That Amazing Avery

The scene: we're all outside, Avery playing in the sandbox.

Amanda and Nanny are talking about a sewing pattern Amanda wants Nanny to look at; she heads to the car to find it. She comes back... it was left at her house. All of the adults talk about how disappointing that was. Suddenly, Avery stops what she's doing and tells me, "I have to go inside. I have to wash my hands and make a pattern for Amanda."

She drops her things, washes her hands, and heads to her drawing area. She proceeds to make Amanda a pattern: a paper with circles on it - purple, yellow, purple, yellow. A pattern. She runs out to give it to Amanda, who assures her that she has now saved the day with her pattern.

Next:

Several weeks ago, we were shopping at Hobby Lobby and Avery was commenting on everything we passed: "Look at that, Mommy!", "Ooooooh... wow!" etc. We passed a purple lamp that she commented on and I replied, "It's even sparkly. How beautiful!"

She asked me if I wanted to buy the lamp, and I don't remember exactly but I'm sure I replied in usual form: something about not spending money on things that we didn't need, even if we wanted them.

When Jordan took Avery out to buy the pinata for Mother's Day, she told him there was something else she HAD to get me: a purple lamp with sparkles on it. (Since Jordan had no idea where this was coming from, he didn't know to take her to Hobby Lobby. They were, however, able to find sparkly purple candles.)

What strikes me about this is that Avery saw me denying myself something that in her mind was a real sacrifice, remembered it, and spontaneously determined to give it to me. She wasn't prompted. Her little loving heart just overflowed right out into her gift. I'm so blessed by my little Avery girl. What a deeply thoughtful child we've been gifted with.

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