Something is missing...

Today at Avery's helmet appointment, she finally graduated after a little over five months of wearing the helmet 23 hours a day.  It is so hard to believe! 

The scan on the left was Avery's top of her head on September 17th and the one on the right is the one today.  You can see her how the left side of her forehead was very flat and the back right had issues too.  Her head shape has changed so much!  The scanner is a big black box and Avery hates laying it.  You can see on the right pic my fingers trying to hold her neck straight.  The orthotist thought it was hysterical that I had a death grip on her. 

Five month review of Avery in her pretty helmet.  I painted it, we had it airbrused (no pics for that...it only lasted a few days because she looked like she hit the streets of the Ghetto) and then finally it was just plain pink. 

Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers.  Over the next week, she will wear the helmet just as a crash-test helmet as she will probably have a few bumps and bruises from falling. 

Celebrations and lots going on....

I have been so bad about updating you all on what has been going on in our world. We have had a few wonderful celebrations lately. Carson, my nephew, turned two years old. We also just returned from Galveston for Josh's cousin's wedding. Here are a few precious pictures of our girl.

Oh one more thing, we have reason to celebrate because Avery graduated from physical therapy this past week.  She has been attending Pediatric Therapy Center one or two times a week since the end of the August.  We cannot say enough about this wonderful place and our therapist, Jane.  When Avery started she was barely able to turn her head left and had a 40 degree tilt.  She has complete rotation now and has no tilt.  We are so grateful!  Lastly, this week, Avery will be going for her helmet check-up.  We are praying the end of this journey will be here too.  Avery has been in the helmet for a little over five months.  It is so hard to believe it has been this long, but we are ready to see our girl with hair rather than her plastic bonnet as my friend, Holli, calls it. Thank you for all your prayers and concerns for Avery. 

Avery is so mischievous and into everything.  She loves to carry anything in her hand wherever she goes, but she is partial to her favorite puppy and her new teddy bear.  We have slowly started baby-proofing our home, and we are learning all of the areas that need to be proofed.

Avery loves bath-time!  I would love to show you her precious hiney but sorry!!  If you could have seen her right after I took this...she tried to start hiking her leg up like she was going to get into the tub herself.  This was shortly after she turned nine months.  Did I tell you that she was into everything??

Just a precious pic.  She has her squeaking shoes on and loves to look down to find out where the sound is coming from. 

Daddy and his number one baby girl!

Avery loves to pick up anything heavy.  Josh got me some true cowgirl boots for Valentine's Day.  I wore them for "Go Texan" day and Avery was lugging them around the house.  She thinks she is a very big girl.

Carson's birthday was tons of fun.  They had it at our church's, Sugar Creek Baptist Church, playscape.  Carson loved it and loved being with his older cousins that live in Dallas. 

Our little family.  Avery has been sick for about two weeks.  She was pretty runny that day and not like her happy self.   

Carson ready to blow out his candle.  One of his cousins, Austin, was his favorite person all weekend. 

Blowing his candle out...this year no hands in the candle fire, whew!

My dad, Pops, was giving Avery a bite of ice cream...she was loving it. 

What love even though Avery's face doesn't show it.  Avery loves to be with Carson.  It is so cute!

My sister and brother-in-law, Kristin and Andrew, with Carson and Avery. 

Avery is getting ready for her first birthday (May 1st).  She was a good helper with the presents. 

Carson got so many fun gifts, but this was by far his favorite from his Aunt Beth and Uncle Ward.  He opened this first and never saw another present.  He is very into dinosaurs and calls them "DinoChi."  It is so cute!

Pretty Girl!  Next year she will go down the slide.

Avery voted!  She was not too happy that mommy forgot she had to go to her designated voting area and went to one other place first.  

In Galveston for Josh's cousin's wedding...Avery loves to chew on her glasses rather than wear them.  

Shopping on the strand!  Avery is ready to go.  

Josh's Family with our newest addition, our sister-in-law, Chrissy...Saturday was Jason and Chrissy's one month anniversary.  Congrats Guys!

Josh's cousin, Kelly David and his new bride, Amy.  It was a gorgeous wedding at the Galvez. 

Nine and Half Month picture

Happy Wednesday!  I took Avery for her nine month pictures yesterday.  It was so hard to choose just one pic, but I found one that definitely looks like her.  There were so many with cute smiles and all, but this was definitely her.  Hard to believe she will be a year in a little over two months.  I scanned the picture so it isn't great quality.  I stood my ground and didn't get suckered into purchasing the big package in order to get the CD.  I will save that for her first birthday.  She is walking everywhere now and she even has the bruises to prove it.  We had to use some concealor on her cheek because she had brand new bump from falling into the ottoman at home. 

A Beautiful Weekend - Jason and Chrissy's Wedding

Josh's brother, Jason was married on February 6, 2010.  It was such a wonderful weekend, and we have welcome Chrissy into our family.  She is a such a sweetheart and was a GORGEOUS bride.  Here are a few pics from the weekend. 

The rehearsal dinner at Texas Land and Cattle.  My mother-in-law decorated it so pretty.  It was great food, family and fun. 

Josh's family (Dad, Josh, Erin, Mom, and Aunt Sissy).      The Bride and Groom!!!

Chrissy's bouquet.  It was so pretty!!! 

 

Chrissy getting ready.   The makeup artist put lots of power to brush off after the eye makeup.  See her shirt...Future Mrs. Bibb (I made it. :) )

The church was in Wallis, TX about 45 minutes from Sugar Land.  It was a beautiful Catholic church.  

Close-up of the altar.  The church was built in 1800's if I am not mistaken.  

 

Avery with her Grandma and PaPa before the wedding.  

 

How pretty!!

 

Avery was giggling away.  

 

New Husband and Wife.  Not a great pic because my family was in the cry room so the babies would not interrupt the ceremony.  It was a beautiful wedding.  

The new whole family (this is the best pic my dad got)

Josh and I with Avery.  Chrissy gave each of the bridesmaid as a gift to have our hair and makeup done.  I liked the smoky look, but it doesn't look like me.

 

My parents with Carson and Avery (both grandbabies)

Avery stayed the whole weekend with my parents so we could all enjoy the weekend without worrying about naps and bedtimes.  Thank you Mom and Dad!  I wanted you all to see Avery's precious dress.  My mom got this dress for her the Christmas before she was born.  The color matched our bridesmaid dresses perfect.  

Lastly, my Dad and Avery...you can see where she has gotten her blue eyes!  He is the only one in the both immediate families with them. 

Running Update

Hi Friends,

Well, our running has halted. I feel a need to tell everyone that I have been a slacker. Josh was doing so well and was on week three and I was starting week two (due to bad weather and running outside in the rain with a baby isn't the best idea) and Josh started to have a knee pain kick up again. Several years ago playing church softball, he did something to his knee and this running seemed to worsen it. He went to see an Orthopedic Surgeon last Monday and by Friday he had knee surgery to remove torn cartilage. The doctor was afraid he had torn his menicus but after the surgery was over doc said he hadn't. Whew! So with all of that said, I had no other choice to stop my running so I didn't make Josh feel bad...haha, just kidding! I really started to slack off and the weather didn't help. So, I am recommitting. Since my hubby is home full-time with no more travel (Started his new job today!!), I no longer have an excuse that I can't take the baby outside with me. Josh is recovering very well from his arthroscopy surgery. He is still limping a little and decided to take his crutches to work today because he didn't know how long the walk would be. He is on the 34th floor of a 41 floor building. Hold me accountable. Summer will be here before I know it! I would like to feel someone decent in a bathing suit this summer. Happy Monday!!

Our little zombie walker

Avery started walking little steps about two weeks ago, but now she has completely taken off. It is so sweet. She is our little zombie walker.  We can't believe she started so soon.  I guess the helmet makes her a little fearless. 

Nine months and growing

It is so hard to believe our precious Avery is already nine months. She is getting to be such a big girl. We went for her nine month old check-up, and she is 30 inches (97%ile - she is tall!!), 19 lbs (50%ile), and 17 in head circumfrence (25%ile - guess a small head is better than a bigger one). Avery started taking a few steps over the last few weeks and now she has taken off. The most we have seen is about 10 -12 steps. It is so precious because she gets so excited and normally turns around to see your reaction and falls.  Avery is a very happy baby and is babbling all the time.  She says "mama" "dada" "naanaanaa" but she is not associating them with anything.  Last week Avery started to wave Bye Bye...She has completely mastered it now to where I can be on the phone talking with someone and say "Bye Bye" and she starts to wave.  She opens and closes her hands facing her though.  It is so cute!  Videos to come.  As you can tell we are just overjoyed by our darling girl.  Here are a few recent pics. 

Avery was not too excited about trying on her new coat.  My mom and Josh's mom both got her the exact same coat for Christmas and didn't even know it.  It is really so cute on her, but she was not in the mood. 

Avery and her cousin, Carson, playing.  They are really starting to have fun together.  Carson just talks to her and she wants to follow him so bad.  Soon they will be running together.  They are 15 months apart. 

Avery with her "evil eye"...it isn't too bad in this picture, but she normally gets a really big wrinkle and small left eye when she looks up due to the helmet. 

Avery, my mom, and I went to see her Great-Grandmothers in Beaumont.  I didn't get any great pictures, but Avery really enjoyed crawling all over Grammy's apartment and sitting in her big girl toddler seat to eat cheerios at Nanny's.  What a blessing that she has seen all of her Great-Grandmothers in the last week.  Josh's Granny was here too for his brother, Jason's wedding.  More pics to come on next post. 

Our sweet Realtor and friend, Barbara, knit this hat for Avery with a precious duck on it. 

One year will be here before we know it!