1st Birthday!!

An update on Avery Kate…

Now 1 year old! Can you believe it!!

Avery Kate is growing up so fast! It’s hard to believe she is a year old! Her birthday was April 2nd. We had a party for her on the 11th and she did wonderfully. It was the first time she was around that large of a group of people and children. There were about 10 children and 25 adults at the party. Avery was actually napping right up until party time! When she woke up most of her guests were already here. I wasn’t sure how she was going to respond to that, but after a few minutes of waking up she seemed fine. She actually wanted to get down and go explore the party herself…as long as I was in eyesight that was. I couldn’t hold her, but I couldn’t leave her either. I think all in all she had a good time at her party. Avery is very inquisitive, so having lots of new people and new things around to investigate was very entertaining to her.


Here are a few pictures from her party. Her cake was made by her Grandma (Maw).

On the 14th we took Avery to the developmental specialist for another check up. This time we met with the physical therapist. She did a screening/assessment of where Avery is vs where she should be and she said Avery is right where she is suppose to be and that she was very pleased with her and had zero recommendations. She of course reminded us that they base Avery’s development on her adjusted age up to age 2 and not her birth age. So that means they were looking at how she compared to 9 month old babies, which we knew. Avery is crawling like a normal baby and pulling up on everything.

She has been doing both for quite awhile now, over a month on both. She is also starting to get into finger foods. We went through a spell this last week or two where Miss Avery didn’t want to eat her food. She wanted her milk, just not her food. She drank a ton of milk (formula). She seems like she is over it now.




Avery is definitely a curious little girl. She wants to check into everything. I don’t think she leaves one rock unturned. She goes all over the house looking for anything she can get her hands (and mouth) on. We of course keep all the doors to the rooms we don’t want her in shut. Oh but when one is open on accident and she has to be removed from one of those rooms…MELTDOWN! Avery can have quite a meltdown. It’s usually when she is getting tired. She is winy when she is getting hungry and melts down when she is getting tired. Oh and what a meltdown she can have! She has been known to kick her feet and throw herself backward. She has pretty much stopped the throwing herself backwards, that is unless she is sure she is someplace where it won’t hurt. I noticed in the kitchen where it is tiled she throws herself forward…almost like she is touching her toes. Can you say DRAMA QUEEN!

Avery is definitely getting lots and lots of personality. I think she looks like Daddy and act’s like Mommy. I think if we ever have another we need lots of prayers that that child would act like Daddy, because I don’t think we could handle any more feisty women in this house. Avery is very independent and quite opinionated.

When she is exploring, for the most part she prefers to go off on her own. We always have her in eyesight, but she isn’t crazy about is being on her heels. She has always been good about letting us know what she does and doesn’t want and that hasn’t changed. The only thing that has changed is that she is more vocal about it.

I have to say Avery is a ton of fun. I can play with her and watch her play all day. I love it when she laughs, which is often. Avery smiles and laughs quite a bit. It makes us feel good to know she is a happy baby. It’s really funny when we laugh at her doing something and then she stops and laughs too. You can tell she has no idea what she is laughing about but that she thinks she should laugh because we are. Daddy claims Avery barks at the neighbor’s dogs, but I haven’t seen this so I don’t buy it. He said when their dog or our Kacey dog gets barking like crazy Avery barks back…I’m going to have to test this this weekend. I think he is making it up.

You never know though, babies this age do like to mimic things.

By the way right now Avery is about 18 ½ lbs and 27 inches long. That is what she weighted at the developmental specialist’s. We are due to take her in for her 12 month check up and shots so we will see what she weighs at that appointment.

She has come a long way in the past year. Just look at the difference between Easter pictures. The picture with Avery on the bench in the blue dress is Easter. Look back at the post from last year and you can really see just how far she has come. I have to say we are thankful everyday for Avery and how far she has come and we are so thankful for the people who supported us through Avery's NICU experience. It's been quite a year!!