Grandpa Paul and Grandma Mary's 4th of July visit

Grandpa Paul and Grandma Mary Wooderson came to visit us this past weekend for the 4th of July.

On Friday, they went to Mansfield, Mo to tour the Laura Ingells Wilder homestead. Although I stayed back to work, they filled me in on some very interesting facts about her life and writing career. Avery was too fussy to go on the tour, but he did remember the "Rock House" and talked about it at home.

Saturday's trip was to Wilson's Creek Battlefield in Republic, MO. It was a timely trip for Independence Day weekend. The most memorable site was the homestead converted into the military hospital during the Civil War. It was a very dark time in our nation's history, but deserves to be remembered. That evening we played Balderdash and tried to make each other laugh with ridiculous answers.

We went out to eat at Smith's restaurant after church on Sunday. After the meal, Clint's parents decided to head back to Kansas City. We thanked them for a very nice time.

Our community held a "freedom celebration" at the University lawn. We went as a family to enjoy the non-profit vendors and time hanging out talking with friends while sitting on blankets and watching and listening to the surrounding festivities. Avery tried to join in on several frisbee, football and catch games played by the older kids while the parents conversed.

Finally, that evening, our family sat in our driveway while watching the neighborhood kids set off fireworks. We had a few "snaps" that let Avery throw on the ground and pop as well. After dark, Avery was in awe as he witnessed fireworks for the first time (the community event set off fireworks and we could view them from our house). He kept on saying "fiiiireworks! flag! fourth of july!"

It's so fun to watch Avery experience things for the first time and marvel in them. We look forward to next year to see what he remembers and gets excited to try.

Olney, IL Kocher Reunion

Our next trip to IL was in celebration of our seven year wedding anniversary and the annual summer Kocher reunion. Avery did much better sleeping at night and handling the car ride than the weekend before. Potty training was easier during this trip as well.

Grandma Linda treated us to time at the Olney White Squirrel park, Muskgrove Park, chocolate and cheese samples, brewed mint tea (from the mint from her garden), chicago-style gyros made from real lamb, a walk to the Market Decor shop, a scary movie (after Avery was asleep) and supper at the El Rancherito. Grandma loved holding Avery's hand, hearing Avery whine if she left the room momentarily, catching him at the bottom of the slide, and embracing his hugs and slobbery kisses.

In honor of our seven year wedding anniversary, Clint and I went on a "date" to Evansville, IN. We found great deals shopping and ate out at Applebee's. It's refreshing to be able to laugh and still really enjoy time together as a couple.

Meanwhile, Grandpa Alvin kept Avery on his toes playing cars, washing his motorcycle, reading books, and probably several other things that they wouldn't tell us. Supposedly, it's a secret just between the "guys". We shared some Joe's pizza, walked to Daylight donuts, watched a movie and enjoyed time goofing around and talking.

The final day of the IL trip was the reunion. Before the potluck meal, the kids were busy playing outside on the playground equipment. The reunion was held at the church/school where my dad and I grew up. Since there are so many family members, the church allows the families to rent out the parrish hall for the gathering. Avery said that he loved being around the "kids" and the "park" (which was his name for the playground). Many of my first cousins are married and now have kids of their own, so there were many little buddies Avery's age to play with. Although we didn't get to stay long due to our six hour drive back home that day, it was nice to experience fun times with family.

Carlinville, IL Family Reunion

Our family made the trek to Carlinville, IL early June. The occasion for the trip was a family reunion including Clint's mother's side of the family. We also celebrated Clint's uncle's 80th birthday.

The first night we arrived marked Avery's first stay overnight in a hotel. Due to his uncontained excitement (bottled up from a five hour car ride there), Avery was too excited to sleep (thus causing a little bit of a rough night for his parents since we all shared a bed). Another first included Avery's experience at a pool. He really enjoyed playing in the water at the hotel with his older cousins. We were surprised that he showed no fear of the water.

The reunion was held in a small, rural country church in between Carlinville and Litchfield. The dinner was hosted in the church's fellowship hall which also included a basketball hoop for the kids to play on. Rob, Avery's older athletic cousin, taught him some baseball pointers.

Overall, Avery had a great time staying the night somewhere new, sleeping in a big bed with his mom and dad, playing with his older boy cousins, swimming in a pool, getting attention from new family members he hadn't met before, eating yummy homemade food and the adventure of a trip outside of his routine.

More Avery-isms

“Sure”

“I did it! Yay!”

*use of possessive pronouns – “I hurt me” “my race car” “Avery’s cereal”

“I pee pee in the potty! I got a chocolate treat!”

“I’m sad” – Avery’s word for being hurt is “sad”, then he asks for a sticker (=bandaid), talks about going to the doctor, or kisses his wound and says “allll better!”

"Momma (points to his mom), Dadda (points to his dad) and Avery (points to himself)"

tells us if something is a "boy" or a "girl"

"I don't know"

"Momma, play race cars?"

likes to sing songs to himself "John Deer Gree, on a hot summer nigh, babybohlov Charlee"

Big Boy Bed Wows!

Avery is officially now sleeping successfully in a "big boy bed"! We bought him a toddler size bed that has a Disney "Cars" theme in which he really likes. A day or two before the bed arrived, our family spent an evening watching the "Cars" movie. Then, we also showed Avery a picture of his new bed on the internet and really talked about how cool it will be when he gets to sleep in it. Avery even got out his toy drill to help his dad assemble it. After the bed was put together, we said "bye bye" to the crib before Clint helped it find another home.

Big Boy Bed woes

This past week we have also tried putting Avery down at night with the railing off one side of his crib. We excitedly told him that we were proud of how he is becoming a "big boy" and that big boys don't need to sleep in beds with the side railing.

The first night this occurred, Avery was confused. He pointed to the railing as if we were forgetting something. "No, sweetie. You don't need that. You are a big boy (smile), and big boys don't need the side rail." He pointed to the railing again as if he were saying "No, you are the ones who are confused. We always use the rail. You are forgetting to put on my railing."

Avery is an active and sometimes talkative sleeper. Every since he was an infant, he would do "laps" in his bed while asleep. He is never in same position that we put him down in. Since we predicted that this might be a problem with having the railing off, we bought a cushioned body pillow and placed it at the foot of his bed where the side railing would be removed (the bed sits low to the ground, so landing on the body pillow would just soften his fall on the carpet).

Sure enough, Avery accidentally rolled out of bed (he wasn't hurt, nor did he cry) while sleeping - four nights in a row. However, since Avery is very disoriented when he wakes up naturally, he had a hard time getting back into bed by himself. Luckily, we can hear him across the hall and get up and place him back into bed.

The fifth night, Avery got down on his knees in fetal position and WAILED that we did not remove the railing. He tried to drag it out and put it on himself. I was reminded that no matter how much children fight to test their parents boundaries, they secretly are desperate for them. Avery wanted the protection and security of the railing, which surprised us because we thought he would embrace his newfound independence.

So, we felt sorry for our little guy and decided to put the railing back on for now. We will need some time to think about how to help Avery make the transition, but it was clear to us that perhaps pushing it now, while potty training, wasn't the wisest course.

Like Father, Like Son

I love my husband very much, and Avery sometimes gives me little glimpses of what Clint might have been like as a boy.

When we were first dating, there was a period of time where Clint accompanied me on my morning workouts. Sometimes, much to his roommates chagrin (who also hated to wake up early), I would give Clint a phone call before coming over before our run. It wasn't until after we were married that I understood how much Clint detested waking up early. Normally, requires at least 30 minutes to adjust before he is able to comfortably carry a conversation. He jokes that those early morning workouts was just part of his ploy to "win me over" and I was easily fooled. On the other hand, I am a morning person and enjoy going to bed early and waking up early.

Our son tends to take after his father in this area. Averybear is pretty cranky if he is awakened not at his choosing. Since we are potty training him at this time, we have tried to take him to the potty right after we wake in up in the morning or at naptime since his diaper is usually dry. We know he probably has to go.

However, we've also learned that Avery needs a little time to adjust, sitting in his room, drinking a cup of milk by himself before he interacts with us. Otherwise, it is a heated battle. So, we hand him his milk and leave. This usually works as Avery will eventually wander out into the living room looking for us to take him to the potty.

So, as his mother, I will need to remember to give him space and grace in the mornings like I do for his father. I'm glad that the time I've taken to get to know and understand Clint in our early years of marriage is giving me insight on how to parent our little boy.