Independence Day Weekend

Hope everyone had a wonderful July 4th weekend! Avery sure did!

We started off the long weekend with a trip to Jasmine's house to play in their kiddie pool! At first Avery was nervous, wouldn't go inside. I let her lean over the pool and touch the water so she can acclimate herself. I don't go into pools without testing the water first!

Jasmine showed her how it was done by going into the water first. Avery watched intently, and played a bit. After a few minutes, I put her in, and she started to enjoy the water!

This is kind of fun!
Filling up my cup with water that sprayed out from the flower! Cool!
Mommy, want some water?

Here's a video of the two babies playing in the water. Jasmine liked to splish splash in the water! Avery was intent on chewing on the Little Mermaid ball that she stole from Jasmine's hands. Oye, bully!

Here's the youtube link

She had so much fun, she forgot to nap! Her usual 3pm nap was pushed till 5pm, and she passed out on the way home.

The next day was July 4th. We went to the Chino Hills' sponsored "Old-Fashioned Picnic BBQ" at the Little League Field of Dreams. It was like walking into an amusement park - it was well organized, and lots of fun games and food for families. We went with our neighbors John, Elaine, and Kate. Took a spot under a tree, and cooked under the blazing sun!
Its not a picnic unless Avery does a song and dance for the camera!
Avery and Mommy at the picnic. My back was cooked after that day.
Avery is patriotic! Our fearless leader leads the stars and stripes through a dark tunnel and sees the light on the other side!

She even got to watch fireworks for the first time. We went to my mom and dad's house, where my aunts, and uncle, grandma, and family friends all gather each year to see fireworks from their backyard. We were a bit nervous about keeping her up past her bedtime, since she starts getting fussy. But with so many people, she didn't have time to get sleepy, getting passed around like a sack of potatoes!Once the fireworks started, she was totally immersed into the lights and sounds, watching with nearly unblinking eyes!
The Alvarez Clan joined us for the viewing too! Kate sat atop her Dad's shoulders and made observations like "Pretty Fireworks!" and asked "What's that sound?" hee hee. Told you she's a smart one!

The next day on Sunday, we recuperated with lots of rest, and ran errands. Avery took a couple monster naps. Mommy got a pedicure, ran more errands, and bought some food for a little dinner picnic at the park by the elementary school.
We watched some soccer matches, while munching on pita breads filled with prociutto and mozzerella. Avery saw us eating and became very interested too, stuffing her mouth with cheese and pita bread, and a stray leaf on the grass...oye. Daddy had to fish that one out of her mouth.

Independence Day weekend was also meaningful for me too. I have officially stopped breastfeeding, gaining freedom after 11 months. The breastfeeding experience was hard-fought, but well worth the battle, as I now have a perfectly healthy, beautiful child. There is some anxiety about what the future holds without breastmilk in Avery's life, I have to admit. After the fire evacuation incident in November, and formula rejection in February, and swine flu oubreak in May, I had grown steadfast on my maternal instinct to provide for my child. But she is fast growing out of her baby stage, now able to stand on her own two feet (healthwise, and also, literally). So its time for Mommy to let go, and have her boobs back. Sniff. I'll probably enjoy this freedom more next week.

Yay for Freedom!