11 Months

 

This is the last monthly picture where Avery has to endure eating the notepad and getting blue ink all over her mouth (potentially)! In other words, SHE'S ALMOST ONE! Here are some pics from her 11th month so far. She takes steps daily, I think the record is about 10 in a row, but nothing yet on her own. No shots of that yet.

Hello? I like to talk on the phone or pretend all day long.

Being saved from the T-Rex at the Science Center

Enjoying our zoo membership in style

Hiking with "Colorado Mountain Mamas," yeah buddy

Gotta add a whine!

What Else I've Been Busy With

We're still settling in to our place, and I'm still enjoying spending my days at home with Avery. I'm awaiting news about interviews for a potential part-time public health job that would be a seemingly perfect fit for this season of life, but currently funding is on hold. So, as we get used to our life with Tim being in school part-time as well as working full-time, I continue to fill my limited free time with walks to the grocery store or library or park, and creative projects. I'll have many more to post, but here's a start at what I've been up to in recent months, i.e. what I've copied from other creative people:)

bathtime hippo

taggy blanket

Olivia the Owl

mod podge paper decor

bird ruffle pillow

bird print antiqued chair

hair bow collector!

bathroom curtain

book page wreath

fabric flower pillows

bedroom curtains and ruffle pillow (still working on those!)

Tim's handiwork on our shutter headboard

More curtains

button flowers

 Of course there's always something else to do, but we're almost done with the first round of ideas!

New Digs.

We moved! Here are some pictures of the neighborhood surrounding us to the Southwest. I will post more soon of cool new discoveries in other directions (there are quite a few neato mansions around here!), as well as INDOOR photos, wahoo. Here's the slideshow link.

Lost Lake, We Found You.

We took a hike near Nederland to find Lost Lake yesterday.

 Found it!

Havin some lunch for the Munch.

Stopped at the Carousel Of Happiness. on the way back. She had fun!

10 months

Here you go, mom.

Avery's a babbling beauty these days, talking all the time. She can pull up to standing a little bit and loves scooting along furniture etc on her feet.  She's finally getting back into a sleeping schedule after the move, mostly from 730-530 or 8-6. Today, wonderful girl, she played happily in her crib with her toys for another whole hour after I fed and changed her. Glorious sleep for mom! Really makes a huge difference, doesn't it? Happy mom, happy baby.

Settling in

Well, we're Downtowners again! City life has a sort of refreshment to it, in its own way. Once we're all organized, I'll take pics of the whole place but for now here are a couple from today. We're totally amazed at how God hand-picked this for us, as He has all the others (He is so faithful!). It's nicer, bigger, and cheaper than all the other places we looked and applied for. 

We decided we live in a Medieval Castle/Farmhouse. The "fireplace" was one of the first things to put together since we thought it so horrendous to begin with. Maybe we underestimated its charm.

We had a month to think about how we wanted to set it up, and I think we like it! (No true candlestick burning, sorry book page wreath. Speaking of which, super easy to make; find tutorial here.)

Avery is slowly getting used to the move. She's woken up in the middle of every night since we moved here, probably because of being unfamiliar with creaky hardwood floors and a new room etc. Last night was her first night back on track, and we're praying for a return to her 10-12 hour night sleeping! In the big picture it won't be so bad to comfort her for a bit. 

During the day she's her happy, social self. She loves going on walks to the park or the grocery store (DANGER! Closest store is Whole Foods, 4 blocks!). She makes car noises and airplane signs in addition to her blowing "wind/fan" and owl "whooo"ing. Sometimes it all mixes together but she's very vocal and communicative! She loves "getting me" lately and crawling up and poking a part of my body and squealing. Pretty fun. Also she's learning "nose" and when you ask her where hers is, she nose dives into your face. Awesome. 

More to come! Thanks for prayers for the transition!

Army Crawler

Avery's scooting all over the place, and here's some belated footage capturing her first moves. Also some playtimes and towers, just for fun. (and for the grandparents). Soon enough, hands and knees!?

"Whooooo aaare Yoooooooooou?"

Our last book club (I know, gasp, I'm still participating) was a fun patio picnic in the midst of a gigantic thunderstorm, discussing a double-header: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll, and Voltaire's Candide. Two short, comedic works perfect for summer reading.

I think most of us made friends with Alice faster than with Candide, but we sure had an interesting discussion about personal identity, nonsense, and the crooked state of the world and what to make of it!

Are all things meant for good? Is that a silly perspective, or where is truth in it?
What is the value of nonsense in the world, and of childlike demeanor as adults?
Should ANYONE eat mushrooms, ever?

One thing was for sure, we had a MAD tea party.

RaSpBeRrIeS, rAiNbOwS..... iT ReaLlY wAs a WoNdErLaNd!!

Join us for August's read, Great Expectations by Dickens.

Out as long as she was in! (9 months old).

How big is Avery?

 SOOOO big! 

Our Cuter McGooter is 9 months old and full of wiggles. She army crawls (video to come), can get from sitting to rolling on her own, is almost pulling herself up to standing using unstable toys (warning!), and talks all the time with lots of expression. She is not safe to be left alone. Life as we know it will never be the same, but we love it! She's so much fun!

Lately, she and I have had most of our days to ourselves and our own entertainment, and without a car since Tim has it at work and my parents moved out last weekend to their new dream house (it's awesome). So we can go anywhere I can get with a stroller! Sometimes the rec center pool entertains us, but we do have packing and projects to do around here (more on those projects soon; we move August 1). So today was a dress-up photo shoot day - check out the full shoot here.

 I can't get enough of her!

Maroon Bells

  Loved loved loved getting to see this place (near Aspen, CO)! The last time was as a wee one, I think, and it was better than my memories! We camped for two nights with the Broweleits, or Zooleits as my family calls them:), and had a great great time. Avery was a trooper. Enjoy the slideshow to the right!