It's wake up time

Avery has been getting decent at reading her alarm clock, even if she doesn't fully grasp what it means.  She reads off the time:  "eight, dot, dot, one, six, that means it's bed time" or "seven, dot, dot, two, three, it's wake up time".  Presently she tends to get fives and twos mixed up, and doesn't say zero, but that's ok - it tells me what we need to work on.  The challenge is when she's upstairs for a nap and starts saying "Mommy, Mommy, there's a three! It's wake up time." except the clock says 1:43, not 3:xx.

Speaking of working on things, during her time here at home Avery has gotten pretty good at spelling her first name and we're getting better with prompting at spelling her middle name.  She can tell you what city and street she lives in/on and is starting to get the right numbers but not in the right sequence for our house number.

I have to be doing something right.

It's my job to make sure this little girl knows all about Jesus.  That's how I see it.  So we read the Christmas manger book whenever she wants, we say our prayers, we thank him, we go to church, and we even practice signing his name.

For a while I've been asking Avery what her dolly's name is and she simply says "Baby", so Baby it has been.  Yesterday I asked again and she told me her doll's name was Jesus.  Not only did she tell me, but she made her version of the sign for it too.  Good pick kiddo!

What's your name?

I am telling you, every day... every day there is something new. Avery is definitely trying to say her name in response to the inquiry "what is your name?" It sounds more like A-ree, but it's very consistent.

She is also trying to say Aunt Jackie and even Barry for our friend Mr. Barry.

Today I also caught her on film doing two other things.  First "going fast" (sticking her arms out nehind her and trotting away).  I guess it is from some old cartoon.  Ask her Dad.  The second was her first attempt to complete a forward roll on her own!  She went off to the side but it was a good try.

Winter Storm Avery

The first winter storm rolled through last night and the weather channel dubbed it winter storm Avery!  True to form it seems pretty mild, especially here.  This morning it was all rain and only in the past hour has the deck shown a little bit of ice forming.  I guess the same cannot be said for Maryland and back in Johnstown.  Truly though, it's the middle of November and I've only noticed a flake or two flittering by so far.  That pleases me greatly.

She knows more people than I do

There is nothing like realizing your baby knows more people than you do.  We made a run into Target and at the checkout we hear "Avery!  hello!" It was Miss Joyce from daycare.

Once again overwhelmed

My guy's Mom and sister put on quite the over the top to do/tea time/shower for us this weekend.  It was crazy to see how many people were there and how she converted her whole downstairs to put the focus on us.  Every detail was attended to.  The food and drink was amazing, the decorating touches were beyond, her fine china was out for tea, everyone was all there in one room!

It rained pretty hard leading into the weekend and was steady on our drive their way, but things cleared and the sun prevailed - making it an even more lovely day.  We came home with another very full vehicle - making our previous stockpile of diapers look tiny.  There is another mound of goodies to be sorted through upstairs in the baby's room awaiting my attention.

More from the registry completion order has also arrived, so with a quick load of laundry now the pack and play with its new mattress is also ready for action in the living room.  I was able to complete one set of thank you cards for my side of the family this morning, which are now ready to go in the mailbox.  Also off of the list this weekend is getting the car seat bases installed, now I need to stop in and get mine inspected.  I'm hoping these few things being off of the list will give me rest tonight.  I was once again restless last night from all of the excitement and new additions to the list.

Pretty sure on the first name?

We talked a little today and while we already had a short list and weren't too far off - I think we have a first name.  I want us to say "this is it" out loud, but I am pretty sure we're there. Do I dare start calling her by this name when I talk to her?

The baby's name is...

NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS.  I have no issue with people asking if we've picked a name yet, don't get me wrong... but I was about at the end of my rope with people randomly sending me names.  Now I just got a message with bullet points on don'ts for names.  Not a link to an article, but a personal list of directives.  I'm half pissed and half insulted with a candy coating of crying about it.  Don't people, just don't.