My first word (captured on video) ...

I guess I only feel like speaking when I feel like speaking, so to calm Daddy's frustrations about not yet being able to capture my speaking ability, I finally spoke while he was filming me.

What happened was that Daddy thought it was oh so cute that I would blink and look confused when he would blow directly onto my face. And I admit it, it was fun for a little while, but after a few iterations of this, I finally had to call out for help ...

So here it is ... the video of my first word at seven months old ... make sure to turn the volume up so you can hear me!!!

Butterflies on the visit with Grandma and Grandpa ...

Avery with Grandma and Grandpa

Last weekend was so much fun ...

Avery showing off her "thingy thing" to Grandma

My other set of Grandparents (Daddy's parents) drove into town from far far away just to see me!!! We had so much fun!!! We played, sang songs, went for long walks, and even went to see the 'Butterfly Magic' exhibit at the Botanical Gardens ( http://tucsonbotanical.org/ ). I got to see thousands and thousands of butterflies up close and personal, whizzing by my head every few seconds ... it was incredible!

Daddy helping me see the butterflies ...

... higher, higher ... I can almost catch some!!!

Some of my favorite butterflies that I kept trying to catch ...

Avery posing with Daddy and the butterflies
(there's at least 5 in this picture, can you see them!)

What a beauty!

Avery with Mommy, Daddy, and two gigantic butterflies!!!

We walked around a lot every day and spent this whole last day walking around the Botanical Gardens. In fact, we walked so much that weekend that my feet got really tired this last day. Ha ha, my feet felt just fine kicked up relaxing in the stroller, but I bet everyone else was tired after the long weekend!!!

Grandma walking me in the stroller

'Walking' around with Grandma and Grandpa

Gobble, gobble, gobble, ...

Yesterday was so much fun ... it was Thanksgiving Day where I got to help Mommy and Daddy prepare a great big dinner for an important guest of honor, Mr. Turkey.

Probably the most interesting part of the day was that I got to watch and help Mommy and Daddy get Mr. Turkey ready for dinner. He is about as big as me!!! They did a lot of the same stuff with him as they do with me ...

For instance, here was bath time in the kitchen for Mr. Turkey. I don't know why Mommy just didn't climb in the tub and give him a bath like she does with me ... I guess I'm more special than Mr. Turkey.

Preparing a bath for Mr. Turkey

And here's Daddy splashing around with Mr. Turkey while trying to give him a bath. I don't think either of them had a much fun at this. Daddy kept complaining that Mr. Turkey was being too difficult ... maybe now Daddy will really appreciated how perfect I am in the bath.

Daddy bathing Mr. Turkey

And here I am with Mommy where we are dressing Mr. Turkey. I don't understand why we didn't dress him in a shirt or onesie or anything like that. I guess he won't be needing anything like that where he's going today.

Me and Mommy dressing Mr. Turkey

And here's me playing with Grandma and my friend Karen. We had so much fun, except that everyone kept asking when is Mr. Turkey going to be ready. I guess on Thanksgiving Day, everyone wants to play more with Mr. Turkey instead of me??? I guess every single day doesn't have to be always about me ... just most of them do!

Pre-dinner playtime

And here's Daddy getting Mr. Turkey ready for dinner. I see now why we didn't dress him in any clothes earlier ... he must be going on a trip to a European beach or something like that since it looks like he went to a tan bed for an all nude tan.

Daddy getting Mr. Turkey ready for dinner

And here we finally are at the table for the great big Thanksgiving Day feast. I don't know where Mr. Turkey went (maybe he had to catch his plane for his trip?), but everyone seemed happy with the great big feast on the table. And since I was still in party mode and wanted to play a while long, I ate my dinner later with Grandpa.

I hope everyone out there had a Happy Thanksgiving just like us!!!

Thanksgiving dinner

Avery's Thanksgiving Day dinner (as Grandpa takes a nap)

Avery's Latest Addiction ...

Avery's latest addiction

That's right, you caught me. I'm embarrassed to even say it, but I have this addiction lately that I'm afraid I just can't kick (literally). I'm really into sucking my toes right now and just can't stop myself!!! I think I need help!

I know, I know, it might seem really gross and all, but I'm not walking yet so my feet stay surprisingly fresh and clean where they taste pleasant and I can wiggle my toes all around in my mouth. Maybe in time I'll get over it, but for now, consider me a 'toe sucking addict'.

Don't judge me!!!

Running with Daddy ...

Today I went on a run with Daddy ...

Ha ha, no silly, I didn't actually literally go running ... Daddy got this fancy new running stroller to push me in while he runs. I'm just along for the ride.

Avery and Daddy get ready to go for a run

At first it seemed weird to be sitting in a new rocket ship facing forward since I've been use to seeing most of the world as it flies behind me. But soon I really started to enjoy seeing stuff that was actually coming up rather than wondering what it was that I had just gone by.

Avery and Daddy start their run ...

People along the way were really nice. They waved at me and I got to see so much stuff it was amazing. I think we went a similar route as I go on for walks, but the world just looked so much more different facing it head on.

... and there we go ...

Daddy said that we ran about 4 miles at a pace under 9 min/miles, which he seemed happy with for his first try running with me in tow. Now I thought this seemed fun and all, but I hope Daddy doesn't plan on having me run any marathons with him or anything like that. Running for around a half hour was way fun and all, but he said that his last marathon was almost 4 hours long!?!? He must be crazy since I don't think I could handle running, or rather being along for the ride, for that long!!!

People just love to visit me ...

Avery with her Great Grandma

Another thing that has me really busy lately is everyone wants to come visit me. People fly or drive in from all over just to see me! I just got finished with one visit last weekend and then my other set of Grandparents are coming in this next weekend. Then there's also Auntie Em coming down soon. It's just so exciting to be such the center of attention!!!

So anyway, last weekend my Great Grandma came to visit me again and brought Great Uncle Don and Great Aunt Judy with her.

Avery standing for Great Aunt Judy

Great Aunt Judy just couldn't get enough of me!!! She wanted to play with me and hold me and talk with me all the time! I think she can't wait for some grand kids of her own ... they'll be here soon enough ... you'll see.

And Great Uncle Don is so funny. He's so much fun to talk and play with. And he even explained to me the finer points of automobile safety for when I start driving. Thanks, Great Uncle Don!!!

Avery wondering what's with all the hair on Great Uncle Don's face

But most fun of all was playing with Great Grandma again. She's so patient with me and likes to throw me up in the air and such. I think because she had to deal with so many kids over the years that she automatically knows just what to do!

Great Grandma playing with Avery

This is so totally cool ...

Sorry I haven't blogged in a while, but I've been having way too much fun lately ...

Avery working/playing in her new 'thingy thing'

Mommy got me this, well this 'thingy thing' where I can work and play while practicing my standing (I guess I still need to work on my leg muscles since they aren't strong enough yet so that I can stand on my own). On this 'thingy thing' there's music and parts that make noises and buttons to push and balls to spin and stuff to pull on and a bouncy thing to stand on and the chair even swivels around 360 degrees. It's totally awesome!!! Thanks Mommy!


You have to check out this video of all the things I can do in my new 'thingy thing' ...

I guess baths aren't sooo bad ...

... it just takes me a while to get use to something new. And since I also now enjoy eating lots and lots of cereal and mashed fruits/vegetables with Spoonie, I've been getting more and more baths (I'm not exactly sure why).


And what makes it even all the better is that Mommy is right there with me in the tub (along with Boobie!), so it's like we have a little party while taking a bath!

Avery in the tub playing with Mommy




Tub time is so much fun!!!

Look ma, no hands ...

Avery's trying to sit on her own

(with some hand support)

... well, ok ... I sometimes still need to use one hand, but soon it will be no hands and I'll be able to sit up on my own.

My overall balance looks good, right? I've been practicing a lot lately since just rolling over front-to-back and back-to-front is getting so passe that I just want to do it all.

Avery stating to balance ...

Next week I'll have to work on standing up!!!

Avery sitting on her own!!!

Avery goes to vote ...

Daddy and Avery 'campaigning'

Yes, I did it ... I voted for my man Obama to be the next president of the USA ... well, I actually told Daddy who to vote for since I guess there's some law that states I'm too young to vote (I'll have to petition Obama to change that one when he's elected).

Anyway, voting and campaigning was so much fun that I can't wait to do it again for Obama in another 4 years ... and then in 8 years for Hillary!!!

Avery's Epic Halloween Adventure ...

WOW!!!! Friday was one of my busiest days to date ... who would have thought Halloween would be so much fun!

It all started with a great big breakfast of rice cereal, with a side of mashed sweet potatoes, and a little time with Boobie, then Mommy whisked me out the door to be in a Halloween Day Parade!!!

Avery in her Jack-o-lantern hat

The school that Grandma teaches at was having a Halloween Day parade and everyone thought that I just had to be in the parade procession. But right when we got to Grandma's classroom and Mommy gave me to Grandma, something just didn't seem right with her ... and right when I was trying to frantically tell Mommy/anyone that a stranger was impersonating Grandma, I saw my real Grandma hiding behind a door?!?!? Oh, I get it ... ha ha, they were just playing a trick on me where another teacher was dressed as Grandma for Halloween ... and boy o' boy, that sure scared me alright!

Avery with 'The Impostor Grandma'

(and with Grandma's students)

Avery with the real Grandma ...

... and then Avery in the Halloween Day Parade

After the parade, Mommy then rushed us home so that we could go trick-or-treating in our neighborhood before going to Nick's house for a party (remember Nick from this previous post http://averyclaire.blogspot.com/2008/07/whoa-whos-hunk.html ... he's sooo dreamy). Luckily Daddy had already help the animals into their costumes, so we quickly were able to hit the streets for lots and lots of candy!

Everyone dressed up for Halloween ... Avery as a monkey, Scrappy as a spider, Scout as a witch, and Suzie as a lamb (Mommy dressed up as Mommy)

Next was Nick's party which I was super excited for ... maybe this time Nick would finally notice me since that last encounter we had was way too brief, especially when I tried to be aloof and just 'play it cool'. To my surprise as we walked through the door, it seemed like I would have some competition this time around for Nick's attention with this really really young girl (she couldn't have been a day over two weeks old). But on the plus side, Nick and I both dressed up as monkeys, so I guess that means we think alike!!!

Nick, Kate, and Avery (with their respective Mommies)

As the night went on, I learned that my competition (Kate) was not really a threat at all (she was actually Nick's cousin), so I made my move and sat next to him on the couch. Unfortunately, that didn't last long.

Avery trying to get Nick to notice her

But finally at the end of the night, when everyone was saying their goodbyes, I looked up and Nick was staring at me with a smile and a twinkle in his eye. Hopefully this is the beginning of a beautiful relationship ....

Avery and Nick 'making eyes' at each other