First Ponytail

It has been a running joke for Bryan and I that Avery will be bald forever. Most of the time I dress her in pink so that people know that she is a girl. Alas the day has come where I was able to get just enough hair together to get a ponytail. The ponytail lasted just a few minutes before Avery destroyed it by combing the hair-tie out. I think it will still be quite awhile before she can actually wear a ponytail on a regular basis.

Just for Tiffany

Tiffany . . . since you check for new pictures every day, I took these today just for you!

Pool Party

Avery received a pool from Grandma Bert for her birthday. We broke it out today and had our first at-home pool party. She is learning so fast, and after I filled up the pool with the hose, she was quick to grab it and try to do it also. This "pool party" only lasted about 1/2 hr. because she was terribly distracted by wanting to play in the rocks in the driveway. I guess that was her beach. Alas, it was fun to watch her splashing around.

Books and Babies

What is Avery up to these days can be summed-up in two words . . . books and babies. All day she brings me books, plops down on my lap, and proceeds to point at all the animals in the books, asking me what they are in an indescribable "uh?" It's very funny.

Some of Avery's new academic skills . . .

Words she can say: dog, shoes, momma, dadda, girl, bath, bug, baby.

She knows the animal sounds that a lion and elephant make.

She knows how to turn lights off and on, sweep the floor (with her duster), wash her belly, put clothes away, put her toys away, hugs the dog (and Bryan and I), and gives kisses to everything with a face.

She is getting so big.

Watch out Jackie Joyner-Kersee

Bryan and I spend a fair amount of time at the Delta Middle School track trying to stay in shape. Avery is always in tow, but since she started walking a couple of months ago she is no longer content to stay in her stroller and play with her toys. No, she wants to be out and running around with us. On this particular day Bryan and I were really impressed. Not only did she make it 3/4 of the way around the track (stopping only to pose for the camera), she stayed in one lane the entire time! Just one look at her face while she is running shows how much she loves it.

First beach outing

Today Avery and I, along with the rest of the Bevins clan, went to Pine Lake in Berne, IN. It wasn't the most beautiful lake I'd ever seen, but it was a gorgeous day for some "beach" fun. Avery loved the water, but liked the sand even more. She could have stayed out there all day. She actually started to cry when I took her out of the water.

Sarah convinced me to stop being an "adult" and have some fun going down all of the water slides with her. I, of course, not wanting to get me hair wet (you know I get a 'fro when my hair dries naturally), reluctantly agreed. We raced down a two-person slide and also went on a curly slide. Sarah even got me to try and cross a set of lily pad obstacles. I failed miserably, but did manage to pull myself back on after a few falls. Besides missing Bryan, who was dutifully working, the day was wonderful.