10 Months Old

Ryan and I both have commented many times over the last couple weeks that it seems like Avery has grown up almost overnight. She is losing a lot of her little baby features and looking and acting more like a toddler. I remember holding her as a newborn and wishing she could stay that size forever. But at each new stage that she entered, we honestly thought, "Okay, we like this stage the best!" Then she would grow and change a little more and we said, "This age is definitely the best!" I loved her tiny newborn stage. I adored her sweet, easy-going personality from 3-6 months. I loved watching her learn new skills almost daily and interact with us more and more from 6-9 months. And now we are enjoying her fun-loving personality and hilarious antics at 9-12 months.

Here are a few updates from this past month:

At her 9 month appointment, Avery weighed 16.5 lbs and was 27.5". She continues to be long and thin. The doctor has no concerns, though, and said she is just as healthy as can be. She still has just her two bottom teeth. But the doctor said her upper gums are swollen and her top teeth should be coming through soon. I have noticed her being a little more clingy than usual this week, but still just as happy as ever. Hopefully the teeth will pop through soon! Avery loves getting to brush her little teeth each night before bed. She happily sits there with her mouth open and hands clapping while I get her toothbrush ready.

Avery continues to walk around the house holding onto the furniture or walls. She can walk while holding on to us with just one hand, and has even taken 1-2 steps on her own (if she doesn't realize I'm not holding onto her). She loves using her walking toy and can navigate it quite well. If she does run into a wall or furniture, she'll back up and turn in the right direction. It is so much fun to watch her little mind at work.

Avery's favorite activities are doing anything out of the house. She loves to be at the park, the mall, or even just the grocery store.

She alertly watches everything going on around her, and is becoming much friendlier with people who say hi to her. She'll wave, smile, and even carried on a conversation with the nice lady behind us at the grocery store check-out this week. She loves going to the nursery at church. The last couple weeks, friends at church have taken her down to the nursery for me while I'm busy with other things, and she is as happy as can be with them.

There are quite a few dogs in our apartment complex, and Avery giggles and waves if we see one of them while we are out walking. If it wasn't for the work a puppy involves, we'd love to get one for her. I'm sure we'll give in one of these days!

Avery will spend 30-45 minutes every day looking at her books. She loves being read to as well, and has recently started turning the pages for us (usually at the right time).

She is still sleeping 12 hours each night, and taking 2 good naps each day (between 1 1/2 and 2 hours). Her favorite foods are still sweet potatoes and peas, but she loves beets, hard-boiled egg yolks, and asparagus as well. She is doing better with feeding herself, and I'm sure it will get easier to eat table food when her top teeth come through. She loves drinking water from her sippy cup throughout the day.

We are so blessed to be able to spend our days with this almost-one-year-old. We pray every day that she will grow up to love God with her whole heart.

Post-Call Brunch

For the past 8 weeks, I have been introduced to a wonderful thing called "taking call." This happens every five or six days when Ryan is at the hospital for about 28 hours in a row, helping with surgeries and following up with patients. The next day (post-call day), he usually gets home between 8 and 9 am, eats breakfast, and sleeps until early afternoon. The upside is that we have the rest of that day together to take Avery to the park, shop, or go out for dinner.

This morning was one of those days. And last night while I was home by myself, I decided to try a new recipe and make brunch when Ryan got home. I saw an episode of Giada on Food Network where she made a peach and cherry frittata. Avery and I made a quick trip to the grocery store after dinner to pick up some fruit and eggs. I couldn't find cherries, so we used raspberries instead. It was extremely easy to throw together this morning and and although it sounds a little different to have fruit in a frittata, it was actually quite tasty.

I paired the eggs with my new favorite homemade cinnamon roll recipe from my cousin, Olivia. I added toasted hazelnuts, brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg to the filling this time to try something new.

Our little brunch was a big hit with Ryan, who had seconds, and requested for this to made many more times in the future. It was a fun start to our day!

Homemade Cinnamon Rolls

3/4 cup water, plus 2 tablespoons water

1 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup granulated sugar

2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened

2 1/2 cups bread flour

1 teaspoon bread machine yeast

FILLING

1/3 cup granulated sugar

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened

GLAZE

1 cup powdered sugar

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1 -2 tablespoon milk

Directions:

1 Place water, 2 Tablespoons butter, bread flour, 1/4 cup white granulated sugar, salt and yeast in the bread machine and start on dough cycle.

2 Once dough is complete, roll out into a 9" square on a lightly floured surface.

3 Mix 1/3 cup sugar and 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon together (I mix it in a measuring cup).

4 Spread 2 Tablespoons softened margarine over the dough and sprinkle with the cinnamon mixture.

5 Roll up tightly into a log and pinch the edges to seal.

6 Cut into 1" slices and place in a greased 9"x9"x2" square pan (brownie pan).

7 Cover loosely with plastic wrap and let rise 1 hour or so until double, OR in refrigerator overnight if making for breakfast.

8 Preheat oven to 375°F and bake 20 minutes or until golden brown.

9 Mix powdered sugar, vanilla and milk to make glaze, drizzle over rolls and serve warm.