Avery: Happy 8 months!

Dear Avery,

You are EIGHT months old!!

Yikes! 

I'm not sure where the past month went (there's no documentation on the blog, oops, I suppose we'll never remember it!), but you've been growing and changing like crazy. 

Some things about you this past month:

* you love to eat almost anything that is pureed... no bumpy food for you. Pureed banana is great, but mushed up banana is apparently from the devil. Oh, and you hate avocado too and spit it right back out after giving us the "what on earth did you just put in my mouth" face. (Your brother loved avocado!)

* you STILL don't roll over from your back.  I'm beginning to wonder if this is just plain laziness on your part. Maybe you just want to keep laying there and doing whatever you please. I get that. But seriously, I wish you'd start moving a little bit more! You also don't stand or put much weight on your legs yet (another sign of laziness I assume) ;) We're hoping these things get cleared up quickly!

* you "talk" so much more these days and during some serious separation anxiety melt-downs, we are all pretty sure you were calling for me by saying "baabaa!!! baabaa!!".  I have witnesses. We will call this your first word: mama.

* oh yes, did I mention you have some SERIOUS separation anxiety? This is no joke. You cry if someone looks at you wrong. Or looks at you at all.  This is F.U.N. for your mom.

* you love the jumper, but only for about four minutes. Then you're OVER IT. (like most of your activities)

* you love this little picnic basket I picked up on the neighborhood facebook page - you and Benjamin could play with it for hours!

* you still adore your daddy - but now Benjamin has stolen your heart, and I think he trumps everyone. (more on that below)

* you love to "hammer". You flap your arms up and down and bang them on anything nearby.  Hammer hammer!

* you got another cold sadly and had to get put on a nasty antibiotic that makes your tummy hurt.  This is NO FUN for anyone in the house, let me tell you.

* we increased you to larger doses of enzymes, so now you only take 3 pills before eating (which selfishly is very nice for mom and dad!) You still take these pretty well, though occasionally gag on them when you're not in the mood to have them shoved down your throat. (I don't blame you.)

* I'm just going to be honest: you really stink at sleeping.

* you LOVE your family. We can make you smile and laugh (in your silly quiet way).

Seriously, you love your brother SO much. He just adores you too and calls you "sweetie" and "sweetheart". He also loves playing games with you (even when you have no clue what he's talking about). I'm SO thankful for you two having each other... otherwise your mama might go a little crazy at home with you all day long!

He even likes to sing to you:

Lately, he's taken a liking to playing with you and reading to you in your crib.

This is us watching Benjamin at swim lessons!

Separation anxiety picture:

You do thankfully like to hang with buddies!

Cutie.

Oh, but for a few weeks you hated eating.  And you perfected your "i don't want to do that!!!" whine:

You went on your first official road trip with us to Palm Desert last week. We were worried about the long drive, but you were a total champ sleeping through the night better than you usually do!

We stopped in Vegas to stretch our legs and let Benjamin ride some rides at Circus Circus. You were happy the whole time!

And by the time we got to the desert, you were baking in your carseat so we stripped you down to your diaper.  And figured it would be a good photo op.

See: Separation Anxiety (it took almost 48 hours to warm up to Mimi even!)

Then you caught your cold (boo) but still took your first dip in the pool!

(again, separation anxiety... even though I was two feet away)

When we got home it was time to celebrate your first Easter! We had a wonderful time at church and having brunch with some buddies. :)

Oh, and don't forget it was Opening Day for baseball a few days ago... so daddy made you wear a Twins onesie, of course :) (Too bad the Twins aren't good this year....)

Sweet girl, we love you so much!!  We're looking forward to each and every month we get to spend with you :)

(Oh, and May is Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month, so Great Strides will be happening.  We are raising money to help find a cure for you, and we're so thankful for all the people who are contributing!  Our fundraising page: HERE.

Love,
Mom & Dad