Dear Avery, 19 Months

Dear Avery,
So your Mama has been slacking a little on your blog post updates! (Ok, ok, 7 months of slacking..but who's counting, right?) I guess that is what happens when you have an active toddler in the house....and you are definitely that. So right now at 19 months, without further ado....

Physically:
You are running everywhere. You love to follow sidewalks, hold hands and walk whenever you can.
You have been taking a parent and tot gymnastics class the last month. The first class we went to, you cried and buried your head in my shoulder. I thought maybe we shouldn't go back.  I am glad we stuck with it because now, when we walk into the gym, you let go of my hand and run right in! You are becoming more confident and independent every day.  At gymnastics you have been walking on balance beams, climbing on mats, doing forward rolls, running down the tumble track and learning to jump with two feet.

Big changes:
So at the beginning of June, we moved into a new house. It s only thirty minutes away, but I was worried how you would take the change. But luckily, you were barely phased. I really think you like the new freedom you have in your new house, and how you have more room to play. You now have a playroom! You also have a fenced in yard. In our old house, I had to chase you all over the yard. In our new house, you can walk out the back into the yard to play with your toys. Its nice that I can see you playing right from the kitchen. I don't feel like I have to be trailing you so much anymore, you have a safe place to explore and learn.

Talking:
You LOVE to say the words you know. These words include Mama, Dada, dog, ball, Nana, Papa, chicky, car and duck. We are still waiting for that huge "word explosion" with you that everyone talks about with toddlers. It is crazy how much you understand though. Whether we ask to to throw something away, give the ball to Bailey, go let the dog inside, put your blocks away, you do it! I feel like once you start talking, you're not going to stop. You are very curious and love exploring, so I am sure this will reflect in all your questions!

Some Favorites:
Kisses. Some of your favorite things now include giving kisses. You kiss EVERYONE! Kids on the playground, your family, Nana and Papa through skype...you're a lover!

Stacking blocks. I am amazed at how well you do this. If you see a block is off balance, you readjust it. Sometimes I think you could stack better block towers then I could.

The playground. We have a little playground on our street a few houses down. You know its there. You try to go there any time we are out front. You love to slide down the slide and are climbing the structure all by yourself! You're getting so big I can't even stand it.

Water. You love baths, pools, beaches. Sinks. If it has water, you love it. You are so fun to watch at the beach. It's like the ocean is a magnet, and you want to be in it the whole time when we go. You're so cute out there splashing around.

Bailey. She is your ultimate BFF. You guys play together. You ride her like a horse. You sneak her people food. You hand feed her dog food. She follows you up for your nap. You say DOG first thing when you wake up. You also even try to imitate us by taking plastic bags out to the yard to pick up doggy poop.That is some serious love right there.

Books. You LOVE sitting on our laps reading. Especially at night before bed.

Animals. Although you call everything dog and duck right now, you LOVE seeing animals. Whether its a caterpillar outside or the dog down the street, you can't get enough.

Being Silly. You love to make funny faces, esp. your famous CHEESE face where you close your eyes and smile really big. You love making people laugh, and you love the attention!! (You get it from Dada...hehe)

Food:
Chocolate...need I say more? You are also loving figs, cheese, whole apples, mandarin oranges, salt and vinegar kettle chips, blueberries, chicken nuggets, wheat crackers, eggs with cheese, and pancakes. ICE!

I can't wait to see what is next. Each stage of your life is cuter than the last.

Love you!
Mama

Dear Avery, Months 11 and 12

Dear Avery,
This has been an exciting time in your life! You starting walking two weeks after I wrote your October blog post, so that puts you a walker at about 10.5 months. We were sitting in the family room and I was talking on the phone with one of your great grandparents. All of a sudden, you just starting taking steps! Over the next few weeks, you really got more and more confident in your skills. Over time, you were taking bigger and bigger steps and even beginning to even run! I remember seeing you for the first time in the neighbor's yard across the street. You were playing in the grass with them, running around and I just couldn't believe you were growing up so fast. I remember thinking, is this my BABY "playing" with these kids? I remember you even tumbled down the little ditch, got right back up and kept on running!
In month 11 you had your first Thanksgiving. Our friends across the street came over and we had a big meal and you got to have a fun day of playing. It is great to have people around in the same boat as you that you spend holidays away from home with. It makes the holiday far less lonely.
As you neared your first birthday, you became a very confident walker/runner! You began walking backwards and you were so sly about it. You also loved running up and down our little hallway in our ranch house and chasing Bailey around.
During your first Christmas season, we went to a real tree farm to pick out your first real Christmas tree. Day after day, we had to move the ornaments from the bottom of the tree because they were bright and shiny toys to you! Our tree looked silly but it was still special. We also visited many Santa Clauses, and you cried at each one. You even got to meet Gunny Claus, the military Santa at your Daddy's work Christmas party.
We traveled home to NY for your very first Christmas and for your first birthday party. I always tease that you are one of the oldest babies to have a first birthday since you were born only a few days after Christmas last year. You had your first plane ride on this trip, and overall did much better then I anticipated you would.
You didn't quite understand the concept of staying still on Mama's lap, but you were now a mobile one year old! Trying to run down the airplane aisle seemed way more thrilling then being held down on our laps. Your Daddy and I were laughing a lot because you kept pointing at the people around us on the plane. After you pointed they would try to high five you or say hi, and you would bury your head in our shirt. Then you would do it all over again!
In New York we got to celebrate Christmas Day with all our extended family. They loved seeing you dressed up in your black and white sparkly Christmas dress. You had so, so, so many presents. You are one lucky, loved and blessed little girl to have so many people that love you like they do. When we were opening presents you loved the paper and boxes. You also loved a tiny little light up spinning penguin Grandma put in your stocking. Then we lost your attention on all the other presents! It was fun watching you amidst all of the chaos.
Your new year's was pretty quiet. Last year we spent it in the hospital, and this year you were fast asleep long before the ball descended. We spent the evening with your Uncle Kevy eating appetizers and watching movies.
Your very first birthday party was also on this trip. This is just one of many huge milestones in your life, and made me realize how far you have come. We celebrated at Romeo's Restaurant. Your Grandma was a great help decorating everything in a red and turquoise penguin theme. It ended up being so cute, and perfect for you. Every single person that showed up to that party means a lot to our family. Again, you are so lucky to have each and every person care about you! Also, we had friends from afar send you beautiful cards and gifts that couldn't make it that day. I save all of those cards for you, and when you are old enough you will have them all bound together as a testament to all the love and support of those closest to you. I never want you to question the amount of people that care about you in this world!

You are a very special little girl and we feel so lucky to be your parents. We love you to the stars and back, and can't wait to see what next year has in store for us.
Love,
Mama

11 Month Picture

 

Christmas Dress in NY

Tree in NC

Snow in NY

 First Birthday Party

I'm ONE!