She's getting close

Avery is taking 5 or so steps on her own now!  She is getting more brave too and attempting to walk all day long.  She can also stand up all by herself without having to pull up on something!  I would post a video but my camera is dead and I can't find my charger!!!!

My mission tonight is to tear the house apart to find the charger and post a video soon.....i hope it doesn't take me too long because she may be walking VERY soon!

What is new?

Excuse my shameless self-promotion but I think our designs just keep getting cuter and cuter!

Check us out at

www.lildivadesigns.com

It's baaaaaaack

Yep, that's right.  Avery's ear infection is back.  Thank God I trusted my mommy-instinct because she doesn't act at all sick...............


she looks soooo sick, right? :-)

She has had this weird raspy voice ever since her last ear infection (3 weeks ago) and just started up again with a runny nose so I made an appointment to go to the doctor today, just in case.  

I am always so frightened that i am going to be one of those crazy, neurotic first-time mothers that take their children to the doctor every time they sneeze the wrong way that I always second guess myself when I make a doctors appointment.  Especially because Avery has been acting totally fine- still eating a ton, playing all day, and being my sweet little girl.  The only thing was the runny nose and the fact that she had recently had an ear infection.  So thankfully I trusted my mommy-instinct (which I need to learn to trust more often because it has been right 100% of the time so far...) and we went to the MD and sure enough she has another left side ear infection.  So back on the medication (a different one this time) and we will see again in 2 weeks if it goes away!  Cross your fingers!

Happy 10 Month Old Birthday!

Happy 10 month old my sweet baby girl!  And what a birthday it has been because YOU TOOK YOUR FIRST STEPS TODAY!!!!!!!

You were holding onto the couch and you took 2 steps all by yourself before falling into my arms- it happened so fast that I wasn't sure it had really happened but then you did it AGAIN!  It was so amazing and you were sooooooo excited!  Not much longer and I am going to be running after you all over the house!

Avery is now:

- throwing a small ball with both hands

- saying mama and papa

- can sign "more" when she wants more cheerios

- LOVES the bath and cries when I pull her out

- has two bottom teeth and the upper two are still growing in

- can take 2 steps on her own!

- loves to eat all "real people" food now- no more baby food!

- still loves the Itsy Bitsy Spider, the book "Where's Spot?", her magic blanket, and her doggies

- shakes her head NO

- attempts to say wow, doggie, and immitates the inclination in your voice when you speak

- has a sweet tooth but will still eat almost everything

Dear Daddy,

Dear Daddy,

I am so sorry that you had to work today but don't worry because I helped mommy around the house all day long.  I helped her vacuum (by screaming bloody murder because I was so scared), clean the kitchen (by splashing in the dogs water and pulling all the tupperware out of the cabinet), and lastly by folding the laundry.  I climbed into the basket all by myself (which was quite a task if I do say so myself) and then helped mommy by throwing all the clothes out of the basket.  That is considered helping, right?  I knew you would be so proud of me!

I Love You-

Avery K.

Toof!

Avery's top two teeth have broken the surface and are slowly starting to come in (she already has her bottom two) and you would not believe what I had to go through to get a good picture of her new chompers!

All that and I still didn't get a great picture of them but you can see how silly she is getting and she won't sit still for a minute! Now when she smiles it is hilarious because of those new teeth (which look SO huge by the way), I call it her Hillbilly Smile!  Gotta love it!

Watch Out Nascar....

.....Avery Winston is headed your way!

We got Avery this little push car (after my friend Lisa talked me into it!) and it has been a HUGE hit at our house!  She loves it!  The weather has been so nice that I just push her around the neighborhood and she just laughs, babbles, smiles and waves at everyone we see.  Its so funny!

New Years Resolution

I realized that I never posted this on New Years Day- so better late than never!

For 2009 my New Years resolution is to live in the moment more and appreciate where I am AT THIS MOMENT.  I want to slow down and play with my daughter and not think "Ok only one more hour until she is asleep and then I can do the dishes/laundry/make tutus/etc". I want to realize that the laundry, dishes, chores, errands will always be there but childhood will not. Time passes to fast and I don't want to rush it in any way and I want to be in the moment with her at all times.

I feel like so often I say "this would be so fun if we had more family here" or "won't it be cool if we were back in Texas/had more money/had more help with Avery" and I think so often about how things could have been better that I forget that things are pretty awesome how they are.  We have an amazing life, live in a beautiful location, and the most wonderful daughter we could ever ask for.  And there are so many positive things that come from undesirable circumstances and I want to focus on the positive side of life.  My mom told me a long time ago that "Life is what you make it" and that is so true. Its all about your perspective and how you handle the situations that God sends your way. I just want to relax, breathe, and appreciate where I am today, in this moment. And where I am is a pretty great place!

Life's A Beach

Matt was off today (I know, I couldn't believe it either!) so we took Avery down to Ft. Lauderdale beach for the very first time.  She went many many times when she was still in my belly but never in real life!   The weather was beautiful with a sunny 79 degrees and there is SO much people watching that Avery was completely transfixed the entire time we were there!  It was such a great day and it was so nice to get out of the house for a family outing- I wish Matt was ALWAYS off on Saturdays (Love you babe!)!!!

Avery and Mommy eating lunch- and no the size of the margarita glass is not an illusion- it really was that big.  They had a "deal" for 2 for 1 margaritas- but they neglected to tell you that you buy this huge ginormous margarita that was the size of a fish bowl..............but it was yummy and I totally finished all mine!

The view from our table at lunch......I guess living in South Florida does have a few perks.  Only a few though- don't get carried away...........we are still Texans at heart!

What a good daddy.  This is the first time he has ever worn the Baby Bjorn and I have to say I think he looks adorable!  Avery loved the water- she just laughed and laughed and kicked her legs.  It was so cute.  

Our attempt at a family picture

My Goofy Girl

I absolutely LOVE this video because it shows how goofy my little baby is!

Sorry the video quality wasn't great but I was trying not to let her see the camera because she tends to freeze up when the camera comes out. And if you were wondering what I was doing that was making her laugh so much- i was pretending like I was laughing but without any sound coming out and for some reason it was the funniest thing she had ever seen! So funny!

Pushy Pushy

Avery has figured out how to push the toy Mom and Steve gave her for Christmas. Sometimes it gets away from her a little but she keeps her balance pretty well.  This toy has so many buttons that make all different noises that it occupies her for hours!  I seriously can't believe she can keep her balance and walk behind it- i mean she is only nine months old!  I have a feeling we are going to have a little walking baby pretty soon........

***Disregard the fact that she is picking her nose at the end of the video.........she is part Winston so what can you expect!  Also sorry about the cheesy music but we were watching one of her Baby Einstein DVDs!***

The Holiday's Aren't Over Yet........

More Valentine's Day Tutus are in the works and they are guaranteed to be SUPER cute so check out our website soon for the new styles!

www.lildivadesigns.com

9 Month Doctor Appointment

We had Avery's 9 month doctors appointment today (we were a little late with this appointment because of the holidays).  The GOOD NEWS is that Avery is still a big 'ol happy baby girl weighing 20 lb 12 oz (75th percentile) and is now 30 inches long (over the 100th percentile!)!!!!  So she is still measuring really tall for her age, which I could have told you because she is growing out of her clothes at rapid speed and is now wearing 12-18 months!  And the doctor was really impressed that Avery is able to stand alone and he said he thinks she will walk early!

The BAD NEWS is that she has her very first ear infection.  Booooo.  She has had a runny nose but never seemed that irritable and has not once rubbed or pulled at her ear so I am so glad we had this appointment today so that we could catch it early.  She is also getting in her top two teeth which is really irritating her- my poor baby girl!  So she got a prescription for Amoxicillan and has taken some Motrin for her teeth and is resting comfortably now.   Hopefully we will all be healthy in just a few days!

Two Peas in a Pod

We spent 5 nights and 6 days in Dallas and you would think that I would have a million pictures to post......but I only took a few and they are ALL of Emersyn and Avery.  These two little girl cousins were so frickin' cute together.  Avery does not get to be around other babies very much so it was hilarious to see them interact with each other.  I think Avery misses Emersyn already!

Emersyn (on the right) is 4 months older than Avery!  Avery was taller and heavier than Emersyn and she was soooooo jealous that Emersyn can walk.  

Sweet baby cousins!

Emersyn supporting her Uncle Matt's team- who are in the play-offs by the way!  Woo hoo!  Cross your fingers for a win this Sunday!

The girls LOVEd this little activity table- they stood around it and danced to the music all day long.

Love this picture

Nana with her 2 little grandbabies

Avery laughing at herself wearing a hat in the airport bathroom!  Haha!

Overall we had such a great trip.  Avery was OK on the plane rides but I think this will be our last trip with her riding on my lap.  She is just waaayyyy too busy and active now to remain in my lap for that long of a time- unless Matt travels with us- but its just too much for me to handle by myself for a 3 hour plane ride.

Another bummer was that Avery caught a pretty bad cold.  She has this terrible runny nose and cough.  I felt so bad for her too because she didn't sleep that well in the pack-n-play bed.  And because she was sick we had to cancel our playdate with all the other babies which totally bummed me out because I was really looking forward to seeing my friends!

It was so great to be back in Texas though.  My mom and Steve moved into a new house and I was worried that it would make it feel less christmas-y in a new house but it was the complete opposite.  This new house is so beautiful and soooo much more my parent's style that it made it so amazing.  And the house has enough room for us to spread out and relax- and the baby girls had tons of room to play.  Both my sisters stayed the entire time we were there so I got lots of quality time with them to- i even got to go see Marley and Me while my mom babysat the girls (thanks mom!)- its like the first movie I have seen in over a year!

We had such a fabulous time and miss everyone so much already!  Also thanks for all the wonderful Christmas gifts- you spoiled us!  We love you all so much and hope to see you soon!!!!