5 year check-up

Riley had her 5 year check up today with Dr. Rufa.  The check up went well (especially since Riley got her shots back in June for school).  Dr. Rufa thinks Riley is growing and developing just as she should be.  Riley did get the flu shot while there today and hated the whole second it took to get it.  But of course daddy gave her an ice pack to help it feel better.

Riley's stats for her 5 year check up are:

Height:  44 inches

Weight:  44 lbs.  

Looks like maybe the number 44 is her lucky number!!

And of course - here are some pictures of our healthy, young, 5-year-old!!

11 months old!!

Wow, time sure does fly!!  Only one more months until Avery is 1!!  It is amazing that 11 months have passed.  In these past 11 months, Jeremy, Riley and I have grow even more in love with Avery every day!!!  

Here is what Avery has been up to this past month:

She walks...everywhere, ALL.THE.TIME.  There is no more crawling for this little lady.  Avery is on the move from sun up to sun down.  It's awesome and tiring!

She has 4 teeth total with no new ones in sight, yet.  But those 4 little chompers allow her to eat pretty much everything.  The only time Avery doesn't eat what we're eating is when I cooked something a little on the spicy side.  Other than that, Avery has what we're having and loving every bit of it.  

Avery is loving daycare.  She has a special bond with Miss Kelly and we're so glad that she happily waves goodbye every morning.

Avery is STILL struggling with sleep.  While she is now a full time crib sleeper and we have dropped any and all middle of the night feedings, Avery still wakes up once or twice a night.  Some nights she goes right back to sleep no problem, other nights no so much.  There are days Jeremy and I feel like the walking dead. While it is so very tiring some days...I know this will not last forever (or at least I think it won't).  

Avery wakes up every single morning smiling and cries every single night while I'm cooking dinner.  She is pretty predictable in a lot of ways.  She loves following Riley around (and most days Riley doesn't mind).   Avery doesn't say much, but understands a lot.  My favorite is when I ask if she is ready to go wait for the bus and she darts to the door as fast as she can.  Then when I tell her that I think I hear the bus she turns and looks at the end of the driveway.  As soon as she sees that yellow bus making the turn she runs down the driveway babbling and waving...it is the cutest and sweetest thing ever!!

Getting Avery to sit still for our monthly photo shoot is proving to be more and more difficult.  Take a look at the photos below and you'll see what I mean!

Our Future Stunt Woman???

Jeremy and I experienced the mother of all fears of raising a mobile infant...STAIRS!!   When Riley was a baby, we didn't have to deal with stairs.  Well, with Avery we not only have one set of stairs to be cautious of, but 2.  

This past Saturday, Jeremy and I were planning a lunch date, just us.  I took a shower and then went upstairs with Avery while Jeremy jumped in the shower.  I brought Avery into our room and shut the door - as usual. On this particular day with  no extra thought, I opened the door and Avery BOOKED IT!!!  There was no stopping her and just as she reached the top of the steps faster than I could.  I was able to do nothing but stand there and watch her take the ultimate tumble...DOWN.EVERY.SINGLE.STEP!

Devastating doesn't even begin to describe it.  First off, shame on me for not having a gate at the top of the stairs.  Second, shame on me for not carrying her and worst of all lastly, I hated that I could do nothing about it as it was happening.

She hit bottom of the steps and laid there crying...a good sign.  We called 911 because after a fall like that, you never know.  The response was so quick and before I knew it, we were on our way to the Pediatric ER at Upstate.  

We were more than lucky that Avery does not have even ONE bruise to show for her fall - no broken bones, no nothing!  I always knew that Avery was going to be more of the physically dominant child, but certainly this was not the way I wanted it to be proven!

Needless to say, Avery will not be going upstairs any time soon and mommy and daddy will be looking into gating options.  I am grateful that our little girl could sustain the fall - but I have learned the greatest lesson of all about keeping my little one safe.  

Kindergarten Rocks!

Today was the first day of Kindergarten!  Riley woke up excited for kindergarten, meeting new friends and riding the bus.

The night before we picked out the perfect first day of school outfit,  we read "The Night Before Kindergarten" and talked about all the awesome things she will learn this year.  She went to bed excited (and a little nervous) for what was to come today.  

I swear I think she woke up this morning looking a tad bit older than she did the night before!!!

She took a shower in the morning and ate her breakfast of choice - pancakes!!!  She even let Avery join her for pancakes at the table!

Then it was time to get dressed and take too many pictures.  Here she is all decked out and ready to go to her 1st day of kindergarten.

Then it was outside to meet up with Gianna and Nicole for 1st day hugs, giggles, and pictures.

Riley waited for the bus (a little impatiently, as it was running late).  But she stood at the end of the driveway listening for the sound of a bus.

She got on the bus without ever looking back.  She is such an independent little big kid!

We spent the entire day wondering about what her day would be like and if she would come off the school bus as happy as she was to get on it.  Right before Riley came home we received a phone call from her teacher telling us that she had a great day and that she was a great listener, asked questions and made new friends.  When Riley got off the bus she WAS just as happy and told me she had a great day.  She also informed me, in case I wasn't already aware, that KINDERGARTEN ROCKS!!!  And I couldn't agree with her more!!!!!!!

Here's to a fabulous year of learning new things!!!