Four Months Old

Avery is four months old and if you see her she will tell you all about it! She is talking up a storm and seems to think she's really saying something.

Her four month check up went very well. Here are her new measurements: 14 pounds and 3 ounces (75th percentile); 25 3/4 inches long (95th percentile!!!); 16 1/4 inch head (55th percentile). I knew she'd grown a lot but didn't realize she was quite that tall. To put it in perspective, she's now doubled her birth weight and grown 5 inches in four months!

She's doing all the things a four month old should be doing. The doctor was impressed at how well she can stand and thought she was very socially interactive. She didn't notice anything wrong with Avery's eyes but we're still going to the eye doctor next week just in case. Oh, and she said Avery is teething. You can't see teeth but her bottom gums are swollen.

Avery got one shot this time since we're doing an alternative vaccine schedule. She took it like a champ and only cried a little. Luckily the Tasmanian Devil band-aid made it feel better.

Hope everyone has a nice Labor Day weekend. Jared are I are going to the first KU football game and Avery is spending the day with Grandma Michele.

New Activities

Here are some new activities Avery enjoys.

Jungle activity mat:

Rainforest Jumper:

Bumbo:

Avery is also giggling more and has found her voice. It's pretty cute even though she's usually voicing that she's not happy about something. She continues to be quite the momma's girl when she's tired or upset, but now she thinks her daddy is pretty funny. Jared can really get her laughing up a storm and she lights up every time she sees him.

A week ago Avery made her first trip to Memorial Stadium and the University of Kansas. We went for Fan Appreciation Night before the first football game. We didn't get a picture with Big Jay or Baby Jay but maybe next time. Since Avery is good at standing now (if you balance her) I let her stand in the end zone. Jared had Avery stand on the "A" for a picture.

Motivation

Sometimes it's amazing what a person can do given the right motivation. Even babies. Although Avery does not hate tummy time like some babies, it is certainly not her favorite activity. When put on her tummy she'll hold her head up for only a few seconds at a time grunting like it is really hard work. That is, until last week when she was in front of the tv. She held her head up looking at the tv for several minutes straight! Apparently it's not so hard after all.

Actually Avery has grown and developed tremendously over that last 2-3 weeks. It's amazing how much bigger she is. Even more exciting is all the skills she's learning. She is playing with toys a lot now, holding them, swatting them, and of course, putting them in her mouth. Everything goes to the mouth these days. She is making a lot more sounds and noises and is starting to imitate us. She's really enjoying her activity mat that has animals hanging on it. She also found her feet, particularly the left one which she constantly holds. Some people say that means she's left-handed, but others say it means right-handed. Who knows!

It's been a busy couple of weeks. Avery made it to her second Royals game which they lost to Boston. We had fantastic seats in the 10th row so we were on constant alert for foul balls. We had a play date with Max although that was more for the moms. We went to Lawrence for dinner for Grandma JoAnn's birthday. Last Saturday we went to Wichita to celebrate Great-Grandma June's 75th birthday. Avery did so well in the car which was quite a relief. And as always she was the life of the party. Last Sunday we helped Aunt Sarah move back to college. Here's Avery and Sarah in Sarah's apartment.