A day at the lake

Since Michael and I have been married, our very favorite summer time activity is taking the boat out on Lake Lanier. Sunday's are his only days off (thanks to his mean old boss!!! just kidding Mr. Red!) so we try and soak up as much sun as we can after church.

Avery loves going on the boat with us, too. Last summer she was so little that we took her out on Michael's parents' boat since it was bigger and safer. That's not the case this year...Avery is definitely BIG enough to ride with us on our boat.

She got dressed in her cute strawberry cover up from her Ma Ma and Da Da. She already picked out the first mate's seat while her Daddy was getting things ready.

Time for the unveiling of the two piece! We never really dress her in a bikini, but all of her one-pieces were in the laundry from all the swimming we've done this week. The sun was a little bright, but she won't keep her sunglasses on for anything. We let her ride up front without a life jacket the whole trip. She did get a little close to the edge that one time, but I was able to pull her back with the fishing net.

JUST KIDDING!!!!!! I wanted to give Mrs. Vickie a heart attack while reading this. We DEFINITELY put on her life jacket after I lathered her in sun screen. Then, she sat in my lap while we cruised the lake. The only time she wasn't sitting in my lap was when she was checking everything out in Cocktail Cove. This is where all the crazy people with thong bathing suits and fake "ta tas" go and dance and try to look cool. Michael and I have NEVER been on those houseboats and are appalled at anyone who would try to anchor their boat, grab a noodle, swim over, climb aboard, and join in their shenanigans ;)

After she shook her booty to Usher's "OMG" blaring from the houseboat speakers, she directed us out into the open sea.

She enjoyed sitting in Daddy's lap and attempting to drive the boat.

The life jacket got to come off when it was time to dock the boat at Sunset Cove. We had dinner at the restaurant and watched people play volleyball while listening to live music. It really is a neat place and much more family friendly than the first cove we went to.

It was time to finally head home since she does have a bedtime that needs keeping. She couldn't get enough of all the people and things to see.

She took one last look back and bid farewell...until next time.
"BYYYYYYYYEEEEEEE..........."

A day at the lake can take its toll on a little girl...and her daddy.

One year pictures

I took Avery's one year portraits myself about two weeks before her birthday. We were having a lot of people over to the house and I wanted her portrait up on the wall before her big party.

We went out in the front yard to do her "tutu" pictures. When she was born, I took her newborn pictures in a pink tutu one of my students had given her. So, it was important to me to get her one year pictures in a tutu, also! I think they turned out super cute.

I also wanted some pictures of her in a white dress, something more formal that you'd see hanging in a portrait studio. I envisioned her standing on the porch of an old home, with a simple background and her as the focus. If you know me pretty well, you won't be surprised when I tell you how I found the location.

There's a beautiful older plantation style home in downtown Buford with a big wrap around porch and tall white columns. Wellllll, I just drove up in the driveway and found the owner in the yard, walked up to her, and asked her if I could use her porch for my daughter's pictures! Haha! She said yes, but to be careful because the porch didn't have a railing.

I bought Avery a used dress from Kids to Kids, a second hand store in Buford, for $13. We went the next day with a baby doll in hand. I dressed one of her Goodwill babies that Grandma gave her with a christening gown from one of my collector Madame Alexander baby dolls. You would've never known:) I love how the pictures turned out and was pleased as punch that I did them myself without having to pay a photographer.

I love them all! These are the pictures I put on my website, that's why my logo is on them. Why don't you head on over to my site by clicking HERE and see some of the other adorable children and families I've had to honor to photograph.

Updates on Avery

Hello world...we are still here! Since Avery's birthday update, things have been super busy. But here's what's been going on since she turned the big O-N-E!

She had her one year check up a week after her birthday and Grandma Debbie was able to go with us. Avery chilled on her lap in the waiting room, but then got bored and had to run around a little bit.

Once we got in the exam room, little did we know we would be waiting nearly 45 minutes before we saw the doctor. She got bored waiting on the table, so to pass the time, she ripped up the super comfortable ;) paper roll she gets to sit on. We ended up throwing it all away and replacing it with a new strip to avoid judgment from the doctor.

We kept waiting and waiting, so Avery decides to entertain herself by running circles in this teeny-tiny room, putting her snacks on the footstools, and eating them again, ugh!

She even tried peeking out the door to look for the doctor, but it didn't get him there any faster.

Once he finally arrived, we were able to learn that her weight at one year was 21 lbs and 13.5 oz. That put her in the 62%. Her height was 30 inches, the 76%...but wait....her head circumference was in the 97%!!! Ol' big head :)

She was very healthy and he was impressed at her ability to throw the tennis ball and kick it around the room like a soccer ball.

She has 8 teeth now, four on top and four on bottom. Her hair is getting longer, but one side has this piece that just wants to stick out all the time!

Her diapers are still a size four, and will be for a long time. She wears 18-24 months clothing and a size 4 shoe.

She's walking, running, climbing, and pulling up like a pro now. A new thing she has done is being able to sit up from lying on the ground. This eventually leads to her pulling up on the nearest piece of furniture and walking.

We have put up two baby gates because of her new found skills, and also installed toilet seat locks (after she dumped her baby in the toilet). Michael nearly wet himself the first day I put them on because he didn't know how to open the seat.

She eats all table food and loves, loves, loves watermelon. She's really good at eating her green vegetables like green beans, broccoli, and okra. She's not too fond of carrots or squash, but will chow down a baked sweet potato.

She's great at drinking from a straw and wants to drink from my cup every time I have something. Even if she has her own cup with the same thing in it, she wants mine, regardless!

She's taking one nap a day around 12:30 or 1:00 p.m. Her naps last anywhere from 1-2 hours, but on most days, it's just one hour total.

Her bed time is 8:00 p.m. and she goes down in her crib really well 98% of the time. However, her 'wake up' time is unpredictable. Some nights she'll sleep until 3:00 a.m., or the next night she might wake back up at 10:30. We've got off schedule because of different travel events and family being over, so she ends up back in the bed with us before the sun comes up. We officially get out of bed around 9:00 a.m.

We've discovered Avery is a giver, lover, and nurturer. She LOVES her baby dolls and has one in her arms most of the day, and night! She hugs them, kisses them, hands them to us to love on, and then takes them back.

She's also really good at sharing her toys, babies, and food. However, she's not good at giving things up she's not supposed to have. She will throw a fit if I take something out of her hands she's not willing to release and also hates being told "No!" She's rotten ;)

Her understanding of things is very sharp, but we're still trying to get her to talk more than just point at things she wants. I've heard her make sounds that are close to 'ball', 'baby', 'dog', and 'Cotton'. A bird doesn't fly by that she doesn't see or point at, and she never misses the chance to scream and point at ducks, dogs, and cats. (This doesn't exclude other babies at Publix either).

She can point out where my eyes are, and then gets distracted when I ask where my nose and mouth are. She now knows where my belly button is, and will pull up my shirt and stick her finger in my belly button. She got a good laugh yesterday at grabbing a hand full of my stomach and then pressing her mouth on it. I'm not really sure what that was all about, but it made me very aware of excess fat around my belly button!

Avery is awful at keeping her hands out of Cotton's mouth. During her eating time, she will hold her hand over the high chair and feed Cotton, then proceed to feed herself with that same hand! I will look at her and say, "Aaaaa-very...." She will keep her hand in Cotton's mouth, and stare at me with a blank expression, like I can't see what she is doing.

Michael and I get a good kick out of her "poop face". It's so mean, I know...to laugh at your child when they are trying to take care of business....but her expression is so funny. I will try and take some pictures (of her face that is) and share them with you next time.

Avery pretty much thinks she's entitled to everything we have, eat, drink, and do. She doesn't understand , or like, the meaning of "no". But she will learn....through some hard work and discipline on our part. The baby stage is officially over and now we are raising a toddler, who needs loving instruction. Now the "fun" really begins!