That January weather

As I'm writing this, Bryan is busy digging us out of 11 inches of snow. Luckily, no school! This morning Avery must have thought something was amiss, with no one saying "bye-bye" in the morning, because she went and put on all MY winter gear, scarf, mittens, ear band, and all. She was so adorable. She kept going to the kitchen door, saying, "bye-bye mama, bye-bye dada."

Last weekend, with another round of snow, we decided to break out the snow suit and let Avery play. No dice! She took one step, fell down, and decided that was enough snow for her. Not to mention the fact that she looked a little like the little brother in The Christmas Story with her gigantic snow suit. Now, everytime someone comes in the door with snow on their snows she says "oh, no!"

Daddy's hat

I have been enjoying the past weeks cold weather, but only because of the school delays and closings. It almost makes it worth going out in below 0 weather if you get paid the same amount for 2 hours less work. Today, school is cancelled altogether because of the frigid temperatures . . . I mean, it's only, like, -13 below right now. At any rate, Avery and I are going to get to enjoy the day together while Bryan goes to an interview in Bunker Hill, IN.

Avery is getting to be very vocal these days, copying everything we say, and saying "I wuf you" to everyone, including Meijer checkout personnel, when she says "bye, bye." This morning, she said "blueberry" as clear as a bell. She is also staring to sing, her favorite songs being "E-I-E-I-O" (Old MacDonald), and Ring Around the Roses. She is also making up lost time for her months of picky eating, now, practically eating everything in sight. This morning, for example, she ate an entire bowl of cheerios and a small container of yogurt. Before, her breakfasts would consist of a few bites of oatmeal. Yesterday, she ate LoMein, Mac & Cheese, sauteed green beans, broccoli, peaches, and sweet & sour chicken at Red Sun, our favorite Chinese restaurant. She ate for an hour! She is definitely growing up right before our eyes. At least she lets me rock her to sleep. I think, for me, as long as I can rock her, she will still be a baby to me!

Funny Faces

Our little copy cat is having fun making faces as of late. She is definitly a ham!

Cross your fingers

So it is about 8 p.m. and no one has tossed their cookies today at the VanDervort house! A great accomplishment. Cross your fingers that the worst is over. Avery is still really clingy and slept a majority of the day and spent the rest of the day sitting or laying with me on the couch. She has been asking to go "nigh-night" for the past couple of days, both for nap and at bedtime. Those of you who have been around Avery knows that she is always on-the-go, so for her to sit around all day and ask to go to bed, you know she is not feeling well. Bryan has been a great help to me and Avery while we have been sick, which is especially admirable since he was sick at the beginning of the week. Hopefully all of us are on the quick road to recovery. I couldn't help, before I was sick myself, to sneak a few quick pictures of Avery on the "sick couch." Even with the flu, she is so cute!

Home with Avery

It has been fun having two whole weeks off for Christmas. I sometimes feel guilty about not getting to spend more time with Avery during the week. She is at a really fun age, copying everything, saying new words everyday, and generally entertaining both Bryan and myself. Here are a few pictures I took this week.

Our budding gymnast

Tiffany . . . this is just for you! Sarah taught Avery to put her head on the ground, but today, she started pushing off and rolling over. So, to avoid neck injury, I helped her do several somersaults. She loved it! She kept clapping, smiling, and running back to me for more help. It is so cool.

Stomach Flu

Bryan has been sick with the stomach flu for more than 24 hours. What a way to spend your days off for New Year's, huh? At any rate, he finally slept for more than an hour last night, so I am hoping that the worst is over. He has been sequestered in our bedroom for the last day and a half. Avery asks me every, oh, thirty seconds, "Da-da?" So, Lysol in hand, I have have been spraying every surface in the bedroom and bathroom. Hopefully Avery and I will have been blessed enough to bypass the HORRIBLE flu strain Bryan has been struck with!