March 22, 2012

Averett Adventures - Month 11

... 11 Months?? Seriously?? ...
... not a lot of change this month ...
... first real trip to DC ...
... love bath time, hate getting dressed ...
... happiest little guy ...
... you take after your big sister and LOVE the swings ...
... you think it's hilarious when we "talk" back to you, you are quite the babbler ...
... 6-12 month clothes are getting a little snug (too short) ...
... you are a very good little helper ...
 (helping Dad demo the bathroom)
(making sure the gymnastics equipment is up to code)
... you are crawling e.v.e.r.y.w.h.e.r.e, and you are particularly fascinated with the stairs ...
... still crawling into everything head-first ...
... two naps a day, one long, one short ...
... an entire week with Aunt Mollie and Uncle Doug ...
... mastered sleeping in our closet, so Mollie and Doug could have your room ...
... Hazel still keeps a close eye on you, and has become my watch dog when you go anywhere near the stairs (her warning alarm starts to sound when you are about 15 feet from the stairs...making sure she gives me plenty of notice) ...
... your tongue.  yes, it still sticks out, but now you curl it up ...
... you are quite the mover, as long as you can hold on to something you will walk anywhere ...
... happy, always happy ...
... we're excited for summer, as you have had a snotty-winter (and hopefully it will dry up with warmer weather!) ...
... sippy cup, slow and steady ...
... an absolute delight ...
... did we mention happy? ...

They day after your 11 month "birthday" - we took you to Hazel's 3 year check up.  The doctor found you had double ear infections, a viral infection that was making you wheeze, and that you weigh a solid 23 pounds (65%).  You were sent home with antibiotics for the ears and a nebulizer (which you HATE...don't worry, so do we).

(for the record - you are such a happy baby we didn't know your ears were bothering you that bad...you tugged at them from time to time but didn't act like anything hurt - and the wheezing, it had JUST started, that's why we had the dr look at you, too.  I left the doctor feeling like a horrible parent.  I promise we love you!)

On a positive note, amidst the weeping, wailing and gnashing of gums while being nebulizer-ed, we discovered your first tooth (bottom right) has broken through!  Hip hip hooray!

March 21, 2012

The Douglie - Around Town

To wrap up Doug and Mollie's festivus with us, we wanted to show them our neighborhood.  

Seth showed them around the base, and the general direction of his "office".  Seeing as Doug AND Seth were in the car, it would have been impossible to pass the tanks without stopping.

We believe Hazel will either grow up to be a dancer...

or a dictator...

Not to worry, we made it to the Boardwalk as well. 

I firmly think Doug and Mollie may be Hazel's new favorites!  
Doug is the greatest little brother, ever.  He seriously makes me laugh so hard.  He is so thoughtful, patient and just plain nice.  He picked a winner when he married Mollie.  They are the cutest stinkin' couple.  It was so much fun having them around our house.  It was just so nice!!  
 
Thank you, thank you for coming to visit! 
We LOVE you guys - and there is more to see (and more Rita's to eat), so COME BACK!

March 17, 2012

The Douglie - DC

 A perfect day to spend in DC - it was beautiful.

We checked out the American History Museum, Natural History Museum & the National Portrait Gallery.

Hazel was fascinated that there was a train inside the museum.

Averett wasn't too impressed with the exhibits, he much preferred people-watching with Hazel.

Hazel spotted a carousel on The Mall, and well...off she went.


We stuck around so we could see the monuments at night, the only way to see them, in my opinion.

Needless to say, it made for a long night.  And the kids handled it in their own ways.  They were both exhausted, but somehow Hazel found the energy to enjoy the Metro-roller-coaster.

March 16, 2012

The Douglie - Hazel's REAL Birthday

Doug and Mollie helped us celebrate Hazel's official birthday.

 I am pretty sure this may go down as Hazel's best birthday yet - lots of smiles all around!
She is in LOVE with the bike.  Even if her feet barely hit the pedals.

To fully celebrate her birthday, we took the party inside, for another round of Pin the Nose on Elmo.
(Oh yes!  Right on the money - apparently helping all those little kids last week gave me an advantage!)

Cinderella loves her bike. (and her awesome dress-up clothes, thanks Grandma & Grandpa G)

 Happy, Happy Birthday Hazel - we love you so much!! 
(Official 3-year pictures & post coming soon-ish) :)

March 15, 2012

The Douglie - City & Country

Imagine my excitement when I started to hear rumors that my baby brother and his little wifey were coming to visit for their Spring Break.  I nearly went nuts!  We were so excited to show them our favorite places.

We showed them our "city" life at the Inner Harbor...

And we also showed them our "country" life, eating at two of our favorite, local farms.  Oh, the ice cream.

March 11, 2012

Party On!

Your birthday is not complete without a birthday celebration with Grandma and Grandpa H.

The first thing Hazel noticed when we walked in the door:  Cupcakes.

She was told she needed to wait until after dinner.

So, she waited and waited.
Finally, Grandma told her it was about time.
 And we all sang Happy Birthday, and she blew out her candles.
 And the ice cream and cupcake were the best she'd ever had.
 But, that was not all.  There were presents!
 Tutus and Books - does it get better?

 Thank you, Grandpa.
 Thank you, Grandma.
We love you.

March 10, 2012

Open Sesame!

I asked Hazel if she wanted a princess party or an Elmo party. 
Guess what she said.
So, that meant the 24 hours leading up to the party went a little like this:

-- 6 a.m. wake-up -- 5.5 mile run -- 1.5 hours at Walmart 
-- 8 batches of homemade playdough -- 8 personalized goodie bags
 -- 2 kids to entertain (and keep from falling down the stairs) -- 36 cupcakes --
2.5 hours frosting cupcakes -- 72 frosted googley eyes -- 
1 a.m. Martha Stewart decoration fail -- 2 exhausted parents  -- 2 a.m. crash in bed --

-- wake up at 5:30 -- decorate -- prep food -- showers and baths for all (it's been days) --

-- oh, did I mention we completely re-did our bathroom this week?  Seth was literally "in the bathroom" a.l.l. day, ALL day, A.L.L day --

All in preparation for:

(one mom asked if I got the invite idea off of pinterest - HA!  No way! - this invite was ALL me!)

90 minutes 
7 little Hazel friends (+3 more little-friend-siblings)
3 year old birthday
1 awesome Sesame Street memory
 
(The birthday girl - helping set up)

After seeing Sesame Street cupcakes all over, I knew I had to try it.  
But I also feared this:
 
(Success!  And some homemade play-dough to go)
 
 (All born within 2.5 months of each other)

Pin the Nose on Elmo
 (A. walked straight into Elmo - too funny!)

Musical Dots (aka Musical Chairs), Oscar the Grouch Garbage Shoot Out & Presents!

(C. just chillin' by Oscar's garbage can, while Hazel gives A. a celebratory hug)

Happy Birthday!

Whew. 

 I really wish we weren't losing an hour of sleep tonight.