Welcome to Avery's Homepage

All About Me....

5/16/06: Obviously, my biggest news right now is that I'M GOING TO BE A BIG SISTER!!! YAY!!! Mommy's working on a new site so you can read all about it. I'm very excited, though Mommy's not real sure if I "get it" yet. When asked if I want a baby sister or a baby brother I always say sister. Mommy and Daddy don't really care which as long as its healthy!

Our trip to Indy was very fun though short. Daddy decided to stay home and work on the house so it was just Mommy and me making the long trip out I-70. We spent Friday and 1/2 the day Saturday with Granny, Pap'aw and Uncle Joe and even got to visit with Shannon and Mam'aw Glover. Saturday afternoon we headed to Indy to spend time with our friends Sara, Brandon and their baby Micah; Julie and her little girl Maddie; and Lori and her little boy Jason. We had so much fun shopping, eating, playing and swimming!

The other big news recently is that I'm almost completely potty trained. Most days I go without an accident at all and when I do have one they are very few and far between. I stay dry during naps and all night long too! Mommy and Ronda said I was the easiest to train, but why would they expect anything less. I'm just such an easy-going little girl.

Our house is coming along great! The inside is all but done and we can start moving in anytime now (once we start to pack that is). Daddy's taking a bit of a break from it this week since this weekend is the big Dayton Hamvention, but I'm sure he'll be right back at it come Monday.

On last late development. I have been sick since Friday. I've had fevers on and off and developed diahrrea and vomiting. Everyone suspects Rotovirus and we're just letting it run it's course. I seemed to be feeling a little better last night. Hopefully, I don't pass it on to anyone else.

4/4/06: Wow! I've got a lot to update you on huh?

Let's see, right after Mommy helped update this last time (1/16/06) we all got sick with the stomach flu. It was my first time ever having it and boy did I not like it. I began to think Mommy was making me sick everytime she brought that bucket near me but as it turned out she was just trying to keep me from making a mess.

On the 18th of February we had my 2nd birthday party at the church. A lot of people attended and I received some awesome gifts (dollhouse, Dora doll, Dora green house, View Master, hobby horse, clothes, bathing suit, books, puzzles, cash, Disney Princess dining set, Cinderella nightgown, and a kolidescope). The theme was Sesame Street and I loved my Elmo cake! Plus, Daddy made homemade ice cream that matched the color scheme (orange/pineapple sherbert, lime sherbert & teaberry). Uncle Fred even got me a cool blinking pin that said "I'm 2!" for me to wear.

On the 22nd Mommy & Daddy had Grammy and PapPap over for dinner and sundaes for my actual birthday. I got a few more gifts as well (PlayDoh, Sesame Street dominos, "Another Monster at the End of this Book", clothes, and books).

On the 24th of February I went for my 2 year check up. Luckily I already had a doctor's appointment because when Mommy picked me up from Ronda I was sick. Turns out I had an ear infection. I weighed in at 23 lbs 10 oz (10th percentile) and was 35 inches tall (80th percentile). Still tall and skinny.

On March 8th Mommy, Daddy, Grammy , PapPap and I headed to Florida for vacation. We stayed with Connie and Harlan. Friday we went to visit with my Great Great Aunt Madaline and then to Bok Tower. Saturday was Magic Kingdom (Aunt Tammy made me the coolest Minnie outfit to wear), Sunday I went to church and hung out with Grammy, PapPap, Connie and Harlan while Mommy and Daddy had a day to themselves, Monday was Epcot, Tuesday was a down day and dinner with Great Great Uncle Carl and Aunt Dorothy, and Wednesday was MGM Studios. We had a blast, but was glad to get home. The trip seemed to have caused my worse dose of "terrible two's" as of yet, but I have since returned to normal. [MOMMY NOTE: Thank Goodness!!!!]

My baby cousin "Miah" is getting BIG! He'll be 3 months old this Thursday. As of last weekend he's 10 lbs 8 oz and is the stoutest little guy ever. Just as solid as his Daddy. He's taking after me too and loosing all his red hair and the blonde is growing in.

Our house is coming along GREAT! Soon the drywall will be all done and Mommy can start painting my bedroom. After that its just the flooring and duct work that needs to be finished upstairs.

That just about brings us current. This weekend is Jared's 13th birthday party [ANOTHER MOMMY NOTE: WOW! Where did the last 7 years go?? Didn't the boy just turn SIX!?!?!] Easter is coming up as well. Mommy bought Jeremiah and me matching sailor outfits to wear (Great Grandpap Zimmerman would be proud!) and you can see those pictures on page 37. After Easter we'll be heading to Indy the weekend of April 22nd for Grandma Kendall's birthday and to visit with Sara, Brandon and their new baby Micah, Julie and Maddie, and Lori and Jason. Should be a hoot!

1/16/06:

Happy New Year!!! (a little late)

So much has happened since my last update, I hope I can remember it all.

Christmas was so much fun. Christmas morning we got up and went downstairs to see what Santa brought me. I just kept saying "oh wow!" at all my gifts. Daddy didn't get a chance to finish my kitchen, but hopefully will soon. After that we went to Aunt Tammy's for lunch and more gifts and then back over there after my nap for supper.

Monday we celebrated Christmas with the rest of the Zimmerman and Brubaker family. Everyone pitched in and we had a great big feast and then some of them played board games while I napped.

Over New Year's weekend we headed out to Indy. Unfortunately, Mommy and I both got sick with chest colds (RSV) and didn't feel so swell. When we got there Friday (Mommy's birthday) Mam'aw had a cake waiting for her. It was so yummy! We spent Saturday and Sunday in Indy with Sara and Brandon eating, shopping and just having fun hanging out. Sunday evening we opened gifts and visited with the family.

The following week as Mommy and Aunt Tammy started putting everything together for Aunt Brendy's baby shower, we got a HUGE surprise. Aunt Brendy was put on bedrest Thursday, 1/5/06, due to pre-eclampsia with 6 weeks to go in her pregnancy. It was a bummer I'm sure, but we were glad the doctors wanted her to take it easy. Then around 5 o'clock Friday evening as Grammy, Mommy and I were on our way out the door to go shopping for baby shower gifts we got a call from Uncle Daren that Brendy was on her way to the hospital because her water broke!!!

Finally, at 8 after an agonising 3 hours of waiting Mommy and Grammy headed to the hospital to be with Brendy, Daren and Daren's parents. At 8:39 p.m., on 1/6/06 (Aunt Tammy's birthday) my little cousin, Jeremiah Wayne, entered this world. He is just about as healthy as any 34-week preemie can be, but is still in the hospital until he learns to eat properly. He should be out by the end of the week and we hope he can join us to watch the Steelers beat the Broncos! You can see more pictures of him here. I just love my little cousin to bits and sit very still and quiet when I get to hold him. I can't wait for him to get a little older so we can play together.

As for me, I continue to grow up way too fast for my own good! I've left all those baby things behind and becoming such a big girl. I'm currently working on jumping and am quickly becoming a potty-expert. A little potty story for you:

Mommy and I got home Wednesday night after baby shower shopping with Aunt Tammy. It was late so Mommy took me straight upstairs for bath and bed time. She asked if I had to go potty before my bath and I did (pee-pee same as always) and then I got in the bath. Soon I stood up in the tub (which I know I'm not allowed to do) and kept saying "Pee-Pee! Pee-Pee!" Mommy told me that I just went and asked me to sit down. I didn't and just kept say "Pee-Pee!" and then started saying "Pee-Pee PLEASE!! Please!!" Finally, Mommy took me seriously and put me on the potty. Well, I didn't have to pee, but I sure had to poop. That was a first for me and Mommy was so proud that I told her!

Mommy had to take me to the doctor when we got sick and I weighed a wooping 23 lbs with my clothes on. Apparently, I'm still a little peanut weightwise, but I'm almost too tall for my carseat now. Guess I can thank Uncle Joe for that since he's the tallest one in our family!

My 2nd birthday is next month. Mommy and Daddy still aren't sure of the party specifics yet, but I'm sure they'll plan something fun for me!

Mommy finally loaded all of our Christmas and New Year's pictures today and will get some new pictures on the house website and baby shower pictures on Jeremiah's site as soon as she finds the card reader.

Take care!

12/13/05:

Just a quick update about Christmas pictures last night.

Mommy, Daddy, Grammy, PapPap and I all headed to Johnstown last night to the mall. I had an appointment at Sears to get my pictures taken and then Mommy wanted to take me to see Santa.

I was a little cranky when we got to the mall so Mommy was afraid it wasn't all going to work out. We got to the portrait studio and no body else was there so we got right in. At first I wanted to play with the beads outside but Mommy convinced me to come in the studio and play with the snowman. I did so wonderful with my pictures. I posed great and smiled like an angel. We were in and out of the place in 15 minutes. Mommy was so proud of me.

After Sears I got to ride the train in the mall. It was so fun and I wasn't very happy with getting off, but Mommy cheered me up by saying I got to go see Santa next.

When we got to Santa I just smiled and said "Ho Ho!" Mommy let me watch a kid sit on his lap and then asked if I wanted to. I whispered "yeah" so we got in line. Mommy still wasn't sure if I would sit on his lap and promised that I didn't have to if I didn't want to. The two kids in front of me cried when they were supposed to sit on his lap, but Mommy did a good job keeping me distracted from that.

When it was my turn, Mommy and I walked up and the photographer asked Mommy to put me down a few feet away from Santa so that he, the photographer, could get my attention with his squeaky toys before sitting me on Santa's lap. Well, I didn't want anything to do with those silly squeaky toys! Didn't he understand, I had business to attend to!! So as soon as Mommy put me down I ran right over to Santa and gave him a big ol' hug. I was so happy to see him!! I got up on his lap and gave him another hug. They had to retake my picture because you couldn't see my face in the first one because it was buried in Santa's chest as I was giving him a big squeeze. He asked me what I wanted for Christmas and I told him "toys". He then suggested a baby doll and I said "Yeah!" Santa even gave me a red lolly pop to match my pretty dress. Everyone said I was a good girl and told me how proud they were of me, but I don't know what the big deal was. It was Santa for Pete's Sake. A kid can't let Christmas come without talking to the big man.

Mommy already has my Sears pictures online, but has to scan my Santa picture yet. Hope you enjoy them!

12/7/05:

What a wonderful month for growing November was!

There's no doubt about it...I am DEFINITELY into the Terrible Two's (effectionately known as T2's by Mommy!) I don't think I'm nearly as bad as the average two-year-old but I sure do give everyone a run for their money! I'm testing my boundries every chance I get. I tend to not eat for Mommy, avoid naps for Ronda, refuse to give Daddy night-night kisses...anything I feel like. But it usually ends up to be no fun for me because they don't give in to my demands too often.

Mommy discovered the other night that two of my two-year molars are partially through. She's hoping that the discomfort those teeth have been causing me has been some of the root of my T2's problems (Sha'right!). I only have two more baby teeth to poop through and them I'm done. Next thing you know I'll be getting visited by the Tooth Fairy!

I'm also making good strides in potty training. Mommy and Daddy definitely aren't pushing me, but I've started to tell them when I need to go pee-pee. I love getting fishy and kitty stickers when I do and adding stars to my chart!

My vocabulary continues to expand and I even pop up with 2, 3 and 4 word sentenances every now and then. The other day I said, "Salem doesn't have two socks". (Well, he doesn't.)

Our Thanksgiving in Indy was...um....er....different. Don't get me wrong, I loved spending time with everyone, but it was a bit of an unorthodox Thanksgiving celebration. Everyone was busy installing new insulation and dry wall in Mam'aw and Pap'aw Kendall's house. I was a really good girl though and did my part by staying out of the way.

Mommy, Daddy and Ronda have been telling me all about Santa. Whenever I see him I say "Ho Ho" and if you ask me what he has in his sack I'll tell you "toys". Mommy says that we'll be going tomorrow to get my Christmas picture taken and I can meet Santa if I want. No pressure though, I'm afraid he may be a little overwhelming in person. Oh, and my current favorite DVD is "Frossy" (that's "Frosty" for all those that don't know...I can't say the "T" too well.) Aunt Tammy gave it to me last year and Mommy's afraid I'm going to wear the disk out.

Grammy and PapPap Zimmerman just got back from a nice long vacation in Florida. They were gone for about 2 and half weeks and I sure did miss them. Connie and her family sent me some very nice gifts...amoung them were the cutest dress for Christmas and a gorgeous hand-knitted sweater (that's a tad big but not by too much) from Connie and Harlan. Plus, Johnathan sent me a "T'was the Night Before Christmas" book which was just perfect because Mommy wanted to buy it to read to me Christmas Eve anyway.

Aunt Brendy's belly continues to get round. She received some not-so-good news last week that she has Gestational Diabetes (Mommy had to help me with that one) so she will be put on a special diet to keep her and the baby safe and healthy. I told you last time that they picked Skylar Anne for a girl, and currently their boy name is Jeremiah Wayne. Things could always change, but that's what they have for now. I can't wait until my little cousin gets here, I just love babies so much!

We'll be spending Christmas at home as always (probably opening gifts from Santa first thing, then going to Aunt Tammy's and ending the day at Grammy and PapPap's), but will be venturing to Indy again the following weekend. We'll be continuing our New Year's Eve tradition by spending it with Sara and Brandon playing board games in Indianapolis and then I'm sure we'll get into working on Mam'aw and Pap'aw's house again.

Well, I better give Mommy's fingers a rest. In case I don't update this before, have a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

11/2/05:

Hi everyone!

I'm still one smart little cookie...I can sing along with most of the Alphabet song, can count to 3 by myself and to 10 with help, know several songs including "You Are My Sunshine", "This Little Light of Mine", "The Wheels on the Bus" and several songs from Daddy's Donnie Iris CD. I love to pump my fist to "Love is Like a Rock"!!! Along with singing, I can dance, run, and am trying to figure out that jumping thing, but it's pretty hard.

On the way home from church Sunday I fell asleep in the car. When we got home Mommy tried to lay me down to finish my nap, but I was having none of that so she took me into the living room and we just sat and snuggled. After a little while I looked up at her and said "I love you Mommy", gave her a kiss, and then said "Thank you Mommy!" I could tell I made her really happy when I said that because she got some tiny tears in her eyes. I've been able to say "love you" and "thank you" for quite a while, but I think I surprised Mommy when I put it all together.

Let's see...last time I forgot to have Mommy update my stats from my 18 month appointment. I was 22 pounds even, but she's not sure about anything else because, OH NO!, she has misplaced my vaccination book with all the measurements in it. I did get my last vaccination until I'm 6 and I was totally thrilled about that.

Mommy says that I've also started in to the terrible two's a little early. I tend to throw fits when I don't get my way and have been known to drop to the floor in tears. Sometimes it's really hard for Mommy not to laugh when I'm so dramatic, but her and Daddy do really well helping me through things. I don't understand it, but sometimes when I'm crying for something that they don't think is very important, they just walk away. Somehow I get over being mad pretty quick and am ready to be a good girl again.

Aunt Brendy is getting a nice round belly now and has started to feel my little cousin kick her! I can't wait until I can feel it. They have a girl's name picked out (Skylar Ann...I'm not sure of the spelling), but are unsure what they'll pick if the baby is a boy.

Our house is coming along well despite Daddy taking another trip to the ER. He cut his right thumb and tendon on a steel door, but luckily the dr. didn't think he needed surgery. He goes back Thursday for a follow-up. Poor guy's sure been in a lot of pain though.

Halloween just passed and I had SO much fun! On Friday, Mommy and Daddy took Jacob and I trick-or-treating in Sipesville. I was "Little Ben Roethlisberger" and he was a hunter. At first I didn't know what to think of all the kids dressed up, but I soon got into it. I loved getting candy and all the compliments on my great costume. Oh, and there was a little girl dressed as Pooh Bear that I just adored. I pointed her out to Mommy and Daddy everytime I saw her.

Saturday night after they were done working on the house, Mommy and Daddy took me to see "Aunt" Ronda at her house and Grammy at the hospital. Both gave me great treats! And then on Monday, Grammy took me to Mommy's work so I could do some trick-or-treating there too! (You can see all my Halloween pictures on picture page 21.)

I'm so excited for Thanksgiving! This year we're spending all 4 days in Indiana with Mommy's family. We haven't been there since July so they're all in for a treat when they see how much I've grown!

Well, I better let Mommy get back to work. Take care everyone!

9/27/05:

Hello again! I'm now 19 months and 5 days old.

It's amazing to Daddy and Mommy how much of a big girl I am. I'm starting to put words together to make short sentences and can understand almost everything they say.

I'm also a very caring little girl. Yesterday, while watching my new Elmo video, Jack and Jill fell down the hill and got hurt. I started crying and ran to Mommy. I don't like when other people get hurt and cry. Also, about a week ago we went to the Renaissance Festival and at the "Mud Show" they were pretending to fight and that upset me as well. I just like it when people are happy.

Speaking of getting hurt, Daddy hurt himself with a hand grinder a couple of weeks ago. He was working at Uncle Craig's shop grinding something that was in the bench vise and the grinder caught and jumped up and got him right in the cheek. After that it fell and landed on his leg, ripping his jeans clear off his leg and making a couple nastey brush burns on his leg. Aunt Tammy took him to the ER because Mommy, Grammy and I were over the mountain shopping. He got 3 layers of stiches in his cheek. He'll have a big scar there, but that will be the worst of it. He's healed up quite nicely.

We got to see Aunt Brendy and Uncle Daren's ultrasound photo and video on Sunday. On the video we got to see their baby move around, suck it's thumb and yawn. I pointed out the eyes but that was about all I could figure out. Aunt Brendy is about 1/2 way though her pregnancy now, and that icky morning sickness is finally leaving her alone. I can't wait until I get to meet my little cousin!

Our house is coming along well. They are going to pour the floor in the garage today and the basement floor is already done. The house will be delivered this coming Monday. Mommy has a bunch of photos to put on the website but Daddy has the camera today so he can take more.

Halloween is just around the corner and I'm going to be something completely opposite of the princess I was last year....but you'll just have to wait and see. =)

8/17/05:

Wow! Two and half months with no update...Mommy must sure be busy!

I'll be 18 months old next week and continue to amaze Mommy & Daddy everyday. I'm picking up new words everyday and am getting to be such a big girl. I've even started using the potty. Mommy says it will be some time until I can go without diapers, but she's so proud of me when I ask to go potty!

I love fish so much I've nearly turned into one! I love to swim, and I don't need any help. Mommy just puts me in my water wings and I jump right in. I'm not scared to go under the water at all! Daddy and Mommy also bought me a fish tank and as soon as we turn down the driveway I start saying "Shishies, shishies" because I want to see them. I even blow them kisses when it's "night night" time. Oh and I also love to share some Swedish Fish (gummy fish for all you Hoosiers) with Daddy.

We've been working hard on our house. Mommy will post some new picture on our site as soon as she's done with this so be sure to check them out.

I haven't mentioned it on here yet, but my little cousin is growing strong in Aunt Brendy's tummy. She's due on 2/16/06, just before my 2nd birthday and is starting to show! The little guy/gal has been making Aunt Brendy pretty queasy which Mommy just loves, because that means he/she is doing great. I think Aunt Brendy is just about done with the first trimester though, so that icky morning (afternoon/evening) sickness should be going away soon. Mommy and I are hoping her and Uncle Daren have a little girl for me to play with and share all my clothes with, but we'll be happy which ever way it turns out.

6/2/05: HAPPY BIRTHDAY DADDY!!!

I had my 15-month check up last week. I weighed in at 20 lbs 12 oz (25th percentile and up 12 oz from 3 months ago), 30" long (50th percentile, up 3/4" inch) and my head's still in the 75th percentile. I got two shots (OUCH!) and Dr. Sredy was thrilled to hear about my vocabulary and other advancements. My 18-month appointment will be on 8/23/05.

Dayton was a lot of fun! The weather held up great (other than Thursday night set up). I had a blast playing with bungee cords, screw drivers and sidewalk chalk! =O) Daddy and Uncle Kevin did really well and everyone seemed to have fun.

Last weekend we went to visit our family in Indy. Again, we had great weather and I had fun visiting with everyone. Saturday we had a cookout and Uncle Dean and Aunt Kathy came over and then I got to see Great Grandma Glover on Sunday. Daddy and Mommy put a shower in for Mam'aw and Pap'aw so that kept them pretty busy all weekend.

As I said before, today's Daddy's birthday. Mommy and I got him a GREAT gift and I can't wait until he opens it tonight. Mommy may even pick up some cupcakes to celebrate with. Saturday, Great Aunt Tammy is having a cookout at her house for Daddy's birthday.

I'm such a little personality now and amaze Mommy and Daddy everyday. I love to sing and dance and make everyone laugh. I'm such a little ham. I'm starting to count and Ronda was working on the ABC's with me yesterday. Mommy says I'm one smart cookie!

5/10/05: Wow! It's been a month already? Sorry about that.

Let's see. I did, indeed, give up those stinky ol' bottles, plus, I gave up my binky last week. I started being really bad about wanting it which made it hard on Mommy and Aunt Ronda to get me to go to sleep so they decided that it was time to give it up. I cried for it for about three days, but only for about 5 minutes each day. However, now I go to bed like I used to, with a happy smile on my face and no crying.

I'm getting so big so fast! My 18-month capri pants actually look like capri's now and not just regular pants that go down to my ankle. They're still a little big around the waist but that's to be expected since I'm such a little peanut. Plus, I got another tooth, so now I'm up to 14 with two more just around the corner.

Speaking of teeth, Mommy noticed on Saturday that I chipped two of my teeth. Both in front, one on top and one on bottom. It's not very noticable and Mommy has no idea how it happened! Could have been one of my many falls or maybe when I tried to eat some rocks or dirt. =O)

My vocabulary is ever expanding and my two newest words are "shoes" and "cheese" (my favorite snack). OH! and Grammy Z. taught me to wink yesterday. I'm still not very good at it, but I have a lot of fun trying.

I have my 15-month wellness check on 5/27/05, but that won't be until after our annual trip to Dayton, OH for the Hamvention. Daddy has been super busy trying to get ready for the show and everything else (including the house) has had to go on the back burner until it is over. The Hamvention is May 20-22 so hopefully things will get back to normal after that.

Mommy will soon have a website for her new photography business so be sure to watch my "Links" for that. She took pictures of Hillary, Leah and Nathan as a surprise for Aunt Ronda for Mother's Day. Plus, she is doing Jared's travel soccer team's photos and has two senior pictures sessions lined up for this summer. Aunt Ronda says that she probably has at least two more people interested as well.

Well, that's about it from me. Be sure to check out my photos page. Mommy just posted some new pictures of me. See you soon......

4/11/05: Big news! I'm just about done with bottles. I'm such a big girl now. I went from Friday afternoon until about 3:00 a.m. this morning without one. And the only reason I had one this morning was because I was too busy playing yesterday to be bothered with eating so I was pretty hungry.

Mommy found another new tooth the other day. It's been there for a while and likely the one that was giving me such a hard time a couple weeks ago. I have a total of 13 pearly whites now with 3 more just around the corner.

We didn't get to take our trip to DC like we wanted too. They were having some pretty nasty weather so we just went down Sunday morning for the hamfest. We didn't get to see Christy and the gang but will get to see them this weekend because Cyndi is having a housewarming party and we're going to Frederick on Saturday.

Speaking of houses...if you have been keeping up on the progress with our new house, head over to that website for the latest news.

The weather is getting nicer here and I love playing outside. Yesterday I played in the water as Mommy and Daddy washed the car and Grandpap cleaned out the garage. Aunt Brendy had to go change me into my bathing suit because I got my outfit wet. I had a lot of fun.

Mommy will grab her camera and get some shots of me soon since there hasn't been any new ones in a couple of weeks.

3/30/05: Hello everyone! Before we left for Florida, I had my 12 month well baby check up. I weighed 20 lbs even which was the 25th percentile (just barely making the weight limit to turn around forward facing in my car seat), was 29.5" tall (50th percentile) and my head was in the 75th percentile. I got a couple shots and the doctor said I was doing great and was very impressed with my vocabulary and physical development.

Florida was great! We had so much fun visiting with our family and just relaxing. I really enjoyed Cypress Gardens and Disney World. I especially like to ride the carousels! I took off walking on my very own for the first time in the hotel on the way back home. It was quite a surprise to everyone.

I got to go see Mam'aw, Pap'aw and Uncle Joe a couple weekends ago. Daddy needed to go up and see Ted again in Chicago. Mam'aw took me to see Great Grandma Glover and I got to meet Tracy's little girl Emma. She's so tiny! Mam'aw and Pap'aw also got me an Easter basket with lots of yummy things and toys. THANKS!

Easter at home was fun too! We went to church in the morning and spent the day with our family at Pap Pap and Grammy's house. I got two other Easter Baskets while I was there. One from Great Aunt Tammy, Uncle Craig and the boys and one from Grammy and Pap Pap. Thanks! We also did an Easter egg hunt and I just wanted to sit down and play with the few I found so Jared and Jacob got TONS of candy. When we got home, I got another Easter basket from Mommy and Daddy. Daddy helped me open it and read me my new book. In my basket was the best gift ever...my very own cell phone! I love to push buttons and pretend to talk on the phone so it was great!

I walk everywhere now and would rather do that then crawl. Plus, I talk all the time too and know all kinds of words (Mum, Dada, Pap Pap, kitty, bath bath, bottle, book, Uh Oh, Thank You, ball, Peek-A-Boo and can growl like a bear). There's probably more but Mommy doesn't remember any more right now. I'm also working on cutting my cuspids and they really hurt. Some days I have meltdowns from the pain. Mommy's learning how to fix them more quickly now. So far I have about 12 teeth that are through.

We're going to DC this weekend for a hamfest, but also get to visit with Christy, Chad, Russ and possibly others, plus go to the Cherry Blossom Festival. Mommy's excited to take pictures there with her new camera and talk with Russ about photography.

Talk to you again soon!

3/3/05: Tomorrow we leave for FLORIDA!!! Mommy says I get to meet Mickey. How cool is that?!?! She also says it's going to be nice and sunny and in the 70's. Also cool! Or warm...whichever way you look at it. Connie can't wait until we get down there. She's going to be floored to see how much I've changed since June!

2/28/05: My birthday party was Saturday and I had so much fun. There were about 30 people there and I got a lot of nice gifts. (THANKS EVERYONE!) I really enjoyed my baloons and eating the butterfly cake Mommy made. She'll post pictures as soon as she can.

In other news, I went from taking 2 steps to taking 25 steps in all of 5 or 10 minutes yesterday (2/27/05). We were at Grammy's house and Aunt Brenda had me, but I wanted Mommy so she put me down and I took my standard two steps to Mommy. They figured it would be a good time to try to get me to take a few more so Brendy backed up and I took 4, then 5, then 10, then 18, then 25. I still haven't taken off on my own, but I'm sure I will try soon.

2/22/05: Happy 1st Birthday to me!!! Tonight Mommy and Daddy are having a few people over for dinner and cupcakes and then we'll have my birthday party on Saturday at the church.