9 months

Can it really be that Avery will be a year old in just three months?!? This can't be right...she should definitely still be a small, newborn infant...

But she's not. She is now a sweet, babbling, attempting to crawl, happy, 9th month old baby. And with a tooth I might add! Yes, our gummy-grinned girl now flaunts a cute little tooth, just barely peeking from her bottom gum. If you get to touch it or even see it you're lucky, because she is very "protective" of her new appendage. Avery is also working on her communication skills. She still says "dada" and occasionally "mama" and "bye bye." At times, it seems as if she is trying to say "hey there" and she also tries to say "Dixie." She also likes to say "uh" for "uh oh"..and of course drops things repetitively so she can say it over and over again. She imitates barking and quacking. She loves to clap her hands and has recently started to "roll them" around each other (like for "roll 'em up" in Patty Cake). You can ask her where her belly is and she will pat it with her hands. She will also throw her hands in the air when you say touchdown...a trick I'm certain a certain Brindley boy taught her without us knowing :).

Avery is desperately trying to crawl. Her once spastic moves have become a little more refined and she is now our little inchworm. She also enjoys vocalizing as she moves, because it is such hard work! We did happen to capture this cuteness on video....



It is unbelievable how much and how quickly she is learning to do new things (see, I've said it again). I went to the Exceptional Childrens conference in Greensboro on Sunday and returned Tuesday afternoon. Avery had acquired a few new skills just in the short amount of time that I was gone! She started to wave with her fingers (instead of her whole arm) and can hold her bottle by herself. My mother-in-law also informed me that she is able to sit up on her own. It didn't take long for her to learn how to get down from a sitting position, but she has suddenly discovered how to sit up on her own. I didn't actually witness this new talent, so I was a little unsure...until last night. I laid Avery in her crib and bent over to turn on her CD player. When I stood back up, there was my once lying baby, now sitting up looking at me. Needless to say, her crib mattress has now been lowered. I must brag on Shayne a little. This was his first time being alone with Avery for more than a few hours. He did a great job taking care of the Poots and I believe they have bonded more because of their daddy/daughter alone time.

We look forward to seeing what this next month brings!