Avery's Half Birthday Party!

Avery made 6 months old on July 25th! That Friday I had the family over for a 1/2 birthday party! I know its kind of ridiculous, but it was just a fun excuse to have everyone over. I even baked 1/2 a cake :) Avery took a late nap that day so she was wide awake and ready to party when everyone got there. I dressed her in the cutest little tutu onesie! Here she is playing on her Papa

Cole is so funny, every time he comes over he wants to play with all of her baby stuff.

The whole gang was there to celebrate our angels 1/2 birthday!

I made chicken tacos in the slow cooker and 7 layer dip. After everyone ate we opened a few presents.

I love that Avery is so alert now and interested in everything!

Corey and Cole :)

Avery got lots of great new toys. She was outgrowing all of the newborn stuff we had. She has lots of new toys now that light up and make noises, she loves them!

She was ready to play!

We sang "half-a birthday to you" while she ate her oatmeal. Poor baby doesn't know what she is missing out on with the cake :)

It was so nice to have everyone over, even if it was for a silly 1/2 birthday party :) I am so thankful to be back home and close enough where everyone can come over for stuff like this. Avery is so blessed to have a huge extended family that loves her so much!

Avery goes Swimming!

On July 9th we took Avery to my mom's apartment complex to go swimming for the first time! It is so fun, now that she is getting a little bit older to get her out and about and try all these new things with her. We got to grandma's house and she was ready to go!

We got her swimsuit on and got her all sunscreened up!

She loved the water! She didn't get real excited or splash around or anything. She got so relaxed. She let Josh push her around in this float for about an hour and a half!

She was so content just to float around and look at everything around her.

Nosey Rosey watching the other kids play.

So swimming was a success! I want her to have the love for water that Josh and I had growing up. Next summer we will probably start swim lessons. She sure did love her first swimming experience though!

Independence day!

On Saturday the 4th of July. We headed into Luling for the day. When we got to Josh's parents house. Jody, Jen and their kids came over to visit. It is so cute because their little girl Audrey is about a week younger than Avery. Here they are playing together. Audrey is so petite and Avery is a little chunky monkey so it is so funny seeing them together.

Hopefully they grow up to be best friends :)

Mitchell and Jenna came with them.

Everyone was ready for the 4th of July!

After they left. Everyone just kind of hung out and visited while Josh's mom made his favorite dish; pepper steak. Avery took a nap on her PaPa

After dinner we celebrated Josh's birthday. He wanted a cookie cake that said something silly on it. This is what he got.

Sneezing on the cake to blow out the candles :)

Happy 27th birthday! There are those guns!

Avery was in the BEST mood this evening. She was sitting on her Great Grandpa Obray just laughing and "talking" away.

She is so sweet!

Ready for the fireworks mom!

We went out to the bridge park for the fireworks show. It was way past Avery's bedtime and I was afraid she would be fussy. But she had a great time! She got to love on her Aunt Bridgette. The guys got to hang out a little bit.

I was worried Avery would be scared of the loud noises of the fireworks. But she LOVED them. She was so mesmerized by the colors and lights. She didn't flinch or anything when they "boomed"

Josh got artistic taking pictures of the fireworks with the new camera.

Jamie and me, Avery is still watching the fireworks

Our Family...

Avery Eats!

On July 17th Avery finally got to start eating solid foods! We waited till she was almost 6 months old because 2 of her first cousins have Type I Diabetes. I did some research and it said delaying solids is one way you can try to prevent it. Her first meal was rice cereal! First Bite...

She loved it! One good thing about us waiting is that she was definitely ready for it. She didn't spit or push any of it out with her tongue.

My turn to feed her!

She thinks she can do it herself! That was good!

A few days later, she got oatmeal. She loved that too!

On the 25th we gave her avocados. It was so funny, she was acting like she hated them!

So nasty!

But Miss Piggy kept opening her mouth for more.

Once she got another bite though she was gagging on it and wouldn't swallow!

We gave her more avocados that evening and she ate the whole bowl! I think she just freaked out a little because it was something new. She ate them all week with no problems. I also gave her green beans yesterday and she loved them. So far so good with feeding her solids. I hope she continues to be a good eater. Soon we will start introducing tastier stuff like sweet potatoes and fruit. Josh wanted to get her eating all the "yucky" green veggies first.

5 Months old!

Avery Yvonne you are 5 months old!!!You are growing so fast.

You cut your first tooth this month!

You have been drooling and chewing on stuff for the past 2 months and your front little bottom tooth finally popped out!

You now weigh 16.5 pounds (according to our bathroom scale)

The 3-6 month clothes are starting to get snug!

You roll over like a champ, but then get stuck on your tummy.

You are starting to reach for things, and get a good grip on all of your toys now.

You are such a happy baby!

You smile at everyone and love to be held and played with.

You are a little high maintenance...

you fuss at me if I leave you on the floor to play by yourself too long

You are getting so good at bedtime and nap time!

All we have to do is lay you in your crib, and kiss and rub your face for a few minutes.

You cuddle with your lovey bear and go right to sleep.

You are still exclusively breastfed, this means sometimes you don't poop for awhile.

The doctor says this is normal, and you only rarely get crampy,

but this picture is after one of your blow outs!

I had to wash you off in the sink!

You can sit up for a few seconds now before tipping over.

You love to sit up to, no more laying down baby stuff!

You like playing in your bumbo chair and excersaucer.

In the mornings you will also lay in your bouncy chair and watch Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.

We love you so much!

It seems like you grow and change everyday!

Next month you get to start eating food!

You will love that, because you are very interested

when we eat in front of you now.

I feel so blessed to be able to stay home with you right now.

Like I said you grow and change everyday, and I am so lucky to be home with you for all these changes.