Water Bottle

It started like any other day. I was guzzling water like there was no tomorrow (seriously, I go NO WHERE without this puppy! Was anyone else thirstier while nursing than pregnant?)

However, now that Avery is mobile, what's hers is hers and what's mine...

is also hers.

Not that she knows how to work a straw yet.

And she gets it in her mouth about 50% of the time.

 

But she has fully tested the length of the straw.

And whatever makes a happy baby,

makes a happy mama!

Over a week ago, we had our first snow in Indiana.

Which, consequently, meant it was Avery's first too!

And even though it was a light snowfall,

I think the connection that snow=cold was planted in her brain.

But even between the wind blowing,

and snow melting on faces,

and noses turning red and running,

we still got some smiles

And snow really is pretty,



and kind of magical,



at least until you remember that you'll be scraping all this pretty and magical stuff off your car in a few hours.



But until that time, it was nice to enjoy hot chocolate and the view.

Happenings

So here is some video proof of the latest happenings in our household.

Crawling. Or at least the beginnings of it. This was taken on Christmas Day at my parent's house.

Her crawling as since morphed more into this. I'm not quite sure if it's a crawl, but a scooch in the least!

Avery also has perfected her spitting. She spends at least half the day making these noises (which translates to a dark wet ring on the front of her shirt for more than half the day.) 

But maybe the biggest accomplishment is her new best friend.

It's great. They laugh when you laugh, they give you kisses only when you want them, and you can always count on them being there for you.

Growing, growing, growing!

So here's a little timeline progression of Aves:

4 months old:

5 months old:

Before a sneeze

And the little smile that always follows.

6 months old:

7 months old:

 And today at 7 1/2 months old:

At 14 lbs and 1/2 oz  you sure look good! I want to freeze you in time because you are SO much fun, but I'm still SO excited to see you grown up and see the person you become. Basically, I think you are the funnest gal pal I could ever have and I'm so glad you are in our family! 

The last of the holiday.

Alright, here it is. The last of our holiday adventures. And really, what better place to end any vacation than in Colorado? Not going to lie, I would be mighty happy if that's where we put down roots one day.

Avery finally got to try out her fluffy pink coat since Colorado had some snow!

Not that this picture shows the snow, but it was chilly walking to the store, thus qualifying the need for a winter's coat.

She did a great a job at the store, and had fun playing with the displays of sweaters and what not. Perhaps I have a new shopping buddy!

Another discovery was this toy! Avery absolutely loved it! Not that she played with it in the most conventional way.

Avery also ate in a high chair for the first time! (I know, a piece a furniture we should have owned well before she was 7 months old.) It worked so well we bought the same kind when we got back to Indiana.

But most importantly, she had lots of time to play with Grandma and Grandpa.

First you have to size up Grandpa.

Distract him with a big ole kiss.

And then go for his eyes.

Fortunately, she played nicer with Grandma.

What a great break! Much love to all the family all over the States we saw during those awesome 3 weeks. Hopefully we get to be reunited soon!

Chicago

Have I mentioned how wonderful our Christmas was? It was fan-TAS-tic (and by stressing the second to last syllable of a word it doubles its meaning...or makes you sound Spanish...you pick)! Not only did all my siblings get to celebrate Christmas together, but Kyle and I were able to drive to Chicago to visit Kyle's brother, sister in law, and two nephews on our way back to Indiana.

Behold the formerly-known-as-Sears-Tower-but-now-Willis-Tower-even-though-no-one-knows-what-you-are-talking-about-unless-you-call-it-the-Sears-Tower.

We met the whole gang there and it was magical (kind of Sleepless in Seattle-esque right?)

Dash and Liam were darling and quite fearless of the drop.



As were their parents...you'll just have to trust me on that one since we apparently have no pictures of them...

And Avery was happy to have the 6 hour car ride over.

Kyle spent most of his time trying to count how many McDonald's he could see from the top. Grand Total: 1.

There were even these crazy glass observation decks you could step out on.

It was incredible.

My family, hovering over the windy city.

And to think if there was just one too many people out on that platform...

Not that it phased Avery at all.

 And our visit with their family ended far too quickly.

But bonds were strengthened, cousins reunited, towers were scaled, and promises to be reunited again were made.

Like I said, simply magical.