Take 2

I've said it once and I'll say it again.

Dad's play differently.

Mover and a Shaker

Well, it's about that time for some video updates on the Avester.

First of all, she no longer swims on the floor to get places. She is one efficient locomotive nowadays. Dragging her belly on the ground is a thing of the past.

(I have a feeling most of our videos are going to start ending in similar ways.)

And when she gets tired of crawling, she then starts to work on her standing!

(I just got that same feeling that our videos are often going to end this way too...)

Yes, yes. All those are tricks are impressive, but I have yet to show you her most impressive accomplishment.

 

I have yet to find on babycenter when most children meet this most important milestone, but I'm hoping we're on track... ;)

Simple Joys

It's amazing how many hours of entertainment one red balloon can contain.

I don't think there is another toy that can take a beating like this.

Plus, when your right hand gets tired of hitting, you've always got good ole lefty as backup.

Yes, a good smack can result in the balloon escaping...

But that only adds to the magic of this toy!

Look at at how mesmerized she is with this thing!

Maybe balloons are like hippogriffs. Y'know, proud creatures that require a bow before you approach.

And really, nothing shows true humility like a good face smash.

 

And that's when Avery chomps onto the tie. Yup, that balloon is going no where.

 

Best. Babysitter. Ever.

Late night visitor

Kyle and I used to be avid "checker uppers" on Avery at night. After we would lay her down around 7:30, we just had to peak on her at least once before we went to bed.

So one night Kyle pokes his head into Avery's room to make sure she is still performing the necessary activity to sustain one's life (ie breathing.)

I watched Kyle about jump out of his skin and race into our bedroom crying, "There's a raccoon in Avery's crib!"

Confused, I hustle out of bed and peak into her room myself.

And although I did not see any type of rodent, I did see two eyes from Avery's crib reflecting the light from the hallway staring at me.

That, my friends, was the night our daughter learned how to situp by herself. Unfortunately, she would do it in her sleep, which would then wake her up, and lead to her crying because she did not know how to lay herself back down.

 
After this would happen several times a night for over a week, Avery did master how to lower herself back down and is sleeping like a beauty once again.

I still giggle at Kyle's claim that a raccoon had broken into our daughter's room.

And I'm a little concerned that his initial reaction was to tell me there was a varmint in her crib opposed to him rescuing her from it.

I mean, how could you mistake this little one for a vicious, food stealing raccoon?

Needless to say, Kyle no long checks in on Avery now.

DSLR

Oh! What's that?

You can actually make out details in our pictures now?

 

Well as a birthday present to me (January), Valentine's Day gift to both of us (February), and birthday present to Kyle (March), we invested in a new camera!

And although words and phrases like "aperture," "shutter speed," and "Av mode" leave my head spinning, we are starting to tackle the new world of DSLR.

And what a beautifully crisp world it is!



Unless you want it to be soft, and then the world can be that way too!

Oh the possibilities!

I don't LIKE food. I LOVE it. If I don't love it, I don't SWALLOW.

Eating is my favorite pastime. I'm not kidding. I would rather eat than go for a run, watch a movie, play a game, or catch up with a friend (all things that I also love!) Food has a section of my heart that will never be shared with anything or anyone else. 

Now, there are lots of people out there who claim they are lovers of food. Kyle is one of them. But I'm pretty sure he doesn't spend half of his day getting in touch with his stomach, trying to think of what food would perfectly "hit the spot." I've never seen him light up with joy from cooking something spectacular, or have his entire night made because the meal he ordered was exactly what he wanted.



I'm trying to cultivate this love of food with Avery. At this time Cheerio's and peaches are at the top of the list.



However, she is a very silly girl. I've heard that with most babies parents typically have to try and limit distractions in order for the child to finish their meal.



Not so with our wee little thing! The more silly faces, toys on the tray, and noises happening, the more bites of food you can sneak into her mouth.



So, at this time I am alone in the household with how much I love food.

Unless you count my dear friend Remy from the movie Ratatouille.

Or maybe the food critic Anton Ego. Either work.