Lets Start This Week Off Right!

Fancy Camera Functions

Ok, this shouldn't be new to me...but I just figured out my camera's multi-shot function!  Now I can capture Avery's smile and babble with continuous shot, 3 shot, or even 7 shot options!

I used the 3 shot option to capture Avery talking to me = )

One Passed Out Baby

Avery fought off a couple naps yesterday which made for one exhausted baby at night.  She passed out in Trav's arms around 8pm and wouldn't wake up for her last meal of the day until 9:30pm.  At 9 Travis laid her down on our bed to help get her stirring but you can see how well that worked...

A Sweet Little Sunday

We skype with Grammy and Grampa on Sundays = )

Avery really enjoys her front row seat (since she's really the main attraction)...

And Mommy found bows hidden away in Avery's closet!  How could I have missed these!  With hair like Av's you definitely have to take advantage of the Pebbles Flintstone look = )

Avery At The Dog Park!

Avery and I met up with Travis and Remi at the dog park Saturday.  AVERY LOVED IT!  She just watched as the dogs ran around and giggled when they raced by us = )  Who knew...we should have been doing this all along!  She didn't get much out of the park before when she had to face Mommy or Daddy but now that she has this new view from the Bjorn she's one happy camper.  Plus she got to wear her fancy Avery hat!

More Things You Should Know About Avery

1.  We have to start with the hair!  It just keeps getting longer - which you would think would start to weigh it down but no...straight up we still go = ) 

2.  It gets easier every day to coax a laugh out of her.  Yesterday afternoon I discovered that dancing and singing to the movie Mamma Mia gets a solid 10 minutes of giggles out of her.  Regardless of your talent she loves to be sung to.  All the dancing and singing tuckered her out as she immediately passed out for a long nap once she was done with the giggle-fest.  My my, how can I resist you!

3.  My new favorite thing - every time I pick up Avery she nuzzles her little head into my neck and shoulder!  Its super sweet...typically only lasts a moment but I can't get enough of it.  This is a brand new move but I hope it sticks around for a while!

4.  The Mute Button - I realized the other day while talking to Emily that I haven't posted about Avery's mute button!  If you hold Avery on her belly in the cradle hold (I call it the reverse cradle) she immediately stops crying.  I'm not sure what it is about this position but it almost never fails!  I'll try to steal a picture of the Mute Button this weekend = )

5.  The position I hold Avery in for meals and the position I hold her to get her to fall asleep are basically the same.  One day she'll learn that you can't get milk through a shirt and bra ; )

The New Schedule

In an effort to get Avery into a structured bedtime routine we now read a book to her before getting her to sleep.  She is quite good at falling asleep during her evening meal so it actually requires waking a sleeping baby (so unfortunate) but we'll do it if it means good things in the future!  Last night Avery got her evening meal downstairs so Travis grabbed the closest reading material he could find for her bedtime stories...I'm sure she had sweet dreams about madras shorts and linen shirts = )

I'm a bit addicted to Old Navy onesies...I can't help it!  They are cheap, soft, and super cute on my little princess.  Here's a happy Avery spending the day in one of her Old Navy outfits = )

Thursdays with Avery

Avery absolutely loves her Baby Einstein Jumper!  She may not jump in it much but the toys keep her entertained for long periods of time = )

Avery's headband kept falling down b/c she was moving her head so much while playing.  The headband is super cute when worn correctly...and super hilarious when worn like a sweatband!  I had to capture some embarrassing pictures = )

She also struggles to keep both socks on...this is a normal look at the Steele house!

Avery and Remi helped while I worked on the yard = )

Who you lookin at?!

My First Mother's Day!

Travis and Avery did an amazing job making this an incredibly special First Mother's Day!  We started the day of with a happy baby, followed by a napping baby (picture below) and then we headed out for a family walk along the Rio Grande.  I of course had my camera on me at all times yet failed to take a single picture of the adventure.  Avery and I also got in a Mommy / Daughter outting to watch some sand volleyball with friends!  It was a gorgeous day and and we spent as much of it outside as possible.  Travis and Avery had a few Mother's Day surprises for me also...Travis made us a delicous steak dinner to commemorate the special day and Avery bought me a pair of earrings so that I can have her birthstone on me at all times!  She's already a fabulous shopper = )

The usual position...

Happy Baby!

And Avery's first purchase ever - to be cherished always!

Baby Stats!

Avery had her 4 Month Check-up today!  I can't believe how much has changed since her last Dr. Appt!  This visit she was smiling non-stop, showed her cool new foot in mouth trick to Dr. Crocetti, and even showed him how she can roll over (and almost off the exam table!).  Nothing like a good roll to get Mom and Dad running to stop her.

Here are Avery's new Stats:

4 Months:

Height - 25 1/2 inches (81st percentile)

Weight - 13.2 pounds (28th percentile)

Previous 2 Month Stats:

Height - 23 3/4 inches (81st percentile)

Weight - 11 pounds (36th percentile)

That's our little String Bean!!  I'll try to get some more weight on her by eating a birthday cupcake or two tonight = )

Happy Birthday to Me!

Since I don't celebrate my monthly birthdays like Avery does...I figured I at least had to post about turning the big 2-9!  That's right...this is officially my last year in my 20's - SCARY!  Avery made today extra special with yet another milestone = )  On my 29th birthday Avery introduced her foot to her mouth!  It was magical...okay...more like hilarious and I ran to grab our camera to capture the moment.  Little did I know that this was not a sporadic occurrence.  Nope - every time I turn around now there is a big toe in the mouth! 

And for my birthday I get to throw in some pictures of Avery's tummy time yesterday = )

Ready to celebrate Cinco de Mayo!

Some More Cuteness

Okay...one more picture...

I said only one more!

My new favorite toy!

Where's Baby Avery?

The Worst Weekend Ever...

Wow...lets just begin with Food Poisoning is no fun!  Travis and I both went down for the count Saturday night which led to possibly the worst 24 hours we have ever endured together!  There was absolutely no way we could take care of Avery in that condition so we are incredibly blessed that we had friends who were willing to pick up our little love bug and take care of her for the day!  A huge thank you to Eileen and Dan who sent me pictures of Avery playing, napping, and even video from Bri of Dan and Johnson changing a poopy (I mean very poopy) diaper!  Things we learned this weekend -

1.  Pack more than one back up outfit if Avery will be gone for several hours!  Avery spit up or pooped on them enough that Eileen washed two outfits!

2.  Avery LOVES Similac!  I didn't have enough breast milk to send with them so we packed Similac and wished them luck.  This was Avery's first sample of anything not made by Mommy and she scarfed it down!  I guess we don't have to worry too much about her being a picky eater = )

3.  Never eat suspect eggs or turkey bacon.  I blame one of these as the culprit!

Honorable mentions go out to my Mom and Grandy Goodwin!  Mom was willing to catch a flight to ABQ if we couldn't find someone to help us out with Av, and Grandy Goodwin (technically Liesl's 'Grandy') was ready to take her if our babysitters needed a break.  Thank you so much!

I'll download some new pics of the fabulous four month old tonight!