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13 Memories From My 13th Month Since Going Dad

Time shows no mercy for us parents, huh? It feels like we should still be planning her first birthday, but that’s already whizzed by a month ago!

Over the course of just one month, we’ve seen Avery transform from a crawler into a tiny, wobbly walker. Things get more interesting every day now and we love watching her learn and react to her surroundings.

This girl is developing quite the character and I can already tell she’s going to be stubborn about certain things just like her mom and dad. Yeah, we’re in trouble! But no worries, we’ll go with the flow and ride the wave of craziness the best us parents can do and learn from mistakes (probably a lot) along the way.

With that, I have 13 memories, some mistakes, some lessons, and some just purely memories to share with our sweet little devil girl.

1. For your 1st birthday party, you were not the happiest in the beginning, but you finally warmed up to all of our friends and family that came over.

Even Nana couldn't console you.
Even Nana couldn’t console you.

2. I held you for a little while as Mommy unwrapped your gifts and you decided to give a gift of your own….Poop!

It's confirmed, Poop!
It’s confirmed, Poop!

3. I made chocolate pumpkin brownies for our guests and to make your birthday cake which was the first time you had anything with sugar. It was hard for me to get over, but I’m over it now.

4. Your icing was simply plain Greek yogurt with blueberries forming a “1” on top. Apparently, you weren’t impressed with Mommy’s icing and blueberry work…

You spend hours creating my cake, I'll reduce it to rubble in under a minute!
You spend hours creating my cake, I’ll reduce it to rubble in under a minute!

5. You received some pretty good gifts for your birthday, but a plastic flashy wand grabbed your attention the most. It wasn’t even the gift, it was just something extra placed on top!

Seriously, anything that lights up is an instant win!
Seriously, anything that lights up is an instant win!

6. Another toy win was the Catch-Me-Kitty one of our friends gave you. It moves around similar to a Rumba vacuum singing a taunting song until you catch it. And catching it you do, very well…followed by body slamming it multiple times!

7. I’m not sure how you grew so fast, but now you can reach the refrigerator doors and shut them when I have them open. It’s a nice thought, but does make it harder when I’m not done getting in there. Also, I really need to watch when I open/shut the doors as I might of bumped your head a few times. Sorry.

Just grabbing a beer for naptime....
Just grabbing a beer for naptime….

8. Mommy worked hard to clear out our front room so you have an awesome room to play in. We’ve been enjoying playing with your blocks and other toys ever since. Which means Mommy and I will build something and you knock it down.

Hmmm, a structure someone put effort into making.....DESTROY!!!
Hmmm, a structure someone put effort into making…..DESTROY!!!

9. I’ve been cooking a lot of different foods for you lately and some you like, some you don’t, but we’re having fun seeing you try new things. Omelettes, both sweet and savory, are my specialty and I’ve made ones with mixed veggies, chocolate and spinach, as well as butternut squash and cinnamon that have been a big hit.

Chocolate + Spinach with a little stevia makes a perfect omlette. Daddy doesn't mind leftovers!
Chocolate + Spinach with a little stevia makes a perfect omlette. Daddy doesn’t mind leftovers!

On the weekends, when I usually make pumpkin teff porridge for Mommy, I’m now making extra for you and Mommy feeds you. It makes me happy seeing both of my favorite girls enjoying the healthy food I cook!

Well, it's not mommy's milk, and it definitely didn't come from her boob, but it's good!
Well, it’s not mommy’s milk, and it definitely didn’t come from her boob, but it’s good!

10. You’re getting smarter every day which is wonderful, but also means you’ve become very difficult in some areas. For instance, you found out how to take off your diaper by pulling at the snaps in front.

Yes, can I help you?
Yes, can I help you?

11. You recently decided to undo your diaper just as you went poop with your footie pajamas still on. This resulted in poop all the way down your leg and smashed in your foot and some in your belly button. It was the biggest poop-tastrophe we’ve had yet, and called for an emergency bath time. You enjoyed the bath. Me? Not so much. Lucky for you, I have not pictures of this.

12. And FINALLY, you are walking!! I’ve only been making “bets” since just before your 10 month mark, and now you’ve made it! Mommy and I have to constantly keep an eye on you now and even that doesn’t work sometimes. You’re a sneaky and quick little girl on your hands and knees, and now just your feet too!

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The mounting stress aside, we’re very proud of you dear, and love how lively you’re becoming. Every day is an adventure with you and you are growing to be very smart and strong!

Keep on growing and learning, Avery, our love for you only grows stronger every day!

12 Memories From My 12th Month Since Going Dad….She’s 1 Year Old!!!!

Well, it’s here, our little girl is now a 1 year old! The world has come full circle around the sun since Going Mom gave birth to Avery as I stood by her side and helped the nurses took pictures while getting in the way at the hospital.

Thumbs up for a job well done by my wonderful wife!
Thumbs up for a job well done by my wonderful wife!

Seriously, how has it already been a year?! A lot has happened between now and then, but some of it all seems like a blur. And this is just the first year!

Today we’re having a small birthday party at our house and hopefully all goes well. After attending one of our neighborhood friend’s party for their 1 year old girl, we now know NOT to give a cake with a lit candle. Who would’ve thought they would grab right at that flickering light? Ha, sorry, neighbors, you know who you are. 🙂

Over the last month alone, we had many memorable moments; here’s 12 of them.

1. I’ve been adding to our cardboard box collection in the house which makes for exciting playtime for the whole family!

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2. I successfully brewed my first batch of beer as a dad. You weren’t too thrilled about the beer, but I could tell you were eyeing all of those bottles.

3. Mommy’s work had a family trick-or-treating event, but it interfered with your regular nap time. To ensure you got your rest before we went, I just made nap time a little earlier. You had other plans…..

4. Dressing you up as a pumpkin for your first Halloween costume was far from original, but damn, you were are always cute!

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5. Taking you around the neighborhood for trick-or-treating on Halloween didn’t last long, but Mommy, G-Ma, and I had a great time sharing another first.

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6. Mommy and I have been sticking our tongue out at you since you were only a few months old, but finally, you started firing back with your own tongue!

7. Mommy took off work and we went to the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Gardens to see the festive fall decorations and take a lot of pictures with you. I know, so rare, right? It was pretty warm that day and you became fussy early, but we still snapped some great shots together.

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8. Sleeping on our living room floor with you on my chest and Mommy beside us after a long night of painful teething. It was sad to see you in pain, but ended up being a moment I will always remember.

9. Your poop schedule suddenly had you booked all day for many days in a row. This was a shock since we used to see nothing at all some days. This coincided with your teething, obviously, as it is one of the signs of a teething baby. Yep, confirmed!

10. I have been kissing you goodnight on the cheek for a while now, but this month you started trying to kiss back. It’s more like you stare at me with your teeth exposed, but it’s cute, sweet, and making progress in showing affection!

11. After preparing a warm breakfast of pumpkin teff for Mommy, she let you have some and you ate quite a bit. This was confirmed that night when “the world’s smallest grain” reappeared in your diaper!

12. Your “walking” status keeps getting closer and closer, and now you’re scaling the cabinets in the kitchen or anything else for that matter. This includes going around me by holding on to my legs if I’m in the way.

We are so grateful to have Avery in our lives and look forward to many, many more wonderful years to come. But first thing’s first, lets work on that walking……

I hope to have a great report with lots of pictures from the party some time next week, but for now, I’m off to celebrate our daughter’s 1st birthday with my wife!