Walking Wobbles

This video isn't quite what Jeff and I originally envisioned it would be (Avery walking), but it may be one of the funniest videos I have ever seen, so we just had to share.  Hopefully I'll have a real "Avery walking" video soon!  Until then, enjoy this amazing toddler action...

FPT

Jeff made me put this onsie on her.  He begged and pleaded, so finally I just gave in.

Lucky Number 13!

She's awalkin'!  Yup, that's right.  Avery decided the perfect day to take her first unassisted steps was on her 13th month birthday!  I was near tears with excitement when my parents (who watch Avery on Mondays and Thursdays) showed me what she learned with them that day.  My little girl is growing up and I'm loving every moment of it!  (Actually, I could do without her ants-in-your-pants dance moves while I'm changing her diaper.  Clean and quick diaper changes are more of a rarity than I would like these days.) 

Here's a rundown of a few other exciting things that have happened since her first birthday...

A trip to Palm Springs with Jeff's parents, sister and her husband.  It was a fun (and hot!) getaway for all of us and I am proud to say that Avery was phenomenal the entire trip.  Sleeping in a new place, eating out at restaurants and meeting new people didn't faze her in the least.  She was the perfect angel who is proving to be easy-going and very social.  See Exhibits A & B below, which were taken during dinner one night on our vacation:

 

Next up on the calendar of events was daddy and daughter weekend while I enjoyed some girlfriend time...so, back to Palm Springs I trekked with some of my favorite ladies!  Jeff did an outstanding job with Avery and even had a sleep over at the Goad's place with Garrett and Quinn since mommy Amanda was with me.  How I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall during that baby adventure!  I wish I had a picture to share, but watching little ones doesn't leave much time for a camera sesh, says the husband.

On to the Pumpkin Patch!  The Simpson family loves them some pumpkins!

"I love me some pumpkins!"

Avery and her enablers.

Baby in a wagon with a pumpkin at a pumpkin patch.  Check.

Someone was a little "pumpkined out."

 And finally, some playground time on a lazy Sunday afternoon...in a tutu, of course.

FPT!

Hey, mom...why don't you put down the camera and hand me the wrench?

Happy Birthday, Baby!

The weekend of Avery's birthday was a whirlwind and a wonderful whirlwind at that!  We started off on the eve of Avery's birthday with a trip to Costco, which is a fun place for baby and parents alike.



A large bin of over-sized pillows is a great place to stick a baby.

On the morning of the 24th, after Jeff and I reminisced about where we were one year ago and how big our baby had become, we went into the birthday girl's room to start showering her with birthday love.  We opened some family gifts and Avery immediately fell in love her new favorite toy...a walker!

Beautiful birthday girl!

We took Avery to Soup Plantation for lunch where she fell in love with the cute young buser and decided that following him around the room was exactly what she wanted to do for her birthday.  That's my girl! 

After lunch we ran a few errands, played with Grandpa Wayne and took a nice walk around our neighborhood with Auntie Julie and Auntie Laura (Auntie Julie lives in San Francisco so it was a real special treat having her here!).  It was a very sweet and relaxing day for our one year old...and I'm glad it was, because the next day was Avery's big party!

But we'll get to that in a minute...

Before the birthday celebrations began on the 25th, Avery, Julie and I went to Oceanside to witness (and support) our friend, Laura, as she ran into the freezing 7:30 a.m. ocean waters and proceeded to swim 2.4 miles with a bunch of other ocean-lovers.  All of us on the sand thought "are they nuts?!"  Laura may be nuts, but she loves all things ocean and it showed when the results came back and she got 34th overall and 3rd in her division. 

GOOOOOO, Laura!

Now, onto the party!  40 of our closest friends and family were able to join us on this special day, and Jeff and I are thankful for each and every one of them.  We definitely missed our friends and family who were not able to make it, but this kind of thing is exactly what this blog is for.

Here are some pictures from the day...

It's my birthday!!

The Soup Plantation buser is so old news.

Bring on the cake.  Bring on the presents.  I'm ready!

I'll spell it out for you: Avery is one.

Looking at something awesome, I presume.  And, being real cute...both of them.

Taking a stroll with Auntie Lindsay.

Cake time.  She LOVED it!

Too busy eating caking to smile for the camera.  Don't worry, mommy and daddy have this one covered.

I think she could get used to this "birthday" thing.

Avery Elizabeth, as I tell you every day, I love you so very, very much.  You are a wonderful daughter and a sweet little girl.  You make me laugh, you make me smile and you make me the happiest mommy in the world just by being you. 

FPT!

Totally cake wasted.