Christmas Cheer and a Happy New Year!

Happy New Year everyone! I thought I would share some pictures from my first Christmas. I had a great time hanging out with my family, spreading Christmas cheer, and of course opening gifts. I hope you enjoy the photos, as much as I enjoyed Christmas.

Wishing you a Happy New Year!
Love and kisses,
Avery

My New Do

I got my first haircut over the weekend! Thank goodness, my hair was getting long! My ears really tickled, so I'm glad it's shorter now. My Aunt Katie cut it for me at the salon she works at. She said I was the bestest first haircut ever! I barely even noticed she was cutting my hair because I slept through the entire thing! I was tired from all the Christmas celebrating we had done over the past few days. Speaking of Christmas, I had the best time! I couldn't have asked for a better Christmas, and I am so glad I got to spend it with my loved ones. I will post pictures from Christmas later. In the meantime, here's my new haircut. Aren't I handsome?!?!

Love,

Avery

I Can't Wait for Christmas!

Well, Mommy tried to upload my video from the other day, but to no avail. She says "the stupid thing is slow!" Don't worry, I'll have Daddy fix it.

In the meantime, I've gotten myself into some mischief. I found the Christmas presents under the tree and managed to rip the bows off of most of the presents. I love it! I cannot wait to tear through the wrapping and open my Christmas presents!! My parents keep trying to stop me, but I'm pretty darn determined, and they are getting tired from chasing me. Mommy says I'm becoming a little boy and a feisty one at that.

Only two more days until I can tear through the presents for real. We'll see if they make it that long.....

Merry Christmas!

Avery

Ears and Tubes

Hello everyone!  I've had lots going on here, with being snowed in, having lots of doctor's appointments, and getting ready for Christmas!  My Mommy took me to the Ear, Nose, and Throat doctor this week.  The nice doctor said I shouldn't be getting this many ear infections and thought that I would be a perfect candidate for tubes.  I had my pre-op physical yesterday and I have been cleared for surgery!  I get tubes on January 2nd.  My doctor said its a simple procedure and I will only be out of Mommy and Daddy's arms for 15 minutes.  I know this will help with all of my infections, so I am ready to get it done and over with.  We've had a lot of sleepless nights over here.... I'm ready to be sleeping through the night again!

Speaking of that, I now have EIGHT teeth!  Boy can I chew!!

I am looking forward to seeing many of you at Christmas!  I have been a good little boy this year.  Until then, I am sending lots of hugs and kisses and Christmas joy.

Love,

Avery

p.s.  I will post another video soon.  The internet was really slow today, so I will try again later.

Here Comes Santa Claus!

I went to visit Santa this weekend! We had to stand in line for a long time, but it was totally worth it. I told him what I wanted for Christmas, and he told me I was a very good boy. I think that means I will get what I asked for! I am really enjoying the Christmas season. Mommy and Daddy put up the Christmas tree. I haven't tried to knock it down or anything. I'm trying out this nice thing, but I love to be naughty too! I am really looking forward to hanging out with my family on Christmas and of course, opening up presents on Christmas morning!

Hope to see you all soon.
Hugs and kisses,
Avery

Cruise control

I've been working on trying to cruise using the couch and other pieces of furniture, but low and behold, all I needed was a box!  This is my first attempt.  Not bad if you ask me.

Gobble gobble!

I had a great Thanksgiving weekend, and I hope you did, too! I actually had 2 first Thanksgivings, one with Mommy's family and one with Daddy's family. I met a bunch of new relatives I didn't know on Daddy's side, which was very exciting. More people for me to play with and love!

I also broke in another tooth over the weekend. For those of you, keeping count, I'm up to 6 teeth now! I have 3 on top and 3 on the bottom. I think I'm working on #7, too. I'll let you know how that one comes in.

Here are some pictures from my fun weekend. I can't wait for Christmas, when I get to see all of my family again.

Hugs and kisses,
Avery

A Good Week

Hi! It's been a good week for me. I had my first week in the big baby room at daycare, and it went very well! I really like it there and I've already made friends with everyone. It's a little strange that I am the youngest baby now, but the other babies motivate me to keep on getting stronger and trying new things. Everyone else is walking. I think it looks fun, so I am going to work on that. It will take me a few months, but I'll get there. I stand really, really well. Next, I am hoping to start cruising! My teachers were a little concerned about the older babies picking on me, but I stand up for myself. When they try to take my toys, I tell them who's boss. They listen too! I am very loud, so they don't really have a choice.

I have a new game I like to play at home. It's called Escape from Mommy and Daddy! When they try to change my diaper (not my idea of fun), I like to escape and crawl away, giggling all the way. I get out of my room and make it down the hall before they catch me. I think they like it, too, cuz sometimes they just let me get away.

I went to the doctor today for my 9 month visit. I am a growing boy! I weigh 20 lbs already! I'm really tall, too. Mommy calls me long and lean. The doctor also said my ear infection isn't going away. If it isn't gone after this next round of antibiotics, I have to go see an Ear, Nose, and Throat doctor. I think that means tubes. Not sure how that is going to go, but I will keep you updated. Other than that, I am doing really well and developing like a baby my age should.

I hope you like my new pictures. I was having fun with my parents last weekend. After Mommy fed me, I went and woke Daddy up. I think he enjoyed it.

Have a good week. Hope to see many of you at Thanksgiving!
Hugs and kisses,
Avery

Big Boy, Big Changes

Hi there! So much is happening here, I don't know where to begin.... I guess I'll start with the biggest change around here, we moved!! I love our new house, there's so much to explore and get into. The stairs are fun to climb up, although Mommy and Daddy went and ruined my fun by putting up gates. I still have fun, though, there's lots more to get into.

I am moving up to another room at daycare. It's still the baby room, just the big baby room (for 9 months to 15 months). I really like it there, one of my favorite teachers, Ms. Jana, is there and I already have two friends, Ethan and baby girl Charlie. I will miss my old teachers, Ms. Melody and Ms. Meredith, but will see them often. I think my bestest friend Alyssa is moving up soon, too, so I am excited about that!

I've been hitting some more developmental milestones, too. I'm developing so fast, my parents can barely keep up. You all know about my crawling. I'm fast!! I can also stand up, and figured out if I stand in my crib, my parents come running fast! I can also crawl up and down stairs when my parents let me. I'm getting more teeth, too. 2 on top and at least one more on the bottom.

In other news, I have my 4th ear infection. It doesn't bother me that much, just when I sleep at night, but my new meds are helping a lot. I hope this is my last.

Do you love my pictures this week? Here I am taking my first bath in our new home, trying out my new carseat, and hanging out with my Aunt Katie during our move! So many new things in the past few weeks, and I love them all!

Talk to you later!
Love,
Aves

Beer Me!

Here I am playing with one of my favorite toys.... the refrigerator! I love the cool air and to play with the shelves and drawers. Anytime Mommy or Daddy open up the door, I'm right there sticking my head in and playing! It's so much fun.

My First Halloween

I had such a great time on Halloween! I went to daycare in my dinosaur costume and everyone thought I was adorable! Then I went trick or treating with my friends Alyssa and Josh. Alyssa pooped out and slept the entire time, but I had a great time! Then afterwards, we went back to Alyssa and Josh's house and played, while our parents had pizza and hung out. By then, Alyssa had woke up, so we had fun playing in our costumes. She looked so cute as Minnie Mouse.

Here's a picture of me in my costume. Aren't I scary??

Love,
Avery

Little Explorer

I had some fun this weekend exploring our new home while Mommy and Daddy painted this weekend. I'm really finding my way around. I'm really glad I figured out how to crawl!

Hugs and kisses,
Avery

Pull Ups

Look what Mommy caught me doing! She turned her back for a second and I headed straight for the phone book! I've been pulling myself up to me knees for a few weeks now, but this is the first time I got an independent streak. I'm getting good at crawling too, especially when I want to play with the puppy's toys. My parents think that is gross, but I don't care!

Bye for now!
Love,
Avery

Tummy Surfin' USA

As you can tell, I still love to play with the camera while Mommy films me. Its so much fun! Today I turn 8 months old, so I thought it would be the perfect time to crawl. I took my first few paces this morning towards Daddy! Before long, I will be full out crawling and then I will be able to get into all sorts of trouble!

I'll talk to you all later, I am really motivated to get this crawling thing down...
Love and kisses,
Avery

5k's and Lingering Ear Infections

What a week I have had! Last weekend I went to Des Moines and had lots of fun hanging out with my Grandma and my aunts. It was going so well when my ears started hurting again. Saturday night I woke up several times, which I might try out more often because Mommy finally put me in bed with her and Daddy! I felt so comforted cuddling up with Daddy while my ears hurt so bad. Mommy and Grandma took me to the doctor on Sunday and now I am on my third antibiotic. I hope it clears up this time. My parents think I might need tubes in my ears, which doesn't sound like fun. I don't mind going to the doctor, they always think I'm the cutest baby ever (which I am, duh!)

While I was at the doctor, Daddy and Aunt Greta ran a 5k. Daddy ran it in 25 minutes and Greta in 32 minutes. I thought that was pretty impressive! They didn't train or anything.

Well, as you can see, I'm busy napping in my highchair. Gotta catch some zzz's somehow.

Catch you later!
Love,
Avery

Future Dancing with the Stars Contestant

Hi! Here I am watching my favorite tv show, Dancing with the Stars. I love the music, lights, and motion, and can't keep my eyes off the tv. My parents don't like it when I watch a lot of tv, but they let me watch my favorite shows. I have them wrapped around my little fingers!

I'm home again with Mommy today. I now have an ear infection in my other ear. Its pretty bad! It perferated this time, so there's some yucky stuff coming out of my ear and it hurts pretty bad. Mommy says I handle it like a champ. I hope my new medicine takes care of it, so I feel like my old self soon and can go play with my friends again at daycare.

Bye bye! Must go bust a groove...
Avery

Fun with potty training

Okay, I'm not really potty training, but Daddy thought it would be funny to joke with his cousin Bill that they were potty training me in his bowl. Bill got a kick out of it. And Daddy says he's going to show this photo to all my girlfriends when I'm older. Well, that ought to be fun.

I'm working on the crawling thing. I really, really want to crawl, but I get so frustrated that I can't do it yet! I cry out of frustration. I did the same thing when I was learning how to roll over. I can get myself on my hands and knees and I'll rock back and forth, then I don't know what to do! I can scoot backwards, but that's not what I want. Mommy and Daddy are encouraging me and they say I will get it, but I'm mad! I want to get it NOW! I'll keep on trying until I get it.

Bye for now. I have more practice to tend to!
Love,
Avery

I may be sicky poo, but I'm still having fun!!

Hi everyone! I know you can't tell from this video, but I haven't been feeling the best the last few days. I have an ear infection. My first. Not bad, I held out for 7 months! I stayed home with Mommy on Wednesday after getting sent home with a temperature of 101 and we had a good time!! It was like old times. I'm on antibiotics now, so I'm healing fast and acting like myself. My parents are hoping my cough and stuffy nose clear up, too. I've had that going on for a few weeks now.

I love cameras, can you tell? If it's electronic, I generally want my hands and mouth all over it! My favorite toys include the tv remote, the camera (for sure!) and my favorite, the telephone, especially when Mommy or Daddy are talking on it. Give them a call, you will surely hear me chewing on the other end.

Bye for now! I am getting hungry and must eat before I throw a little tantrum!!

Hugs and kisses,
Avery

Max and me

I am hanging out with my cousin, Max, in this video. Aren't we the cutest? I think we're going to be buds someday!

I had a pretty exciting weekend. I went to another family reunion in Des Moines. I think everyone there held me. I love all the attention! I also got baptized in the same church my parents were married in, on the same weekend 2 years ago! The minister, Doug, was very nice. He drizzled a bunch of water on my head and showed me off to the entire congregation. I was such a good boy!

I did have a bad couple of days, though. I got sent home from daycare yesterday with a temperature of 101. I feel much better today, but Mommy kept me home so I could rest and feel better. I get to go back to daycare tomorrow and play with all my friends.

I hope to see you all soon!
Love and kisses,
Avery

No, no, no!

The day my parents have dreaded for a long time has come. I say no!!!! Well, I don't say it, but I shake my head no. They are having fun with me, trying to get me to say no to silly questions. I play along most of the time, but when I get on film, I'm not as willing. I'm so distracted by the camera. In this video, Mommy is asking if I like my car seat. In reality, I hate it, but I was a little tired, so I played along after a little prodding...

Bananas Good!

Here I am trying bananas for the very first time. I like them a lot! My teachers at daycare say that I am a very good eater. I even ate a whole thing of peas, which my Mommy doesn't understand because I won't eat them at home... I like trying new foods and can't wait to see what's next. Yummy, yummy!

video fun

Holiday Weekend

I had a blast this weekend! My Grandma, Great-aunt Chele, Great-uncle Craig, and cousin Kipp visited us over the weekend and we did some sightseeing around Chicago. We went to the Brookfield Zoo, where I saw dolphins and sealions and monkeys and a snake! They were cool. We also took the train downtown and took a water taxi to Navy Pier. I also got to see where Oprah lives. Well, the outside of it anyway. It was a very good weekend, but I'm pooped! I can't wait to see my relatives again, but in the meantime I need to catch up on some rest.

I also have been babbling like crazy! I like to say Ba a lot and I even said Mama once, which my Mommy thinks is hilarious because my Daddy keeps trying to get me to say Dada.

BTW, I thought I would give you a food update. My parents are having me try lots of new things. I'm liking barley and squash, and I LOVE sweet potatoes! I just tried green beans tonight, which I'm not sure about yet, but I can tell you that I HATE peas!!! Mommy says she's gonna try me on fruit next. I hope I like it... I've been trying these new things in my brand new high chair! Don't I look handsome?

Hope you enjoy some pictures from over the weekend. I'm doing so many new big boy things!

Love and kisses,
Avery

Half a year has passed...

I'm 6 months old! I'm growing and developing more every day. I can't wait to see what I am like 6 months from now, but I am having a great time as it is.

Here's some recent photos of me. Check out my new tattoo!! Okay, its not real. Like anyone would tattoo me when I'm this young!

Talk to you soon.
Love and kisses,
Avery

Adventures in Learning

Hello there! I have had an exciting week! Monday was my first day at daycare. I am now a Firefly at Adventures in Learning daycare center. That is what they call babies in the infant room. I LOVE it there!! The teachers are so nice and take good care of me. They are definitely keeping me active and stimulated all day. I am so exhausted at night that I am now going to bed between 8:30 and 9:00 and sleeping all night long! Mommy and Daddy have to wake me in the morning. I'm pretty groggy, but I'm still a happy baby! There are 5 other babies in the same room as me and I am making fast friends with all of them. Alyssa, who is a week younger than me, is my closest friend. We play together a lot. She is very cute and smiley. My mommy and her mommy seem to really like each other, too. They talk a lot in the morning and evening during dropoff and pickup times.

I went swimming for the first time last weekend! It was only 72 degrees out, so the water was a little chilly. I was crabby at first, but quickly got used to the water and had lots of fun splashing about. I also played with a little girl named Yoshita. She was a lot of fun!

This weekend we get to go to a picnic for my Mommy's company. I hope there are lots of kids to play with!

Hope to talk with you all soon!
Love and kisses,
Avery

I'm Getting Good at this Sitting Thing

I've been practicing everyday and am getting really good at sitting! Mommy and Daddy are so proud.

Mommy says we only have a few days left together before she goes back to work and I go to daycare, so we are taking advantage and spending lots of bonding time together. I'll keep you updated on how I like daycare.

In other news, Mommy's friend, Nilda, had her baby this week! Scarlett Giovanna Cates was born August 5th. I hope to meet her soon, even though she lives in LA.

Hugs and kisses,
Avery

Visitors and New Things

My Grandma and Aunt Greta visited last weekend. We had a lot of fun! Greta's favorite past time is shopping, so we went to the outlet mall! I have to admit, I am not a fan of shopping, so I took a long nap while Mommy bought me lots of new clothes! I have grown out of a lot of my clothes, so I needed new ones. I am growing so fast, its hard to keep up! We also went to the Weber Grill for dinner, where I helped Daddy with his BBQ dinner. I love messes! The next morning we went to our "new favorite breakfast place" according to Mommy. It is downtown Naperville and very yummy according to Grandma and Auntie Greta. They left after breakfast, which was sad, but I will see them again over Labor Day weekend.

I have been working on my sitting and am getting much better at it. I can sit all by myself for a few seconds. I lose my balance after that, but its a big improvement. I also started sucking my lower lip. My parents don't understand why, but they think its cute. And I am now drinking out of a glass! I was grabbing for my Daddy's water glass, so he let me drink out of it. I love it now! Water is so refreshing. Mommy bought me some sippy cups, so that will be a fun way to drink my milk now....

That's all for now.
Love,
Avery

Grandpa's Rule!

Here I am with Grandpa Mark.... we had so much fun last weekend! I was a little tired come Monday, but it was soooooo worth it. We went and walked around the Riverwalk in Naperville. It is so beautiful there. This weekend my Grandma and Aunt Greta are coming to visit. I cannot wait to see them. I'll let you know how our adventures this weekend turn out....

In other news, Mommy got a job! She says I will have to start daycare when she goes to work. I don't know if I'm going to like it, but Mommy and Daddy tell me I will be well taken care of and will have lots of fun. We'll see about that. Until then....

Love,
Avery

5 Months and Counting...

Hard to believe 5 months have gone by. I'm growing into such a big boy already (seriously I'm BIG!). My parents are so proud of me and what I have accomplished so far. They are wondering what is next. Just when they think I'm gonna slow down, I do something new!

I went and got more shots today. I hate them, they hurt! The nurse was really nice and gave me a high 5 for being so good. I got over the pain pretty quickly and was laughing by the time we left the doctor's office. I go back in a month to see how much I have grown.

I'm still rolling over like crazy. I have been rolling onto my back a little bit more, but my arm keeps getting caught. I'll figure it out. I also have been pulling my legs up while I'm on my belly and scooting myself forward. My Mommy and Daddy think its a sign of things to come. I'm hoping I'm mobile soon, however my parents are bracing themselves for the day I crawl! It will be so much fun.

Grandpa Mark is coming this weekend to see me (and my parents, too). I'm excited to see him! It will give me a chance to show off all my new cool tricks.

Gotta go! I feel a nap coming on.
Love and kisses,
Avery

Sleeping Positions

Look at the new way I sleep! Now that I have found my stomach, I like to sleep on my belly. It is freaking my parents out!! They want me to sleep on my back and keep trying to roll me over, but as soon as they leave, I'm back on my belly! Mommy and Daddy think I will suffocate on my belly, but I can lift my head and move it to the side. So I'm fine. I wish they wouldn't worry so much...

Roley Poley

Hi everyone! I am keeping my parents on their toes!! I am rolling over a lot more now. I have rolling from my back to my front nailed down. I do it all day long. Then this week when I was napping (or so Mommy thought), I rolled on my belly, then I decided I would try rolling on my back. I did it! I've rolled on my back 4 times now, but then all of a sudden I forgot how. My new thing is to roll and roll and roll on my tummy. Then I get stuck. How do I roll on my back again? I can't remember, so I get MAD!!! I cry and cry and then finally Mommy or Daddy will roll me on my back again. Then I immediately roll on my tummy again! I could do this all day long. My parents wonder why I do this when I get so mad. Gosh, don't they get it? They laugh at me and then help me roll back. Its so much fun.

The downside is Mommy removed the bumper from my bed. I was trying to pull it on top of me. Apparently that's a bad thing. I liked the bumper, but its a whole new perspective without it. Instead of my little cave, I can see when Daddy or Mommy walks in the room. That is certainly worth it.

The first photo I posted is right after I rolled on my back for the first time. Look how proud of myself I look! Now if I could only figure it out again....

That's all for now. Huggles!
Love,
Avery

Toofers!

Mommy caught me! My bottom two teeth are in. This picture is a little blurry because I was bouncing away on my bouncer, but here is a pic of my new teeth. They hurt a little, but I'm handling them pretty well.

I'll post more about my week later.....
Love,
Avery

Learning to Sit

Hi! This week my parents bought me a Bumbo to help me learn how to sit by myself. I like sitting a lot, its much more fun than just laying on my back all the time. So far, I like it, but I do get a little fussy after awhile because it restricts my movement. I feel the need to kick! And its hard to suck my toes when I'm sitting in the Bumbo.

I am a city slicker! Mommy took me into Chicago twice this week. Wednesday night we had dinner with her friend, Annette. It was yummy and I was a good little boy. I got really sleepy and slept the whole train ride home. Friday we hung out with Mommy's friend, Dana and her husband Justin, all day! We had lunch and then Daddy joined us for dinner. Chicago is a really cool city and I had fun seeing all the sights. The girl and boy next to us at lunch were my favorite. I wanted to play with them!

I'm still working on some teeth. I have not one, but two pushing their way through! They are pretty darn cute, but they hurt a little, so I am chewing on everything to ease the pain. My parents say I am not that fussy and are really proud of how good I have been. I won't let Mommy photograph my new teeth, but she's still trying. Maybe when they are all the way in....

That's all for now. I have to go rest from all the sightseeing I did this week.

Love and kisses,
Avery