my girl

 Hazel has been a b.i.g help since Averett was born.  

And although we have been very focused on him, we have not forgotten our little girl.

She is learning to pick her own outfits - even if I don't always agree with her style.

(yes, she did walk down our street dressed like this - on our way to play in her friend C's pool)

She is picky, in so many ways, including the helpful-pick-strawberry-way. 

 (We were racing to see if I could make jam before she ate all of the strawberries.)

Our bald-til-she's-18months girlie is bald no more!

She still loves her Daddy, and seems to be interested in the same things he is.

She reminds us to slow down and put our feet up, especially if it means we'll read to her.

(reading Tickle Monster, with the Tickle Monster hands)

One month in, and she still loves her brother.  She loves to sing, and he is always willing to listen.

One Month

.. 23.5 inches (97%) ..

.. 10 pounds 8 ounces (69%) ..

(5.24.11)

Averett Adventures - Month 1

(life - according to the Little Man)

 ...sleep.eat.swing.play.sleep.eat.stroller.sleep.eat.sleep...

...I like to sleep.

...I really like to eat.  I heard Mom say I am a professional.

...I am so happy to be here. 

...I think I started out the month eating every 2-3 hours (Mom was worried about me gaining weight, since Big Sister had problems).  I put her worries at ease, now I like to eat closer to every 3-4 hours.

...I know Dad is into this whole swimming thing - but I'm not so sure about bathtime.

...Excuse me while I brag, but I have pretty awesome "head control" - I can hold my head up and look around, none of this floppy neck nonsense.

...Swaddle me.  I love it.

...I started sleeping in my crib right away, but then Grandma G came to visit and since we were sharing a room, I'd try and sneak into bed with my parents from time to time.

...My big sister is a.w.e.s.o.m.e.  She is always looking out for me. 

(If she would just leave my pacifier alone!)

...I love going for walks in the stroller, especially when we go down to the boardwalk.

...Sometimes I wake up at night looking for my binky.  Occasionally I have to cry, holler, politely ask for it and Mom or Dad will take care of it.

...I think sleeping is great.

...Pooping is pretty cool too.  I try to do it as much as possible.

...I could spend days in my swing.  (Mom won't let me)

 ...I have had some awesome nights.  I have slept for close to 5 hours.  Than Mom panics and wakes me up to eat. 

...Dude.  I am not a teenager, but I have a sick case of baby acne.  Just in time for my one month birthday.  Go me!
...Oh.  I'm not an old man either, although my full head of fluffy blond hair has started to fall out.  I have a receding hairline.  

...I like to spit-up.  I try and wait for a minute when Mom's not expecting it, so I can hopefully surprise Mom and attack her!

...Have I mentioned how much I like to sleep?

Makeover.

I need a makeover.  

But that's not what this is about.  The blog is in need of a little facelift 

(although if I were the one going under the knife, I would not be getting a facelift...)

So, patience please, as the blog is probably going to look a little disheveled the next few days...weeks...depending on naps (kids, not mine).

Makeover.  Gosh, I'd really like some new clothes...fresh hair...

(I did slide back into my pre-preggo jeans a few weeks ago (go me!) ... yes, fresh from the hospital ... but trust me, that's not saying much).

Park It!

The weather has been perfect lately.  

I think Hazel has been getting a bit bored hanging out with me all day, everyday.  

So, to fix that, we met up with some of her friends (okay, my friends, too) at the park.

We played on the slide, chased bubbles, ate lunch, laughed on the swings, and checked out the boardwalk.

It was just what we needed!

 Um, kids...the bay is behind you!

 Yes, she did ride this way.

(...and yes, we do actually have a double stroller)

 What a difference a year makes!

Mother's Day

 I am so grateful to be a Mom.  

Hazel, with her Mother's Day flowers from church.

Two best things about being a Mom.  

(yes, Little Man is rocking a pink blanket, he's puked his way through all of his swaddling blankets before laundry day, so now we're working through Hazel's old ones)

Fairy Grandmother

 Well, the Fairy Grandmother can't stick around forever. 

She swooped in and graced us with her presence for a week and we loved every second of it.

She arrived with her magic suitcase of Fairy Grandmother magic.  She went right to work, holding, cuddling and loving the kiddos.  We ventured out a few times, hitting Longwood Gardens, downtown HdG, Broom's Bloom, model home touring, the Garden Center (my yard needed some Gramma Green-Thumb lovin' - which it totally got), and several trips to Target (didn't want Mom to feel too far from home).  

While at home, she helped the grandkids with their baths, baked cookies with Hazel, bunked in the same room as Averett (sorry!) and treated me to several late night chit-chats (3am...seriously?).  We played dominoes and Scrabble (I won't say who won...all 4 games...but I did happen to get 7-letter words in 2 games, back to back!) and ate waaaay too much candy.  

We don't get visitors from home often (um, it's been two years - hint, hint!), and we loved having Mom here and showing her around...even if my house was totally dirty and some days we never made it out of our pjs.  

Thanks Mom for taking care of us!

(and if you come back, we won't make you sit between the car seats...promise!)

Cows. Ice Cream. Music

Another "must" for visitors:  

A trip to Broom's Bloom. 

So worth it.  

 

We ate our dinner outside, but then some ominous (yes, ominous) clouds rolled in, along with a brisk wind.  

So, we headed indoors to listen to the live music and eat our ice cream.

(Where Hazel apparently learned some tricks from her dad)

Two Weeks

9 pounds (57%)

22 inches (90%)

Ahhh-Choo!

Translation: A Day at Longwood Gardens

Grandma has serious green thumbs.  

The weather was b.e.a.u.t.i.f.u.l.

We needed to get out.

Longwood Gardens - here we come!

 He was overwhelmed by the amazing flowers and gardens.

 Best part of this picture?  Hazel's face.

(She was nap-less...scary!)

 Lots and lots of exploring needed to be done.

Missing: One Little Toe

When Little Man was born, the first thing I checked was that the ultrasound hadn't lied - he was a boy.  Next, that he had ten little fingers and ten little toes.

Check, check and check.

Sadly, we almost lost one of those toes this morning. 

Lost...amputated...same thing?

Explanation needed?  On it.

Little Man has been an angel since he was born, he eats, sleeps, hangs out in his swing, he's happy as can be.  He rarely cries, when he's hungry he just gets a little fussy.  So, needless to say, I was a little concerned when I tried to feed him this morning and he wanted nothing to do with it.  Within a minute or two he went from being slightly fussy to full on wailing.

I started to de-swaddle the guy, with plans of checking his diaper.  When I tried to pull off his baby straight jacket swaddle-potamus , I was met with resistance.  Thankfully, I had the brains to not tug harder, but instead investigate the resistance. 

That's when I wanted to puke. 

Little Man's toe was lassoed with a stray string from the hem of the swaddler.  Evil String was wrapped around his fourth toe and pinky toe.  It was wrapped so tight around the fourth toe, it had all but strangled it.  It was so tight I couldn't see the string, however the toe was still very pink and attached...not purple, blue or (gag) dangling off.

Repeating to myself, be the calm mom, be the calm mom, be the...

PANIC.

I rushed to the kitchen and was able to carefully snip the string between the two toes.  I gently unwrapped the string and examined the damage.

The toe had a serious, red indentation from the string, but it was still attached and Little Man could still wiggle it. 

Near disaster, avoided.

I felt like the worst Mom.  I know it was a random accident, but seriously?  I should have known stray strings lurking in hems could be a menace to those sweet, little pink toes. 

Little Man doesn't seem to be holding it against me. 

And now, you must excuse me, there are ten pink toes to kiss.