Beating the heat

As the temperatures in New England have been soaring, we've been finding different ways of beating the heat: staying inside, staying in the shade, and going to the beach. Avonlea Jane's also been busy growing. She had a check up this week and is 32.5 inches tall (54th percentile) and weighs 25 pounds (49th percentile). Her doctor was pleased that she is eating very well with a fork and spoon, likes to color, that her vocabulary is around 100 words, and that she sometimes speaks in sentences ("Dat my Daddy." "More water, please.").

On our way to lunch with friends, Avonlea Jane in the ruby slippers she insisted on wearing that day

Alma and Avonlea Jane on their way to the farmers' market. Avonlea Jane is getting a kick out of Alma trying on her sunglasses.

Enjoying orange-cranberry-walnut bread from the market

The weekend before last, we went to the Sandcastle Festival in Revere to see the sculptures and to hear a band play. Below are many of the sculptures. Avonlea Jane would have had a better time had she been allowed to touch them.

Our favorite

That same day, we celebrated the second birthday of Avonlea Jane's friend Violet. Here, Avonlea Jane is enjoying Violet's play kitchen.

Violet getting ready to blow out her candles

Avonlea Jane helping Violet to open her presents

Both baby and Daddy are partied-out.

Avonlea Jane enjoying the live music at the farmers' market

Playing with her new magnet set of R. family photos. Avonlea Jane loves to bring us magnets and tell us who's in them or to play "go fetch a magnet with X on it."

Sitting in the shade of the umbrella at Crane Beach. Finally, the water temperature has been warm enough to get all of the way in (65 deg.).

Avonlea Jane was wearing her suit with the straps that fall down, and she got sick of pulling them up, so she took the suit off.

Enjoying an ice cream cone with Daddy at the Willows