Avery's Backstage Pass to the Indy Zoo

Ashley's sister, Mandy, works with the Marine Animals at the zoo so Avery got to go behind the scenes and meet Aurora the Walrus as well as see the dolphins up close before their show - it was too close to showtime to pet them. They plan to go back and meet the seals and sea lions later this summer. I was jealous I had to work and couldn't go!!

Taylor's 10 Month Update

• Taylor's become an expert crawler in the past month. It just clicked and now the boy is always on the move. He can also pull himself to a stand and cruise around when he has something to hold onto. He tries to stand on his own and can hold it for a few seconds but has some balance work to do. He is getting good at getting back to a sit from a stand! He is also climbing up the stairs. You put him down and he is OFF - will not sit still. Every once in awhile he gets interested in a toy and will sit still for a little but it's rare. And somehow he always wants to go to things he shouldn't - cords and outlets and the water cooler are some favorites!
• He is pretty much over purees and us feeding him - He wants to do it himself. He has gotten good using his pincer finger and thumb and is eating everything we give him. He does know when "treats" are out - Like if he is eating green beans but sees watermelon on the table, he starts refusing the green beans and looking at the watermelon. And if we pull out puffs or cheerios he gets super excited!!
• He now has 7 teeth - 3 on the top and 4 on the bottom. The 6th and 7th ones poked through and I didn't even notice!! So it's not bothering him much.
• He gets SO excited to see you when you walk in a room - Crawls right over! So happy to see people and gives huge grins and giggles.
• Loves Peek A Boo and tickles. Avery does this a lot with him to make him laugh.
• I keep trying to read him books at night but he just closes them and gets distracted...We'll keep working at it!
• He is wearing 9-12 month clothing for the most part. And has awesome baby rolls on his thighs.
• Will not wear a sun hat - pulls it off the second you put it on his head.
• He is eating 3 meals a day and also nurses about 4 times. 
• Sleep is the same as last month...Takes his 2 naps. Goes to bed around 8-9 and is up around 7-7:30. He cries several times pretty much every night but we just let him work it out and he is happy to see us in the morning. And the last 2 nights has FINALLY slept all night - we will see if it's a pattern or fluke in the coming weeks :)
• We've been taking Tay to the pool - He doesn't cry but seems a little unsettled by the whole thing.
• He furrows his brow and "thinks" a lot. So fun to see him studying things and trying to figure them out.
• Lot's of babbling - makes a "pah pah" sound a lot. I keep saying "mamama" but he's not doing it yet...He also plays a game with Avery where she screams and then he gets really excited and screams back at her. It's LOUD but really funny.
• Tay also has gotten the hang of "No" - Used to be no reaction when we said it. Now when we tell him sternly his feelings get hurt, bottom lip comes out, and cries. He also shakes his head no when he doesn't want something. And sometimes just smiles and looks at you out of the corner of his eye and shakes his head.
• If you ask him to give you a kiss he usually does - it's an open mouth one!. And we are working on "SOOO Big" and waving bye-bye. Sometimes he does it and sometimes he totally ignores us. When he does do it and we clap and squeal he is SO proud of himself. We are also working on signing "more" and "all done" - Ashley has seen him sign for "more" so hopefully we are getting there!
• His favorite toy is this little rubber Ariel mermaid that was one of Avery's bath toys. And he LOVES Pez dispensers - usually double fisted on those. He tends to prefer smaller toys he can chew on. And he does have a Monkey Lovee that we keep in his crib that he does suck on some....But no pacis or fingers. It can be tough because it's hard for him to comfort himself but I guess we won't have to wean him at least :)
• It's such a fun age - SO busy and happy and interested in anything that crosses his path. Really cool to watch!

Visit from Hung's California Family

Hung's parents, brother, Aunt and cousins from California came to visit for the past 5 days. We had 4 of his cousins, their spouses and their kids. 18 people including all of us!! They had never met Avery or Taylor and we hadn't met some of their kids. Avery had tons of playmates - Ages 14 to 5. All  kids were boys which Avery was a little worried but after about 30 minutes she had warmed up to everyone and had a blast the rest of the visit. 

There was lots of cooking, eating and just visiting together. We also went to the Children's Museum, played at the UHS gym where Cullen led us in some games and activities, played at the pool, went to the park, saw Finding Dory, had a water balloon fight, and went to the Monon Center Water Park. It was wonderful to have time together and we really appreciated them making the long trip to Indy to see us!! We will have to return the favor and take everyone to California next time!!!

These were Avery's notes to Anne Frank and Ryan White - cracks me up that this is her FAVORITE part of the Children's Museum

Posing with Aaron and Joe - We were sad they had to leave early!!

Pool Time!

Lounging

All the kids minus Tay who was asleep - Hard to get them all looking at the same time...

Playing at the Park - Lisa did a little photo shoot with Avery who had super messy hair and a dress 2 sizes too big but still looked cute!

Avery the Klepto

When Avery and G were in Disney Avery had a confession to make. She said "G - I have to tell you something. You know that blue and white thing? The one that is special and only Grammy gets?" My mom had to think about it and said "You mean her handicap sticker?" "Yes - that. I stole it out of your purse and hid it. And I also stole the crayons you keep for me in your purse and hid them in my house". My mom asked her why and she said "I just felt like being sneaky!" When we got home from Florida she showed us where she had hid them - coffee table drawer in the family room.

So we talked to her about not stealing and not going through people's purses...etc. etc.

Fast forward to last week where Ashley drives Avery to camp. She is walking back to the car and gets there and realizes her keys are gone. She backtracks and the counselor comes out and gives them to Ashley. Apparently Avery had shown them proudly and said "My nanny can't leave without these...."

Guess we have to have another discussion about this :) 

Disney Trip

I presented at a Conference in Orlando and decided to make it into a mini-vacation with the kids. Since Hung just started his new job and is crazy busy, he was not able to join us. But my mom, Ashley, Avery and Taylor made the trip with me. We arrived on Tuesday and stayed at the Four Seasons which was heaven. We started our trip having a pool day - The pool area was amazing with a lazy river, splash pad, water slides and two pools. Tay loved the lazy river but anytime we floated by a waterfall he would hear the sound and bury his head in his inner tube until we passed - it was pretty cute. He also liked crawling around the splash pad and just being held in the pool. Avery was a little fish and did great on the waterslides - she always wanted to do the "blue one" which was the enclosed and faster slide. She also learned how to do flips in the water which she hadn't been able to do before. They also had these enclosed swings that Tay and I napped in one afternoon - heaven!

Tinkerbell came to our room every night and left Avery a little present - It was the first thing she asked for every time she came back from the parks which was cute. Thanks to Ashley for thinking of it!

I had my conference Wednesday through Friday so I was tied up most of the day and evening. Avery went to Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios with G and then Animal Kingdom with Ashley. She loved meeting characters and getting their autographs and all the shows, rides and attractions. Tay did pretty well at the hotel (not great sleeping but we made it work) and like riding around in his stroller for walks and hanging by the pool. He became an expert crawler and also got to try lots of new foods at all the restaurants. 

Saturday we had breakfast with the characters - Tay got to meet Mickey, Minnie and Goofy and pretty much just wanted to pull their noses. He was very curious but not scared. And then we had a pool day with perfect, sunny weather. It was so fun doing the water slides with Avery, floating along the lazy river with both kids and watching Avery flip around in the pool. We then headed to Disney Springs for dinner and Avery just CRASHED!! She slept through the meal but then woke up and ate her dinner outside from the carryout containers and we ended the evening with Sprinkles Cupcakes and Ice Cream.

Our last day was Sunday and we spent it all together at Magic Kingdom. We covered tons of rides and shows. Avery loved the Barnstormer roller coaster and then did it again because it was her favorite. And we also did Haunted Mansion which "was not scary at all". It was a LONG day - we made it through til the fireworks show was over. Tay joined us mid day with Ashley after his morning nap and took a couple naps in the park and he held up pretty well given the heat! Avery loved every minute and was in Disney heaven.

We had a smooth trip home and we are all EXHAUSTED! Happy to be back in our own beds/cribs and to see Hung but very grateful for such a wonderful vacation!!

One of my favorite Avery quotes - This is what my mom posted on Facebook:

While waiting in a line at Disney World, I asked Avery if she could invite 5 famous people to dinner at her home, who would she invite. Her list: George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and Taylor Swift. Raised right.

We didn't get a ton of pics since it was hard with the kids always moving to get my camera out but we got enough to capture some of the moments :)

Plane ride there - Tay looks a little nervous!!

First Pool Day - Tay won't wear a hat so his head is covered in sunscreen

Tay losing his mind after I went to my conference

Avery at Magic Kingdom with G

Pool Day for Tay, Ash and me (before conference started)

 our Nap :)

Getting ready for the Frozen Sing Along at Hollywood Studios

Avery's day at Animal Kingdom

Mickey came to my conference!!

We mixed up restaurants on Friday and ended up at two different Rain Forest Cafe's in Disney - And it was a huge thunderstorm so were all DRENCHED!! My mom literally could not see because her glasses were so fogged up and covered in rain and our clothes and hair were soaked. And then we get there and Ashley and Avery were at another location so we ended up eating separately and sending each other sad faces because we missed each other.

Character Breakfast at Four Seasons and Tay's first time meeting characters

Avery crashed at dinner after a long pool day and then bounced back for ice cream and cupcakes

Last day at Magic Kingdom

WIPED OUT