Forward and up!

Last night Avery finally crawled forward in my presence, while we were visiting at Jay and Jenn's.  It was only a little bit forward and then she stopped, but her form was perfect - knees bent fully and looking very coordinated.  This morning she was sitting up in her crib when I went in to get her, which while I've seen her sit up periodically, this is the first time I've found her as such in the morning.

Today she is making some attempts that sound like they're towards Dada and more towards Puppy (she's tried a little in that direction recently too).

I've not been good keeping track of the food she's tried, so here is a bit of a catch-up:  chickpeas, chicken, broccoli, kiwi, lentil, apricot, zucchini, raspberry, tumeric, and eggs (a big milestone in my mind since as this allergy would be miserable).

Taking the Plunge

Today Avery had her very first swimming lesson!  I would love to see her get into swimming some day, but I know I can't push for things.  Regardless, today was a big day to me.  Avery didn't crack a smile the whole time, but it wasn't a lesson full of tears either - other than when the instructor took her for a split second.

During her lesson she did a bit of kicking and patting her hand on the water, which she does in the tub too, but it definitely made me feel like she was comfortable enough with the water.  We were also able to take her under several times for a brief second.  I couldn't be more proud.  Of course, you can see my pride in every photo taken of her and I, as I tend to have this goofy smile on my face when I'm looking at her.

Heavy Metal Baby

Avery was 9 months old yesterday!  Unfortunately for her, other than a few photos with a 9 month sticker the biggest event of the day was heading for her 9 month well visit.  Fortunately she only needed one shot on this trip, but she also had to have her sweet little toe stuck for blood.

Even sitting her down on the table in the examination room just to get her down to her diaper she knew something was up (I swear she remembers it already) and she started crying.  When I picked her up she nestled into my chest hiding.

All is well with her, except the blood test says that her lead levels are slightly high.  You can imagine I'm surprised and my mind is everywhere trying to figure out what on earth could be the cause, such that I can eliminate it.  The house is newer, so it isn't lead pipes - at least not IN my house, but at the same time, I make all of her formula from bottled water, not tap.  I was ready to take her pacifier clips away, as she insists upon putting the metal end in her mouth if she can get to it, but all of those clearly state on their listings that they are lead free.  I'm thinking through everything we have for her.

The more you look into it, the scarier it becomes -- baby food testing positive for lead and arsenic, toys.  Does Amazon sell a baby bubble?  Oh wait, that could be contaminated too.

I did mention it to daycare, just in case another parent reports something similar - and they said they'll reassess toys again too.  Maybe it was from while we were on vacation?  The only thing I know for sure is waiting until her 12 month appointment to test again seems like a very long time.

She weighed in at 20# 5 1/2oz, measured 26 1/2" tall, and had a 18" noggin.  She is low in the percentile for height (no surprise if that measurement is right as she only grew a half an inch) but higher on the weight.

First Communion

I almost forgot to mention that this past Sunday Avery took her first communion at church.  It isn't the big to do that it is in the Catholic church by any means - and obviously, she's not old enough to understand fully what it is.

Last month Pastor was ready to offer her a piece but I passed as she hadn't tried much in the way of bread to that point, but I noted that we'd make it a goal to be ready when communion came around again (we do it periodically, not every week, in the Methodist church).  This time we were ready and Avery had her piece of bread, sans grape juice.

Waving like the Queen

I kind of figured she'd pick up waving soon, after all, on the cruise EVERYONE was waving at Avery.  Sure enough, when I walked in to pick her up yesterday she turned (in a walker) looked up, grinned, and waved.  She often has her little hands moving, moving, moving when she gets excited.  When she's doing this her fingers all go like she's plotting some evil plan.  Instead this was nearly like the queen waving to me - fingers straight and the whole hand moving.  I'm told she was practicing it all day.  I'm trying to catch it on video.

She has continued saying Mama, and periodically throwing in what I believe is Baby after.

Up, Up, but not Away Just Yet

Today Avery started using me like a ladder:  putting her hands on my leg to push her butt up off of the floor and using my stomach or arm to stand the rest of the way up.  Every day I believe more and more that she will walk before she crawls forward.

But it isn't a Holiday

It seems like the only time we get to visit with most of the family is at holidays (or funerals).  Friday I tried to break that by texting one of Avery's Great Aunts to see if their house was free and agreeable to company and we stopped in for a visit amidst other running up 'in their area'.

So Much Love from Such a Little Girl

Friday I picked Avery up from daycare and they helped her out, preparing a sweet purple and yellow pansy plant in a purple pot. Apparently she helped pick which one for me by reaching for this one in specific.  It has a lovely tag thanking me for always loving her - it even had a little orange autumn looking puffy leaf on the tag!  This girl knows me well.

Today to make my first Mother's day weekend even more special, Avery started saying Mama.  She said it this morning in the exersaucer while I was in the kitchen, but I dismissed it.  I had her with me while at an event a member of my church was holding and a few ladies there absolutely confirmed that they were hearing Mama loud and clear and that they believed she knew what she was saying.  Back at home, eating her lunch I caught it on video - not only clearly saying Mama, but what also seems like Baby... Mama Baby (Mummy's baby is something I often tell her she is).  I am loved and my heart is so full.

Our First Thank You for Allowing me to be your Mama Day

I never thought there would be a day when someone wished me "Happy Mother's Day"  either out of not realizing I didn't have children or because they knew how much I loved my dogs and addressed them as my babies, but here we are.  This weekend I celebrate my first Mother's Day with my baby in my arms (I guess in my mind I allowed myself to celebrate a little last year too, but this year it's so very real).

I joked that Avery took me for dinner (Chic-Fila) and shopping last night.  I ended up buying myself a couple of pairs of shorts and a beautiful rose gold and diamond ring on which I splurged as a memory of my first Mother's day.  While we were at Chic-Fila I went about as I normally do, eating and talking to her, holding her on my lap when I am not working on eating the sandwich, tickling her, giving her kisses, and allowing her to explore things (like the crumpled up bag).  In general - enjoying her and trying to ensure that she isn't disrupting anyone else around us.

As the table across from us left a woman stopped and said how much she enjoyed watching our interactions (noting all of the kisses) and stating "she is truly a loved baby".  My heart is touched.  I love this little girl so very much and I'm glad that you can see that from a mile away.  I know I won't get everything right, heck I'll be lucky to get half of it right, but last night I felt like a good Mom and I appreciated hearing it.

Baby's First Vacation

Our family has returned from Avery's first vacation.  Her first cruise couldn't have been on a better ship as we took Grandeur, a gal we love and have shared with so very many people that are important to me (her Dad of course, my Mom, my Aunt, my Sister, my Niece, Beff, Rex, Slips, Tonya, and this is where we met and resailed w/ the Chics too!)

We knew this would be a slower paced trip.  For example, we didn't even try to hit the evening shows and didn't plan to leave the ship in Miami or Port Canaveral.  I had looked forward to putting her toes in the sand and water in Cococay, but unfortunately that call was cancelled as it was unsafe tendering.  Instead we had an extra day in Nassau, so we booked an excursion on the ferry to Blue Lagoon.  The water was a bit chilly, so I am hoping that is why she was crying about the water, but I'm puzzle by her tears when the toes hit the sand (no, the sand was not hot - it was overcast and a bit rainy).

The drive was quite long - an extra hour to Baltimore from here than it was at my previous place.  Avery handled it remarkably well, a bit fussy on the way home only for the last half an hour or so.

Regardless, it was a lovely time.  Avery was adored by all onboard and was often greeted by name as the trip progressed.  It blows my mind how many people tell me how beautiful and sweet she is.  But she is very pleasant and has a smile for everyone - that surely helps.  She was very well behaved the whole time and not unhappy other than when we screwed up her schedule, resulting in her being beyond over tired.  The best part about the past week and a half was being with her constantly for 11 days.  I am really not looking forward to returning her to daycare.

Many of the 9 month summer outfits we took along are very much so her current size.  I weighed her today and she is at 19# 2oz by our scale.  The 12 month clothes are slowly working their way into the drawers.  How can they look so big but be where she's very nearly at?!