Wordless Wednesday...

Pudge and Kisses...

Let's take a moment to study the rolls...

Thick Thighs

Rubberband Wrists

Fat Feet

Bodacious Backside

Oh, man...I LOVE the site of all those rolls!  I think each one is beautiful and perfect and satisfying.  She got those rolls from me!  

Both genetically, and otherwise...

I am still in awe of the fact that I have been sustaining another life for almost six months now, with no help, whatsoever from formula or cereal, or anything else.  That is just amazing.  It just shows that our bodies are designed to do it.  And clearly, she is more than simply sustained.  She is substantially sustained!  Ha!

Now that I got that out of my system...

Avery discovered her hands at least two months ago and it's still cute.

She studies them from all angles, rotating, twisting, and turning her hands slowly.  

She stares in awe that something so intricate is attached to her body.  I can see her little wheels turning...  "What are these for?"

Avery has also been giving "kisses" for a few weeks now.  First, she was just doing it to me, but it's next to impossible to take a self-picture of it when it's happening.  So now, she has started doing it with her Daddy.

She makes her sudden move toward your face, quick like a cat, with her mouth wide open.

She closes in on her target, ready to leave her wet, slobbery mark.

And ever-so-slightly closes her mouth around her target.  In this case, Daddy's nose.

And it's only fair that she gets a kiss back!

She thinks it's pretty funny!

Growing Girl...

The other day, I got Avery dressed in this yellow knit outfit that Aunt Alexis' mom gave her before we knew Avery was a "her."  The last time I had put this on her, it was gapping in the waist and she was just swimming in it.

The other day, it fit her perfectly.

And I shed a little tear because it literally seemed like she gained at least a pound overnight and grew another inch!

So, I sat her in her glider to take some pictures.

And she would not look at the camera.  She flat-out ignored me.  She acknowledged my presence a couple of times, but there were no smiles.  Just blank stares, as if to say, "Seriously, Mom.  This, again?"

Yes, kid.  Get used to it.

Avery, look at Mama!

Yoo-hoo!  Avery, over here!

Ahem.  Excuse me...Avery?

Avery, what are you looking at?  There's nothing over there!

Seriously, Avery.  You're looking everywhere but at me.

Look how cute this outfit is, with the knitted footy pants!  Love, love, love it!

Please, Avery...look at Mama really quick?

What do you WANT, Mama?

I just wanted to say "hi"!

With a Cherry on Top...

I think I've mentioned before that Avery has been borrowing some of her cousin, Hannah's clothes.  I am sooooo thankful for this because we have hardly had to buy anything yet for Avery to wear.  Plus, Hannah's clothes are adorable!

Take this outfit, for example:

This is my big girl, sitting in her glider.

That's a little zip-up hoodie with cherries on it.

Doesn't she just look like she knows she looks like a big girl?

I love her little profile.

See?  Big girl.

 Cherries on her shoes, for crying out loud!  So cute, I can hardly stand it.

And yes, those cheeks are as soft as they look.

Sorry.  I just had to show off my baby girl for a moment!

Bookworm...

Since I am a teacher, it is so fun to see Avery so interested in books.  She has been since she was aware that they even existed!

She is getting more and more interactive with them when we read to her.

When we read board books to her, her ultimate goal is to get that book in her mouth!

 She does love to look at the pictures, too!

She loves the bright colors.

She loves to make her books her own.  With drool.

And she has to be restrained from diving head-first into the book!

Here, it's like she's thinking, "What does that brown bear see?"

No matter what, all books are delicious.

My heart is happy.