Christmas - 2011

Avery was so much fun this year for Christmas.  I know that she is a little too young to actually understand the concept of Christmas but she sure enjoys certain aspects of it.

We started off December by decorating the tree.  We didn't do a tree last year so it was fun to get everything out and let her ooh and ahh over the decorations.  She was actually a really good helper getting everything set up.

Santa was also a hit this year.  Last year she was a bit weary of him but this year she loved him and would see him or even a picture of him she would say me me me (which is please in Avery language) and we would say "do you want to go see Santa" and she would shake her head yes and she aghh huh.  I think she actually saw him on three different occasions.  She would walk up to him really shy, then turn around and back into him so he could pick her up.  She was always really shy around him but really liked and always blew him kisses when we would leave. 

Next we celebrated Hannukah with Grammy and Grandpa.  Avery sure loves opening presents and just seeing her changes from last year to this year is amazing.  She truly is a little girl and I love watching her explore her surroundings.  She got some great presents from them and did a great job digging into her presents.

We left for San Diego on the 22nd to celebrate Christmas with my parents.  We had such a great time celebrating with them.  Christmas Eve we celebrated with my moms side of the family and Christmas Day it was just our family and then my Aunt and Uncle came over for dinner.  Avery literally tool ALL day to open her gifts. Every gift that she opened she had to stop and play with them.  Watching her in that element made me realize how truly blessed we are to have so much love and support and most of all resources to provide such a fun day for her.  I can't wait until she can understand the meaning of Christmas.  I am sure that every Christmas will continue to be more and more exciting!

23 months

What a busy month!  I think we have been loving out of a suitcase for some time but that's ok.  After Thanksgiving, we spent a few days at Disneyland which was such a fun few days.  Seeing the world through the eyes of your child is such a surreal experience but seeing Disneyland through an almost two year olds eyes can't get much better.  The love and laughter and sheer excitement of just about everything that she saw was worth every penny we spent and every line and tempter tantrum that has ever been thrown.  Her love for Mickey and Minnie Mouse and Daisy Duck and every other Disney character is so adorable! 

Once we made it back to Vegas we went up to the snow a few times and Avery finally has some solid snow apparel that keeps her warm and dry.  She pretty much loves to eat the snow but before long we will get her on some skis and she will be zipping down the mountain.

I really can't believe that she is almost 2 years old.  She talks so much more now and is still working on putting words together.  She counts, mainly just eight and nine, but she is getting better by the day.  She seems to have a new word just about every day and her smile lights up a room.  She is such a happy kid and we feel so blessed to have such a loving and happy and healthy child.  She still loves that 3 hour + nap in the middle of the day and if she doensn't get it, she can be quite grumpy.  In fact if you have to wake her up she is a bit grumpy as well.  But hey, I am the same way so I can't blame her.

We have also had more play dates lately and she really does love playing with other kids.  She is loving her art and music classes that she goes to and is quickly becoming the social butterfly.  We are still working on sharing but that's a hard concept to get so it will take time.

 

Here are some other pics from the last month.