Chillaxin with Avery

Avery relaxing watching cartoons yesterday . . . in a box.

Avery chillin' on her slide reading books.

Avery . . . again chillin' . . . but this time on her rocking horse.

Dancing in the basket

Earlier this month I posted a picture of Avery playing in a basket that Bryan's mom gave us. She has continued, despite my best efforts, to use it as a toy rather than a storage device. Here's a video of her dancing in the basket. Her shirt is completely wet on the front because he learned how to drool purposely also.

Glad to be at home!

For those of you who didn't know, I have been suffering from gallstones since just after Avery was born. Me, being stubborn, cancelled the surgery that I had scheduled for July to remove my gallbladder. I hadn't been really sick in a few months and of course I knew better than the doctors and decided to postpone the surgery until I was "really sick." Well, to make a long story short, I ended up in the emergency room early (really early) Thursday morning, and had my gallbladder taken out the same day. I am sore and tired, but glad to be at home. Bryan is doing a great job tending to all my needs, and for the most part Avery is not being too needy. The hardest part of the surgery is that I can't pick Avery up for about a week, so she and I are finding creative ways to get around this. For all of you who have called and offered help and prayers, thank you!

Avery and Brutus

Avery loves our Golden Retriever, Brutus. He is limited to being in the kitchen, but Avery spends quality time loving on our dog. Believe me, he has an affinity for her as well. He loves to lick her feet . . . ewww, but Avery loves it. She hugs him, lays on him, and points (rather pokes) at his eyes. She loves to try and touch his paws, which really annoys him, but he lets Avery poke and prod all she wants. These two certainly are a pair.

Hangin out with Daddy

These are some pictures Bryan took this week while I was at work. Avery loves wearing Bryan's hats.

Avery, Avery, Avery

Avery is doing all kinds of things to make me nervous. This week she turned into a climbing machine. She loves to climb; the futon, the couch, on my back, up on my knees, and even my chest. Yesterday, I was sitting in our living room, which is right beside the playroom, when I heard Avery let out a Tarzan-like yell. I glanced in and didn't see her. I looked in a little closer, and this is what I found:

No, I don't know how she got up there, but she was swinging her baby in the air screaming like a madwoman. I grabbed the camera, took a few pictures and promptly got her down, told her "no," and sat her in the corner. Not 5 minutes later, as she and I were playing, she tried to climb up there again. Argh.

Follow-up story . . . I guess yesterday I finally got through to Avery that she couldn't climb on her shelves. I guess I need to be more clear for the toddler who is clearly testing her limits. Today she was using it as a chair. Less dangerous I guess . . .

The GREAT Darke County Fair

Bryan and I took Avery to her first visit to the GREAT Darke County Fair today. For those of you who are from Darke County, I need not say more. It is a family tradition to go to the fair. My great-grandpa Bevins was the oldest male attendee at the fair for several years. His last visit to the fair was at 104 years old. The fair always makes me think of my grandpa Bevins, who spent most of his evenings at the fair. Every year he would buy Darke County Fair collectors coins and a commemorative hat. He and grandma would sit at the gazebo and watch the entertainment and visit with friends.

For you Darke Country foreigners, this county fair is one of the largest county fairs in the Midwest. Except for the last two years, I have been to the fair every year since I was born. I would love if Avery could say the same when she is older. The fair boasts food, rides, and a host of other activities, booths, and animal attractions. Bryan and I enjoyed a funnel cake . . . mmm, soft frozen lemonade, and corn dogs. Avery

particularly enjoyed the corn dog. We took Avery to see the dogs, goats (who scared her to tears), cows, and rabbits. There was a little petting zoo where Avery fed a cow, deer, goats (this time she didn't cry), and a llama. Avery also had her first pony rides, which she wasn't to sure of in the beginning, but loved toward the end.

One of my favorite things about the Darke County Fair is that you never know who you might run into. My aunt Mary, who we don't see often, was working at a booth and we spent some time catching up. My high school french teacher, Mr. Neleigh, walked out of the fair as we were going in. My third grade teacher, Mrs. Montgomery was there . . . and surprisingly, she remembered me. We chatted for a good while and then said our good-byes. It was a hot afternoon, and after about three hours, we were ready to call it quits. We topped off the day with a stop by my parents house for dinner and some time with the fam. It was a wonderful mid-day break from the monotony of our working lives. I think we wore Avery out . . . she slept like a rock all the way home.