Happy Birthday #3!

Avery had a big week last week- the big 3rd birthday and the start of a new school year! She turned 3 on August 19th, and I am so proud of the sweet spunky girl she has become. Avery is a girl full of energy and is ALWAYS on the go. She loves to run, jump, climb, and dance, and is as agile as any child I've seen. She also loves books, coloring, drawing faces, writing A's, playing with her dollhouse, legos, Disney Princesses and Strawberry Shortcakes.  She never sits idle and especially prefers me and Lucy to be participating in every activity. This is fun and all, but leaves little time for me to do chores! Oh well, I guess I'll have plenty of time to work around the house/yard when she's grown and gone =) She is into all things girly and pink is her favorite color, but she had just as soon kick a soccer ball or gather rocks and mulch in the yard. She loves to swim and can swim underwater like a mermaid in the kid's pool, though she prefers her lifejacket when we venture over to the big pool. With friends, she can be a bit shy and tenderhearted, and is always nurturing with a pat on the back or a gentle hug. No boo-boos go unkissed at our house and at the first sign of a scratch, Avery will fix you up with a bandaid. She is the best big sister a girl could ask for, and is always loving on, kissing, or dancing with sweet Lucy. Avery insists that Lucy is HER sweetheart and that I can take Allie the babydoll to be my sweetheart. She is not exactly gentle with Lucy, and Lucy has had a few flailing arm or leg swipes in her day, but I can already tell that they will be fast friends. Avery is so good about fetching a toy for Lucy when she gets bored, a clean diaper when she needs one, and laughs it off when Lucy yanks her hair or scratches her nose. Avery can work an iphone better than my Dad and "family movie night" is her night time activity of choice. The child requires very little sleep and is quite the early riser, although recently she has been doing a great job of watching her clock in the mornings and right at 6:00 we hear her exclaim, I can come down, it says 6! Avery is as stubborn as they come, smart, and surprisingly tolerant. I can't say that she listens to me 100% of the time, but for the most part she is an obedient child and she is a joy to take on excursions and adventures. I am so blessed to have her as my little girl, and am cherishing every moment we have together. I love you Avery, wish you a SUPER 3rd birthday and look forward to many more to come!

As I am not doing the best job documenting her stats in a baby book, I will go ahead and tell you all: At 3 years old, she is 34 lbs and 38.25 inches tall. She can recognize all of her letters 95% of the time, and can count to 20ish. She knows her colors and basic shapes, the names of her parents, and the fact that she lives in Tennessee and Mimi lives in Kentucky but recently took a trip to Alaska, and that the beach is in Florida. She knows to stop at a red light and go at a green light, and can point out fire hydrants from a mile away. She knows the lyrics to many many Disney songs and really enjoys the Music Together class that we take together on Friday mornings. She can write the letters A, V, E, and Y and knows that my name starts with B and that Lucy's starts with L. She can recognize the word Avery. Her favorite foods are macaroni & cheese, chicken w/broccoli, Chick-Fil-A chicken nuggets, edamame, yogurt sticks, apples, blueberries, grapes, and strawberries, pop-ice, and fruit snacks. She is potty trained for day and night, and very rarely takes a nap. She is loving and tons of fun, though I am worn out at the end of every day!