Iowa State Fair

Aubrey went up with Daddy Friday night and got to 

stay in the camper at the fair.

Avery and Mommy came up on Saturday morning

and we spent a LONG day there, 

(leaving home at 8 and home at 9:30)

with no nap for Aubrey and catnaps throughout for Avery.

Overall, the girls did well, but "it's hard being 3" - says Aubrey :)

checking out the equipment and sitting in the tire

"Little Hands on the Farm"

Aubrey and cousin Noah

Noah's first time and he enjoyed it.

 

it was BUSY, so there was some waiting

grabbing an apple

Noah's turn

"show me your excited face!"

How tall this year?! Looks like 3 foot 2 1/2 inches :)

Daddy making Avery laugh 

the best part! 

drive those tractors, kids!

Aubrey is always on the lookout for FROZEN things!

Here is a genuine smile!

Their treats at the end:

Aubrey - popsicle, Noah - crackers and pb 

cooling of in the fountains

Aubrey always loves to run through the "flower tunnel"

Avery catching a nap with Daddy at the cattle show

BIG SLIDE TIME!

Tylia, Daddy, Aubrey, and Grandpa Craig

playing at the Fun Forest 

at the ice cream shoppe...Aubrey playing with her "friends"

Yes, Mommy was at the Fair, too!

(just always behind the camera)

HUGE American Gothic statues 

At the end of the day, we realized Avery didn't even make it to the cattle barn,

and neither did the rest of us. So no "annual cattle picture" this year.

5 months!

Wow, those past two months just flew by!

Avery Leigh is five months now!

Here's what she is up to:

-takes 3 naps a day

-goes to bed around 8:30 and up at 7:15

-after an hour of putting her to bed at night, she'll have a cry fit,

just needs to be snuggled back to sleep and then good

(just like Aubrey did)

-sleeps 6-10 hours straight, then needs a quick snack 

and then back to sleep immediately
-nurses 5 times a day + one overnight when I'm home
-takes two 4 oz bottles at babysitter's 

-still sleeps in her her "magic sleep suit"

-loves her thumb - all. the. time. 

-rolls from tummy to back almost instantly

(and has done tummy to back already)

-much rather prefers tummy than back when playing

-coos and giggles and smiles all. the. time :)

-HAPPY GIRL!

-drooling a lot and working on teeth, but none yet

-likes the Jumperoo from G and G VG

-eats rice cereal more for entertainment than nourishment

-tried a mum-mum; she liked it!

-likes when Mommy and Aubrey tell her

"Good morning Avery Leigh" in our high pitched baby talk :)

-loves watching Aubrey play 

-sits in the high chair during our meals to observe 

Enjoying our last day with Mommy's school ipad!

Sunflower girl :) lol

Loving her jumperoo!

Happy Girl!

Trying a Mum-Mum

I really didn't think she would "eat" it; I thought

just maybe chew on it, but after a bit, there was nothing

left of it and I didn't see it on the floor or in the high chair :)

Fun on the Farm (and Food)

Friday night we headed over to Grandpa and Grandma Kaisands

for the evening and for supper.

Aubrey had fun checking out the things on the farm :)

She was brave and rode "Flicka"

Aubrey wanted Avery to pet the horse, too!

Riding on the 5-wheeler 

checking out how it dumps

driving the motor-home 

Since Avery is 5 months old next week, we decided to try out some rice cereal.

More just for fun to see how she did :) I don't think we're quite ready yet.

Mommy and Aubrey helping 

eating the bib is much more fun

And...let's put ourself to sleep after such a process!

From Sleep Sack to Sleep Suit

Avery loves to be swaddled to sleep, but we thought it is about time

to switch her out of a swaddle, since she is starting to roll.

We didn't want her to get in a predicament being swaddled.

So, we tried just not swaddling her but that was too free for her.

So, we did some research and have transitioned her to the

Baby Merlin Magic Sleep Suit.

This thing still gives her the tight and zipped feeling she likes

but has her arms free, so she can self-soothe with her thumb.

So far the transition has been good. She takes great naps

but nights are still a struggle since she has had a bad cold. 

We are hoping to wean her out of anything eventually.

So, from this.....

to this :)

(and no, she doesn't get too hot

and she really doesn't mind it - despite the look here)

And a few other sleeping pics.

Avery's cold got the best of her, since she fell asleep

on the floor after playing with some toys :)