Freeeeeee Tiiiiiiiiiiiiime

I've had a lot of free time this past year. Or so I say...when I really think about it though, being a mom is BUSY! Just not the same kind of busy I'm used to. My life looks so different than it did when I was working. I go back and forth daily about the blessing it is to be able to stay home with Avery and watch her do funny things and teach her things, and about wanting my hands in the working, outside world and in public health. Can't I do both?

Well, that is the question. I'm applying to part-time jobs out there, but it's a slow process (and I'm picky). I'm hopeful that something will turn up after the holidays. Luckily, it's not up to me entirely! I'm go grateful I have God on my side and that He already knows what my life looks like tomorrow and next month and next year. I'll just wait on His direction and open doors!

In the meantime I'm keeping hiking with the CO Mountain Mamas, I'm taking Avery to Book Babies songs and reading at the library which we both love, and we recently settled at the Vineyard Denver Hub, where I've quickly met some really genuine and interesting moms whom I'm looking forward to connecting with. In fact we have weekly playdates, YAY! Adult conversation and more kids for Avery to socialize with! Yips! I'm also about to volunteer with cooking and nutrition classes for low-income families. AND I really need to up up my Spanish skills...all useful for a future job!

There you have it, my exciting life. I do really love maintaining a welcoming home, sewing, cleaning and cooking (maybe not the laundry). It's hard to believe this is what it looks like right now, that I have all this free time, but I know it's God's design. And it's rewarding supporting Tim's hard work at Starbucks and in school. He finished his first quarter with flying colors!

This afternoon after lunch with a friend, Avery played outside our apartment in the leaves. Enjoy:

Hey, I'm One!

Mom spends all this time writing on the computer and looking at pictures of me, it was just time for me to see what this is all about and have a say for myself. I just turned ONE (I guess, cause mom keeps pointing a finger at me and saying that). That means people sing to me and let me eat yummy things and give me presents and do whatever I want!

I even had TWO birthday parties. One was up in the mountains with mom's family.  I got a new rocking horse! I love to push it back and forth and sing the Rocking song "Waaaah waaah, waaaah waaaah" (Rocky, Rocky).  The whole weekend, all I really wanted to do was walk around. I just figured it out the day before we left, and there was a long hallway in the cabin where I could go back and forth to and from different people. I also liked going between all the furniture and trying to climb on the fireplace. I like waving my hands around while I go.

The other party was a couple days later when Mimi and Grandpa Jim came to visit. We played at the park until it was too cold (I didn't notice), then went back home for a little bit but everyone left really quick because there was a stinky smell in the place. Daddy was on the phone a lot, and right after I ate another yummy cupcake by myself, we all left and I fell asleep at Mimi and Grandpa's hotel. I woke up in my bed the next morning, and lots of repairmen came over the next week to put in something new in the kitchen. I love banging on it and licking the front, but mom tries to stop me.

Here are 5 of my favorite things in life so far:

1.  The bath. Just mention it, and I'll beeline it to the tub. I even know the sign for bath and do it all the time. If I can't get in, I'll at least walk around the house with my rubber ducky or fish bathtoy, just waiting until after dinner every day when I can get in. I'll just take laps around the house holding these toys for most of the day, though sometimes I switch to holding measuring cups from the kitchen. I like those a lot too.When I fall down, I can get up all by myself without letting go of my toys!

2.  Going downstairs with mommy to do laundry. There is a REALLY long hallway down there with lots of interesting pipes and buttons and gates along the wall to play with, bike tires to feel and eat (before mom stops me), plus a dryer door to swing open and shut over and over. I love laundry!

3. Playing on mom and dad's bed. There are lots of pillows to throw my face into over and over, and laugh and laugh. There's dad's coool Rainiers hat that I like to put on and take off, plus TWO guitars hanging on the wall that mom lets me "play." Don't ask her to play her flute under the bed though, that FREAKS me out.

4.  My hiking backpack. Mom takes me on all kinds of adventures with other moms and babies and I love riding in my backpack and feeling leaves and tree trunks along the trail. I can even get out and walk now and take my time feeling grass and rocks and dirt. We tried a corn maze the other day and I really liked that!

5. The hall door. I like opening and closing this big door with glass panes - I can peek through at the rest of the house and play peekaboo and eat the wood. And shake the internet cords on the wall next to the door, over and over (until mom stops me)!

I have many other favorite things, including my sign language video that I'd watch all day every day if mom let me (I know lots of signs, and do lots of animal sounds, but only really say "nana" and "Uh oh" and "go?" with my hands out asking where something went). Also I love my snack trap with cheerios inside, and of course books. But I'll save all that for another day, it's time for me to take a nap! Which reminds me of my faaaavorite thing above all of these, that's Zoe my zebra blanky. I can't sleep without her. Night night!

getting swept away at the Denver Art Museum

Playing with myself at the art museum

My best friend!

Stats

Avery's slimmin' down. Her 1 year checkup yielded a tall, big-headed skinnier girl.

Head: 18.25 cm, or 85%

Length: 29.75 in, or 73%

Weight: 21 lb 12 oz, or 63%

All that toddling is taking its toll. And no wonder she falls down so much, her head is heavy!

Happy First Birthday to Avery!

It's hard to believe Munch is ONE! She can do sooo many things compared to when she was born:) and although she's been taking steps here and there for the past few weeks, 3 days before her birthday she just TOOK OFF. Walks everywhere. And, unfortunately, has bit the dust a few times already getting too excited (like into the pavement at the zoo, oooouch). I'm really privileged to have been able to spend this whole year home with her.  She's such a happy and social Little One despite only having me to play with most of the time! And she knows her sign language:)

We celebrated Avery's first birthday with about a week's worth of activities (that's how to party, I tell ya). Last weekend my family of Ormsbees rented a YMCA of the Rockies cabin in Estes Park. We went hiking, played games, made fondue, went swimming, played tennis and put put, and gave Avery her first taste of concentrated sugar. I have to admit I limited the sugar in the recipe quite a bit already, but I think she liked the way the frosting felt on her hands. I also forgot my camera (What?) so I'll have to steal family pictures and post later.

Next, Tim's parents came into town and we had another celebration in the park. Unfortunately, it was about 50 degrees and the sun was setting and it was cold, so we moved the party (and friends and family guests) inside for cupcakes (sugar time #2). Only to find a strong natural gas stench in the apartment and building, which of course disrupted and distracted everyone. We ended up evacuating. What a great party! I managed to take a few pictures from the night and week though. Check out the slideshow on the side for more.

laughing at pictures of herself:)

"Loving" her new dolly Molly

one of her favorite play spots, pekaboo behind the door.

the dress I wore when I turned one.

pumpkin sweet potato cupcakes at the park!

finally, getting to dive in!

Happy One year to us all!

Belated Apartment Tour

Here are some shots of the inside of our new apartment. We've made some small changes since I took these, but oh well, you get the gist!

 

We've been loving it here but have encountered our first challenge: natural gas and sewer gas leaks in the building and our apartment. Yep, sicko. And the double bummer is it happened on Avery's birthday party with family and friends over to celebrate. Let's just say it was a REALLY short celebration and everyone missed the cupcake eating. Granted, it was her second party since we already celebrated with my family in the mountains over the weekend (pics to come), but still. Bummer. We decided to evacuate for several hours while they tried to figure out the problem. We still have our stove shut off until it can get fixed. Improvisation!!! And a memorable story to tell, I suppose...

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!