Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving

Thankful for family, friends, health, Obama and piles of leaves to mark a baby's first autumn...

Still cute

Here's a recent one of Ainsley in her cute plaid coat that mommy just loves. We've got all kinds of new tricks to report:

• Rolling over. Mostly back to front but we're doing both sides now.
• Feet in mouth. She loves to nibble on those toes.
• Laughing. Mommy remains really funny. Daddy occasionally gets a laugh.
• Back bending. She has quite the ability to bridge herself on her head when she wants to see something behind her
• Grabbing. This morning she and daddy had fun reading the paper. She enjoyed the part where she got to dump every single sale paper on the floor one by one. I'm sure those of you with children know it does not take long some mornings for them to trash the house. I can see why more each day now.

Only a few more days until Nana gets here. We are so excited to show Ainsley all her new tricks.

Bouncing baby

Here's another video from this weekend of Ainsley enjoying her bouncer. As you can tell this is her happy place! (Sorry about the sideways thing-it plays fine on my computer, not sure why it uploaded this way.)

Grandma Weekend!

When Grandma Van Howe is in town, we party! Met at Oak Brook mall and went to lunch; Ainsley nuzzled up to Grandma and fell asleep; came home and played; then grandma took some video of Ainsley's tricks. Enjoy this "Peek-A-Boo" video. (mom remains a cut up)

Election Day Fame!

Check this out-Ainsley got her adorable picture in the paper when she went to the polls for the second time today with Valerie! You can't see her red, white and blue outfit under her bib, but she was a very patriotic baby today! Enjoy!

First Rollover!!!!!!

The Avers and Crimingers knew we were close to a full roll over -- and it happened around the midnight hour of Nov 1st. Ainsley Frances had been rolling to her side and increasingly enjoying tummy time and her powerful back bend this last month -- but she only dared to give us the full maneuver in her sleep. We heard her cry; Jen ran in, and the baby who had been put on her back to sleep was on her tummy, head craned...and quite annoyed. Later on Nov 1st, Scott was talking to Nana and relaying the developmental milestone when she rolled from front to back on her Safari mat... We have a big infant on our hands, people!

Ainsley's First Halloween

Sweet Ainsley had a fun first Halloween. She wasn't scared of any of the kids that came to the door and she was extra cute for the neighbors. She also crashed a Halloween block party later on that night.

Well taken care of

Valerie, Grace and Alex have now been providing loving day care for Ainsley Monday-Thursday for a month now. It is working out great! They take really good care of our sweetie. They go for walks, hang out in the Bjorn, do lots of reading and provide tons of love. Grace loves to give her a bottle-especially in her princess bed!

Super Happy Baby!

We took this one last Sunday and it is easily one of my favorites of all time. We were just hanging on the couch before I left for NJ. I was so happy to capture two big smiles and share them with everyone!

Cousin dance party!

Ainsley had a chance to see her cousin Ellie, Auntie Farah and Uncle Jimmy this weekend. The celebrated by dancing in the kitchen. A good time was had by all.
Little stinker just won't seem to sleep in her crib lately, preferring to wedge between mommy and daddy in our room. This has to change and it will. Of course, she sleeps great when she is with us!

We've found our toes!

Here's a video to confirm that Ainsley has officially found her toes. She loves to grab her feet when she is having her diaper changed. She grabs them every time now-even middle of the night half asleep changes. While it makes changing a bit more challenging, it is so darn cute I can't stand it! Enjoy and I will work on more regular postings in the future-we've been kind of busy lately! :-)

We're back from Iowa!

Wow-has it really been 10 days since our last blog entry? We had a fun weekend in Iowa with Jim, Farah and Ellie! It was Ainsley's first trip across a state line! Very exciting.

Some of Ainsley's new tricks:

• Smiles, smiles, smiles. She just loves to smile for us-early, late, whenever.


• Talking. She and I can hold a pretty long conversation about the current economic crisis.


• Nearly rolling over! She wants it so bad! She can get on her side but she hasn't figured out what to do with that other arm just yet.


• Sleeping! She is good for a 5-6 hour stint at night now! Very exciting.

Here is a picture of sweet Ainsley in her "babies gone batty" onesie with Ellie on Jim and Farah's festive front porch.

You don't eat meat?

Here's our first video clip with the new camera. Sorry about the extreme zooms-I'm still getting the feel for this thing.

If you've seen "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" as many times as we have, you'll think this is funny too. Ainsley thinks Mommy is the funniest thing out there.

Settling In

Our little sweetie had her first couple days at Valerie's this week. She is doing great. This is her with Grace.

12 weeks and big overnight

* First 5 hour sleeping clip (9/29).

* Significant increase in baby talk.

* More smiles and laughs.

* Increasing recognition of which facial expressions represent which feelings.

* Much more self soothing and comfort hanging out by herself.

* Interest in specific items and ability to target her grabbing.

* Freakish neck, hand, and leg strength given her 9 lbs frame.

* Enjoyment of mirrored reflection.

* Increased fascination with leaves, grass, greenery and nature sounds and color contrasts.

What a difference a minute, day, week can make in a sweet baby's life and development.

I have a cold

Hi, it's Ainsley. Dad took this picture of me this morning. I have a stuffy nose, but no temprature. Mommy called the doctor yesterday and they said as long as I don't have a fever and I'm still eating and wetting diapers that I should be fine. I'm still eating and wetting diapers. The nurse said if my temprature goes up to take me in, but so far I'm fine. Love you all!

To all the moms I've loved before

Thanks to the dear friends, family, and coworkers who have kindly and lovingly guided me through my first "trimester" of motherhood. This is truly the most difficult, joyful, and miraculous experience of my life.

I transition back to work starting 10/1, and although I'm anxious, know I will miss Ainsley, and am prepared to feel a tinge of guilt as I use the toilet or eat a meal without a baby attached to me, I am comforted by the prayers and good wishes of so many moms wiser than myself.

What a gift to have Ainsley being cared for by Valerie (and Alex and Grace by extension). Scott and I bring over a big ol box of baby stuff to the Criminger's this weekend--hopefully they won't be frightened by Ainsley's many essentials (bottles, blocks, bears, blankets) -- BTW, why do so many baby things start with "b" -- boppy, bjorn.....

*Great men get a shout out too -- thanks to Scott and Jerry for helping me get pumped up for work this week and helping me remember to take care of myself.*

Night on the town-The Timeline

Even though I have no pictures to commemorate the event, I have a vague timeline of my evening alone with Ainsley last night. We had fun.
6:40pm-Mommy leaves to go get her hair done. Even though she packed the diaper bag, she asks me to lie to her and tell her that I have about a weeks worth of formula in there. We're going out of the house for about two hours. I tell her what she wants to hear and we go.
6:55pm-Scott and Ainsley arrive at Panera. After ordering, I wait to pick up my Pick Two. Not as many baby gawkers as I would have liked. I get my food and put Ainsley, resting comfortably in her car seat, in the upside down high chair, and sit down to eat.
7:01pm-Ainsley squirms her head back and forth and looks like she is about to start crying. I begin to pick up the pace of my leisurely dinner.
7:11pm-As I take the last spoonful of corn chowder, Ainsley falls asleep. This give me some time to read the paper.
7:38pm-Ainsley wakes up in a good mood. We leave Panera.
7:39pm-On the way to the car, daddy decides that pushing the baby around Whole Foods in a cart would be a good way to "run out the clock". We ride around Whole Foods and talk about different products in the grocery store for a while. She made some funny faces when I let her sniff some of the funky bulk soaps they sell. Again, a little short on gawkers. The best was the employee who asked me how old she was. When I said 11 weeks, she responded with, "oh, almost four months". I think I know why she was stocking shelves and not a cashier.
8:20pm-We arrive home, change a diaper and get a bottle going
8:30pm-After about half the bottle, we stop for a burp. Ainsley SCREAMS for a few minutes. I'm talking bloody murder. Eventually she calms down, burps, and takes more of the bottle.
8:55pm-Ainsley falls asleep and daddy puts her in the swing and turns on the Golf Channel.
9:15pm-Mommy comes home. All is well again.

Mom and baby

Mom and Ainsley visit daddy's office...

Very Talkative Today

Here's a clip that "speaks" for iteself...