She Sits!

This morning Avery and I were just playing and I sat her up for fun to see how long she could do it....and 30 seconds later she was still upright!! I had to grab the camera and she gave me a few more seconds so I could take a picture. She was so proud of herself! It was cute.

I was trying to get a smiling shot and she got so excited she fell back and then cried because she scared herself. Here she is mid-fall.


Today I've been cleaning up some of the things Avery no longer uses or has grown out of. It's shocking that I have a box full of clothes and shoes already. Somethings she's never worn! Does this mean I have to have another baby?? Maybe it'll become a fabulous shower gift for another mom-to-be. Anyway, a friend let me borrow this bouncy vibrating seat and I just needed a picture of it with my GIANT kid in it. This is what she slept in the first 6 weeks she was home. It's shocking how much she's grown!

FINALLY!

So I'm FINALLY getting back to my ever growing to-do list and I'm almost got another one checked off. I bought some frames back in November for our up-stairs hall and just barely got around to hanging them tonight. Now to fill them with pictures...that may take another 3 months.

Maybe one day I'll be brave enough to move the eye sore that is my thermostat. It was so nice of them to put it on the only wall worth decorating. My dad says it's an easy fix, but I don't know how confident I am in cutting open drywall and wires aren't really my thing. Oh well.


Brian was playing with Avery in her room while I was working in the hallway and I peeked in to see what they were doing...so sweet.

Not so sweet is the paint on her walls. I'm so not a fan. I think I would like the hot pink if the other walls were three shades lighter, but together, they just make me feel like I've fallen into a cotton candy machine. I'll add that fix to my to-do list along with matching that ottoman to her glider.

I turned on the video camera today while Avery was at the piano because it's so funny how she squeals and pants. I did a lot of piano playing while pregnant so I feel like she knows that familiar sound and gets totally excited by it.

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

sorry her head's a little chopped, I had her on my lap with the camera out front. I'm actually impressed I got a decent shot.

5 Months!

So my lady turned 5 months old today. Sometimes it's hard to believe it's already been five months...granted other times it feels like it's been FOR..EV..ER. Anyway...we took a couple pictures around 8:55pm tonight. SUCH a difference from the 8:55 when she was born. Whew.


It's crazy to think that in such a short time she's grown 6 inches and gained around 6 pounds. In the last month Avery has learned to roll over both ways...but only in one direction. She first rolled to the right but then forgot how to do it and now only rolls to the left. It makes me laugh. If I tweak her a little bit after each roll she'll do a full circle around me. She also started laughing without being tickled. It's fun to see her little personality and what she thinks is funny. She sings and squeals and grunts too. She's super vocal after she wakes up from a nap and it slowly wears off as she gets tired again. Maybe it's because she will only take one hour long naps during the day...and that's IN MY ARMS! The longest nap I get laying her down is 40 minutes and then she stays pretty cranky throughout the day. (I'm recording this for her so when she has a baby who doesn't sleep well I'll be able to commiserate...or maybe just tell her it's karma.) Anyway, her nighttime sleep has gotten SOOO much better. Still not fabulous, but we almost always get a 5 hours stretch at the beginning of the night and then I have to feed her. But she will go down at least 2 more hours before she starts the every hour waking up.
She stands up now without much support at all and I've tried sitting her up a few days now but she's a ways away from that. She can sit up all of 4 seconds and then falls over.
Just thought I'd jot down what she's doing so she can look at this when she's older, so sorry if this feels like random thoughts or if I bored you to sleep. I've almost fallen asleep myself...

g'night.

Jealous?

Aren't you all jealous I get to hang with this cutie all day long?



That Bosch in the background I've had out on my counter for a few days waiting to make THESE!!! They look delicious!!

#10

Hodnett Grandbaby #10 made his debut three days before Christmas in a BIG way giving us all a scare. Thankfully, everything turned out just fine and he was blessed today. So fun to get together with the fam. (We missed you Jessica!) I wish I had my camera out more because it's so cute to see all the little ones playing together. Oh well, here's some highlights:

Avery's getting to a great age where she'll entertain herself on the floor with a toy for a little while. Ahhh...my back is very grateful!!

I'm in LOVE with this little lady. Does she not have the most gorgeous eyes?!? PLUS, she's got the cutest personality and a little raspy voice. SOO much fun!

Well, then there's Austin...being Austin. It's always a surprise when he asks, "Is this your camera?" This was the best of a series of unflattering pictures...his favorite kind to take.

Avery's LOVING the attention.

We attempted to get all the cousins together--minus two--for a shot on the stairs. They weren't having it. So, here's to real life and some funny faces...

This next one's my favorite!! The two best friends on the top stairs. Emree making funny faces while holding Eli, whose head I'm afraid kept bumping the wall. Andee holding on to Heidi for dear life while she cries for her mom. And Cyrus trying to figure out how to get a hold of the Bumbo seat and well, Avery just really doesn't quite know what to think of the chaos.

Is this one better? A little switching around didn't seem to help us much.

Here's to the cooperative group. heh...I'm actually shocked at what 3 1/2 months does for a baby. Granted, Avery had 4 pounds on Eli, but still...shocking to see the growth that happens. It was bizarre to hold such a little man. I felt like if I let go of him he would just float away!

Cyrus FINALLY succeeded in stealing Avery's bumbo and he's quite enjoying some chips in his new toy!

An exhausting day, but the great fun and good food were well worth it!

Where's Avery?

Brian took the babes on a walk today while I did a little baking and this is how she came back...

Is she alive??...I'll just take a quick peek and make sure she's still breathing...

Great, the flash woke her up...she's not very happy about it, and neither am I to tell you the truth.

Busy Day

So Avery and I have had a couple busy days. It's shocking the amount of energy I have now when I get some sleep. SUCH a difference from a couple weeks ago!! So we've been running lots of errands...checking out a few thrift stores, and the camera got left at home today.

So here's a picture from tonight. We spent the evening with some friends...Avery was so good! I was a little concerned she'd freak out when it got close to bedtime...but there was so much for her to check out, she was loving it! And the best part, she had a nice bath and crashed quick tonight. Actually, the best part was talking to other adults and getting out of our own four walls!

Not so flattering, sorry Avery. But there's not much better than a good game, good brownies and cute kids to keep Avery entertained. Thanks for a fun night!

Just Rolling Around

So I put Avery on her back on her little play mat this morning and did some dishes, started a load of laundry, got myself dressed and when I heard her making a fuss, I went to rescue the poor girl only to find she had rolled and rolled and rolled to the edge of the couch and was too tired to roll anymore. I tried to get her to look at me but she was just screaming. I was a little shocked when I came down the stairs and saw how far she'd moved. Pretty impressive little one.

Sunshine.

The sun came out today and finally burned off the nasty fog we've had here for waaay too long, so I went to our ward play group at the park and Avery tried out the swings. So funny. She didn't quite know what to think about it.


I also had my first exploded diaper in public. We were shopping and she began to ooze. It was delightful.

I'm addicted.

I'm addicted to buying cake plates. I have more than I need, and now I have more than can safely fit atop my fridge. But alas, I buy more. I've never used more than two at a time, yet I find the need to have eight. I can't stop. I see a new cute shape and I have to have it.

It's getting out of hand.