Avery's Birthday Party - Part 2

After Avery's party, we got to hang out more with Grandma, Grandpa, the Ruhls (and Nana & Opa), before we headed to the Mariner's Game for a party in the suite that Grandpa reserved for us and the Hunt family. Party #2.

Avery and Grandma trying to warm up.
Cake #2.

Braden's blue cotton candy goatee.

Avery and cousin Nolan. I think Avery taught Nolan the cute scrunchy face.

Our message to my baby.

Singing happy birthday to Avery.

Thank you again Grandpa! We were exhausted and still battling colds but we had a GREAT time!

Avery's 1st Birthday Party

Avery's 1st Birthday party was last Saturday, at Clyde Beach Park in Bellevue. Mother Nature listened and held off on the rain for us, unfortunately I forgot to ask for no wind. We had a partially sunny & very windy day. Avery is a very loved little girl though, just about everyone still showed up and braved the wind chill to help us celebrate. Thank you to everyone who bundled up and came out to party with us!!! And a HUGE thank you to Nana and Opa for helping us set up and clean up. Here are some of the pictures from the Seattle Spring day.

Avery helped me put together her Happy Birthday banner, complete with pictures from each month's photoshoot. The official cake, made by Nana's neighbor. (This neighbor knows how to make a cake! No offense Boni - we still laugh about our wedding cake).

My very loyal KM girls and their sweet hubbies never let me down!

The birthday girl in all her layered glory.

The poor Great-Grandmas (Great Oma and Great Nana) shivered together. (Great Grandma was there in spirit).

My cousin J.R. and his sweet wife Erin bundled up their munckins and braved colds. I didn't get their very cute faces though.

Tammy made Avery's VERY cute smash cake. I think she made it too cute, Avery didn't want to touch it!

Auntie Di and Avery battling the wind gusts.

Grandpa and Avery playing with the kids on the big toy. (At least that was a hit!)

Even cousin Nolan got in on the action.

And Auntie Nan and Cousin Braden showed Avery that the slide isn't so scary.Avery's buddy, sweet little Vail with her Mommy and Daddy (Jen & Theo).

The beautiful McNabb girls. Can you believe they are 7 and almost 5?! Wow, how time flies! Isabelle was a tiny little toddler flower girl in our wedding and Mia was about to be born.

Auntie Nan playing with Avery while Nana cleans up.

Hey Mandi, you got anything good in that purse for me?!

Thank you again to everyone to came to party with us and spoiled our little munchkin. Avery and I are working on thank you's, we will get them out ASAP. :)

12 Months Old!

I cannot believe my sweet, tiny baby is 1 year old already. With the insane schedule we've had the last couple of months, I haven't really had a chance to sit back and think about my baby not being a baby anymore - she's now a toddler. That's probably a good thing, because when I do sit back and look at newborn photos of her, I get so sad. It's a very bittersweet feeling, because I absolutely love the little girl she is becoming. She has such a strong personality, and her silly tendancies keep Andy and I laughing non-stop.

Avery is still a tiny girl - music to Mommy's ears! She is just now in 12 months clothes and still in size 2 shoes - tiny feet. At her 12 month check up this week she weighs 19 lbs 2 oz (in the 15%) and is 27 3/4" long (in the 20%). That means in the 12 months she's been alive she has only put on 12 pounds. It's a combination of being a very active & curious girl and being a polite nibbler. She has 8 teeth now, all in the front and we think the makings of a molar are pushing through. She hasn't walked yet, still standing and cruising with the aid of furniture and adult fingers. But she moves VERY quickly when she does move. Her favorite walking activity is taking the dining room chairs and moving them around the dining room. Maybe she doesn't like my decorating skills?

Her personality continues to grow. She is a Taurus in every aspect - demands attention, not afraid to speak her mind, and does not budge on what she wants. In fact, taking things from her that she gets her hands on (Mom & Dad's phone, remote, computer...) results in a tantrum in which she launches herself backward and screams bloody murder. She is a Mocerino for sure - she loves to talk. She's been babbling to us quite a bit lately, and her voice has gotten deeper - it seems as if her sounds are coming from the back of her throat. She is starting to mimic Mommy & Daddy now, which means she's also starting to pick up on some of the sign language we've been using. During her birthday we learned that she is indeed all girl - she does not like getting dirty (why she wouldn't get into her cake) and nibbles slowly on food while boy cousin Nolan pounds what's in front of him.

She is not a fan of getting her diaper changed, and usually cries through each event if she's not playing "pick up whatever it is I just threw on the floor" with us. She loves her toys that sing & play music, pushing the buttons over and over and dancing - dropping it like it's hot. (I didn't teach her that!) Avery is still a bit of a Mommy's girl - she's very clingy to me, and Mondays when I work from home she sits on my lap and "helps" out. But she has a strong bond with Daddy too, she gives him the cutest smiles, and Mommy face now belongs to Daddy.

This is probably the end of our monthly photoshoots. Though Mommy finally got a fancy camera and this kid is just too darn cute, so we'll see about that. :) As per the last few months, we had to bribe her with a snack and have Daddy entertain her.
That smile is just for Daddy.

And of course there's always 1 good meltdown when I don't let her rip off the month lable.

Can this kid work it?!

Her birthday outfit without the 4 layers she had under/over it at her party.

Ah, this kid just keeps me smiling. My favorite pose. "What Mom?"

Still my little Stinker.

That first year flew by so fast. Thank you for one amazing year full of smiles, laughs and a few cries, my sweet Avery Albertine. You are the joy of our lives and have consumed the hearts of so many. I'll miss the tiny baby you used to be, but I'm enjoying every new day of discovering new things with you and seeing the amazing little girl you are turning into. We love you.

Klisser Seattle Reception

We had a busy weekend. The day after "Auntie" Di's wedding, we had "Auntie" Kristen & "Uncle" Greg's Seattle Reception - at the Space Needle! So we got to get dressed up and party with the new Klissers again! Even Opa, Nana, Auntie Nan and Daddy showed up for a bit. Thanks for another great party DeHarts!

My princess being her usual stinker self.

The K-M table with Mom & Dad Hermans. We are a special bunch. :)

We are always missing somebody in these group shots! This time we have Tammy and Simona but Jay is missing.
Wow, check out Opa and Nana! They sure clean up well! Looking snazzy Opa!

We even got to go up to the top of the Space Needle and take some "prom" pics. :) They lucked out with a gorgeous Seattle day. That's the end of our wedding-palooza! What will we do with our time now?!

"Auntie" Di's Wedding

Last weekend Mommy was in her other very good friend Diana's wedding. It was a beautiful wedding, in a Catholic church in Kirkland and the reception was at the Woodmark Hotel in Kirkland. Very classy and they got a beautiful sunny day. Here are some of the highlights.

Mommy popping some bubbly as the ladies were getting ready in the morning at the hotel. At the reception with Nana. We got to play with the Klissers again, yay! Ah, what a beautiful bride! Avery's got her eyes on the bling. Avery's new habit - sticking her fingers in her nose. What a lady. She passed out with "Auntie" Kristen - again. She has a majic touch! Hitting the dance floor with Kathleen - Di's Mom. Avery and the flower girl, Presley, taking a spin around the dance floor. Presely even got a special dance with the Groom - Anthony. Dancing with Daddy. One last photo-op before we head home.

Thanks again Diana & Anthony for letting us be a part of your very special day! Congratulations Mr. & Mrs. Kearns!