What a difference a year makes...

So I took pictures off Avery last week on the 19th, which marked a year from when she came home from the hospital ( I should say I took snapshots..dark evening, flash..not "pictures"..I have to clarify know..don't judge!)  We took pictures of her that day when she came home from the hospital and we put her in her glider.  We didn't know what else to do! :)  Anyway, I thought it would be funny to take pictures in her glider a year later, so we dug it out and stuck her in it!  She liked her new, old, toy!  My what a year can do?!  From barely 5 lbs. to 21 lbs...just crazy!  I can't even believe it to look at it!  Our baby isn't such a baby anymore.  Honestly, I know I keep saying it, but where did that time go.  Aww..I might need to head off for a good cry now :)

Then...

Now...

(Right before she decided it would be fun to try to summersault out of the glider!)

Lollipop, Lollipop...

I found these super cute lollipops at the Target $1 spot!  Of course, I immediately thought to myself, hmm..these would make cute pictures!  So since the sun finally came out today for a little while, we decided to give it a shot.  This is just one.  I might use some for Christmas card pics, but am not sure yet, so we're saving them just in case!  We have to leave something for a surprise!  But I just wanted to share these awesome lollipops..I may have to go back and buy about ten more!

New Picture Blog!

This is a big step for me to share, but I figured I would anyway! So I figured some of you might be tired of looking at my pictures on here, so I decided to start a picture blog! My hobby is really starting to blossom, too bad it is November and I have a long, dark Minnesota winter ahead of me. Inside pictures just are NOT the same when you depend on using natural light! It is a work in progress, but if you care to see anything I'm doing, you can check it out there, and I'll stop putting them here and save this for our personal, family stuff. If you want me to practice on your family, I'm totally up for it, but maybe we can wait until April or May! :) Just kidding...we can make it work. I just took pictures of three little ones indoors last weekend. It was a learning experience but we still got some cute ones I think. However, I'm always up for newborn and little ones practice inside, so if you're up for it, let me know!! Keep in mind..it is PRACTICE! Here is the other blog:

www.jenniferbahnphotography.blogspot.com

Avery the Lion..again

Click here to see our little lion..look out though, she is ferocious!!

If the one below didn't work, here is a link to the same video on youtube - the post below was only working sometimes for us.

Avery the Lion

Avery the Lion!

Cullen has gotten Avery to make the cutest little lion sound! She has been under the weather with a double ear infection and a really bad cold but, it doesn't seem to be getting her down. Though we have discovered trying to give a nebulizer treatment to a 1 year old is a little more difficult then it was when she was 5 months. It isn't fun. You wouldn't know she is sick though, she has been her funny, little self! We finally caught her lion noise on video tonight after supper. Here it is:
(I took the music off our blog for awhile while we have the video up here, it was too hard to hear it all..also, Ang and Christy, I think we are going to join your no talking on video rule..yes, pretty sure we sound really dumb..Cullen especially loves his So Big girly voice!)

We Love You Avery

Avery, 

  On April 9, 2007, we found out that we were going to be blessed with a baby.  We were beyond excited.  Over the next few months, we thought all about what you might look, what you might grow up to be, what kinds of toys would you like, books would you like, game would you play, etc.  We picked out furniture for you room.  We thought about what we would name you.  We were so full of excitement we could hardly stand it.  You were supposed to arrive on December 16, but on November 2, we got a little surprise and found out you would be coming a bit sooner than we expected.  When you were born, we still had no idea just how much you would change our lives.  Over the past year, you have filled us with love more than we ever thought possible.  You make us smile EVERY day.  Though you have challenged us at times (when you wouldn't sleep, or were sad, or started throwing fits!) our love for you has only grown.  The joy you bring into our lives is indescribable.  Your smile is the best thing we have ever seen.  Your laugh is the best sound we have ever heard.  You started as a tiny, little person that we would snuggle up each day.  You have become a busy, little toddler, walking around, eager to explore the world around you with wonder and curiosity.  You truly light up our life and we are the luckiest parents in the world.  You have taught us to become better people and taught us just what unconditional love is.   We can't wait to watch you grow this year, and watch you as you discover the world around you and all it has to offer. You are an amazing little girl and we are beyond blessed that you are our daughter.  Always know just how much we love you Avery Ellen, and you truly are the sunshine of our lives.  We love you.

Love,

Mama and Daddy 

One Year!

Avery had her one year well child visit yesterday. Poor girl, it has taken us a couple weeks because she has had ear infection, pink eye, and her little bit of pneumonia or whatever that was. So we finally got to go yesterday and everything looks great! She was 30 inches "tall"! I got excited that we get to call her tall instead of long, now that she is officially vertical! That put her in the 85th % for height! She weighed 21 lbs. which put her in the 50% for weight! So she is growing great. I don't remember what her head measured at, but I now it was in the 90% which is crazy to me..I don't think she has a big head! I guess she is just destined to be brilliant! :) Wednesday also marked one year since we got to bring her home from the NICU! We dug the glider out and took a picture of her in there, since we have a picture of her in it the day we brought her home. I will definitely get it up this weekend. I have been crazy busy these last few weeks, so I haven't been the best blogger!

My other news is that my younger brother Jeff moved to Florida yesterday. It was a sad good-bye. Who knew I would be so sad about that big dork moving away?! It is very exciting for him though. He got a great job down there, working for the Florida Sports Foundation. I think he gets to work with the professional/amateur sports teams down there. I don't know all the details, but will fill in when I do. All I know is he gets to leave this freezing tundra and the perfect time. Still, we are going to miss him like crazy... :( but like I said, it is such a great opportunity for him, so we're going to be happy for him, even though we're sad for us. :) Avery misses you already Uncle Jeff!

The Birthday Party!

Happy Birthday Avery! Here are way too many pictures from the birthday party. We had a great time and thanks to all of you who came to help us celebrate! Like I said before, she is so lucky to have so many people that love her so much. It was a great party, despite daylight savings time messing with the nap schedule. We saved her some cake to try again when she is not so tired! It really was the best day! Here are tons of pics of the birthday party!

The Birthday Girl!

Doing her birthday dance!

It's my birthday...yea!

The end of the party, with mama and daddy..and a sleepy birthday girl!

Avery going for a wagon ride with Conner, and letting all the neighbors know she is 1! Her wagon was her birthday present from Grammy and Grandpa Bahn!

The birthday banner that Ansley and I worked so hard on..thanks Ans!

Hanging out with Kate at the end of the party..crazy how they grow in a year!

Making sure her wagon is safe to go

Checking out Kate and Jay

Ready for her wagon ride in her sweet new winter hat (yes, another hat..I have a problem!)

Uncle Jeff and Lauren...Jeff was a good sport and even put on a birthday hat for me

Since Avery didn't really want to eat her cake, Conner wasn't about to let it go to waste!

Hmm..what am I supposed to do with this?

Our birthday girl ready for cake..or perhaps more ready for a nap? I do love her little thighs in her tights in this one!

Already loves getting new clothes..that's my girl!

Avery in her sweet, new Twins hat!

She loves her storybook bear. She giggles every time it starts to read!

Chasing her birthday beach ball - of course the $3.00 ball would be her favorite!

It is fun to be one!

OMG..I LOVE markers!!! Avery got her first markers, they are way too cute!

Helping Daddy set up her new kitchen on her birthday morning

Music

I figured out how to put some music on our blog, so I figured I'd give it a try for awhile.  It is a really sweet, relaxing lullaby song by erin ivey.  This one is called I'm Gonna Rock You Nice and Slow.  There is another one called Dreamy Side of the Moon that is really good too.  She has some great lullabies.  Anyway, just turn down the volume if you don't want it, I don't want to bust anyone looking at blogs at work! :)  It only plays once, so if you want to hear it again, just refresh...enjoy!

Happy Birthday Avery!

One year ago today Avery Ellen was brought into our world

Here is our birthday girl today!  Where did this year go?  Avery had the best first birthday!  Our day was just perfect.  We had a great party.  She is so blessed and lucky to have so many people that love her.  We are all pretty tired out from her big party day (and the time change that Avery forgot she could've had an extra hour of sleep!) so we will blog all about her party later this week, complete with lots of pictures.  For tonight, we are heading off to bed with our birthday girl, but had to share a few pictures of Avery on her big day.  Thanks for the shirt Amy, it was perfect!  Happy Birthday Avery...my favorite one year old!!!!!  We love you!!!

Halloween!

Avery celebrated her first Halloween on Friday!  I think she was just the cutest little ladybug that there ever was!  She came down with a double ear infection earlier this week, and was still feeling not quite herself, but we still had a good time. :)