Lately,

You are growing so fast & I don't want you to get any taller or smarter, just yet! I am still totally obsessed with your little cuteness & this attitude you have gives me a glimpse of our future. I'm not ready for this big, smart, independent Avery! I want to cuddle my baby girl for just a bit longer, please! Last night, your daddy had to discipline you for the first time. You get very, very upset when you are held and want down; so you had to sit on his lap until you were calm & relaxed before you could go play again. After a half hour tantrum you calmed down alright & passed right the heck out in your daddy's arms. It broke my heart to see you so upset & confused. I don't want to be doing the wrong thing. I don't want to be disciplining you to early. I don't want to see you gasp for breath behind those tears. I don't want you to be sad. However, we know that your actions in public are becoming quite the issue & if we don't teach you to "chill," as your daddy would say, then we are in for some big trouble in our near future! You are just too darn cute for words & I know there is a sweet innocent little girl in there!

I love you Avery Anne,
Momma

Letters to Avery| 11 Months.

Avery,

I snapped this picture yesterday during our afternoon exploration! It was finally nice outside, so nice you were able to walk around with no clothes on. I know this is your favorite! Now that we fully transitioned into cloth diapers, I know you will be strutting your stuff half naked a lot more now! Your little fluff butt is the cutest thing ever. You really love to be outside, so I'm hoping the days of cold, chilly weather are far behind us.  You are developing into a toddler right before our very eyes. You are basically running at 11 months old & you love your freedom. Holding you is rare, but I'm trying to soak it up as much as you will let me. You are talking a lot more now. Although we don’t understand many words, you’re learning so fast. You are now into the phase of full blown temper tantrums; I did not think this stage would happen so early, but it’s definitely here and you surprise us daily! Sometimes all your dad and I can do is look at each other and laugh when you’re having one. We know you’re not really mad at us; you’re just working through your little issues of wanting everything to be yours. You will learn, sooner than later, that not everything is kid-friendly and safe. I know you will shed many tears over the word ‘no’ but I am ready for this. I am here to teach you what is right and wrong. I am here to hold your hand when you need your momma and help you grow into a wonderful little girl. You are so beautiful, inside and out!

I cannot believe your FIRST BIRTHDAY is in less than a month. I find myself so excited one moment and shedding tears the next. It is bittersweet. I miss that little innocent, fresh, dependent little baby. But I'm in love with this determined, happy, adventures little girl.  You are really the ‘apple of my eye’ baby girl and I am so excited to see what month 11 brings us!

Love,

Momma

10 Months| Avery

Baby Girl don't fret, I promise I don't dress you like a boy too often! This outfit was gifted to you & handmade by some of your Uncles friends in China {I'm Serious!} Plus, it was bedtime & your cute in really anything you have on!

Your 10 months (not so) little one! This month was huge. You now have 6 teeth & your next 2 bottom ones are in clear sight. I hope they don't give you as much trouble as your top 2 did. Those teeth caused a lot of pain, many sleepless nights & a very, very unhappy little girl. 

You clearly look more & more like your Daddy everyday! You are risky, wild & determined! You are now taking 4,5,6, & sometimes 7 steps on your own! I have no doubt you will be a pro walker by your first birthday. You have really taken love to this new found freedom.  However, at this stage I actually dread taking you out to eat. You really hate sitting still. I hope this changes...sooner than later!

You are officially off the bottle too! You are {currently} happy drinking from your sippy cup: straw or spout! We have only 2 that you will drink from, but I'm not going to be picky! This makes car rides & bedtime a lot less stressful. Since the bottle is gone, you are eating more solids & much more dependant on following a routine for your meals/snacks. You are starting to drink juice & water throughout the day more & less formula.

This month is kinda a big deal baby girl, Your Momma is officially becoming a Mrs.

You already know how much your mom & dad love each other, but I'm joining your last name club! I can't wait to get you into your little dress & dance with you at our wedding. Your going to be just darling, thinking about it makes my heart explode with happiness!

  It's true, each day is something different, new, & exciting with you. I'm sure you will surprise us once again with all your new developments & expressions in your 10th month of life!

I love you more than Cookie Monster loves cookies & that's a lot!!!!

I love you more than you will ever know Avery Anne!

Momma

Letters to Avery

Holy Smokes!!!! Your 9 Months Old baby girl,
Your personality is huge and so is your smile! I'm so in love with your little mouth; every time you open it up those little teeth just melt my heart! A toothless grin is nowhere near as darling as one with teeth! {You have 4 Teeth now} They change your appearance and makes you that much cuter. I totally didn't think that was possible, but you amaze me each month with your perfection. You are so beautiful Avery Anne don't let a soul tell you otherwise! But you knew that, we can't go out in public without a million and one complements about your big blue eyes! You love the attention & you love leaving the house. I'm pretty much convinced you hate it at home. I have never met a child more bored of her toys & of her Momma. You get so fussy and upset with me if we stay home. I joined the YMCA this month and your one hour visit in the 'Kids Zone' is pretty much the highlight of your day now. You never fuss when I leave your sight and the teacher always tells me how much fun you have starring at the other children and chasing them around the room! The interaction is so good for your development, but I think an hour is all you can take. It might just be all I can handle too, for now! Your eyes light up with excitement when you see me and that is one thing that will never get old. I plan to get you involved in the swim program this summer and that will be new and exciting for the both of us!

You’re Our biggest change this month has been the process of getting you off Momma's milk. It took me several weeks to wean you and it was very hard for me. I knew it was time, my production was not nearly enough anymore to continue slaving away at it, but I did not think it would pay this big of a toll on me, physically and mentally. You handled it like a Champ; thankfully formula does not bother you. Stopping has led my hormones to go in overdrive; almost two weeks now of not pumping and my body still is confused. I shed tears for the first time since your first month of life: tears of pure joy, tears of sadness, tears of fear, and tears of love. My body has finally let me have my emotions back and let me tell ya little girl, there back with full vengeance! I could cry on the drop of hat thinking about how proud I am to be your Momma and how happy I am to see you grow so perfectly. It's bittersweet to watch your little helpless self, turn so independent. It truly is a love/hate relationship, although I'm okay with it, each day you bring some sort of new happiness into my life. Looking at old pictures of you as a baby is all I need, you can grow and grow and grow baby girl. The world is yours to explore, I will be right by your side!

We will get your weight and height measurements next week. I am anxious to see where you fall on the charts, since you still completely dislike your solid foods. I'm lucky to get you to eat 10 bites of solids a day. I know you’re getting your nutrition from the formula still, but this is our largest obstacle to overcome. I'm thinking one of these days you will decide food is your friend, until then I'll continue giving you different choices daily. Hey! That’s what Momma's do, they don't give up and I'll teach you that for the rest of your life.

You absolutely love when I say, 'Give Kisses Avery'



Moose is becoming your Best Friend & I’m actually starting to believe {hopefull thinking} that Moose is becoming quite fond of you as well. I Love this! Maybe it’s all the table food you leave behind for her. Whatever it is she’s handling all the pushing and prodding quite well! I'm anxious to watch the two of you grow together.

The shoes stayed on for a good 3 minutes!

Another month goes by and i'm so unbelievably in love with you baby girl. I will continue to teach you all that I can. I will provide you with all the love a mother can. I am certain that there is no kind of affection so purely angelic as of a mother to her daughter.

Lets see what this month brings baby girl, each day is a true blessing!

I will love you forever and ever,

Momma



Wordless[ish] Wednesday.

My dearest Avery Anne Funchion, NO ONE ELSE will ever know the strength of my LOVE FOR YOU. After all, you're THE ONLY ONE who knows what my HEART sounds like from the inside.



{Night one in Sleep Sack...Big Fat Success. 12 hours STRAIGHT!}

Love,

Momma

Dear Avery,

Tomorrow you turn 8 months old baby girl, words really cannot express how much love I have for you. You have brought so much joy into our life. Your smile is captivating, that big open mouth grin melts the hearts of so many others. You are developing so perfectly, but fast I might add! Milestone after milestone you've met so quickly and each one is just as much a new experience for you, as it is for daddy and I. We are trying so hard to keep up with your new found mobility; you are into everything and anything that is not a toy! Toys are for dogs, right baby girl?! We seriously adore watching you grow; each day your personality develops and we have a stronger sense of who you are.


You still dislike food. I haven't decided if it's truly the food you hate or if it's the fact that you are just not ready to sit still. You rather eat on the go...one Cheerio while your playing with your toys, another while your in your walker! A bite of yogurt while your chasing the dog, a bite of squash while your climbing the chair. Getting you to sit still is not an easy task for this momma, but I will continue to try hard to get you to eat and fill that belly up! Some day, hopefully sooner than later, the highchair will be your friend and food will entice you. We do know that you prefer feeding yourself and that is okay with us. However, your bottle is still your favorite source of nutrition. This makes me ecstatic to think how far I've made it giving you my breast milk. You are about 50/50 now. Half time breast milk, the other half formula and I am okay with that. 8 whole months of mommas good stuff, you are going to be one smart cookie (:

For the most part, sleep is now your friend! Naps are very consistent when you are at home & you love your crib! Sleeping through the night is getting better and better, you normally wake up one time a night now for a bottle and this is a huge improvement from your last few months! Walking into your room after a good nights sleep and seeing your bright eyes and sparkly smile is one of my favorite parts of the day! Also, you have really stole the heart of your daddy; you absolutely love when he comes home from work! That might be my second favorite part of the day. Seeing your eyes light up and your little body squirm so quickly into his arms really melts my heart! I could go one about this kind of love for days.

You are so very perfect Avery Anne Funchion. I am overflowing with happiness and I cannot wait to see what amount of joy you bring us this month.

I love you forever and always baby girl,
Momma