Lips

Avery's always had a fascination with me buzzing my lips (I think all babies like it). It didn't take her very long to try it on her own. Now she does it without even thinking about it. I get quite a kick out of it. :) She loves to try copying all my actions. (That's how the milk jug thing got started; you'll see in the video.)

Lately, she's also had a thing for sticking out her tongue (why is everything babies do just so darn funny?). Oh, I also think she's quite a genius for figuring out a way to let me know she wants rice cereal; she smacks her lips and moves her jaw as if chewing. She should publish her own book of baby sign language. :P

Somebody Save me

Little girl had quite a night. And so did we. Usually she goes to bed fine if she's tired. Not so last night. She's rubbing her eyes and we try to put her down. Nope, she cries, so we make sure she's been fully taken care of (you know, the works).

Put her down again. And again. Still much rubbing of eyes and crying. This time we don't pick her up. Now her nose is running like crazy, she's made a pool of tears, and she starts to cough/choke from her drainage. Mom saves her (that choking sound is enough to make any mom jump). She must be teething or getting sick. Out comes the tylenol and the thermometer. Temperature fine, but down goes the drugs anyhow.

Asleep at last!! .... for 30 minutes? Up every half hour for the next couple hours. At 2 a.m. Dad helps mom put on the teething cream. She seems happy with it, but still sobs in bed. She must hate her snot draining back in her throat. That's it... she needs an incline... to the bouncer for bed! She still cries, but falls asleep promptly. Poor baby.

Asleep until 6 a.m., not bad. I think I fed her then back in the bouncer to bed. I notice she's still coughing and has been doing so for a couple days now, actually. Her nose is uncontrollably runny and I have a feeling it's not just because of her crying. Oh boy. A sick, teething baby? Well, she's not too sick, YET. I sure hope we can help her out better tomorrow night. Somebody save me!

How does she measure up?

Six-month appointment was today. Avery is still 95% for height and weight (27.5 inches and 18 lbs. 15 oz.). Her head is small and in the 10-25% (41 cm.); however, the doctor reassured me that Einstein also had a small head (haha). No worries there. I do hope she picks up on rolling over here soon because it's about that time. We'll keep at it! As far as her temperament goes, the nurse was thoroughly impressed with how Avery handled her 4 shots (she didn't even cry on the first one and after they were all done, she stopped her crying). What a big girl! She's been that way for all her shots. I'm very impressed.

Six months Old

Hooray! Our baby has HAIR! Check out the mini mohawk up there. Avery is so much fun these days. She's much more into her rice cereal and even did well with a mashed up carrot and banana. You can tell it's summertime because of her baby tan (farmer tan at that). We think the whiteness in the creases of her fat rolls are hilarious. She loves to sit up, flap her arms, play with her toys and play with Coby (her giraffe). Yes, I finally gave him a name. She's still loving her bungee and is a very good little girl. (We must be so very lucky!) She's up a couple times a night, but it's actually not bad at all (she's going to bed earlier now around 9). We're still working on her rolling over and being on her tummy. She's got terribly weak arms... such a girl. She sure loves to use her legs, though! We love our baby Avery!

Twenty-Six Years Old

Happy Birthday to my....

Huntin'...

Fishin'...

Horse-ridin'...

Motorcyclin'...

Hard-workin'...

Mountain bikin'...

Trail hikin'...

Strong musclin'...

Outdoorsin'...

Campin'...

Sure lovin'...

...heck of a husband! Who I love LOTS AND LOTS AND LOTS!!!! You are the coolest, funnest, cowboyanist husband in the wild, wild west! Ok, so that was cheesy, but I love you and let the pictures speak for themselves! Happy BIRTHDAY!

Grandma's or Bust

We spent a week and a half at Grandma Olsen's house while all the boys went on a manly 50-mile backpacking trip on the Selway in Montana and Idaho. (Hopefully pictures on that to come). In the mean time, us girls enjoyed shopping, attending receptions and generally holding down the fort. It was nice to pick and cook food from the garden; Kristy taught me how to put together a good garden vegetable soup with dumplings on top and roast beef on the side or inside! Yummy! Thanks, Grandma, for helping us get our car cleaned up and taking good care of us! Avery enjoyed the trip, too. We celebrated Brian's birthday on the boys' return. (His birthday was Aug. 16th and he turned 26.) We made a cake that was just fit for him and perfect since they just got back from a big hiking trip. Kristy, Jessica, and I had a lot of fun making it!

Avery didn't think we were getting to Grandma's fast enough, so we let her drive. :)

Oh no! What is this? Our child is a BOY! Grandma thought Avery needed a warmer night outfit so she found this in her closet. Funny thing is that she passes pretty well for a boy and is even cute like that too (haha) but we're sure glad she's our little GIRL!

We thought we'd put Kristy's new square cake pans to good use for Brian's birthday. We even found chocolate rocks to use from Winco and sugar cones for the trees and swedish fish for the pond and graham cracker for a tent and fruit leather for the tarp that Brian is sleeping on at the top and Carson was so nice to let us use his hunting men and deer!

Check out Brian's week-long Beard!

Bunny

I know what Avery is going to be for Halloween. A bunny. A cute little hopper with pink and white ears. I knew from the first time (or second time) I put her in her bungee. You should see her GO! Have a look; you might get dizzy! She actually resembles a frog probably more, but I'm sticking with Bunny.

Totally Hilarious!

So I was eating a tortilla in the car and Avery, who was watching intently with much interest, began to mimic my chewing. haha, I love it! You know, I told Brian the other day: "Once we became parents, it seems that we constantly talk about our kid and the silly small little things she does. I don't see how anyone else would or should be interested in these things or why we dwell on her pooping, burping, sleeping, and eating habits. I mean, what's happening to us?!" But now I know what it's like to be a parent and I'm not ashamed whatsoever!

We've got company

We've already had 7 overnight visitors at our new place and we think that's pretty neat. We just like to party up the summer!

Visitors #1 & 2: Brian's parents, Mark and Kristy, came down from Idaho to deliver our big couch which has been in storage for a year since it didn't fit in our last apartment. Yahoo! Now our living room is complete!

Visitor #3: My nephew, Tyler, came to visit all the Utahans in our family for a week and stayed with us a couple nights. Here's a picture of all the cousins in Utah (plus their aunt Bonnie) at President Hinckley's grave for a combined FHE.

Visitors #4, 5, 6, & 7: Our best buds, Carol and Scott Scharnhorst with their kids, Claire & Evan were in Utah and stayed a day and night with us!

Carol, Scott, & Claire on our walk to Bridal Veil Falls.

Evan & Avery getting the hook-up. Haha!