times quietly to his toys, sometimes loud enough you can hear him rooms away) and this just in, Avery started doing a modified army crawl, more like belly crusin’. He pulls himself with his arms and pushes with a foot. I think were at ready, set and GO (even more then it is now) will be along shortly. 

Proof of this GO theory is for the first 7 months I was able to get Avery to lay on his back and smile up at the camera making it easy to get a picture in his oneies each month, but today for month 8, not so much, he wanted to roll over to his knee and escape aka explore. 

You wanted to see the front of my shirt & face..too bad

So I tried getting a picture while he was sitting but again all he wanted to do is get to his knees and go explore, but I got it, his 8 month picture (and you can see his tooth if you look real close). I can’t wait to see what the next month brings!

Eight Months

Hunt & Gather/Scatter

Have had a new treat, a Baby Mum Mum. For those who don’t know, a Baby Mum Mum is Rice Biscuits that dissolves when you eat them. Avery is a fan of these new treats, big enough so it is easy for him to hold in his hand, he chomps away at it until there isn’t much left. 

Having a baby Mum Mum 

Almost gone ...

All Gone! 

Once the piece in his hand gets too small we break it into smaller pieces and let him chase them around his tray, I love to watch him hunt and gather (or scatter!). 

Hunting & Gathering (Scattering)

Got One! 

Back to School/Daycare

After 3 months off kids all over put on their first day of school out fits, had their pictures taken by their parents to mark the event and headed back to school. Avery did the same thing, sorta, he headed back to Daycare, after a week off. 
Last week was the in-service week for his daycare, where they clean and take care of the bussness side of caring for kids, so Avery got to spend last week with his grandmas and grandpas. It was Avery's summer vacation and he loved every minute.
But this morning  it was back to normal and back to daycare, something he also enjoys, so I dressed Avery in a new (to him) outfit and took his picture on our way out the door, just like it was his first day of school too. Someday it will be fun to look back and see how much he has changed

Heading Back to Daycare 9/6/11

Have a great 2011-2012 school year Students & Teachers!

First Tooth Treat

In honor of Avery’s first tooth (which appeared over a week or so ago) we gave Avery a taste of finger food, some banana flavored puffs. At first Avery just looked at the little puffs we had broken and put in front of him on his highchair tray. Jon picked up one of the halves and offered it Avery, he attempted to take it, he is still working on picking up such small things.

Jon giving Avery a banana puff

Unable to pick up the little pieces I picked one up and placed it in his mouth. Which Avery pushed back out with his tongue.

Not sure I want to eat this....

I put back in, this time he kept it in his mouth, and thought about it.

Not sure about puffs

For now I think he enjoys pushing them around the tray better then eating them but give him sometime and I am sure he’ll love them as much as his other yummy foods. Another new exciting stage, a stage I think Nico is going to like!

Nico picking up after Avery