Random Bits of Cuteness

Avery is obsessed with wearing other people's shoes.  She undoubtedly trips and falls while wearing them, but that doesn't seem to stop her from putting them back on.

Wearing Dada's shoes while going potty!

Trying out a nice pair of flats...working the polka dots!

This is how Avery looks every morning for the 30 minute episode of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.  While the TV isn't visible in this shot, you get the idea.  Her ability to tune out the entire world to the television is yet another trait she received from her father.  Luckily for me, she only does this to one show, Mickey, first thing in the morning when I need a minute to wake up and ingest some caffeine anyway.

Avery is breaking in some of her new birthday toys.  She's wearing her high heels from her dress-up set, sitting in her doll salon chair, and listening to her Mickey music player.

Trying out her new Mickey book.  Unfortunately I turned my back long enough to use the bathroom and came back only to find that she had taken some liberties with her book, ripping out almost every page.  I asked her what happened and she looked at me with a straight face, put her arms up like you see in the picture, and said "I nunno!" (I don't know!).  Somehow I find that hard to believe!

Avery decided to decorate TJ with her Mickey stickers.  He wasn't so thrilled!

Trying to lay down in her doll's bed.  Do you think she's a little big? 

Putting on Mama's make-up.  She knows that it all goes on her face, but she hasn't quite mastered each thing's  correct location...that's eye shadow on her cheeks.

I'm not sure why we hadn't done this before now, but this is Avery's first bubble bath.  She had a great time with the bubbles!

Playing a game of "Where's Avery?" in the suitcase.

There she is!

Roasting mini marshmallows over a candle over the rainy weekend!

Mother's Day 2011

This year for Mother's Day, we didn't have anything specific planned, so Jeremy said we could do whatever I wanted.  I chose a trip to the zoo.  (I didn't realize it at the time, but we were at the zoo last year for Mother's Day.)  I've been so excited to take Avery to the zoo this spring.  She is so excited by animals and knows what most of them are, so I knew it would be so much fun for her.  We drove to St. Louis late afternoon so Avery would have a chance to get a little nap in before the long afternoon.  It was such a nice day, sunny and warm...about 80 degrees.

The first animals we encountered were the elephants, a favorite of Avery's.  The excitement in her little voice when she realized that she was seeing real elephants was just so cute!  Once it was time to move on from the elephants, she kept asking us to see more elephants, not realizing the abundance of animals that we'd be seeing.

While not exactly what you think of when you think about zoo animals, the guinea pigs were a hit as well.  They were the only animals that Avery got to actually touch.

There was a little "tree house" inside the Children's Zoo that Avery just loved.  It was a perfect size for her to climb all over and maneuver without any help.  All of the older kids running around made her a little apprehensive, but after a little while, she seemed to adjust.

My two little meerkats! 

The zebras were as much of a hit as the elephants.  She didn't want to move on to the next animal.

We had such a fantastic time at the zoo.  I really love the age that Avery's at right now.  She's old enough to understand what's going on and enjoy the activities that we've planned, but also young enough that she gets so much excitement out of little things like the zoo.  I just love watching her little face light up at things like this!  I think the zoo just might be our new Mother's Day tradition!