15 Months Old

So little Miss Avery just keeps growing, growing and growing some more.  Here we are at 15 months and so much has changed since she was just 12 months old...I can't believe it. The most exciting thing is her language.  The amount of words she says has just exploded this month and our once quiet house is now filled with babbles, giggles, and words like "No no", "Mommy", and "Help".  In most ways, this is good because I know exactly what she wants. But on the other side of the coin, when she doesn't want something, you will hear it...loud and clear. But I'm happy that she knows what she wants and she isn't afraid to say it.  Here she is for our 15 month photo shoot...skateboard style!

"Happy 15 months to me!"

This is the pink skateboard Brandon bought her for her birthday a few months back and usually they just go for "sitting rides" on it, but lately she's been getting more adventurous and wanting to stand on it.

And do tricks on it too!

  

As you can tell, her hair continues to grow and curl up a bit on the ends and we've started to notice the cutest little dimple in the middle of her chin.  She's starting to look like a little girl...no longer like my little baby! Let's see how she's changed over the past few months...

Like how she started out holding the sign, and now I'm lucky if it's even in the shot? I have a feeling this is only going to get worse, but luckily it's easy to prop up and just "sit" will I snap away at our busy little, "anti-sign" girl.

Let's see what she's into this month...

1. Favorite food: Veggie Straws are still a clear favorite!

2. Favorite word: Names! She's really gotten into knowing every one's name, and giving them nicknames too. We'll be at dinner and she'll say, "Mommy (pointing at me), Daddy (pointing at Brandon), Avery (at herself), and then she'll proceed to name our dogs too. She especially loves to name her extended family members, like her Grandmas ("Nana") and Grandpas ("Papa") and her uncles and cousins...and characters on Sesame Street ("Abby!").  Other favorite words include: "Are you?" (when she's looking for something, like "Where are you?), "Done", "No ma", (no more), "Baby", "Snack", "Mix mix mix" (when I'm making a smoothie), "Moo moo" (smoothie), "Go dog, go" (for when playing catch with dogs), and her favorite, "Milk" for when she wants to nurse.  ( :

3. Favorite book: Funny Face by Anna Walker. This is one of our favorite books to read in the car and it has really helped teach Avery all about different emotions. Check out the many "faces" of Avery below...

"Angry face"

"Sad face" (Although you can't tell, she's saying "Wah wah"
and pretending to cry)

"Stop it with the faces for a second...is this my song? I better
dance!"

4. Favorite activity: swimming/splashing in her little pool. Probably not the "greenest" pool around, but until toy stores start coming up with better green alternatives, this is what I'm sticking with. Avery sure approves! It's been perfect for those nights when we don't have time to go all the way to the pool, but still give Avery a chance to play in the thing she loves most...water! With the hot days we've been having here in the Midwest, this pool has really come in handy when she's begging us to go outside. Here she is splashing away and having a great time.

She loves to slam her hands down as hard as she can and then
inspect you afterwards to see if she's gotten you wet.

Climbing in and out of the pool is way more fun than just
sitting in it, right?

Another favorite: throwing the balls out of the pool and
off the porch.

One of the highlights from this past month was a short trip to Colorado. We drove there from where we live, here in Missouri, and stayed in with my cousin and her family while we were there. Even better, my parents tagged along and drove out there too...in separate cars. Though we didn't stay long, it was a fun chance for us to get away, catch up with some extended family, and soak up the Colorado mountain air (or smoke from the fires, which we happened to see while out there). 

Avery was excited for the road trip!

Packed and ready to go! 

My parents, or "Papa and Nana"
as Avery calls them.

She did such a good job on the 11 hour drive. We made sure
to stop every two hours or so to give her a break and give
her a chance to run around. You can bet we kept the Veggie
Straws close by too.

Here we are stopping for lunch in Kansas...can you tell it was
hot there?

Checking out the corn fields with Daddy.

After a long day of driving, we arrived at my cousin's house
near Fort Collins, Colorado. Here's the cool mountain view
from their backyard. I could get used to that!

Dinner time!

Every morning, my mom, Avery, and I went for a walk around
the trails near their neighborhood.

  

"Flower anyone?"

While we were there, Avery and I spent
lots of time hanging out with family and
going shopping.

Brandon, on the other hand, did lots and lots of skateboarding.
The highlight of the trip: The Arvada Skate Park.

Not a bad view of the mountains either!

Avery joined him for a quick ride.

My two favorite skateboarders.

One our favorite things about the trip was all the time that
Avery got to spend with my parents, her grandparents.

Aside from seeing the sights and shopping, Avery made
sure to squeeze in a little time to be silly!

Our trip crew. Thanks Lauren for letting us stay with you guys!
We can't wait to come out and visit again. (  :

So that's what we've been up to this past month. Just crafting, cooking, traveling, and skateboarding! See you next month!

"Later dudes!"