John, Johanna and Baby Adventures: August 2009

Monday, August 24, 2009

27 Weeks Old!

Hi All,

Another week has flown by...Avalon is now 27 weeks old! Wow...

Avalon's vocabulary is increasing! She started saying "ba ba ba" this week. It's so adorable to watch her try to form the sounds with her mouth. She even woke up in the middle of the night and tried to practicew her new sounds - so funny!

She's also trying to crawl now! John and I can hardly believe that it's happening already. She can now get onto her hands and knees and start rocking. It's definitely time to baby-proof the house...

The solid food adventure continues --- although she is underwhelmed with most of it, so far! She hated the pea puree and avocado made her gag. She seemed moderately interested in sweet potato and an apple and pear puree. I'm making fresh baby food for her - no stuff from the jars for this girl. :)

Avalon's little tooth is growing. It's still tiny - around 1/3 of the way up. I noticed today that the other lower front tooth is close to breaking through the surface. I'm enjoying each and evey tooth-less grin that she gives me now. The tooth-less smiles are about to be gone soon!

Avalon and I went to her first class of mommy and baby yoga. She loved it - our doula is the class instructor and lots of the girls are from my prenatal yoga class. Avalon knows several of the babies and had a good time babbling with them and trying to grab the same toys. I think that I will start taking her to yoga once a week now. The same group of mamas is also starting a music class that we'll be going to.

Here are some pictures from the week:

#1 Avalon in her crib....hopefully soon she'll actually start sleeping in it!! :)

#2 She loves tummy time now

#3 Avalon is getting herself up onto her hands and knees and rocking now....we think that scooting and crawling isn't too far off!

#4 Love Me shirt...

#5 Happy on her changing mat

#6 Avalon plays rough now....she has started pulling the activity mat over onto herself lately! Now she has to be watched non-stop! :)

#7 Sitting on Daddy's lap

We are going to go on our first family vacation very soon....more news on that next week!

All our love, xo

J, J + A

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Week 26 - Avalon is SIX Months Old!

Hi all,

Another week flew by....and now Avalon is officially SIX MONTHS old! We can hardly believe it!

This week was different as John was in Houston for the majority of the week, so I was at home alone with Avalon for the first time. It went well, but it sure is nice when John is home, too! We are lucky that John hasn't had to travel much this year, so far.

Avalon continues to go through big changes....one huge one: she is getting her first little tooth! It has broken through the surface and is just peeking out from the gums. I'm sure it hurts, but she's being a very good girl.

I also pureed some sweet potato for her - her first real food! She's moderately interested in eating it - more interested in playing with it...it's so cute to watch her eat (yes, we have video and lots of pictures of this, which I'll post soon!).

I had a great play date with two of the yoga mamas and their babies this week. Avalon loved checking the other babies out and trying to hold their hands! Avalon is about 5 weeks older than the other babies, and she looked SO much bigger than them! (Photos below)

Speaking of big...Avalon had her 6 month pediatrician appointment yesterday. She is now 28.5 inches (72.39 cm) long and 21 pounds 15 ounces (9.95 kilos)! It's no wonder why I sometimes feel like I've been to the gym after spending the day lifting her, when I haven't! :)

The past six months with Avalon have flown by. It's been such a great time, we can't wait to find out what the next six months will bring in her development. We love her so much - parenthood is indescribable...so different from anything else we've ever done, yet truly the most amazing ride.

Here are some photographs from the week:

#1 Mommy and Avalon at Karen's house in Santa Monica

#2 Avalon in the grass at Karen's house. I had to put the blanket down because she didn't seem to like the feeling of the grass!

#3 Daddy and Avalon in the grass

#4 Rhonda and Avalon telling secrets!

#5 Lexi, Carter and Avalon having fun together!

#6 Carter and Avalon...

#7 Avalon looking very serious...

#8 Lexi, Carter and Avalon looking so cute together!

#9 Carter and Avalon holding hands.

#10 Love my girl!

#11 Trying out Lexi's Baby Bjorn bouncer...

#12 Checking out the big fishtank at the pediatrician's office for the first time.

#13 Getting her measurements taken on the exam table during her 6 Month Pediatrician visit!

#14 Avalon giving her little teddy bear a kiss!

#15 Morning! Avalon and her big bear.

Hope that you all have a great week!

All our love, xo

J, J + A

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Week 25!

Hi all,

Another week has flown by...Avalon is now 25 weeks old! She gets cuter and more clever every day. :)

This past week, I decided to let Avalon try a few new things, including a sippy cup (she is more interested in chewing on it and doesn't seem to really get that there is liquid inside most times...), and some rice cereal mixed with mommy's milk. She is very curious about using a spoon and seems to really like it. I'm going to start her on some pureed organic vegetables soon...that will be exciting - and messy!

John and I got Avalon a high chair over the weekend. Now that she is close to starting to eat some solid foods, it's time to give her a place to sit while she eats. She is moderately amused with her new chair...I'm sure she will be used to it soon.

John also had his birthday this past week. It was a great day. I cooked a big dinner and made something new - a homemade carrot cake (John's favorite cake) with cream cheese frosting. Maybe it was beginners luck, but it turned out really well. :) I think I'll make it for Thanksgiving, too... Over the weekend, we had a dinner out in Hermosa Beach with a few friends to celebrate both my birthday and John's birthday.

Our great friend Rob was in town from London this past weekend, also. It has been great to have him here and get all caught up.

Here are some photos from the week:

#1 Avalon in the grass at the Slusser's house in Manhattan Beach. It kind of looks like she is wearing a beret, but it's actually just one of her sunhats with the brim flipped up...

#2 Avalon showing off her happy smile!

#3 Avalon sitting in her new high chair...

#4 Avalon dipping her toes in the kiddie pool at the Slusser's house.

#5 At our joint birthday dinner in Hermosa Beach.

#6 With Rob, who was visiting from London. It was great to see you, Rob!

#7 The carrot cake that I made for John's birthday. :)

Hope everyone has a great week. See you soon!

All our love, xo

J, J + A

Monday, August 3, 2009

24 Weeks!

Hi everyone,

Time keeps flying by...it's August now! Avalon and I spent most of the week in Seattle visiting family and friends (John stayed in LA). The Nagel family was soooo excited to spend some more time with Avalon! The weather in Seattle was HOT - around 100 degrees F (over 40 C) each day. The weathermen said that they were the hotest temperatures ever recorded in Seattle's history! Whew!

Avalon had some firsts...she rolled onto her tummy during a nap and slept on her tummy for the first time. She's done it several times since that first time now, and she sleeps really well - much better than on her back.

Avalon was a very good girl on the airplane, although really squirmy! Flying with Avalon is easier with John along, but we did well and Avalon really didn't cry at all.

Here are lots of photos....some from the past week and a few others from recent events:

#1 Avalon and Grandma Nagel outside at my parent's house