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Another video of Avalon, I know I know, but guys, this was just too good not to post. She hasn’t really laughed since the video I posted of her first giggles which was almost a whole month ago. The girl plays hard to get, man, really makes you work for it.
I’m not sure why she thought this obnoxious noise I was making tonight was so hilarious, but it doesn’t matter because would you just listen to this adorable gut-wrenching laughter? It’s enough to even make Scrooge smile, I’m sure of it.
I sent out my Christmas cards last week. I feel very led to make that point very blatant and well-known because I usually procrastinate with those types of things and the fact that I managed to get them in the mail before Christmas Eve, well, yay. So anyway, because I love my blog friends as much as my real-life friends, I wanted to wish you all Merry Christmas too, Christmas card style. Pretend you found this in your mailbox, stamped and sealed, and perhaps even with a spritz of perfume.
Merry Christmas, friends.
(From inababycarriage.com.)
A few things to note about the following video:
1. The amount of baby paraphernalia that has already piled up around our living room, and good Lord, she’s only three months old and hasn’t even been spoiled by her grandparents on Christmas yet.
2. Obviously, her singing skills do not come from me. And certainly not from her father. But definitely from her talented Aunt Courtney and Aunt Maddie.
3. She didn’t, in fact, take a poop at the end of the video. Fooled me, kid!
Last week in the middle of Avalon’s three month photo shoot she just WOULD NOT sit still. She had some happy feet going on so I raced to get the camera and thus, here is Avalon’s first dance recital:
Rob and I spent the entire day after Thanksgiving decorating our house for Christmas, which was very exciting as this will be the first Christmas in our new house. Apparently we ignored the child labor laws and worked Avalon too hard because she crashed right on the living room floor.
Thanksgiving 2009 was a great one. Not only did we stuff ourselves silly with two turkey dinners – one with Rob’s family and another with mine – but it was, of course, our first Thanksgiving with Avalon which made it better than ever. It was a long and eventful day, but she hung in there like a trooper and even took a few naps along the way.
Nap #1 at Grandma and Grandpa T’s. Also, outfit #1.
Nap #2 at Grandma and Grandpa B’s. And, yes, outfit #2. I’m sorry, I just couldn’t commit to one outfit. They were both too adorable. I’m realizing that that is the consequence of having a daughter.
After dinner Avalon helped me with my exercises. She likes to assist me with my crunches.
There is almost nothing cuter than a flying baby wearing tights.
By the end of the day, Avalon had had enough. She was one tired puppy and fell asleep in her Great Great Grandma’s (I know! Can you believe it?! Isn’t Avalon lucky?) arms. Grandma M. still has the touch after all these years!
As I was thinking back on what kind of excitement we’ve had around here the past month, I realized that I better start writing STAT! because, dude, there’s so much to say. Avalon, you have changed so drastically since last month that it’s like I barely even know who you are. That unpredictable, fussy infant has turned into a happy, smiling, routine-oriented baby. It’s so ironic the way life always turns out differently than what we expect. For me, I thought that my favorite age would be when you were brand spankin’ new, just a tiny little infant and that those three month olds? Meh. BOOORINGGG. They’re not cute itty, bitty bugs anymore. Which obviously is true. You’re a giant compared to your infant self. But you know what? You are so fun and cuter than ever! And corny as it sounds, you just get better and better every day. This age is proving to be really fun for both of us.
So like I said, a lot of things have happened this month. First of all, I weaned you off of breast milk and on to formula. I think it happened gradually enough that it never really phased you at all, except for maybe all the not-pooping you did for a couple of days. Once we got over that hurdle though it’s been smooth sailing ever since. However, I gotta admit, that formula stuff is nasty, man. The smell, OH, THE STANK, I’m really not sure how you manage to chug that stuff down a zillion times a day. Seriously, if I could mix in some chocolate syrup or Kahlua for you I totally would, and you know why? Because we’re a team AND I WOULD EXPECT YOU TO DO THE SAME FOR ME. But the best part about moving you to formula? I HAVE MY LITTLE BOOBS BACK! I never thought I would be so grateful for my A-cup boobs, and I’m sure when you’re sixteen and most likely have some A-cup boobs yourself you’ll think I’m crazy for not enjoying those grapefruits I had on my chest for ten weeks, but I don’t know, I guess I just really enjoy the option of going braless from time to time. TMI? Sorry, for a second I forgot who I was and that you don’t want to know those things about YOUR MOM, EWWW. Anyway, you also moved up to your own bedroom this month which was another really smooth transition. And you are now wearing cloth diapers. And you can look me in the eyes and smile. And you even laughed out loud the other day! Apparently you were ready for some change in your life at two and half months because THINGS. THEY CHANGED.
You have pretty much settled into a bedtime routine now, which you know your anal-retentive, Type A mother loves. You go to bed around 8 and then I come up and give you a “dream feed” around 10. Bet you didn’t know you were getting a little midnight snack, did you? I come in and pick you up while you’re off in dreamland and you do this adorable little stretch thing that you’ve done since you were born and that I just love: you arch your back, throw your head back, hug your legs up tight to your tummy, and curl your little feet in towards each other. Then you pretty much stay that way on my lap the entire time you chug your bottle because there’s no way I’m going to mess around adjusting your posture and risk waking you up. Then I lay you back down in your crib when you’re done eating and you sleep soundly, most nights, until around 5 when you wake to eat again. After that, it’s back down to sleep again until 8 or 9, which makes me so very happy because I’d be lying if I didn’t admit to sleeping in with you sometimes.
Unfortunately during the day you’re not the great sleeper that you are at night. In fact, just to be honest, you’re a pretty crappy napper. For some reason you prefer catnaps, and if you happen to nap longer than an hour it’s a victory comparable to Notre Dame actually winning a football game. So basically, it rarely happens. I try not to complain too much about the nap situation, though, because if you’re going to sleep then duh, I obviously prefer you to sleep at night. Mama needs her zzz’s too, she can’t run on Coke Zero alone, you know.
All of this to say, you’re awesome. Happy three month birthday, punkin, and Happy First Thanksgiving to you, too. We’re so thankful for you.
Love, Mama
Avalon’s crafty Aunt Courtney made her this adorable onesie the other night using the outline of Avalon’s handprint. Is it not the cutest thing you’ve ever seen? Put Avalon inside of it and it’s a double whammy of CUTE. I think this turkey is even more mouthwatering and edible than the turkey that will be on the table tomorrow.
This Thanksgiving I’m obviously most thankful for the newest addition to our family, my little baby girl. Every day with her is a complete joy and I’m so happy that she’s in my life.
1. I feel gypped. Birthing a baby in early fall then trying to lose the baby weight at the same time that the holidays roll around sucks. It’s hard enough to try and maintain your weight November through January, when cookies and peppermint mochas and pumpkin pies are floating around, but LOSING weight through all of this? The undeniable failure is already driving me to the cinnamon rolls. These last five pounds are giving me the most trouble, and that flat stomach I once had has been replaced by a baby bulge that clearly reads AVALON WUZ HERE.
2. I’m really looking forward to the long weekend with Rob. We’re going to decorate for Christmas, which means buying a new tree, because the last tree we bought two years ago was cheap. And cheap trees means straggly and ugly. Since this is our first Christmas in this house I have all sorts of new decorating ideas I can’t wait to try. Garland, stockings, twinkle lights…Rob is thrilled!
3. Here’s a secret for ya. Shhh. *Avalon slept through the night last night.* I don’t want to say it too loud for fear of jinxing myself. But she did! She slept from 8pm – 7am without even a peep or squeak out of her! I’m not sure if that was a fluke or if we’re turning a new corner filled with lots and lots of hours of sleep. I’m really hoping for the latter.
4. So now that my body has healed and is back to normal I’m back on birth control. Although I hope that God blesses us with more babies in the future, I am crossing my fingers that it isn’t in the next couple of years. Problem is, well, there are two problems: 1) I am horrible at taking pills on a regular basis. I forget. I get lazy. Blah blah, needless to say popping pills is not the best, safest birth control for me AND RIGHT NOW I AM ALL ABOUT BEING SAFE, and 2) the NuvaRing, which I am on right now, is giving me migraines almost daily. This happened the last time I was on it, but for some reason I was thinking maybe it wouldn’t do that anymore. Unfortunately, all the headaches have resulted in me taking some left over Vicodin from one of Rob’s previous ailments for the past three days. I think this might be a problem, only I’m not really sure what to do about it.
5. I’m desperately trying to come up with something to say that’s not Avalon-related. But the only thing that comes to mind is something food-related. Why is it that AVALON and FOOD are the only two subjects on my mind ALL THE TIME?
6. …..
7. …..
8. This post sucks. Goodbye forever.
Avalon and I were playing in her room this afternoon and all of sudden she made this noise I had never heard, sort of a cross between the beginning of a cry and a giggle. So then I kept doing what I was doing – looking like an idiot, basically, which makes me wonder if babies ever get annoyed by us grownups acting so stupid just to get a smile out of them, like dude, do you really need to talk in that high-pitched, annoying voice with your face two inches away from mine? Because your breath is totally rank. – and I quickly knew for sure what this new noise was. A LAUGH! So I ran downstairs and grabbed the camera hoping to get it on film so that Rob would believe me when I told him that evening that Avalon laughed. Because of course tonight when I tried to make her laugh she wouldn’t do it. But proof, I have proof!
My only warning? Well, actually there are two.
Warning number one: the visual sucks, so ignore that and just listen. And when you listen, try to ignore me because remember? I sound like an idiot.
Warning number two: this may just be the cutest thing ever. She’s so squeaky!
