Blog Slacker!!!

Avery is sad that I haven't updated the blog on her 1st birthday party, her 1-year check-up and Halloween!!!  Stay tuned for lots of blog updates all happening today!!

Avery Parker is 1!

On Thursday, October 24th Avery Parker turned 1.  I cannot even believe how quickly the year went.  Avery has just grown into quite the little lady.  She has the greatest personality and attitude.  She is the final piece to this Clark family puzzle.  She completes us.

So, in her 12th month, Avery has continued to walk RUN everywhere.  She wants to explore everything.  Avery still is more on the quiet side verbally, but understands and follows directions really well.  She continues to sport the 4 teeth that she's had.  Although as of late, she has shown more than one sign that more teeth may be on the horizon.  At this rate, I'm half expecting for her to wake up and have a mouth full of teeth!!  

She loves food though - give it to her and she will eat.  She loves mixed veggies like it's nobody's business.  We have been weaning her off the formula and she is on only milk and water at daycare.  Avery still LOATHES sleep.  Yep, that's right she hates to sleep.  I'm sort of used to running on empty, but my immune system (and definitely Jeremy's) have taken a hit with both of us taking turn being sick and physically run down.  However, that being said (1) this won't last forever and (2) the smile she gives when she is up is amazing!!!  You just can't get mad at her!!

Avery enjoyed a quiet night at home on her birthday and then had a big birthday party with family and friends today.  Avery is one lucky kid - I think it's safe to say she enjoyed her 1st birthday!!

The night before my 11 month old became my 1-year-old!

Avery's 1st Birthday ~ 10.24.13

Avery's Birthday party ~ Twin Trees Too ~ 10.27.13

We cannot wait to see what this year brings for Avery...I know at the very least with our little daredevil, it should be interesting!!!!

The Hollow

This past Saturday, we went to the pumpkin patch.   It was Avery's first trip pumpkin picking.  While we had a good time, it is very difficult to have an 11 month old try to maneuver through a pumpkin patch with rotten pumpkins and vines everywhere.  But we were able to find some pumpkins to bring home!  Avery was able to enjoy a walk through the corn maze and Riley loved jumping off the bales of hay.  It was a beautiful October day!

Run, Baby, Run

Earlier this year I to took up running.  It has become quite the hobby.  While I've only been running for 7 months - I now have a total of five 5ks under my belt with 2 more signed up for before the winter hits.

The last race I did was put on by a local high school and it was the first race Riley came to cheer me on at.  A friend of mine had his daughter run in the Kid's Fun Run and after watching her friend run the race, Riley decided she wanted to run in the next Kid's Fun Run at my next race.

This past Sunday, Riley ran her first Kid's Fun Run at the Lafayette Apple Festival and had a blast doing it!!!  She made her mommy and daddy so proud.  She did so well and had such a good time that she is already signed up for another fun run on November 10th.  I always run alone, but I definitely have room for a running partner!!!!  

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!