Avery Turns Four!

My baby girl is FOUR. I say it every year, but every year it’s true: where the heck did the time go!? She had a big year. When she turned 3 she had just become a big sister and she has been truly amazing. She gives Oliver love, support, kindness and the occasional bossy attitude I would expect from a big sister. She started school for the first time and really blossomed. She made friends and relationships outside of family, which has been amazing to see. Avery has been really into learning how to spell and read sight words, though I feel school has been the most beneficial for her socially. She continued with her gym class and also started horse lessons before the quarantine began. In Avery's eyes her world stopped in it's tracks but she is slowly getting back into the swing of things. We are hoping she will be able to resume horse lessons soon! She and Oliver have stayed happy and healthy so I will always been extremely thankful for that. Avery’s become so grown up and independent. Her self confidence continues to build as she navigates becoming her own person. She is really into music lately. Particularly The Killers, The Beatles, and Guster. I look forward to when we can take her to concerts again. She is so fun to watch at concerts; her excitement, her singing and her gratitude. That is the one thing that continues to stick with her; her gratitude. For her birthday we couldn't do a big party like we planned, but we still decorated the house for her anyway. Toy Story 4 was her theme. She woke up and saw all of the decorations and must have thanked Chris and I 30 times for the decorations. It was the sweetest thing and made buying the decorations totally worth it. Along with Toy Story, she has been super into Star Wars and LOVES Darth Vader. One day Avery asked Alexa to play the Imperial March. It starts to play and she says “That’s me. I’m Darth.” I have loved watching her grow this year, as I have every year before and I know I will continue to each year after this. She’s my favorite girl in the whole world. My built-in best friend. One of my best accomplishments. I asked her 20 questions that I plan to ask her every year as she grows up. This is what she said.

1. How old are you? 4
2. Who is your best friend? Shae and Robbie
3. What’s your favorite thing to do? Go on my big girl swing
4. What’s your favorite color? Red (very new! It has been purple until she turned 4. Then she decided her favorite color was now red!)
5. What’s your favorite food? Hot dogs 
6. What’s your favorite thing to do with your family? Play legos with you 
7. What’s your favorite toy? Buzz Lightyear 
8. What do you want to be when you grow up? A fire fighter
9. What makes you happy? Playing outside 
10. What makes you sad? When Ollie takes something away 
11. What’s your favorite movie? Brave 
12. What’s your favorite book? I Love You This Much 
13. What do you love to learn about? Outer space 
14. What was your favorite thing about your birthday? Having some balloons
15. Where do you like to go? To school. I like to go in Mimi’s car and go to school. 
16. Who is your teacher? Mrs Skwiot and Mrs Sharrock
17. What’s your favorite treat? Candy
18. What’s your favorite song? Satellite by Guster
19. What’s your favorite animal? Sheep 
20. What makes you feel loved? I love you, mom. 

Happy First Birthday Oliver!

Dear Oliver,

A year ago I was anxiously awaiting your arrival. I admit I was struggling with the thought of sharing myself between you and your sister. I was already in love with you, knew how much I would love you when you got here, but I had a hard time comprehending how I could love another one as much as I loved Avery. Well, you were born and instantaneously that thought escaped my mind. It was so effortless. You were 9 1/2 pounds of pure love; my perfect, little boy. We all had you pinned for an April 15th birthday, but you had other plans. You stretched out that labor in your own, not-so-fun-for-mommy ways. At 2:27am on April 16th you finally made your arrival. The nurses said you were 19 inches but you were so long there was no way that was true. Sure enough at your 5 day appointment you measured 21 inches. The doctor said you were likely so squished in me that your joints were tight and couldn't stretch out right away. The moment you arrived the nurses rushed to weigh you. They said they wanted to give me credit for how big you were before you pooped!😂

When I found out you were going to be a boy I was beyond thrilled. Now I get the best of both worlds; a little girl and a little boy. And you, my love, are ALL boy. Lots of energy, lots of trouble-making, lots of messes. Did I mention lots of energy? Somehow time is going by faster than it did before you were born. I am constantly studying everything about you. Your beautiful, blue eyes; your loose curls behind your ears; your tiny fingers and toes (although you were born with giant feet!); your smile that is now full of little teeth. I study you closely because you are my baby; my last baby. You'll probably hear this from me again and again, but I can't believe how fast time is going. It doesn't even seem possible that you are a year old. You grew faster than I ever imagined you would and life is more hectic (especially right now) than I ever thought possible. It seriously was like we brought you home from the hospital and I blinked and you were 3 months old and I was heading back to work, then I blinked again and you were 8 months old and it was Christmas time, and now I blinked again and we made it to your first birthday.

You have had a strong personality since day one - you know what you want and when you want it. You went from a baby who was content on a blanket with a few toys to a child who is constantly on the move. You don't stay in one place for too long. You are into everything and as difficult as that is sometimes, I wouldn't change it for anything. But sometimes it is exhausting! You have incredible determination and you are full of mischief. We have had to hide the dog's food and water dishes because of how determined you are. There are no amount of toys or distractions one you have your mind set on one thing (and usually that thing is something you are not supposed to have). You have the sweetest soul. Your smile is contagious and your belly laughs are infectious. You love to give hugs and kisses. Your two favorites are Avery and your dog, Memphis - they get the most hugs and kisses from you!

It has been such a blessing to experience all of the baby firsts with you. It is bittersweet for me because even though it's your first at everything, it's our family's last. Your sister will always be the oldest and you will always be the youngest. It is so amazing to see you and your sister together. Like all siblings you have your up and downs, and each one will help shape you both. I know you two will stick together - I can already tell. It is the most beautiful thing. You have completed our family and I am so excited to see what life brings you. I just hope time will slow down a bit, because I don't want to blink and miss one second. I love you more than you'll ever know.

Happy 1st birthday my sweet, sweet Oliver Raymond!

Love,
Mommy