Random Pictures from the week

This is what happens if you take her socks off and lay her on a flat surface.  She can almost get all of her toes in there.  Sometimes if she is in her bouncy seat and she sees her feet, she will get frustrated and upset if she can't get them in her mouth.

 Is this not the cutest sleeping baby ever?

This is her alfalfa picture....That is how her hair looked for two days.  My constant shaping of her hair into a mohawk is finally starting to stick.

Sunday in Taylorsville

Avery went to Taylorsville this Sunday to see her great grandparents.

This is Avery reading a book to her grandmother and great-grandmother.

You can tell that she has good reading comprehension already.

Testing out her new rocking chair........

Finally getting the hang of it with her grandfather and great-grandmother.

Chef Rob

Since Avery's arrival, Robert has honed his skill of cooking.  Maybe he was inspired by watching a throwdown with Bobby Flay, looking for a reason to be too busy to change diapers, or just really hungry.  Whatever it is -- I LIKE IT!  He is quite talented in the kitchen.  I gave him Mr. Flay's Mesa Grill cookbook for his birthday and has tackled some pretty intense recipes.  Most of the dishes call for a pepper/fruit/spice sauce served over a grilled meat.  He hasn't made the burgers yet (best thing I ever put in my mouth), but he did make pretzel sticks from scratch.  Crunchy outside, chewy inside and of course a little spicy.  Keep up the good work Rob!

4 Months

Avery had her 4 month checkup this past Friday a few days late after her "4 month birthday." I put quotes on that term, because months are not equal and are not a good unit of measurement.  Anyways........

She has been packing on the pounds and is up to 12lbs and 2 oz which puts her in the 20th percentile.  She did grow 3 inches to 24 3/"4 (75th percentile) but Laura had serious doubts as to the gauge R&R on their measurement system.  Her head diameter continued to grow up to 16 1/2" which is the 74th percentile.

But if months are the x-axis of the graph and they are of unequal length, then the percentiles aren't really that accurate.  Since Avery was really 4 months plus 6 days she might be a little bit lower than those numbers.  But who really keeps up with this kind of stuff other than the doctor and this blog.  I feel responsible for the de-math-ification of the 10~20 people that read this.

Here are the pictures as evidence of her current size/cuteness...........

Pool Time

Based on feedback that I have received, I have decided to upload some pictures of Avery not smiling to prove that she is not always smiling.

These pictures are from the pool this weekend.  Avery put on her baby sunglasses but didn't really care either way about them.  Despite her large head, they still don't fit snugly around her.

I love Avery's face in this picture.

 Laura got her this sweet float at some store that sells stuff.  I don't really remember which one, but it isn't material to the story.  Not that there is any story other than Avery has a float that is appropriately sized for a baby of her size.  She seemed to enjoy it kicking her legs under the water and trying to grab the fabric.

Ok......One picture of a happy baby in the pool.

Smiling Baby

You will have to ignore my high pitched baby voice....but I thought this video was fun.  Avery seems to smile whenever either one of us talks or come over and gets in her line of site.  She has started following us around the room......with her head and eyes.  Not walking or crawling.

It is amazing how easy it is to get her to smile....which is why so many of the pictures that we post are of her smiling.

Playing Hard

So this is a video of Avery Jean taken this weekend at 4 months old. She figured out that if she slams that one toy into the "TV" it will keep it playing music and lights. She also figured out grabbing the different rings and swinging them around. I didn't get her at her wildest. In the mornings if we put her down there she is hooting and making all kinds of happy noises playing with the toys. Compare it to the older video below.



This second video was taken 4/30/2011 at about 6 weeks old. I thought she was active then looking at stuff and wiggling.....

Say What?

Me and boogie made some cool videos this weekend, but until I get a chance to edit them and upload them, these are a couple of my favorite pictures.

Bath Time

Avery enjoys her bath time.  I have been taking a camera up there to try to record a video of her kicking and splashing in the water, but it seems that she just wants to ham it up for the camera and not splash.  

She also enjoys watching her daddy cook......I can't wait until Laura starts cooking again....

Gibson Family Reunion

Last weekend was the the annual Gibson Family Fest at White Lake, NC.  Every year we eat burgers from Melvin's, sun on floats in the water, and take a big family portrait before Saturday night dinner -- that's my favorite part.  All the grumbling about sun in my eyes, he's giving bunny ears, I haven't showered yet, we can't see that person's face.... lasting family memories :)  We actually got 2 different shots in this year.
Here's the "best" one.

 Time on the swing Saturday morning.

Some of the family on the big floats Saturday afternoon.

Trying to get a Marshall family pic.

Avery hanging with Grandaddy.

My cousin Jonathan and his wife Ashley had a baby girl, Harper, in April.  Here we are with the 2 youngest members and Anna Margaret, the oldest member of the family at 94 years old.

A "generations" photo:  Avery with her Mom, Granddaddy, and 2 Great-Great Uncles.

We had so much fun, the ducks wanted to join in too -- my cousin Kaleb feeding the ducks bread.

General Happiness

Just some pictures we captured on Sunday after getting back from the Gibson family reunion and Avery was super happy to be outside. 

 As well as a bath washing off all the random people that held her at the reunion.

 She was grabbing at the grass in between big smiles....

 So close to a laugh, but nothing comes out but a squeak or hoot.  We are just waiting on that first big laugh.

Charger had a fun time playing in the yard with his sister as well.

Almost

We were packing up to go to the Gibson Family reuinion while Avery was watching her "TV" (some thing that flashes and plays music) and we looked over and she was almost rolled over.

Two seconds later she swung back and was grabbing the toys and having a good ol time.  In the last couple of weeks she really enjoys grabbing things that are nearby (your ears, your hair, your shirt, and toys too).  She makes this sound that makes her sound like a monkey.  I hope to catch it on video soon when she gets really wound up.

July 4th Part 2

Morgan hanging at the lake with Matt and Missy

 Morgan's First Jetski Ride

 Learning to throw dirt into the water like a champ.

 And of course Joules had a blast jumping off the dock playing the fetch.  The other dogs had fun pretending that they were chasing Joules off by barking.

July 4th Part 1

It took me a while to post the pictures from July 4th weekend at the lake due to that job thingy.  This is part one.

Avery had a great time with grandma and let mommy and daddy swim while the grandparents swung her and talked to her.

 Hanging out with Aunt Sara

 Showing everyone that she has feet and that she knows where they are.

 Swimming with Daddy.

 We put her in this float and she started to fall asleep.  I guess she likes relaxing on the lake.

 Avery doesn't seem to excited about taking family pictures.

 Trying to splash with daddy.

 Playing in the edge of the water and with the sand.

 Best nap ever.

Happy Feet

Avery has found her feet and she grabs them every time she is laying on her back.  She likes to grab a blanket too.  She will rub her cheek with it and put it in her mouth.  She is more aware of what is going on around her and can focus on people all around the room.  Avery is a fun baby !