Neigh Neigh Ride

Recently my parent’s neighbors brought over a vintage toy horse ( or “Neigh Neigh” as Avery calls horses) that their kids played with 25 years ago. At first Avery wasn’t too sure about getting on the horse but he over came that quickly.

Avery riding off into the sunset

He has had a great time bouncing up and down. It is so cute to watch him ride and even cuter when our little sweetheart of a cowboy gives Neigh Neigh a kiss when he is done riding.

A kiss for the Neigh Neigh

I am so glad to see Avery enjoying toys from my childhood, it always brings so many fond memories to mind.

Bike Ride

A few weeks ago, with some Target gift cards I have been saving for something special (Thanks GT & GG), we got an InStep bike trailer for Avery. 

All strapped in to go for a ride

It’s nothing fancy but the price was right and it meets our needs. Avery really loves to ride in it, as long as we stay off the Red Jacket Trail, he’s not much of a fan of the scenery there, he prefers the changing views when we ride on the streets.  We don’t have a route we ride consistently, West Mankato has it’s share hills, which I prefer to avoid when I can, so we just weave round the streets exploring. This past weekend Avery and I took our longest ride yet, from our house in West Mankato to my parents house in Upper North Mankato. 

Putting his juice in a pocket
before the big ride

The ride actually wasn’t too hard. The choice between which hill to take was the hardest part. Lookout is longer, and you basically ride on the road and Lee is steeper but has a sidewalk. I choose to go up Lookout Drive, a longer climb but I could go at my pace, rather then chance having my momentum slowed by walkers on the sidewalk. Lookout was the right choice, I was able to ride almost all of hill only having to get off at the very top where the path starts (it’s really steep there) and push the 50 feet top the top.

Getting ready to ride!

 It has been really fun to be able to get out on my bike and take Avery with me. I am even planning on doing the local bike ride (The River Ramble) in October.

Sweet Corn

Sweet Corn trucks have been showing up around town for a few weeks now which is really exciting because I love sweet corn, covered in butter, mmmmmm tasty! Avery recently had his first taste of the summer treat. Sure he has had corn before, but never on the cob. If was fun to watch him figure out what he was suppose to do. 

Thats one way to eat corn on the cob I guess

It didn’t take to long before he got the hang of eating the corn off the cob. He might have been covered in butter when he was done but who isn’t!

Now he's got the hang of it!

Happy Birthday Dylan & Freddie

Happy Birthday Dylan & Freddie

Today is a great day, Avery cousins Dylan and Freddie turned one! Turning one is a big deal for any babies and their parents, but it is extra special for Dylan and Freddie. Being born 3 months early they have not always had an easy go of things. And today we celebrated all the hard word they have had to do to get to this point. There were streamers, balloons, friends and family, and of course cake.

Avery had a great time playing with
punching balloons and bubbles at the party

It was a perfect first birthday party. Like most first birthday parties the highlight of the party was the cake. Neither Dylan or Freddie did the epic cake smash but they both had a taste and got a little messy.

Dylan having a taste of  her cake

Freddie & his cake

Dylan & Freddie's dog Roger got in on the
party action too

Avery went to get some cake while
his cousins were getting cleaned up inside

It was a great day to celebrate. Happy Birthday Dylan and Freddie!

Avery and the birthday girl

Trying to get a picture of all three never
works real well.

Spare Change Thief

Saturday afternoon Jon’s Jeep was robbed of all it’s spare change, by the sweetest little spare change thief I have ever seen :) While pretending to drive the Jeep Avery discovered his daddy’s stash of space change in the cup holders. Like our new rock game from the night before, Avery first got out every coin and handed them to me and he would take them back from me and put them back into the cup holders. Once they were back in the cup holders for the second or third time Avery gave me this sly look and picked up a hand full of coins and slid them in his pocket (a skill we had also worked on the night before during our rock game). Avery cleaned his daddy out, leaving him $.08. With full pockets, Avery headed into the house, coins jingling with every step, to put his money in his piggy bank. He had to dig really deep in his pockets to get all his treasure out.

Digging deep every last coin

In the coins go

We’re not sure how much money he actually got but the whole thing was priceless!

Rocks

Cutest Rock Game Inventor/Player

Friday Avery and I played a fun new game. Here is how it went, I sat on the front steps to our house and Avery would carefully pick out a rock (from our landscaping). 

Picking the perfect rock

Then he would climb the steps and place the rock on the landing next to me and then go back and carefully select another. After he decided he had a nice collection, 3-7 rocks, he would again climb the stairs sit down with his back against the front door and the we would count the rocks and hand them back and fourth (Avery also tasted a few of the rocks, I passed on this part of the game). 

Rock stash

When he was tired of those rocks, he would throw them one at a time off either side of the stairs, sometimes getting them into the egress window (he throws hard enough that I am sure he is going to break the window one of these times), once all the rocks were gone we clapped for ourselves to celebrate our success. This went on for 30 minutes or so, occasionally we would take a break from the rocks to wave at the cars driving by. Avery loves his new game, so much so that we played twice on Saturday (with added difficulty, carrying more then one rock at time)! I think as far as Avery is concerned rocks rock!

Beating the Heat

Avery loves popsicles!

How do you beat the heat and sooth a sore mouth with morlars on the way, at the same time?
You seal daddy’s popsicle!

 Hopefully things cool off soon so we can spend our nights outside playing without melting into the pavement.


Tooth Tally: No molars are thru yet, but they are coming!

18 Month Well Baby Visit

Having a snack while we wait

Yesterday Avery had is 18 month Well-Baby visit. He is 26.14lbs (65%), 32” (36%) and his head is in the 81st percentile, aka  his perfect :) We skipped his shot because of the week he had already had, fever of 103 on Monday, “stitches” on Wednesday, enough was enough. Avery's next Well Baby is at 24 months. I cant wait to see how he grows!

Stitches

Today at 11:23 AM I got a call from Avery’s daycare asking me to come look at a cut he received to see if I wanted to take him in for stitches. Avery had climbed up on a rocking chair and it rocked back and tipped over pinching his fingers between the rocking chair and a wooden bookcase, and cutting the inside of his right middle finger.

Avery's cut and swollen fingers

 When I got to daycare he was calming sitting on the floor being lovingly cared for. After a look at the cut, I decided it would be a good idea to have his fingers looked at, so Avery and I got in the Jeep and drove  to Urgent Care. They took some x-rays to make sure nothing was broken (which it isn’t), and rather then actual stitches they used what is basically medical super glue to close the cut. Avery was a trooper thru the whole thing, only crying some when the adhesive was applied, I guessing it stung. But the sting of the glue I sure was far less painful then having actual stitches put in. The really great thing about the glue is that it protects the area and seals it from dirt and germs so there is no need to cover the cut with a bandaid or dressing. After getting fixed up it was back to daycare for the rest of the afternoon. His fingers are a little swollen and beat up but it's nothing a little extra love and time wont heal.

All glued back together!

Update: the glue only lasted two days before Avery had it picked off, but lucky that was just enough time for things to heal up al little bit. 

Scabby Fingers

Starting to heal

Fun Days 2012

The first weekend after the 4th of July is when North Mankato holds its annual celebration, Fun Days! The fun starts Thursday and goes until Sunday night. The “Fun” includes: rides, games, horseshoes, car & motorcycle show, a beer garden, bands and a parade. Last year we took Avery to see all the games, rides and “fun” that is Fun Days but he was too little. This year however, was totally different story, we actually went to Fun Days both Saturday and Sunday. We kicked off our Fun Days fun on Saturday by taking Avery to his first parade. Thanks to GT & GG getting to the parade route early we had a really great spot on the curb, on the shady side of the street. As we waited for the parade to start we were joined by Dylan and Freddie! So Avery, Dylan, and Freddie got to see their first parade together.

Dylan, Freddie & Avery at their first parade 

Our gang and in our great spot
(boys on one side girls on the other)

 Avery really seemed to enjoy the parade, fire trucks, little cars zipping around, bright colored floats, and marching bands....what’s not to enjoy. I think Avery’s favorite part of the parade were the marching bands!

Waiting for the marching band
 to come down the street 

Having a freezy

Beach balls are better then candy any day!

Since none of the kids eat candy GG reaped all the candy rewards, but the kids were the real winners with their red, white and blue ReMax beach balls. It was a perfect day for a parade and every one had such a good time. 

GG & Dylan enjoying the parade 

Avery missed the end of parade

We continued our Fun Days fun on Sunday afternoon when we took Avery to ride his first rides. I was the lucky one to get to take Avery on his very first ride, mainly because I fit into the little car better then Jon. After I squeezed into the car and Avery and I got buckled in, it was finally time to ride.

Tight fit.

Ready to ride

Round and Round we go

After our ride in the cars it was Jon’s turn to take Avery on a ride. Jon took Avery on the big slide. After climbing up the steps to the top of the slide, and Jon and Avery got settled on their burlap rug, down they came. 

Heading to the top of the slide

All ready to go

Here we come!

After the rides Jon went and got some cheese curds and I got some lemonade and the three of us enjoyed our treats in the shade. It was a weekend filled with fun at Fun Days!

Eighteen Months

18 months

18 months, is the same as a year and a half, our baby is a year and half old, how did that happen! One thing I’ve learned over the past 18 months as a parent is, I love and cherish each stage as he is in it, and when he gets to the next stage I think the new stage is much easier and more exciting then the last stage and love it even more, all the while missing all the stages gone by. At 18 months Avery is a silly little boy, who can be shy for a little bit in a new situation, adventurous and fearless when it comes to climbing and riding things.  Loves his momma and daddy, puppy and kitty, and everyone else around him. He eats almost everything, his favorite fruit is a strawberry, and no other red fruit will due, Cheerios still count as cookies (breakfast cookies) and if he’s eating some thing with marinara sauce I am most like going to need to use the stain stick on his clothes and he will most likely need a bath. His vocabulary is huge, he can say please and thank you, and so much more. Words like truck, bus, puppy and Hi are some of his favorites, and are often heard over and over. Avery wears a size 4 diaper, 24month/2T pjs, 18-24 month & 2T shorts, 18-24month & 2T shirts and size 6 shoe. In a few days we will take Avery in for his 18 month well baby visit and we will find out his new stats but you can tell just by looking at him he has grown. I am really excited for Avery's new measurements, his height especially because as of today we finally have a place to record how much he has grown (besides this blog). For Avery’s birthday I got him a 6ft vinyl decal that looked like a ruler, that I planed to mount to a board and use as a growth chart, and after 6 months and some help from the Hewitt & Sheldon wood working team and Jon, Avery’s giant growth chart ruler is finally up and written on, just in time for a new set of stats. 

Avery's Growth Chart
("I" did a really great job on "my" project,
thanks guys, it perfect) 

Growing like a weed

 I am not sure when it actually happen buy Avery isn’t a baby any more, he is a year and half old and in another 6 months he will be 2!

Our silly little boy!

Happy 4th Of July

Happy 4th of July 2012

4th of July Parade

This morning Avery took part in his first parade. To celebrate the 4th of July all the kids at daycare are in a parade. So this morning at 9:15 the entire daycare (except the infants because it was too hot) headed out to march around the parade route (aka the sidewalk around the Taylor Corp building). Parents lined up along the route to wave and see all the red, white, and blue. Saving the best for last, Avery’s group were all in the strollers and carts at the back of the parade (can you imagine what it would be like if they had to keep 20 toddlers going in one direction with out strollers and carts).  

First 4th of July Parade

At first all the kids looked a little confused as they walked by, some kids cried when they saw their parents because they couldn’t go to them.

Big kids leading the way

I tried to hide behind people while I was taking pictures so Avery wouldn’t see me and get upset, but he did see me, he was a little unhappy but got over it quickly.

Riding in the parade with his friends

It was fun to see everyone dressed in red, white and blue wearing the hats they made last week. It was a great little parade, and there was even a nice breeze.

Driveway Triathlon

Sunday was a busy day in North Mankato, the deck building continued at my parents house, the Mankato Peppers were hosting the second day their annual softball tournament and the North Mankato Triathlon was held. For a few years now Jon has been trying to do the triathlon, and for the past few years we have been out of town or busy the day of the race. Not this year, we were actually going to be home and had nothing else planned. Unfortunately Jon pulled his hamstring at a softball tournament, ending his training and hopes of entering the race again this year. That didn’t stop Avery and his cousins from having their own triathlon in the driveway at my parents. Like the other triathlon in town that day, there was biking (triking), swimming (splashing, water pouring) and running (lots of running and jumping). But unlike the North Mankato Triathlon the Driveway Triathlon is a very exclusive (limiting the field to only 4), all day event including a lunch, a nap and a snack. It was a great day for the event, and wore everyone, including the spectators, out  :)

Avery on the Trike section of the course  

Avery during the swimming part of the course

Avery on the running and jumping part
of the course

Congratulations to everyone who participated in the North Mankato Triathlon, and the Driveway Triathlon. Maybe next will be Jon’s year.