Like Father Like Son

Actually, more like mother like son. Even though Michael has asthma now, he didn't have it until elementary school while I started up around age 2. We know Avery probably doesn't have a shot of dodging the asthma bullet and we are now one step closer. Avery had a cough last week, no biggie, but Sunday he started wheezing. After a visit to a very pitiful pediatric after hours clinic we thought maybe he was okay, because that Dr. said he didn't hear anything. But, Sunday night the weezing started in earnest. Doctor Nurse mom decided to go ahead and give him a breathing treatment. We went to see our Dr. yesterday who agreed it was time, so Avery is now on breathing treatments until things clear up. The first few were a battle, but after a few we are learning some tricks and it is not such a battle.

Big Boy Hair

Monday April 21 was a very sad day for me... It was the day we said good-bye to our baby boy hair. While I will admit it doesn't look that great in this picture I loved Avery's hair, even if SOME people (Michael and Josh) say it looked like a mullet. I loved that it curled up when he was sleeping in his car seat. I loved that it got twirled by tiny tired little fingers. I even loved that it got matted up with banana toast when breakfast got boring.
But, Michael said all he wanted for his Birthday was for Avery to get a hair cut. So, we went to see Krista the Hair Hero.

Avery isn't so sure either... see

Actually he really didn't care.

Avery definitely wondered what was happening, but he never cried or fussed. Krista was a hero though. I have no idea how she chased that wiggly head to cut his hair.

We tried to get Avery to pose for an after picture but there was that great mirror to check out his new do.

The Year of the Walk

I think when I look back to this year one of the things I will remember is walking. I already told you about the Breast Cancer 3 Day here, I am really excited that my friend Tiffany is considering walking with us and so is Brenda. If anyone else would like to join Brownings for Boobs, COME ON!!!
Anyway, Saturday April 19th Avery and I walked in the March of Dimes March of Babies. It was a great day.
Claire and her Mom, Melanie, walked with us. As the only little girl with us, Claire represented in her pink and was an angel in her stroller the whole walk.

Charlie and his mom, Amie, walked with us, too. Charlie and Avery thought each other were very interesting. There was some very sweet snack sharing and high fives going back and forth.

We all survived a soggy morning and had a great time chatting. While the walk was fun socializing with my friends from work, it was for a very important cause. March of Dimes is fundamental in the fight against prematurity and a pioneer in research to help take care of preemies and sick newborns. I am so thankful for my job that I truly love in the NICU, but I would be totally okay with it if someday NICU nurses are obselete because there are not preemies. We will be walking next year. Think about joining us!

PS Don't you love Avery's propped up foot? He ALWAYS does this in his stroller, since he was tiny. It cracks me up.

Love from North Carolina

Our Easter fun was great because it lasted ALL day. That night Avery got some lovin' all the way from North Carolina. GREAT Aunt Susan Jo and GREAT Uncle Mark came over. Avery quickly learned that they are some of the most fun people you will ever know. Some of my best childhood memories involve ice cream sundaes for dinner or riding on the Joy Bus with Uncle Mark. I hate that the Banks live so far away, but I am so glad that Avery gets to see them when they come to Texas. Hopefully we will get to go see them sometime before too long!

Easter Eggstravaganza

Avery had a great first Easter. I still can't believe he was born the day after Easter last year, or that he was older than one when Easter rolled around this year. We started out the day headed to church in our cute new jacket that I ran out and found at the last minute because OF COURSE it was cold. We had a great time seeing our friends at the Easter brunch and worshiping with our family. We had cardboard testimonials during the service and they were amazing. There are amazing people in our church family I am so honored to know.

This is what the Easter bunny left for Avery, I guess the E.B. thought those sandals would be good for water babies.

Michael's parents drove through the rain to have go to church with us. Then we all went to Michael's Uncle Bryan and Aunt Gigi's for lunch with the family. We had a great time, even though we missed Blake and Courtney and Jennifer and Brandon. Now that our family is expanding we have to share with the in-laws. I am secretly a little glad that I am not the only one pulling a family member away from these parties. Courtney and Brandon can share the blame, too. :)We had a wonderful Easter with Michael's family. I am thankful for all that Easter means and that we are able to share the special day with people who share our thankfulness for the true meaning of Easter. I am excited for years to come when we can have fun Easter egg hunts and rejoice in the resurrection with Avery!

Mother of the Year, Part 2

Well, way back on Easter weekend Avery was invited to a super cool Pirate Party for his friend David. He had a blast. There were some pretty cute pirates there, but of course we had the cutest in the one and under set. Our laid back little guy even gladly wore his mask for a good long while.

The pirate enjoyed the booty from the pinata even though he didn't take a swing this time. Tootsie roll pops are the greatest, just ask John David.

Unfortunately, the party also proved to be a learning experience for mother of the year...

Apparently you need to lift up the little prince's "bangs" and put sunscreen all the way up to his hair line. This is a decent distance when you are the proud honor of a 5 head. :)

Also, go ahead and get it right up under the eyes unless you look pretty wierd with little red half moons under your eyes.

Computer Issues

Well, our computer is messed up and I can't transfer pictures from the camera to the computer. If anyone is a whiz with microsoft picture manger... I need help!

We are doing great. Avery had a wonderful Easter, enjoyed walking in the March of Dimes Walk and had his first haircut Monday. Hopefully we will get things worked out and uploaded soon.

Confessions

So my friend Tiffany had a very honest blog post today which I appreciated a lot. I had been thinking about posting one myself, but was too wimpy had not had time to do it. I decided to go ahead and post my crappy mom confession of the week.
I am a BAD sick baby mom. You would think that being a nurse would make me better not worse, but you would be wrong. Now, before I whine and carry on complain I want to say that I am so grateful for Avery's health. I can't imagine what life is like for Moms who really have sick kids. I am just being honest about my small world.... Buddy buddy was so sick last week from Wednesday through Sunday.
This picture was Friday while we waited to go to the doctor. He was pitiful. He would not take any naps that day, so we both finally crashed on the couch. I also think it is almost like a confession to post your own picture looking this fabulous.

While I generally felt pretty bad for him, the whimpering about made me loose my mind. All day long for 4 days buddy buddy was always whimpering. Even at night he would be fast asleep and as soon as his motrin wore off he was whimpering again in his sleep.

Avery was so pitiful he even actually laid down on a blanket and watched TV for a few minutes which is SO not him.

I can't complain too much because even sick Avery was too sweet. He gave lots of good sugars and even shared his cooties with me.

I am happy to report that I only missed one day of work and that as an adult I only had to suffer through one night of fever not 4. I have to admit I kind of wanted to whimper, too.

Perhaps most irritating of all, my beloved baby who sleeps until 9 was replaced during the illness with one who wakes up at 7:45 or 8....NOT okay, I LOVE to sleep in!!!

Well, there you have it. Michael is right, unless you weigh less than 5 lbs or are me I am terrible at being sympathetic.

Well, she's done it again...
You might remember Lisa Woods from when she did Avery's 6 month portraits. I raved about them here.

I learned about Lisa from my friend Annalee, Lisa has taken precious pictures of her baby girl Adelaide. Who is also a grown up 1 year old now.

Avery was a trooper despite he had had almost no nap the day before due to birthday party fun and little nap that day because Sundays are always crazy. We had a really good time! I am telling you if you live in Austin, call Lisa. If you live in my area beg her to take pics when she comes to town. Check out more about Lisa, we LOVE her easy going spirit and great work!

I also have to say huge thanks to my mother-in-law, I think I probably really stressed her out having her monogram Avery's outfit. It was SO worth it, it turned out great! I love it when other people's Christmas gift's totally benefit my family. :)

April Fools

Gotcha!

Waterbaby No More

Well, it is bye bye water babies for us. Little mister got kicked out. Apparently WB has a no tolerance policy for biters... even if it wasn't very hard and even if the little girl stuck out her finger and he thought it was okay...
Thanks a lot to Michael and my mother who were also biters. Guess we will never make it past 6 seconds of underwater breath control now.