Bed Head

I always laugh a little when I see Avery's hair in the morning. Usually it's still dark outside when my morning begins. But this morning...ahhh...this morning...after putting her back down around 5 she slept till 8!! It was so nice. I didn't even mind her totally blown out diaper..that's how good 2 extra hours of sleep is! I actually still have some energy left at the end of the day! The secret...(don't tell the doctor...) we put her to sleep on her tummy. So nice..and such a happy girl all day long. I actually got belly laughs tonight. So fun.

Here's her morning do. Some days I spend more time taming her hair than my own.

Buddies

I don't have much else to say except that I love when Samuel comes to play with my lady. He's all boy and energetic and rough but so sweet with Avery. When she starts to get cranky he'll grab a toy from my bag and play with her and when that fails, he'll sing. When THAT doesn't work he says, "Marissa, I think Avery needs a nap." heh. Such an insightful guy. When all else fails, put 'em to sleep!


...and yes, Avery is getting more bald by the day. She looks especially bad from the sides, and the fact that I put the hair on top in a little rubber band. Usually I use the length on top to cover up the terribly thinning sides. Sorry girl.

FLO...in surround sound

It was nice to get out in the world today and run some errands. I dropped some spray paint by my parents for the project my dad and I started that my he has graciously continued without me. Thanks Pop!

Anyway, my mom was there and gave me a little gift.

ANOTHER FLO!! YAY!! Even pink! I'm very happy for a back-up. Especially because the new ones in the store have creepy faces. Avery enjoyed her glow worms in surround sound after her bath tonight.

So, original FLO now needs a masculine name. It reminds me of my grandparent's tortoises. Thomas and Oscar. Well, one of the turtles laid eggs and Thomas became Thomasina.

Sleepy Day

So we're to trying recuperate here. It's a slow process when you don't get much sleep at night. So we've been taking turns today with the little one while one of us gets some time to relax. Brian's multi-tasking is impressive. Baby duty and sleeping...wish I could do the same.

Kisses

I didn't realize how many times a day I kiss Avery until I got this cold and couldn't! In fact, I was so weak and feverish today that Brian stayed home and took care of her the whole day. I only held her to nurse, but by the end of the day my baby was missing me as much as I was missing her. It's fun to know that she knows who I am and smiles so big when she sees me! I decided the back of her head was safe to kiss, and straight from the bath it smells terrific!

MORAL OF THE STORY: Next year, we're getting flu shots!!!

Third time's a charm....

Said the LIAR!! (I hope you guys watch Psych or you won't understand...)

At least not in the case of Kleenex boxes. I opened my third box today and my nose is more chapped than a cross country skier.

I was so careful while Brian was sick...and still is sick...to not catch what he had going and this morning I thought it was just a head cold. Wrong again. I'm lucky Avery is mesmerized with my hands so we could lay on the floor most of the day. Definitely one of my rougher days.

Doctor Day

So I've been dreading this day for awhile...a doctor appointment for Avery. Her 2 month shots are what threw off her fabulous 7 hour stretches of sleep so I could only imagine what the next round would do.
She did so well. I took her beloved Flo with us and it kept her very distracted until the lady stuck her thigh...then again, and AGAIN!! Man, that can't feel good. And the needles are LONG! Her face went from happily watching Flo to beet red and screaming in seconds. Luckily, the nurse was really fast and I could scoop her up and calm her down quickly.
I also learned from the last round to give your baby Tylenol before the shots and keep it going for a few doses to keep the cranky baby at bay. She gave us a few minutes of fits this afternoon but has been her happy self and we've just hung out at home today. SOOO much better than last time. She was so uncomfortable last time she would just cry and cry and wouldn't eat or sleep...it was hard. So today was great in comparison. Maybe tonight will be great too! Who knows, maybe this round will reverse her back to her old sleeping self! (I can dream can't I!!?...actually...I can't really get a dream in with hour long sleep...hmph!)

She weighed 2 ounces shy of 16 pounds at 4 1/2 months. She's starting to balance out and dropped from the 99th percentile down to the 80th. Another naked picture for you. I can't help myself. It makes me laugh so much that she won't grab her feet with pants on, but the pants come off and the feet go up. She had all the nurses laughing today. It was pretty cute.


We just chilled at home today and played on the floor together. I'm finding all those annoying girl's camp songs are coming in quite handy these days...

Look at those poor scrumptious thighs! Two shots on one leg and one on the other. Poor thing. And those darn band-aids are sticky too! She doesn't seem bothered by them though!

Ever Wonder?

I'm never quite sure what's going on in the back seat of my car when it's silent. Sometimes Avery's angry and crying, or she's happy and babbling, but quiet?? I never know. It's always a surprise to see if she's awake or asleep, and today, this is what she looked like...


...totally crashed with her new favorite friend.

She puts everything in her mouth lately, but has a hard time holding onto things while trying to slobber them to pieces. So I googled "best teething toys" and this giraffe was on the top of many lists. It was a total splurge at 20 bucks...especially for this thrift store momma...but I fell in love with her when I saw it.


ps...I totally need to take some time and edit my pictures a little. Looking through them I realize I could help my sad camera out with a little love from Picasa.

Sickies

This is how we feel at our house today...I've been playing nurse all day to a couple of sickies. Brian doesn't get sick often so when he does, he really goes for it. I have to say, this is the worst I've seen him in the 6 years we've been married. He was white as a ghost and a clammy mess. Thankfully he's been able to get lots of sleep. At one point I had to go up and check on him after a 4 hour nap just to make sure he was still breathing. He had me a little worried.

Oh, and don't judge him for his leopard or polka dot blankets...he's been FREEZING so he's got a few extra layers on.

As for the littles...poor thing's got her momma's cough. Straight from her toes. You very quickly become aware of your worst traits when they get passed onto your child. So I will apologize now for the horrendous sea lion cough, (no, not like a cute seal...like a stinky, blubbery, beached sea lion) that comes from your sausage toes, which are undeniably from me.

Good thing she's got plenty of great things going for her too!

Brian in Charge

Brian took charge of the camera today, and what do I have??

One Shot.

Here you go. Errands at Home Depot. That's pretty much as exciting as our day was.

I finished up some baby blankets for a friend..OH! I should show you...note to self though...projects with a baby around take 10 times as long! And sadly, of the dozens of baby blankets I've made over the last few years...Avery has only one. It was one I couldn't ever find the right person for...so sorry girl..it's yours...Not nearly as cute as these airplanes turned out.


then we just cleaned. And no one needs to see how cluttered and dusty my house has become....but I'm very happy my ceiling fans are dusted. I never remember to do that until I can see it collecting on the edge. Gross. I know. But they're clean now so I guess it's been a productive Saturday.

I'm so Glad...

When Daddy comes home. I don't know who's happier about it--me or Avery.



Brian's office recently moved and he's added about an hour an a half to his work day. I guess I was spoiled to have him working so close, but honestly, that last hour without him seems extra long! I love my baby...but by the end of the day I'm ready for a couple minutes to myself! Glad Avery loves her pops so much.

I missed it!!

This is how I left her to finish up a little piano stuff this morning...

THIS is how I found her 2 minutes later! My Avery ROLLED OVER and I MISSED IT!!

She's been rolling onto her side for awhile now but hadn't figured out how to get her arm out of the way to get to the other side. When Darien came the other day, he was rolling over every five seconds! Nothing like a little competition to get her going. (she must take after her momma.) It was totally exciting this afternoon, but now I'm over it. Trying to get a diaper on a rolling twisting bum is obnoxious when you're tired. ah, the joy.

**I have a little video to post, but I'm too tired to wait for it to upload...I'll add it tomorrow. sweet dreams and g'night.

Ode To Flo

Flo, Dear Flo, such an ugly toy.
Yet somehow you manage to fill me with joy.
I was planning on leaving you in the Thrift store
When my mother convinced me, "What's 50 Cents more?"

So I brought you home without much hope,
But you sure help my baby on car rides to cope.
With a squeeze of your belly, you sing a sweet song,
You simply work magic when the evening runs long.

When Avery starts crying, you're always right here,
I press you and quickly the tears disappear.
I love you, it's true, with you're weird glowing head
Now I'll end this lame poem, and head off to bed.





okay, sorry, I read a few Dr. Seuss books today and it got me in the mood for a cheesy poem. Anyway, I really do love this ugly toy. It's just the little glow-worm guy, but we named her Flo. It was going to be Roz like the lady from Monster's Inc, but Flo just stuck. It makes me laugh when I think how she became part of the family. We were browsing the toys in our favorite thrift store and she was in a bag with some random baby doll for 75 cents total! We put her back a couple times and then finally I was talked into it. (you'd think I'd just buy it for less than a buck, but I'm trying to keep the junk out of my house.) I assumed it would go in the Goodwill pile and get recycled back to the thrift store. A run through the wash with some oxi-clean and wall-ah! New toy! Anyway, there are two things Avery HATES doing! Getting dressed after bath time, and riding in the car in the dark. Flo has cured the tears from both activities! It's hard to get a good picture in the dark, but I was riding in the back with her to keep her awake so I snapped some shots. Can you see her red eyes from crying that just stopped? And two minutes later, she's happily holding Flo's hand while it sings sweet little songs. I don't know why it works so well, but truly, I am forever in love with my little glow worm.

Play Date

So a friend came over today who had a baby five days after Avery was born. It's fun to get together and see what things are babies are doing (or NOT doing in the case of sleep!). Anyway, some pictures from the day...

I totally laughed when I saw this. What a date...They both totally crashed. (I've had a few dates I wish I could have slept through...)

Also, check out the old school entertainment center. Yes, we are the only people on the planet left without a flat screen TV. I actually like that it looks so ghetto because people can tell it's not the center of our home. BUT, stay tuned...I may get brave and re-finish it so at least it doesn't stick out like a sore green thumb.




Looks like they had a good time, don't ya think?? heh...they both look like they're saying, "HELP ME!!"

Like Father, like Daughter.

This is how we bond. Stay tuned to see what we're making. :)


And because most of you check this out to see Avery, here she is after a Target run. I went in for ONE thing first thing this morning--and wouldn't you know, they have TONS of baby clothes and toys 75% off!! Am I the only one who walks the store and sees a "clearance" tag hanging in an aisle and I HAVE to see what it is. Even if it's in the sporting goods aisle. Those tags poke out on the shelves and it's like a fly to the flame...I...MUST...SEE...IT! I love target. I love it more when I score jammies for $1.75 and jeans for 3 bucks! Needless to say, I spent too much time and money there so we were both worn out.

Lucky Lady

Avery is one lucky lady to have so many people love her so much. Thanks for a fun night and a nice break Nanny and Grandpa!

Thanks Grandma-Great!

I love my Grandma. I love that my baby will always be connected to her as a namesake. I love that each year she scours the fabric stores to find the perfect fabric for a Christmas pillowcase for each of her 60+ posterity.

I ESPECIALLY love her for choosing turkeys the year my birthday was on Thanksgiving because Avery LOVES them! Okay, so I love her for much more than fun pillowcases, but sometimes that extra ten minutes Avery plays with the pillow in the morning, and I can stay in bed are PRICELESS!

No, Avery doesn't hang out in the nude all the time, just some pre-bath tummy time and hanging out on my bed. And a bonus....she decided to spit up on my brand clean sheets! Yes!! My favorite!

Look what you can buy at Costco!

A SAD BABY!! You can't really tell from this picture, but Avery enjoyed her trip to Costco, except that I always get side-tracked when I go places with my mom and we take waaay too long so her patience was wearing thin. Her car seat doesn't fit into the top part of most shopping carts, so she gets to ride in the back with the goodies. Maybe she's upset cause from perspective, it looks like she's in jail. Oh well.

I'm happy to report that the demon vacuum was replaced and I will have fresh carpet tomorrow. How kind of Costco to read my blog and mark the vacuums down 50 bucks. I knew I loved them for a reason.


Avery also had a little fun with Grandpa today. He makes me laugh. I always learn a new song when I'm around him. Familiar nursery rhymes take on new lyrics....it's quite impressive. Patty-cake was reinterpreted today. Hilarious.


Can't you just hear her saying, "Who is this crazy guy?"

HAPPY BIRTHDAY NANNY!!

So Avery and I crashed Nanny's birthday lunch as a little surprise and snapped a shot. We'll take some better shots at her partay. (that would be a party that is extra fun! Hence, the extra 'a'....also helps if said like a valley girl...sorry I'm tired.) I need to be better at having the camera ready for the candid shots. That's why I made this resolution. I want to capture real life rather than have all my pictures posed. Real life makes for real memories.

So, in honor of being real, here's what 8:30 looks like at our house each night.


Avery LOVES the feel of running water and now that she's discovered it, she can't get enough. It's so cute to watch her try and grab at it, only to find her fist!

Sunshine!!

The sunshine was finally out and WARM today! It was so nice. We went for a walk and it was as calming for Avery as it was energizing for me. I need to get out more. Oh, that warm sun on my face with the crisp air was just what my homebody needed.


I also tried to fix our vacuum today. It's so irritating. It's been on it's way out for a little while now and I keep saying when Costco puts the Oreck back in their deals, I'm gonna buy one...but then somehow out vacuum magically behaves...only to die out as soon as the deal expires! Demon vacuum. At first the switch stopped working and I would just plug it in and it would turn on regardless of the switch being on or off. A few days ago it finally died. I desperately needed to use it today so i pulled out the screw driver only to find on the inside ANOTHER on/off switch. Ah-ha...the culprit. That's pretty much as far as I got...so now I have a handle-less vacuum and half of a clean floor...(I did manage to jimmy-rig the inside switch in between the on/off position to clean half the carpet. I stopped once I started to smell burning wires.) Looks like I'm gonna buy a new vacuum tomorrow. It really is about time. Just a bummer I'll be spending more than I want to.

Baby Manual

So I read a friend's Facebook status the other day and it said something about losing her 2-year-old's manual for the volume control. IF ONLY there was a manual. One single manual...not 800 opinions and thoughts and studies and answers.

I'm a logical person. If something is wrong with A then B should fix it. PERIOD. This motherhood thing is challenging my problem solving abilities. It must be my problem because Avery doesn't seem to have an issue with this night waking. She's happy as a clam at 3 a.m. and a VERY good baby in the daytime. I love her in the daytime. At night...I think of all the deserving people who would love to add a child to their family. (Am I allowed to think that?) It's just so darn frustrating. She goes to sleep like a pro, swaddled and bounced, but as soon as we lay her in her cradle, POP! Eyes open. We end up having to bounce her for at least a half-hour...the longest has been two hours, (shoot me now) only to be woken up in an hour when her sleep cycle has ended.

Yes, I've learned all about sleep cycles and REM sleep and non-REM sleep and transition periods and night terrors and concluded I am my child's sleep association. She doesn't know how to go to sleep without me, (or Brian) and the exercise ball. We did it to ourselves really. I would rather bounce than hear her cry at this point. But I've become very good at surfing the web on my ipod one-handed while bouncing my baby. I've also learned a million methods to cure said sleep association. NONE of which feel right to me. There's the no-cry solution that seems to take weeks, crying-it-out, the ferber method, Dr. Ezzo, Dr. Sears, the baby whisperer...I wish there was ONE answer, ONE solution...Jimminy Cricket, I've been wishing on stars and you've FAILED ME!

I'm starting to feel like Google is a detriment to my mothering. Too many ideas. I may have been better off left to my own devices, or maybe thinking this was normal and she'll grow out of this stage. I did however find a solution for another issue I've been having. Avery doesn't like tummy time. And when I say "doesn't like" I mean as soon as she's on her tummy the whining and crying begins. So while bouncing one night, I looked up some tips to help. One lady noticed her baby was so happy in the nude so she tried tummy time and ta-da, baby LOVED IT! So, a couple nights ago, before Avery's bath...stripped her down and tummy time was a success!

This morning I was greeted by blown out jammies so after I cleaned her up, we did some more tummy time before another bath. She's so HAPPY about it!


I was going to edit out her little buns, but they're too cute! I'm sure when my reasoning returns I'll crop them out.

Grandma and her Girls

So here's Grandma and her little girls today. Their expressions make me laugh. Heidi is laughing at Grandpa and Avery's not having any of it.

I also got the coupon bug back. I kinda go back and forth about couponing. Sometimes it's worth my time, sometimes I end up buying stuff I won't ever use because I get it for pennies. BUT, today I got 8 boxes of Special K and a gallon of Milk for 49 cents!! AND, 5 dollars store credit back! Holla!