11 Months Old

Avery is officially 11 months old now and boy is she fun!  It is so hard for me to believe that in just a couple weeks we will be celebrating her first birthday!

It seems as though overnight she began doing so many new things.  I am going to attempt to share with you those skills!

Avery loves music and all kinds.  She has also recently begun dancing to the music.  This was the first night she danced for us.  It is from a couple weeks ago, but it was too cute not to share!

Avery has also mastered crawling and now is a pro cruiser!  Not only can she walk around tables, chairs, along counters, she loves using objects as personal walking assistants!  This footstool is her favorite.  She is so good at it now, that when she runs into walls, she knows how to turn it to get back on her way!

What cracks me up about this footstool, is a few days after she was born, Robyn put her inside of this box and she was so little that she fit and there was room to spare!

After one try, we also found out that Avery is really good at climbing the stairs!  We sure are in trouble!!  This video is of her second go!!

Avery also loves to help with laundry,

help mommy cook,

and make lots of silly faces!  This is her new favorite (and ours too!)

One of Avery's favorite things to do is read stories to daddy after a long day of work!

Avery has visited the zoo many times already this summer.  This past Friday, Dave took the day off and we took Avery to a little zoo in Peoria.  This girl loves animals...or at least screeching at them!  :)

Finally, a big Congratulations to my cousin Amy and her husband Brian!  They are expecting a new little bundle of sweetness on Valentines Day!!  Here's a picture of Amy with Avery when they met for the first time!  This will be her again in no time!!  :)

Love from Bloomington!

Happy 4th of July!

We had a busy 4th of July weekend!  Dave has been busy at work in our backyard putting in a gravel area for some of our chairs, fire pit and some future planter boxes.  The grass wouldn't grow back there, so this was Dave's perfect plan!

Summer of the bandana!

So, while daddy is hard at work, Avery and I get to play!

Sunday afternoon, our friends had a party at their lake.  We couldn't wait to get Avery in the lake with her friends.  As we had anticipated, she loved it!

Safety first...even though it
is swallowing my neck!

Fun with Daddy and friends!

My new buddy Cole and his mommy!

Avery was so excited to see her friend Nellie!

One of my three 4th of July outfits!!

Winding down the night with my best bud, Lola!

After a long day at the lake, we took the 4th of July pretty easy.  Avery started her day like she does most, with her books.  She is pretty funny now because she actually "reads" out loud to us.  The inflection is hilarious in her voice!

Then, Grandma and Grandpa came over just in time to feed Avery dinner!

I love that both of their mouths are open!!

Then, Avery and Daddy spent some time building a little fire and looking at fireflies.

And saying good-bye to them too!

Look Mom, no bugs in here!

Finally it was time for fireworks!  Overall, Avery did an awesome job!  She never cried, but wasn't too sure of them.  However, by the end, there were smiles and waves.  

Content in Daddy's arms

Sparklers!!!

The flash was so bright in the dark night,
it looks like I was sleeping!  

It was a late night after a long and busy weekend!  Time to say goodnight Moon!

She's a Social Butterfly!

Avery and mommy have had a very busy past couple weeks and we have lots of pictures to share!

First, we visited Great Grandma Johnson for the day.  I love being off during the summer and having the availability to visit people during the week.  Avery had so much fun showing off her crawling skills for GiGi!

One of these days, the two kiddos will smile for us!

Last Wednesday, Auntie Ashley came to stay with us for a few days, 5 to be exact!  It was so nice to have another adult in the house during the day!

I love this look!

And this one too!

How big is Avery???

<3

After being spoiled rotten by Auntie Ashley alone, the rest of the family came down for a special weekend!  For Mother's Day, I had purchased a session with Avery's photographer to take Mom and Me pictures.  My mom, sisters, Lucas and Avery and I had a wonderful time in the studio with Bridget!  Head on over to the blog and then the complete gallery to see the AMAZING pictures!!!

http://imaginatephotography.com/blog/2011/06/30/bloomington-normal-family-photography/

To see all the pictures:

Go to: www.imaginatephotography.com

"Portraits"

Under the Menu “Online Ordering"

Choose Proofs

Category: FAMILY
Password:  carrions

While mom and dad, Lucas and Auntie Robyn were here, we spent time at the park, the splashpad and zoo (which my camera was dead for), some backyard soccer and lots of snuggling time!

Showing off my pretty photo session dress!

Hello!

Snuggling with Papa!

Mom, dad and Ashley left on Sunday to head home, but Robyn and Lucas stayed until Monday.  Thank goodness too, because on Monday morning, Avery fell and hit her upper gum, and two new teeth, on the corner of our bed.  The screams and cries were the saddest I had every heard, not to mention the blood was a bit scary!  Thankfully, Auntie Robyn helped get her a cold cloth, some Tylenol and some comfort for Mommy!  Poor little girl!

Monday morning, Auntie Robyn, Lucas, Avery and I left for Belvidere for a couple of days.  Robyn and I took the kids to Lake Geneva for the day on Tuesday, and I think it is safe to say that Avery loved the water!

Ready for the sun!

She never wants to look at the camera!

After all the sand collection, the kiddos definitely needed a bath!

How about that mohawk??

On Wednesday morning, Avery and I left to continue our road trip.  We stopped in Crystal Lake to visit our friend Alicia in their new gorgeous home!  Avery loved all the toys Alicia had and her cat!  

Hi Auntie Alicia!

Our next stop on Wednesday was to visit Great Grandma Carrion, Aunt Debbie and cousin Katie!  Since Katie has lived out of state since Avery was born, this was their first meeting!  Of course Avery loved her from the very moment they met! 

Avery has been making this silly face for quite some time now.  :)

Never too early to start....or is it??  See below!

I know the piano at my grandma's house is a little out of tune, but this moment was too sweet not to share!

Kisses from Gigi

After leaving Gigi's house, we went back to see Grandma!  She was very excited to see Avery again too! Later that night, we went and visited Uncle Skip and Auntie Les and Jersey.  Avery made a new friend that night!

On Thursday, we went to Lamb's Farm.  It was perfect for kids Avery and Lucas' age.  We saw some animals, rode a train, sat on a carousel (Avery was too young to ride), and even pet some goats.  

Ready for the train ride!

Too young to ride, but they let us take a picture
on the horse anyway!

We had such a great time visiting our friends and family!  It sure was nice to get home to see Daddy, who missed us very much!  Although, it looks as though Avery is ready to go again!