Getting to Know You.......

.....getting to know all about you......

Avery is getting to know everyone around her, recognizing Mom, Dad and Harrison all the time.

Harrison loves to give Avery kisses....



.....and hugs! Doesn't she look thrilled?



Here are all our kids together, hanging out. Though the doggies probably aren't interested in getting to know Avery, they just want to see if any of Harrison's snack will fall to the floor. Which it probably will.



Here's Jason singing to Avery. It was SO sweet, she was looking up at him so adoringly and smiling! I took several pictures, but I'll save you the duplication.



Here's Avery getting to know the Sagers and the Almstedts! I think she's wondering, are you going to eat that?

These three munchkins have known each other all of their lives! They have bonded over chicken nuggets many a time.

Growing Up and Getting Big

Harrison and Avery are both growing up so quickly, right before our eyes. Harrison talks a mile a minute now, learning new words all the time and putting them into short sentences. Our ability to communicate with him better helps a lot with the frustration on both of our ends! Avery is so active, constantly looking around and talking all the time. She loves watching Harrison and lights up and smiles when he's in the room or hears his voice.

Here's our big girl with her name on her pretty shirt!



Harrison and his friend Henry talk to each other and play very well together, and even sit side by side and drink juice!



Both boys are so big now that they even have driver's licenses. Just kidding, I'm hoping that's a ways off. Here they are playing in the minivan, wishing they could drive around!



Avery is getting so big, that she can go in the exersaucer now! She started in one at school, so this is the first time she went into ours at home. Her facial expressions and reactions were SO funny!

Oooo, that dragon scared me!



This thing plays music AND lights up??? What will they think of next?



Harrison, of course, loves to play with all of the baby toys, every time we bring one out he's all over it, checking it out. It's probably a lovely walk down memory lane for him. I'm trying to teach him to "play" with Avery and share her toys, especially while she's in the saucer.

Bumbo Girl

Avery is so strong and loves to sit up so much, that her nursery school teachers started putting her in the Bumbo seat for a little while every day, and she loves it! So we got out our Bumbo at home and here she is, looking like such a big girl.

I swear she really is enjoying this, despite the hesitant look on her face!



Just relaxing, taking it all in......

Fun with Anna Banana

The Almstedts came over last weekend to grill out and play, and Harrison and Anna had a grand time. Here are some of the highlights.

"Hey baby, want a ride in my new set of wheels?"



Fun with the sprinkler and pool!



Anna was very interested in learning how to hit the ball off the tee. She is definitely a future softball star.



I can't help but include a couple pictures of Avery! Here she is hanging out with Da Da.



This expression is so funny to me - "Will you kindly turn the camera off, please? I asked for no paparazzi". Check out that hair coming in on top!

Three Months Old

Avery is three months old today! She is such a big girl, we can't believe how fast the time has flown. We won't have more stats on her until her four-month appointment, but she continues to grow like a weed. She is so tall and her hands and feet are still very long (like her mommy's - she might be cursed with an 11 shoe size one day, too). She is still doing very well at nursery school, she loves watching the older babies, and talks all day long to her teachers. She tries to sit up by herself all the time now, which is really neat; she is very strong and determined. Most of all, she still likes to smile, even though I couldn't get one on camera today!

The monthly chair picture.



Close-up, but no smile! I hug her all the time, even when her shirt does not command me to do so!

New Kid at School

Alas, my 12 weeks of maternity leave are over and I had to go back to work this past week. So that meant it was Avery's first week of nursery school! Here are some pictures of our sweet girl before her first day. Her teachers said she did wonderfully, and was hardly ever fussy. She napped well and just looked around at everything and smiled and talked. We are so proud of her!

More Fun in the Sun

Poppy and Car Car were in town for a few days this past week and we spent a lot of time outside, playing in the pool and with the hose.

Here's the choo choo boy (as Poppy calls him), in his choo choo bathing suit and choo choo hat!



Here is my son drinking water out of the pool like a dog. I guess it's only fitting, since his older brother and sister are of the canine variety!



Everyone had to try on the choo choo hat at some point. Here is Avery sporting the item....



.....and Gracie taking her turn!



Just a cute one of Avery smiling - she is the happiest baby ever!



The Sagers gave Harrison a finger painting set for his birthday, complete with smock (which was very helpful). He had a great time playing with it on a very rainy Sunday! Thanks Sagers!