All Abourd the Potty Train!

The big news this month is that Avery is potty trained. It was so easy, and I am so thankful for that. Cleaning up accidents was not my idea of fun. Luckily I only had to do that once.

So now with the new potty freedom comes, big girl panties! We bought a bunch of different kinds, fun colors, patterns, TinkerBell, and princesses. Well only the princess panties will do for the potty princess. She is very particular.

Christmas shopping is in full swing and I am really looking forward to this year. I think she is going to get what's going on, where last year we had to coerce her to open packages. Now she loves "pwesents".

She has been so attentive to thing things around her lately. She'll notice a dog in someone's yard while we are driving, or hear an sound and identify it. These were all things that seem to have taken her a little longer, because she learned what things were so much later, than kids who hear it their entire life. She also learned Happy Birthday song and let me tell you, it gets old after 500 times.

What a Month

So this month has been quite eventful. As I said in my last update we celebrated our Adoption Day anniversary. Otherwise things have been kinda crazy. I will say Avery has really taken to dragging her Daddy outside to play almost everyday. It is pure bliss for her and it gives me a nice break.

Avery decided last week that she wanted to go to Pre-school - that is until I explained that I would have to leave her there and pick her up when it was over. Her response, "No pee-skool Mommy, I go Aunt Becky's house!" I think that is a better idea too.

We have a future cheerleader in the making. Avery has gotten into practicing stunts. She'll stand in my hands and I can hold her there forever. Talk about balance. I think gymnastics will be our next venture. She would really love that. (Pardon the mess in the picture - my tiny tornado was wreaking havock)

Happy Adoption Day!

Avery at about 2 weeks old
~ isn't she adorable

Avery and her Daddy
~ the day we met her

Avery at 10 months old
~ waiting for Mommy and Daddy Yes, that's right, we made it! It has been one year, one hour and 58 minutes, since a judge in Khabarovsk, Russia made us parents to Avery! I can hardly believe it. I honestly think I am in a state of shock and awe. I was really emotional in the days leading up to today, but now, I am just at peace. We have our daughter and all is right with the world.

This is Avery leaving the Baby Home

9/27/05

Avery has taken it upon herself to grow up over the last month. No more baby in this house, unless you count the diapering that I do every time I turn around. She stopped saying "hold you me" and has resorted to the proper "Hold me!". She has mastered the art of climbing out of her crib, so that makes for some fun evenings and morning suprises. A big girl bed is just around the corner I fear. She is counting and saying her A, B, C's, although we have a way to go before those are mastered. She reads me books from memory and sings songs all day long. Being 2 is fun again! We are thinking about boarding that infamous potty train again, but I am in no hurry. You would think I was, by my earlier diaper reference, but no, I am enjoying one last glimpse of my baby.

My baby girl, in Russia!

2nd day with us

Life has continued to be busy here in the Stevens house. Ryan is busy working. I am trying to get a new business venture off the ground, and Avery is running circles around us. I wouldn't have it any other way!

Life is good, and I am feeling so very blessed to be Avery's Mommy!

Summer Happenings

July was a busy month and Avery did her part to keep us hopping. Being 2 is challenging, but so fun too. It's almost like having a mini teenager. Avery just oozes with a wild personality. She cracks me up with her answers to questions and silly antics.
We've spent a lot of time swimming and I think Avery is part fish. I've never seen a child so small hold their breath and swim underwater like she does. She frequently tells me "No Mommy, get away - I do it!". She prefers to swim without arm swimmies or a lifejacket. Talk about heart attack city for Mom!
This weekend we went to the zoo with Daddy. It was a first and she LOVED it. The cat house and the monkeys were huge hits. When she saw a baby monkey and it's mommy swinging from vines she screamed "Hi, Hi, Hiiiiiii - monkey, you swinging!!!" then she ordered the mommy monkey to share it's food with the baby. "Share, share now monkey". When we was the Rhinos (that were sleeping) she couldn't grasp why they were sleeping in the "Eeeeeww ucky mud!"
We found a great new place to play. Go Play Cafe is loads of fun. It is like Discovery Zone and has all the fun tunnels and slides. We went with some friends and can't wait to go back. My knees were sore and I now know I'm old, but hey - I'm young at heart.
Well, that's all for now. Avery is raring to go, so I better be too!

So let's see... We are just home from a trip east to visit our Russia travelling buddies. We had an amazing time and Avery made fast friends. The girls were just the cutest playing together. Avery got to pet her first sing ray - apparently it was "cold" or so she said.
The "terrible 2s" are in full effect, with fits and "I do it! by myself" abounding. It's fun though. I though she talked a lot before, but now, now - let's just say it is never ending. I can understand her much better now too. She is a bundle of energy and opinion and
it makes for some very interesting days.

Swimming is a huge hit, although I wish she had at least some fear of the water. Not my girl, she will even go off the diving board. All day she says "Jumping, jumping, jumping!" I get tired just watching her.

Two Years Old ~ Big Stuff!

I'm a little late in updating, but 2 yr. olds sure do keep you on your toes. June 4th was Avery's birthday and we had a big party the day before. She was pretty shy, I know, can you imagine our little social jabber-jaws shy, but all that attention was totally new for her.
She has totally changed overnight. No more baby. We've got full sentances, demands, and opinions out the wazoo. Oh, and she is now a Dora the Explorer fan. In fact at our local amusement park all the attractions in "kiddie land" are Nick Jr. themes, when she saw the big statue of Dora, let me just say I though she was going to climb it! DOOORWAAH!!!!!!!! Silly thing!
Avery is doing great on the potty, but we really aren't pushing it. It's very nice to not change a diaper every time I turn around those (especially the poopies).
She is so maternal lately. Very into her babies. We got her a stroller for her birthday and she pushes the babies around, feeds, them, tells me "Shhhh! night, night baby!", and "Here ya go baby!" "That's right!" It is just the cutest thing to watch.
In just a few weeks we are headed up east to visit our dear friends that kept us sane during our long stay in Russia! Very excited about that! Since Avery didn't do so well on our last little trip, we are talking it up as much as we can. She says, "I go Maaahk (Mark), see Kasseee (Kathy), pay Marta (play with Tamara)". I think she'll do fine. If only we can get her to say Tamara's name correctly. So Kathy, Mark - if your reading this, when Ave asks for Marta, she isn't nuts.
She loves the pool, but being the independant spirit she is, safety is not a factor. On the first day of setting up her little pool, she dove in head first and swam up to the top. As you can see from the picture above, no swimmies for this kid!
I had great aspirations for weight gain by the 2 yr. mark. We were shooting for 22 lbs. It was a week late, but she made it! Bottom line is, she's just a bean pole. Her teen years will be glorious! Oh yeah, and Little Miss Vain, says "I'm GORGEOUS!" And if I do say so myself, she's right!

Spring Fever!

We are loving the outdoors! It is all I can do to get Avery to come in for meals, nap, or even to stay out of the rain. My normally neat and clean girly girl is a filthy mess digging in the dirt and picking plums from the tree in our front yard. Last Monday she spent the afternoon rolling down the hill. The next morning she had a horrible rash all over her cheek. It is getting better, but still there.
She is talking much clearer now and saying lots of cute things. I always say "Hi baby girl!". Apparently she is catching on because Saturday on our way to soccer she looked up at me and said "Hi Mommy girl!". She is so silly.
Birthday party plans are coming right along. I am so excited and a little sad that my baby is going to be 2 years old. I am trying to not go overboard, but I think that may be impossible.
Soccer is going well. She was the soccer playre of the month for her age group last month, because she was a good listener. What? Avery? She is getting much better at listening and following direction.
She learned to walk backwards and loves practicing up and down the sidewalk. She is starting to identify colors and is curently fixated on yellow.

Avery's First Easter

The day started out pretty hectic. Avery was hyped up on chocolate - I let her eat 1/2 of a little bunny. She emptied the entire contents of her diaper bag on the living room floor, Cheerios, wipes, and hand sanitizer everywhere.
I finally got her dressed and made myself somewhat presentable and we all headed out to church. She got to play in te nursery, which she loves and she had her little friend Charlie and cousing Hannah to make the time fly by.
After church she caught a few winks in the car on the way to Grandma's. Let me tell you what. I had said she was afraid of swings, well, not anymore! She was in hog heaven. She loved running around outside barefoot. Egg hunting went pretty well, she caught on after maybe 5 minutes of just running free.
We got home and she had a few more pieces of candy and dinner... yes, in that order. The rules went out the window on Sunday. She was out by 7:15. It was a long day, but so much fun.

Six Months Already

It's hard to believe, that Avery has been with us for 6 months. She has really blossomed and I can't imagine what we ever did without her.
We went to the mall a couple weeks ago and there was a display for Sesame Street Live - Avery FREAKED! She started screaming "Ello, Ello!!!!!" Needless to say we are headed to see the show Thursday evening. That's going to be interesting.
The crazy weather has brought on some illness, so we've been homebound much of the last few weeks. Talk about stir crazy! Avery had an ear infection, then got the flu. Poor thing has never been so sick. She is definately back to her wild, crazy self.
She is getting sassy these days. Her new little thing is to put her hands on her hips, when you do something she doesn't like or want and say in an indignant tone "Heeyyyy!" Wonder where she gets that?
We went to the IAC for our 6 month follow-up this week. IT went really well, but Avery's TB test was positive, so she has to do a LONG antibiotic protocol. That should be fun.
Next week starts soccer season. I can't wait - I'm a soccer mom. Can you imagine a bunch of toddlers running around kicking the ball for an hour. I think when soccer is over we'll give gymnastics a shot, since she loved watching her cousins. Talk about glued to their every action.
It's finally been warm enough to hit the park. We had a great day, but she wore me out! My little dare-devil took off down the BIG tunnel slide without her momma. I never went down a slide so fast trying to catch her. she's not a big fan of the swings though - more of a climber for sure. Surprise! Surprise!

Continually Amazed!

The Stevens' house is in full blown toddler mode. Avery's vocabulary has exploded. She is leanring new words everyday. She is getting interested in games and loves to play Simon Says. Over the past few days she has been letting me know right after she's gone potty and removes her diaper. I am going to have to jump on the potty train a lot sooner than I wanted.
Avery is still into Sesame Street and Elmo. In fact she copies everything they do, so all day you'll hear her say "ten toes, casa (or caca in Avery speak), la la la la, Zoe, Elmo, cookie - c c - cookie yum yum yum, and laughing Ah! Ah! Ah! like the count. I'm telling you - she is a riot!
The climbing has gotten much better and I am so relieved. We are getting outside to play more since the weather has been nice, so Avery is in heaven. She gets her purse and goes to the door saying "Bye Momma!"
Yesterday was the first morning where Avery called for me in the morning without tears. Normally it is sobbing, "Mommmaaaa", but yesterday she was chipper and I heard "Momma, Momma" in the monitor. It was a beautiful sound.

Having Fun!

We've been having loads of fun this month. Avery is full of surprises everyday, but just watching her embrace all the new things around her makes life worthwhile.
We have been to the Aquarium where Avery learned about "phish". The sea turtles were her favorite. She has taclked the toddler zone at the Children's Museum with her buddy Claire. Her vocabulary is growing faster than I can say boo. In fact this morning she decided to copy mommy's example and say "Ta Da!", when I pulled her arm through her shirt. She also kisses the bath water bye bye. What a silly girl she is!
This past weekend we went out of town. Avery had her first swimming experience and was in hog heaven. Let me tell you, I may be biased, but she is a natural. She got right in and started kicking away. Someday we'll get the arm thing down. She even went under without protest.
Saturday we ventured out to COSI and had a blast more water adventures there, but her favorite thing was washing her hands at the sink - granted there was no running water. She kept saying "I wass hands", so we did for probably 30 minutes.
She is cutting all 4 two year molars. Not fun for mommy or baby. She can be quite a crank pot when teething. I guess she wouldn't be a toddler without some drama. Boy can she create some drama!
She has started nodding if you ask her if she loves mommy or daddy. We are also getting lots of spontaneous kisses and hugs, so things are really coming along. Avery is an amazing girl.

Christmas and More

Our first Christmas, what fun that was. Avery was just in heaven. She really loves family get togethers, not to mention all the attention she gets showered with. As for presents... the word for the day was "Wow!". She loves her Care Bear ride on and wouldn't even get off of it to open her other gifts. We just piled them on top. I was in awe. It totally lived up to all my expectations. Oh, grandma and grandpa got Avery a sled, big fun! She had her cousins playing sled dog with the rope around their waists towing her around the house for hours. She really IS a princess.
Now that the holidays are over things are settling back into a normal routine. We even experienced our forst illness. Avery got pink eye and an ear infection. I guess it's par for the course following all the holiday festivities. We made it through with only minor upsets - aka chasing her into the corner and holding her down to get drops in her eyes. She decided pink eye was so nice she'd share with mom - Thanks baby girl!
So we are healthy now and on the go! Today we went to the Children's Museum with Jackie and Claire. It was so much fun and Avery was totally loving it. She was all over the place and with as small as she is I had to stay on my toes. I think her favorite area had to be the Water Works. She had to wear this plastic apron to keep her clothes dry it was way to big and looked like a dress all the way to the ground. She poured water (mostly over her head), splashed, pushed boats, and had a WET blast. She was so soaked that I had to take off her shirt and let her wear her sweater home. Anything for some fun.
Popsicles are a new treat, but she likes them cut up. Mmmmm. She is also cutting her 2 year molars. I thought we were going to get a break from the teething thing, guess not. Oh well. At least she is sleeping TONS better. In her own room these days and all night long at that. I am one happy mommy. So nice to be rested. Avery and her daddy are the best of friends now. I left tonight for cheerleading and she didn't even bat an eye. Ouch! I'm glad she is better adjusted though.
We are still just loving our girl and all her new discoveries. She especially loves "round, round - DOWN!" or for those who don't know Avery speak - "Ring Around the Roses".