Avery's Nursery

Avery's Nursery is so special to us - a lot of love is reflected in this room. The crib bedding and window valance was hand sewn by my mom (Grandma Johnson). Early on in my pregnancy, she mentioned the possibility of making Baby Girl's crib bedding. She hadn't sewn in decades, but was willing to make the effort for her little granddaughter. Apparently I was determined to make it as hard as possible for her, since I waited until a month before the baby was born to decide on a fabric! She had a couple of weeks to work on it at home in Olathe, and she finished up the hand stitching at our house the night before Avery was born.

She did such an amazing job - the finished product is so beautiful...it's even better than what I had envisioned. Thank you, Mom, for such a special gift. (She also made the window valance and a pillow from the leftover material - she's so crafty! I need to take some lessons from her.)

Both Grandmas helped me hang these paper lanterns (which were also used in our wedding) the night before Avery was born. I have such wonderful memories from that evening. :) The guys went to a SuperBowl party, and us ladies went to eat at Chili's, did some last minute shopping at Wal-Mart and then relaxed at home while preparing for Avery's Homecoming.

Here is Avery's changing table, which is honestly one of her most favorite places to be. She loves to lay here and look up at her stuffed friends - the pink monkey from Aunt Kelly, the Dalmatian Puppy from Grandma & Grandpa Johnson, and the Koufax Dog from Mommy & Daddy. She loves to look at herself in the mirror when I bring her here after Bath Time.

Above her closet doors, I have hung the wooden letters spelling Avery's name - these were hand made by her Great-Grandpa Campbell. Another sweet, special gift!

Here is a peek inside her (currently messy) closet. Some hand-me-downs from Cousin Daphne and Cousin Abby, and lots of gifts from our generous family and friends.

On her door; a decoration from the Baby Shower thrown by her Aunties Carol, Rhonda and Marge. And the little girl on the cloud that is hanging from her door handle - that was in my room when I was growing up.

Avery's dresser (which I hope to paint some day). The canvas above is one of the newborn photographs that Aunt Emily took - it's an incredible photo, and I love seeing it every day. We also have the beautiful quilt made by the ladies at 151st Street Church of Christ, a framed sonogram photo of Avery, Daddy's alpaca, a piggy bank from the Gisels, and on the side table is the bear from Grandma & Grandpa Beauchamp that Avery likes to look at while she's eating.

Lastly, this is the rocker that Mom & Dad gave us (thank you!) and the hand-made quilt from Aunt Emily. Avery loves her room and she wants to thank everyone that helped make it perfect just for her!

Five Months Old!

Avery turned five months old in California, so we took her monthly "front porch picture" at Grandpa and Grandma Beauchamp's house.

I am back at work, so Avery spends her days at home with Daddy. I think they have fun together, even though I suspect they are watching quite a bit of baseball and World Cup soccer! Avery rolled over for the first time while at home with Dad, and he told me all about it when I got home. He sings her songs about Mr. Green Shell and Toucan Sam and he tries to get her interested in his Lego figurines. But, by the time 5:00 rolls around and I get home, I think he is ready for a little break.


Avery started eating real food this month! We gave her rice cereal for the first time on June 29th. She wasn't sure what to do with it, but by her second try, she was a pro. Her first baby food to try was green beans - she loved them! She also took her first airplane ride to California to meet all of the Beauchamp clan (more on that trip later!).

Trip to Atlanta & Father's Day

Avery got to knock a few more states off her "U.S. States Visited" list this month. We took an impromptu trip to Atlanta two weekends ago. We left around 6:30pm on Friday, spent the night in Birmingham, then arrived in Atlanta around noon the next day. We literally spent the entire weekend in the car, and Avery was a little angel. We really don't know how good we have it!

She's ready to hit the road with her trusty dalmatian puppy by her side.

At four months of age, she has already been in Arkansas, Missouri, Kansas, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia. Seven states, not too shabby!

She also logged her first hotel stay! Comfort Inn in Birmingham, Alabama.

Bath in the sink at the hotel...challenging!

ATLANTA AT LAST! Someone is excited to be out of their car seat!

Lastly, we celebrated Jeremy's first Father's Day with a full-day's car ride back to Searcy! He was a good sport about it, and elected to celebrate with lunch at Chipotle!

Daddy received a book all about Daddy & Avery for Father's Day, and Avery loves to have him read it to her. :)

Four Months Old!

I promise Avery doesn't always look this sour-faced! Our monthly front porch photo sessions are such an inconvenience to her.

She has the cutest little gummy grin...we promise!

Month Four has been awesome. We started with a visit to our beloved Dr. Moore. Avery weighed 12 pounds and measured 23 3/4 inches. She received her second round of shots, this time with both Mom and Dad there to hold her hands. She only cried for a few seconds - we were amazed! He advised us to start her on baby food between now and six months...can't believe she's already ready for that!

Avery recognizes our voices and will look around for us when we walk into the room - she particularly likes to watch her Daddy. But her face does light up when Mommy comes in from work. Just in the last couple of days, she has started to cry for Mommy, it seems. And when I take her, she lets out this little sigh, like "Ah, this is where I belong". Yes, it feels incredible. :)

Other developments this month include:

• Laughing! For now, it is a deep stomach laugh - like "huh...huh...huh". So cute!
• Holding her own bottle! Her hands have fascinated her for a while now, and she loves to reach out and hold on to stuff. She will take her pacifier out and hold it, and she can deliberately put her thumb and forefinger together, like she is pinching something.
• She is experimenting with new cries, throwing some new sounds in there. We enjoy laughing at her misery. :) Oh, and I promise she tried to say "girl" the other day.
• She is rolling over fairly consistently now, and we often times will find her in her crib, laying perpendicular to the way we placed her.

Avie in Full Effect