Happy Halloween - 2011

This year Avery dressed up as Little Red Riding Hood.  It was actually a gift that I got at my shower and she finally got to wear it.  She wore the costume a few times leading up to Halloween and actually really enjoyed wearing, cape and all!  On Halloween day, Ben and I flew back from Seattle so after her nap we went over to Ben’s parents’ house to pick her up.  We decided to trick or treat over there since they live on a cul-de-sac and then we didn’t have to rush out of there as well. 

We started the night by going to a house that had a ton of lights that Aves kept oohin and ahhing over.  Here little sounds really are the cutest.  I am going to be so sad when she can actually verbalize her words rather than making noises to show her emotions.  Anyways, she walked right up to the house and proceeded to say hi to everyone and take some candy.  The high school girls that lived there really liked Avery and she liked them quite a bit as well considering they kept loading her up on candy.  We started walking around the neighborhood and she started to get the hang of it.  She really couldn’t say trick or treat or thank you so she learned to just hold her bag out and then blow kisses at the end.  That sure got her a few extra pieces in the end as well.  Every time we would finish going to a house she would say more more more…. So we continued on.  We ended doing the entire large block in the neighborhood and I really think that she would have kept going if we let her.  The only thing that appeased her was that I kept telling her that she had to wait to have any candy until we got home.  The minute we walked in the house she started saying “mememe” which is please in Avery language.  Luckily one lollipop and she is a happy camper!

All in all, it was a fun Halloween.  It really was night and day from this time last year.  I am sure that each year she will understand it a bit more until the time comes when she is off on her own trick or treating with her friends…. I can’t even imagine that at this point!

Here are some pics from the night.

21 months

Ok so I am a little late on this post.  The past few weeks have been a little busy and I am just finding the time to sit down and write this post.  Better late than never! 

October has been a pretty hectic month for us.  We spent about 10 days in San Diego and then I was in Boston and Denver for 5 days and then Ben and I went to Seattle to celebrate our five year anniversary (which is why I have time to sit down and write this)!  Needless to say I blinked and the month is over and our little girl is 21 months!

Avery spent the weekend at Ben's parents house and had a great time with them!

When I look back at this age, I am going to have so many fond memories.  Every day is a new word, a new discovery, a new sound, a new meaning.  Every day seems to get a little more fun and I am not sure how that is even possible. She makes so many oohs and aahs and cute little noises!  Avery knows how to test her boundaries and at times she does but she also knows what she can and can’t do.  Time out is beginning to actually work yet there are times when she still thinks it’s a game and is funny.  There are plenty of times that I have to look away so that she doesn’t see me laugh when she is supposed to be in trouble. 

She pretty much thinks that she climb anything and do just about anything and surprisingly she can do more than I think she can.  She always seems to amaze me. 

Here is a typically week in the life of Avery-

Three days a week she goes to my mother in laws from about 830-5.  While there, she has her own little routine of what she likes to do.  She loves to explore the backyard and enjoys playing near or in the pool.  She naps great there since she has been going there since she was about 10 weeks old.  Jan takes her to the park and on walks and to different activities that are on that side of town.  She calls Grammy dubba dubba.  Not sure how or why but for now, that is her name.  We are so blessed to have Jan take care of  her three days a week.  Thank God for Moms and Moms in Law!

The other two days during the week Ben has her in the morning until about 1 when she goes down for a nap.  A typically morning may consist of going to the park, going to Childs’s Play(an indoor play area), going to Springs Preserve, the Shark Reef, the Children’s Museum, go to Kidville, go get a smoothie, or just going on a long walk.  Then around 1 she goes down for a nap and Ben leaves for baseball.  She will typically sleep 2-3 hours and I usually get her out of bed around 4.  Then we play some more or go to Music Class which is once a week on Tuesdays.  Depending on what she did in the morning depends on what her and I do in the afternoons.  Then we have dinner around 6 and she gets a bath around 730 and goes to bed shortly after.

On the weekends, we do a plethora of things depending on the weather.  Ben has baseball quite a bit on the weekends so we spend time with friends or in this case for the last month, there have been plenty of weekend festivals and parties due to the Halloween/Fall season.  Needless to say we stay pretty busy.

Speaking of Halloween, Avery is Little Red Riding Hood and she actually loves her costume.  She spent the weekend at Grammy and Grandpas and they did a few Halloween festivities where she wore her costume a few times. 

She continues to love trains and Mickey Mouse.  Taking her to Disney for her 2^nd birthday is going to be a blast this next year!  Overall Avery is just as happy and funny as always.  She makes me laugh her with smile, sounds, words(Apple Juice is her new favorite word of the week), and quirks.  Watching her grow into a little girl is so exciting and fun and I am so blessed to have her in our live.  She makes me a better person.

Here are a few pics from the last few weeks!

Have a great week!