40 Weeks In... 40 Weeks Out

As of today, our little love bug has been outside of Mommy the same amount of time she was inside.  In all honesty, there are quite a few similarities between the two, especially in the first few weeks of each...  You don't feel well, you're hormonal, food makes you sick, and of course last but not least, you are dog tired!  Of course in pregnancy, you don't have a newborn waking you every hour and half to eat :)

Avery, the last 40 weeks have been so much more fun than the first.  Although Mommy does miss everyone catering to her every last whim ;)  People have a hard time telling pregnant women "no"!  You are such a complete joy.  I cannot imagine life without you!  We love you!

Could I have been any more swollen?!  So much more fun on the outside :)

9 Months!

As of last Friday our sweet Avery is 9 months old!  3/4 of a year.  I cannot even fathom that this child is way closer to a year than her birth.  I need my little Nug to stay this way forever!

Avery here are your stats at 9 months:

Height- 28 1/2 inches (75th Percentile)

Weight- 17 pounds 7 ounces (45th Percentile)

Sleep- You go to bed every night between 6:30 and 7:00 and sleep anywhere from 6:30 to 7:30...and when we are lucky you get close to 8:00!  You are still taking 2 naps a day.  A short one in the morning (30-45 min) and a long one in the afternoons (1.5 to 3 hours)

Likes- Playing in the bath, going on walks, being read to, grocery shopping with Mommy, being tickled, and most recently you LOVE watching Lexi jump up and down and run around the house.  You think it's hilarious.

Dislikes- You rarely get upset.  But you still don't like it whenever Mommy and Daddy leave the room.

Diaper Size- 3

Clothes Size- 9 months (you are still rocking your 6 months jammies!)

Feeding-  Still nursing 4 times a day with 3 solid meals.  New foods you have tried this month: avocados (you LOVED them!), biscuits, blueberry muffins (think you loved these more!), deli turkey, rice and beans

Favorite Toy- Your "Rock"tivity table, and Sophie the Giraffe

Favorite Book- "That's Not My Teddy" and "Rumble in the Jungle"

Milestones-  This was a big month!  You started crawling at about 8 months and 1 week.  Just a week after that you started pulling up everywhere!  You also learned to wave "bye bye" and "hi".  Just this past weekend you started saying "Dada".  My favorite though... When I say, "Avery, can you give Mommy kisses?"  You lean in with your mouth wide open and plant one right on my lips :)

Avery Grace, there are simply no words to adequately describe how much Daddy and I love you.  You bring so much joy into our home. You have such a sassy personality, and I have never in my life seen a baby that smiles as much as you!  Your beautiful toothless smile peering over the crib every morning is the highlight of my day.  We cannot imagine life without you!  We love you little Nug!

It was so warm one day here in mid January, that you could sit outside in your diaper!

You love going to park!

You are very intrigued by Buster.

All gussied up in your Sunday best.

Crawling, Pulling Up, A Stomach Bug, and a NEPHEW!

Avery has decided within the last 2 weeks to start crawling and pulling up.  She was sort of doing both right after she turned 8 months, but she is now a crawling/pulling up machine.  Definitely changed the dynamic of this Hardison home.  With a couple of containers of outlet coverings later, I still feel like there is some unknown hazard this little Nug can get herself into!  One day earlier in the week, she decided to pull herself up on the DVD holder and pull every single one down.. individually.  Too bad this OCD Momma then had to put every single one back... in alphabetical order of course :)

Getting into something!

Wednesday night after I got home from work, we noticed that Aves wasn't quite feeling herself.  An interesting diaper gave me suspicions, not eating most of her dinner all but confirmed it.. but when she "lost" all that she had eaten not 10 minutes after, it was definitive... our baby had the bug.  Yesterday was a struggle.  She was absolutely pitiful.  Felt too sick to fall asleep even though she was exhausted...her poor little red-rimmed eyes were so sad to look at!  I think we are coming out of the woods today.. She finally woke up without a fever, but her appetite is definitely not back yet.  Our baby girl normally LOVES to eat :)

Our sick baby yesterday!

But on to the best news of the week!  Our newest nephew is here!  William Alan Hardison (Will) was born Monday afternoon!  After a few hiccups and a trip to the NICU for a few days, this precious baby boy is finally going to go home today!  Will, we cannot WAIT to meet you at the end of this month!  We're so excited that you and Aves are only 8 1/2 months apart!  Oh what fun y'all are going to get into!  Sam, Avery, and Will are going to be good friends!

While he favors his big brother Sam who looks like J... The first thing M and I said when we saw his picture was "He looks like a Callahan!"  -K's side  Either way, he is adorable!

Cannot wait to get my hands on him!