The Highchair

You may have noticed Avery's high chair in some of the photos I've posted in the past couple of months. This was my high chair when I was her age, made for me by my grandparents (dad's side). Pap-paw did a lot of woodworking, and I have many treasured pieces made by him, which you'll notice in pictures as Avery grows older. Maybe I'll do a collective post of all of the pieces. He made this high chair without a pattern to go by, aided only by a picture and a few dimensions that my Mam-ma had found. My mam-ma does folk art painting as a hobby, and it's her artistic talent you see on the chair. My mom picked the Noah's ark theme, and this was given to me on my first Christmas. All of my siblings used the chair after me, but I've inherited it ultimately and now Avery gets to enjoy it. The chair reminds me of a little throne - the tray comes off and a little door opens up for her to climb in (once she can walk). Right now we plop her in it and use a tie from an old robe to keep her from falling in. She loves it, always scratching at the paintings on the tray. It's so fun to look back at old photos and see me in the chair, and then see my own daughter enjoying it.

I've been meaning to post about the past couple of weeks, particularly the baptism, but the pics are on my other computer, so it'll have to wait for now. To tide you over, a little something I created tonight. I'm trying to figure out PSE, so I've been playing around a bit. Cute, no?

Avery's Baptism Dress

Luke and I are so excited to have Avery welcomed into the covenant community this Sunday. She will be baptized at our home church in Austin, where we'll be returning to in January; we are so grateful for the care they gave us after she was born, for the sweet friends we've made. We look forward to finally being able to really get involved, and to see Avery grow up knowing that there are so many out there looking out for her.

So - here is the debut of her baptism dress. This was definitely a labor of love, in which I spent the past week learning how to sew while trying to achieve perfection at the same time. With help from both grandmas, Avery's dress is complete.

Front

Front detail

Back

Yay! Bumbleride

I've been coveting the Bumbleride Indie - I've settled for something far less expensive, but this one is still so pretty. And now I have a chance to win it! Wouldn't Avery look so cute in this stroller (see button to the right). You can try and win it here, and then if you're feeling generous, you can gift it to Avery.

Hello Friday...

...Avery and I are glad to see you.

Pumpkin Patch

It was the longest drive ever. 40 minutes to the farm, only to find out that they aren't really running a pumpkin patch anymore, as far as we could tell. We saw pumpkins on the vine through the locked gate, but there was no sign for the farm, no corn maizes and hay rides and other little kids. So we decided to go to the only other one we knew of off the top of our heads, which was an hour in the other direction. Possibly longer. Had to stop for lunch on the way because it was taking that long. And then we get there, finally, only to see that it was just posing as a pumpkin patch. Sure, they had pumpkins, as you can tell from the photos below, but this isn't the kind of patch of my childhood memories. But we went in anyways and had fun taking pictures with Avery in the pumpkin pile. And she even came home with her own little Avery-size pumpkin! So it was worth it in the end.

Cloth Diapers Make Me Laugh

Afternoon Outdoors

It was GORGEOUS yesterday afternoon, so Avery and I spent an hour playing outside. I took pictures, of course. Sometimes she can be so silly, and she is always ready to give a smile, but I'm noticing more and more that she can be so serious. The whole time we were out there she just took it all in and very carefully considered her toys and the dog. She wasn't unhappy, or bored, but she just sat there so quietly.

Um, loving her eyelashes.

Avery at 6 Months

Our sweet baby turned 6 months old on the 2nd. I'm not sure when she transitioned from "newborn" to "baby"; she is just so expressive and her personality shines through. I'm loving this time - the interactive playtime - where I can do something and she'll respond with a smile or a laugh or mimic a sound I make. Her newest sound is a clicking of the tongue. She's been sitting on her own for a few weeks now, and is scooting all over the place, although she only manages to push herself backwards.

We took her to my sister's choir concert last week, which Avery loved...she bounced and "sang" along with the students.

In the world of solid eating, we've moved onto squash, though I'm not so sure that one sits well with her. It's hard to tell because she's so easily affected by what I eat, so it might have been something in my diet instead. I've given the squash a break for a few days, and we'll try it again later this week. In the meantime, she's loving her peas. I've also explored making baby food for her, and I have freezer bags full of carrots, butternut squash, and apples, all pureed up and put into ice cube form.

Her stats from her doctor visit last week:
15 lb 4 oz (50th%)
27 inches (75-90th%)

The nurse weighed her and said "Great, she's 25-14", and I nodded and we moved back into the room. But I sat there, thinking this over, and started getting nervous. 25 lbs 14 oz?! What?! This can't be right...surely this is a mistake. No wonder she's so hard to carry around in the carseat. I mean, no one has ever put a baby on a diet, but I'll have to be the first! The nurse then popped her head back into the room...I'm sorry, she says, I think I said 25 -14, I meant 15-4. HUGE sigh of relief on my part.

I'm also attempting to teach her some signs, like Eat, Milk, Mama, Daddy, and Bath. We'll see if this works out - I hope so, because I can see how useful it would be, but we'll see if she starts to pick up on these signs, and then try some others.

More Goodies

Ok, I want one of these too:


Enter this code when you place your order to get $100 off your shipping: 100Writes

Another Giveaway

This one is amazing. SERIOUSLY. I'm getting back into all of my crafty projects now that Avery and I are settling into a routine of sorts, and this item would solve ALL of my storage dilemmas.

You can enter the contest for yourself on these sites:
Priscilla Styles
My Organized Chaos
Rachelle Writes
Vanilla Joy
Auntie Thesis
The Mommy-Files
Life as Lou
Make It and Love It
Christmas With Cricut
Capadia Designs

10 Things: Capturing Life

This was inspired by her: where I am right now. I thought it'd be a nice journaling jump-off point, as something I can use in the family scrapbook one day.

1. I'm facing yet another move in a few months, right after Christmas. Back to one of our favoritest cities, so that's exciting, but I'm also tired of moving. I'm ready to be settled finally. We're still not buying a house, which is disappointing, but in God's timing we'll find the right one for us.

2. Baby-proofing is next on my to-do list. Avery is scooting, and this week has been trying to get up on her knees. That spells major trouble for all of the things I've been keeping too low. It's time to protect her little fingers and protect my breakables.

3. I miss baking. I miss the activity of the professional kitchen. I don't miss the crazy hours though. I don't know that I miss it enough to go back to it in reality. So I play around at home, experimenting with new recipes, making old favorites, whatever tempts my sweet tooth at that time.

4. I LOVE being a mom. More than anything I've ever done. This is my life's purpose. Avery brings a smile to my face everyday. She can instantly turn my grumpy mood around.

5. I'm learning how to balance my role as mom versus my role as wife. It's hard to find the right balance some days. Sometimes it's easier to focus solely on the baby. Some days it feels like we bounce Avery back and forth between us, and never find a moment to connect with each other, without Avery. But, my love for Luke has deepened even more, as I watch him grow into his role as a wonderful father to our baby girl. I love watching the two of them together.

6. I'm teaching myself Photoshop Elements. It has all of the features I need, without the hefty price tag of the full version of Photoshop. I am loving it. I feel so proud of myself when I figure something out on my own.

7. Today I'm suffering from a cold. Avery has a mini version of this cold, which I guess I caught from her. Only I have it ten times worse. And I still managed to clean the bathroom today, and get dinner on the table, and make pumpkin creme brulee for dessert, while caring for a baby.

8. I'm amazed at how quickly the housework piles up. Dishes. Laundry. Those are the only two things we manage to sort-of stay on top of. Deep cleaning doesn't happen as often. Mail piles up. Thankfully I have a super-helpful hubby.

9. Avery is sleeping through the night, and has been since about 3 months, if not sooner. And I'm talking 12 hours here. 12 HOURS!! Apart from the occasional growth spurt where she wakes up starving at 4 am for a few nights, she's consistently 7p-7a. Love. It.

10. Did I mention I love being a stay-at-home mom? Yes, I miss work sometimes. But staying home is amazing. I've never been a huge career person (those who know me will heartily agree and laugh along with me here). This time with Avery is a blessing; even though we're making some sacrifices in the material world, it's all worth it to spend my days watching her grow.

My Giveaway Obsession Continues

Tag I'm it!

This is contest entry for those crazy folks at TodaysMama and Cricut. Be sure to check out Cricut's cool new cartridges and the chance at $30,000 in travel for you and your friends at The Great Gypsy Escape!

1. If you could escape to anywhere in the world where would it be?

New York City for an escape from the everyday - I used to live there; love it. miss it.

For a relaxing vacation - I've always wanted to see Bora Bora. I love the name. Plus, it's gorgeous.

2. What song do you play when you are by yourself in the car?

I'm NEVER by myself in the car. But, if I were, I'd pull out my French pop music and try to sing along, even though I know NONE of the words.

3. If you had a night to yourself, and money was no object, what would you do?

Dinner at Per Se in NYC and then a long soak in the tub at the Plaza.

4. What is your guilty pleasure?

marshmallows and chocolate sauce put on top of brownies just out of the oven. and then a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top of that.

5. What is the farthest place you have traveled away from your home?

Rome. High school trip. FABULOUS.

6. Last book that you couldn't put down?

The Time Traveler's wife. A total chick-lit read, but it was fantastic.

7. When you want to escape into another time, what movie do you watch?

Sleepless in Seattle - it is my absolute favorite. I used to fall asleep to it every night in high school.

8. My favorite local escape?

Any coffee shop where I can hide in the corner with a cup of joe and a good book. Doesn't happen much anymore. Or ever.

9. How do you escape on a budget?

Sonic Happy Hour! I get a HUGE drink for only $1, and I don't have to talk to anyone, since I stay in my car. Love drive-ins.

10. Best food you've ever had while on vacation.

It's a toss-up between the pizza at Lombardi's or the breakfast (french toast) at Clinton Street Baking Company (all in NYC). Yes, I vacationed there before I moved there and found these great restaurants.

Bouncy bouncy bouncy

She LOVES her bouncer. Loves loves loves it.


And yes, I see the medicine in the background. Time to babyproof.

Trying something new

After debating back and forth with myself, I finally decided to start Avery on solids. The original plan was to wait until 6 months (yes, I know it's only 2 weeks away), but the girl is just plain hungry!! We're trying rice cereal first - no wheat products...too many problems with wheat.

I cried a little...

I had to start supplementing Avery's feedings with some formula last week. It was such a hard thing to do, but she has been a gazillion times happier since I started this. I didn't realize that her grumpy nature had been because she was hungry. I've worked hard on correcting the problem with my supply, and I've been able to cut way back on the formula, only needing it about once a day now, thank goodness.

Just because she's so cute....

New Skills

See what Avery can do now?
That's my girl!!

Her new favorite face to make - I call it her monkey face.

Playing the piano with Daddy. Perhaps she'll be musical like Aunt Michelle?

Laundry Day

No sheets on her bed, so she napped on ours. Amongst all of her clean laundry.

Is it bad...?

Is it bad that I kept taking pictures of Avery while she was crying? I've been trying to get a pic of the pouty lip, but she's too quick for me. Here's how tummy-time goes for her:

Starting out okay

Getting a little irritated

Rubbing the eye

Quite distraught

Begging me to quit taking pictures and just roll her over already

Sorry for the blurry photos - she was moving a lot.

And why do I have to roll her over after tummy time? Because my girl can only roll one direction. That's right - she's rolling now!!! From her back to her tummy. Unlike most babies who go from tummy to back first. She's so advanced, doing the hard one first. Yes, of course I think my baby is smarter than all other babies. I'll post a video later of the actual rolling action.

She's so funny, because she absolutely DESPISES tummy time, if I make her do it. But if she rolls to it herself, she'll smile and play for up to ten minutes before getting fussy. I think we have a strong-willed, independent child on our hands.

She's also blowing bubbles now. Too cute.

Loving Her

She can wear a hair clip now.


Loves her Bumbo - though I have to keep a close eye on her because she's quite wiggly in it. She kept trying to turn around and lean herself too far to the side.

Thanks Uncle David and Aunt Julie for her great onesie!!

Praise

Luke got a promotion at work today! We've been a little stressed lately, worrying about finances. It keeps me up at night, praying. But God is ever faithful, providing for His own, and has come through for us as always. We are so thankful for this. Now we need to do some more praying to figure out some things.