Happy 15 Months Old, Kayla!

15 Month Stats:

Length: 31.5 inches (75-90th percentile)

Weight: 25 lbs (74-90th percentile)

Head Circumference: 19.5 inches (greater than 95th percentile)

The Cleveland Zoo

Of course we had to go to the zoo while we were in Cleveland...it was the 2nd thing

Avery mentioned that he wanted to do the most (besides riding an airplane).  And let me tell you, for a kid who has lived his entire life (all three long years) in the flattest area at sea level, this kid walked up and down all of the crazy hills at the zoo like a champ.

Funny zoo story #1: Avery was adamant the the first animal he wanted to see was the gorillas.  However, we had to look at animals in the order that we passed them on the way to the primate section.  So, the very first animal that Avery saw during his trip at the zoo was a large African elephant...who was in the middle of taking the largest bowel movement (and relieving his bladder at the same time) that you have ever seen.  It was completely disgusting.  So anyways, after a long morning at the zoo of seeing countless animals and wildlife, we were sitting down to get some lunch and asked Avery what his favorite thing at the zoo was so far.  His answer: "The elephant pooping!".

I told Avery that the meerkats were looking at him.  It was slightly creepy.

 When we passed the Australian exhibit, about 8 kangaroos went hopping past Avery.  It was too cool.

Finally, we made it to the gorilla exhibit.  Funny zoo story #2: There were 2 gorillas in their outdoor exhibit and both were eating a lunch of lettuce, grass, hay or alfalfa (? I don't know, I'm not a zoo keeper!), etc.  After one gorilla left our sight to go to the back of the pen, Avery said, "The gorilla is done with his lunch and I think he is going to the store to get some toys".

Three generations watching the gorillas munch on some food.

 I wish I had this kid's amount of energy.

 A giraffe chomping on some leaves.

 I guess we went at a good time, as all of the animals were eating.

What a cool kid.

 Avery and Mommy enjoying their special trip together.

Avery patiently waiting in line to ride the train with Pop Pop.

 All aboard!  Avery and Pop Pop only rode the train twice this visit, drastically reduced from last year's record of 5 times, followed by a meltdown as I carried him a mile back to the car.

 Too frickin' cute.

 Avery running to give Maw Maw a hug on the bridge.

Funny zoo story #3: Avery spent at least 20 minutes dancing by himself in this little gazebo.  At one point, a class of 2nd or 3rd graders gathered at the outskirts of the gazebo to watch Avery dancing.  I think Avery may be some sort of entertainer when he grows up.

Just Plane Fun

Several months ago, after taking the time to pick up Maw Maw at the Charleston airport, Avery announced that he, too, wanted to ride on an airplane.  I laughed and said, "Dream on, kid.  How about a new matchbox car??".  But that night, I randomly cruised over to Expedia's website and put Cleveland and May into the search engine, and **Presto** out popped $230 round trip tickets to the Cleve.  For $230, I will fly basically anywhere, especially to a place that has homecooked food made by someone other than myself,  along with a built-in babysitter.  So Avery and I got to take a special trip last week, just the two of us, to visit Maw Maw and Pop Pop in Cleveland.  It was Avery's "reward" for the last 15 months of displaying patience, flexibility, and unlimited love with his new little sister, Kayla.  We had a fantastic time.  I will always remember this trip with my favorite little man.

Those Summer Days

Here are some random pics from the last month or so.  We are enjoying our "summer" before it gets so sweltering hot and humid and misquito-filled that we are stuck indoors for the next couple of months!

Our grass was dying....and the kids could always use more entertainment.  So we bought a new sprinkler.  On a sidenote, I don't think Kayla wears 18 month size bathing suits anymore.

We spend a lot of my days off at a playground in Summerville.  Avery always manages to find friends to play with.

Not many people know what Derby is down here.  But that didn't stop us from trying on Derby hats and going to a Derby party at our babysitter's house (her family is from Louisville).

Our neighborhood had a picnic about a month ago.  It has been confirmed: there aren't many kids in the neighborhood and our kids are by far the youngest.  Oh well.  Avery found a fun little girl to flirt with at the picnic but unfortunately, she is from another state. Avery is just like his daddy!

Kayla Bean

Everyone keeps asking what the kids are up to these days.  Here is a sneak peak:

I forgot how much I loved this age.  Kayla learns something new each day and every morning she looks just a little bit bigger than the day before.  Her personality is really blossoming....let's just say, we are going to have our hands full.  :)  I am not sure where this girl gets her strong will from....

Kayla loves her bathtime.  Except now she knows how to stand up and turn the faucet back on. 

Kayla likes to go and sit on the little training potty in the corner of the bathroom whenever we are in there.  She even tries to pull her pants down before she sits.  This girl is too funny.

Let's just say that Kayla has learned about "timeouts" a heck of a lot sooner than Avery ever did.  And she actually goes and sits when I tell her to.  It will get old soon, I am sure.

Kayla brushing her teeth with her new toothbrush from Avery's dentist.  And no, I do not feel obligated to sign my one year old up for a dentist appointment just because you gave her a 50 cent toothbrush, thank you very much.

I thought Kayla was going to be a tomboy.  But it turns out, this girl love LOVE LOVES her sandals.  Nothing gets her more excited than to hear she gets to wear a pair of sandals that day (mostly on weekends).

Kayla knows the importance of accessorizing.

Miss Independent.  Or Miss Impatient.  One of them.  Or both.

I *heart* Kayla.

Kayla clearly finds herself amusing.

Kayla is dancing to a song from the Muppets.  It is the first "tv" she has actually gotten into.  If you know the big dance number in the movie (I've Got Everything I Need), you will actually recognize a few of Kayla's dance moves.  No, seriously!!

Giddyap.

More of Kayla's infamous dance moves.

Avery Jean

Everyone keeps asking what the kids are up to these days.  Here is a sneak peek:

Avery finally went to the dentist for the first time at the ripe old age of three.  I completely disagree with the "rule" of taking your kid at either one year of age or 6 months after their first tooth erupts.  As long as your kid brushes his or her teeth, they are completely fine.  I can brush, floss, and count my kid's teeth while he is lying on his back all by myself and save my insurance company mucho dinero, thank you very much.  I love how the dentist and his hygienist were practically salivating at Kayla, trying to get me to make an appointment for her.  Now, if I didn't bring my first born child in to see you for three years, don't expect to see the second or any subsequent children in your office until they are at least four.  :)

Avery has gotten pretty good at strumming his little guitar that Ninny and Grandaddy got him for Christmas.  His favorite movie right now is the Muppets and he loves to play the guitar and sing from it's soundtrack.

This is a video of Avery singing "The Rainbow Connection" while strumming Phil's playdough version of Kermit the Frog's banjo.  I love how at the end, Kayla throws food at him.

Avery loves to ride his bike down to the "Alligator Pond" (although technically, all the of the ponds in the neigborhood have their own alligator, but this one is his favorite).  If you zoom in on the picture, you can see the alligator's head (behind the center clump of grass at the edge of the pond).

Avery is a building machine.  He plays with his legos and megablocks all of the time. This first picture is of his "zoo".  The next pic is of a "racetrack" that he built all by himself.  He now has to build mostly on the kitchen table, as Kayla is known to knock his towers down or steal the blocks he was using....and then run to the far side of the room, laughing hysterically.  I would be lying if I said I wasn't slightly amused by it.

Avery plays soccer at school once a week.  I think he is pretty good, but I admit that I am totally biased.  :)

Two Jeans in a Pod

I am getting pretty slack about updating my blog...and the only thing that keeps me going during this busy time in our lives is that my blog serves as the kids' memory books when I print them (read: when I get around to printing them...I am a year+ behind).  Here are a few cute photos from the past couple of weeks of these two; the videos at the end are for the grandparents (or anyone else who has a minute or two to kill).  They are so sweet together (sometimes); always hugging and kissing each other.  The other times....well, let's just say, Kayla is earning the nickname "The Instigator".  :)