Happy 7 Months, Avery Lynn!! (And her first Christmas!)

On Christmas Day, little Avery turned 7 months old! She was a great age for her first Christmas, as she was very interested in the tree, lights, and surprisingly, opening up gifts. Mostly wanting to eat the paper and bows, but she did show some interest in ripping the paper to open her gifts and of course enjoyed her presents she received. Sammie and Shane came home from Texas and though the visit was short, it was awesome to have Avery see her auntie and uncle. Avery's first cold put a damper on the holidays, however. She had a runny nose and cough which turned into a double ear infection. I have to say I was very impressed by how well she handled her cold despite how she felt. She tried to stay her happy and giggly self during the whole ordeal and did a pretty good job at it. She hated having her nose/face wiped and hated her saline spray and booger sucker thingy. I think the neighbors thought we were trying to murder her every time we wiped her nose. Poor kid. With all the snuggles and extra clingy behaviors, I of course got her cold right away. Grandparents and daddy also got it as well. It's inevitable and super annoying. But I'd rather have a cold than her any day.

So along with her cold, she's also teething and going through separation anxiety. She finally has her two bottom teeth (hallelujah!) but her two top teeth are not far behind. She's got the cutest little smile with her two teeth. She gives sweet and loving "nose kisses" by biting my nose and now that she has little sharp shark teeth the nose kisses hurt, but totally worth it. Now, everything that I am reading tells me that teething and separation anxiety are totally normal at her age. In fact, they describe it as "exciting" developmental milestones. Exciting!? Are you freaking kidding me? These people obviously don't have kids of their own, right?  Yes I know it means she is growing and getting smarter .. blah blah blah. But I think "exhausting" and "pour me another glass of wine, please" are more accurate terms for these milestones.  This too shall pass. I do soak up all the extra snuggles and hugs that I am getting since she now understands that I exist when she doesn't see me. I know it won't last long and one day she won't be as willing to snuggle in. So even if it's 3am and her gums are bothering her, I will always cherish my baby's snuggles.

Avery is an extremely active baby. Always wanting to move. Always wanting to crawl, bounce and jump! I'm starting to call her my little Tigger. She's always chatting and laughing, even when she's supposed to be sleeping. Her laugh is the best - she thinks everything is funny and it makes my day hearing her crack herself up in the back seat every morning. Her new favorite word is "wow". She's in love with her kitty and doggy and loves to pet them and pull chunks of fur out (a work in progress but the animals are very tolerant!) Avery is really starting to show her personality and we are absolutely in love with it. She's silly, smart and so very sweet. She's got an amazing demeanor and I really think she's going to be a sweet kid - she already is! Her hugs and kisses are the best and we are so very blessed. 

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas

So I am having the best time dressing up Avery in the cutest little Christmas outfits ever. The poor thing is like my little living doll I get to dress up. It's better than Halloween costumes for sure. I attempted to take 6 month photos of Avery professionally. Now, that all sounds well and good; however, trying to convince a teething 6 month old to cooperate and smile for the big bright flashes is harder than it sounds. First of all, Avery is pretty awesome at sitting up on her own. But trying to get her to sit up on her own and walk away having confidence she won't throw herself backwards is a little to hard for my neurotic mother brain to handle. Plus, she is going through some separation anxiety. I take one step back from her and you would think I just stabbed her in the eye with a pencil. But with all of the photography equipment I really couldn't stand close enough to her. Well she rolled off a small pillow and bonked her little head on the floor. It really didn't hurt her; just scared her. But boy was she upset. After that, we lost her. Every time I tried to sit her down she cried. It was really quite heartbreaking. So within 20 minutes we were done. We got really no good photos of Avery smiling but it was a good experience nonetheless, of how to prepare next time. Although some things were really out of my control. I called it the perfect storm: hot room, bright flash, strangers, teething, bonked the noggin. The recipe for disaster if you ask me. Although I believe the photographer and my grandmother enjoyed watching my mother and I make a fool out of ourselves behind the camera trying to get her to smile or laugh. The things you do for your children. I would also like to note that in the car ride home she was chatting and laughing; happy as could be. The whole way home. In fact, she was almost laughing at me like she got her way. Hmm..
My grandmother has been visiting which has been so awesome. It is so nice that Avery is able to get special time with her great-grammy (GG) since she lives so far away. I always love our visits with her and I know Avery enjoys entertaining her GG with lots of giggles, chatting and singing. GG also go to come with us to cut down our Christmas tree and we had Avery watch as we decorated it. It is so fun to watch her discover new things, like how the pine needles feel on the tree and playing with the Christmas lights. It's like rediscovering the wonders of life through her eyes. It really is the best. Avery is amazing. Though she doesn't know Santa yet, I think she made the nice list.

PS: This little lady also has TWO teeth on the verge of popping through any time now. She went from having no signs of teeth to *BAM* two teeth. I have been having dreams that she has a full set of teeth and every time I wake up to a toothless reality (It's insane that I dream these things, but teething sucks). I have been singing "All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth" to Avery in hopes it might come true. And in some ways, it has!!