Merry Christmas!

Santa was very good to us this Christmas. We had a great time opening presents and enjoying time together. Here are some favorite moments from Christmas 2009:

Cookie and Ernie, to go along with Avery's favorite, "LaLa" (Elmo)

The rocking horse from Auntie Amy and Kris

Avery and her cousins

The Night Before Christmas

No Coal Here!

It took me a year-and-a-half to cross-stitch Avery's Christmas stocking, but it was well-worth the effort. Grandma Debby put the finishing touches on it, and it's now ready for all the goodies Santa's sure to leave on Christmas Eve.

On the Naughty List?

It's a good thing Avery's been such a sweet girl this year. Because when it came time for her one-on-one with the Big Guy, this is what happened:

I'm pretty sure her year of "nice" will more than make up for these few moments of "naughty."

Trick-Or-Treat!

Aloha, Baby!

The view from our condo in Waikiki

Testing the waters. The warm, clear, beautiful waters.

On Uncle Paul's beach, watching sea turtles with Grandma and Elmo. It doesn't get much better than this.

The black sand beach.

Aparently, standing on a steaming volcano is perfectly normal in these parts.

Enjoying the volcano sunrise.

Ready to go back to the beach.

Jersey Week

Starting two Sundays ago, Avery refused to wear anything except her Chargers jersy ... for an entire week. We'd manage to get it off and sneak it into the hamper, only to have her to seek it out and insist we put it back on. "Shirt!"she'd say. "Chargers!" "Football!" She was overcome with angst until we slid the shirt back on, at which point she'd stroke the silky fabric and smile.

It was a little embarrassing taking her to daycare in the same shirt four days in a row. Thank goodness Irene knows Avery well enough to understand. She managed to get it off and throw it in the laundry one day.

I did the same one evening, only to have Avery stick her little head in the glass bubble of the washing machine and watch longingly as the shirt spun round and round. "Don't worry, honey," I reassured her, "I've put it on the short cycle. And once it's done and dry, you can put it back on."

For the next hour she wandered the house aimlessly, muttering, "shirt...dry." Once I put it back on, she pranced proudly, pointing to the bolts on her sleeves and making the "kuchaaa" lightning sound.

Last Sunday, I talked her in to a pretty pink little dress for brunch. That lasted about ten minutes. Then she wanted the shirt on again. Over the dress.

Her jersey love affair finally came to an end Sunday night. The Chargers played a miserable game against the Steelers. And the shirt's been in the hamper ever since.

Monday

Wednesday

Saturday

Fashionista

Clearly, girls are born with a love for shoes. Here's Avery showing off the ladybug shoes her Grandma Weber gave her.

Good Ones

No real story here. I just like these shots.

Go Chargers!

Today was the first Chargers game of the season. Avery was pretty excited as we rooted the Bolts on against the dreaded Raider Nation.

Bathing Beauty

Today, fun at the pool!

Little Scientist

I could watch Avery sit – just sit – all day. Of course, that’d never happen because she’s so busy exploring everything. She moves from the moment she wakes up until the time she rolls over and tucks her knees under her belly to go to sleep at night.

Yesterday we went for a walk, just her and me. For the first time, I left the stroller in the garage and let her walk alongside me. It was slow-going since every cracked sidewalk or crunched leaf offers Avery an opportunity for discovery.

She collected the spiky seed pods from the liquid amber trees, dangling each from its stem and examining it like a Christmas ornament about to be hung. Then she found a pile of waxy orange cottonwood seeds, strewn across the concrete like fancy beads. One by one, she gathered them and scratched the coating off to reveal the shiny espresso-colored surface underneath. And it occurred to me, she wasn’t the only one who was fascinated.

Boom

During our 4th of July trip to Wisconsin, Avery's uncles and cousins taught her that the firework says, "Boom." It became her new favorite word, and each time she'd hear a capgun or firework going off outside she'd look at us very matter-of-fact and say, "boom."

This learning took on a hilarious new twist when, as we were in a doctor-office waiting room, she passed gas, looked up at me and declared, "boom."

Mama's Little Mirror

Babies are like little walking mirrors. They mimic everything they see, which tends to make one a little self-conscious.

I see my behaviors reflected in Avery every time she shakes her little finger at Buster when he barks. In her insistence on taking the baby spoon and feeding me. And I saw it as she walked up to me the other day, looked at me intently in the face and said, "Hi, baby."

Off and Running

First Steps!!!

I've been home sick for the past few days. It ended up being a blessing in disguise because I was home to see Avery take her first steps.

My mom and I were sitting in the living room while Avery played. She was standing next to the coffee table and decided she wanted a toy out of her nearby basket. Rather than crouch down, crawl over and stand back up, she decided to just go for it. And pat-pat-pat. That was it. Her first three steps. My mom and I sat in stunned silence for a second and then she asked, "Did you see that?" Thankfully, I had.

Merry-Go-Round

Today, a trip to Balboa Park, with Avery's first merry-go-round ride...

...and ride on the miniature train. So much fun!

It Happens

Birthday Party

Avery's friends and family gathered at our house today to celebrate the birthday girl. We had cupcakes, opened presents and enjoyed playing with Avery's new toys.

HAPPY FIRST BIRTHDAY!!!

Avery is one year old today!!!


It's been an incredible year. Here's a look back at the most eventful, most wonderful 365 days I've lived.

Hide 'n Seek

Was this game always so much fun?

Toddlin'

Miss Daisy

Avery's first Easter was great. We went to Grandma and Grandpa Simcox's for some brunch-eating, flower-sitting and hose-splashing. Could there be a better way to spend the day?