The News at 21 Months...and 9 days

Well, as usual, I'm late in posting this update since AJ turned 21 months on March 20th.  But at least I'm posting, right?!  


She is getting funnier and feistier by the day, with more of a personality, preferences, and a mind of her own by the minute.  I've joked a lot lately about how I'm actually going to have to start parenting her soon as opposed to just keeping her alive (though, trust me, there has been plenty of both parenting and survival since Day 1!)  A few months ago she would blindly obey when I asked her to do something whereas now, we get push-back or boundary testing. For example, drumming with hands or utensils during meals is a no-no.  We reviewed this for the one thousandth time the other day and took her spoon away.  So she drummed lightly with her hands, which we reprimanded.  So she drummed ever so lightly with her fingers while eyeing us to see if it counted as drumming.  (It did.)  Just one minor example of many about how she is testing her limits.  Totally normal, but sometimes totally exhausting. 


I can definitely see some of her Momma's bossiness (though I prefer to call it "emerging leadership skills").  Of course, just when we think we've got her figured out, she'll turn off her outgoing craziness and become shy and thoughtful like her Daddy.  Hopefully she'll find the perfect balance in herself like we did in each other.


Below are some quips, stories, and hilarious things our big girl is up to these days:

• As we were driving down the road the other day, she exclaimed, "Watch out cars!  Here we come!  Mommy's driving!  Watch out!"  I asked her where on earth she got that and she just grinned.  When I retold David the story later he promised he has never said any such thing.  He suggested that she's just super perceptive.  Uh-huh.

• She is very much into singing songs these days.  "Jesus Loves the Little Children" is a favorite and I love her rendition of the "red and yellow, black and white" part.  It usually becomes "red, yellow, blue, green, purple..." etc.  I just visualize a bunch of multi-colored people and smurfs running around Jesus.

• Another favorite song she sings is "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" because she adds an "s" on star.  I don't know why I think that's adorable, but I do.

• On Mondays, we go to story time at our local library.  As we were pulling in one day, Audrey says, "It's Audrey's neighborhood liberry!"  Thank you, my community-minded child. 

• All of the harping we do about manners seems to be paying off a little too well.  Now she'll say "Excuse me" or, worse, sometimes she'll scold, "Say 'scuse me!" for someone else in the store if they cut in front of us.  At story time the other day the leader was making her way to the front of the room and Audrey loudly proclaimed, "Scuse me!" after she stepped over us.  The whole room burst out laughing while I hid my red face.  I'm a little embarrassed that my child is trying to teach manners to others, but really if my 21 month old has them down better than you, well...

• She is SUPER particular about lining things up regardless of how I try to hide that side of myself from her.  She ran past a trashcan in the hall that had been knocked over and stopped in her tracks, turned around, and went back to set it upright.  Another time she was walking past the fridge, got almost out of the kitchen, and went back saying "Fix T" to line up the crooked letter T magnet.  Yesterday she pitched a royal fit when I picked her up without letting her line her shoes up against the wall like Mommy's and Daddy's.  Oh boy.  

• Lately she is into looking at pictures of family and friends around the house.  She's always loved seeing their familiar faces, but recently we've had to add it to the nap and bedtime routines.  I'm about ready to switch out photos in the frames because we have stared at and explained the same ones so many times.

• I was walking down the stairs one afternoon and David was standing at the bottom holding her.  She looked up, stared at me for a second, and said, "So pretty, Mommy! Mommy so pretty!"  And there have been few times in my life that I felt more beautiful than in that moment.

• We were sitting at the dinner table the other night and she said, "Mommy kiss Daddy", so I did.  Then she said "Mommy kiss Audrey" and motioned with both hands for me to come towards her.  "C'mon. C'mon." she said seriously,  "Mommy kiss Audrey."  As soon as I quit laughing, I did.

• After the rain cut our jog short the other morning, we explained to her as we hurried to the car that we couldn't stay and go on the swings because it was raining.  She calmly replied, "Get umbrella."  Even when we told her that wouldn't work, she didn't get upset.  I love that she's becoming more logical and accepting of our explanations!  Of course, try to tell her why it doesn't matter that shoes aren't lined up straight and you'll lose, but nonetheless, she's getting there!

• This one came from her Grandmom: She and David's dad were keeping her one evening while we were at small group and gave her a vanilla wafer.  She took a bite, looked at the cookie, and said, "Crescent!"  We've been working on that shape as well as semicircle lately, so that cracked me up!

• When she wakes up in the morning, I'll ask her if she had a good night's rest and if she had any dreams/what she dreamed about.  She's recently started telling us she had a good night's rest, which sounds so hilariously old.  After she said it the other day, I asked her what she dreamed about.  She replied "castles."  I know she got it from a book we've read where the little girl dreams of castles, but it was still so funny!

• Sometimes she'll offer David and I bites of food (usually stuff she doesn't want) and we'll say, "No, I'm fine.  But thank you!" or something to that effect.  The other night David was trying to get her to eat a bite of something and, you guessed it, she said, "No, I'm fine.  But thank you.  Thank you so much!"  Needless to say, we didn't let that fly.

That's all I can think of for now, but I'm sure there are plenty I'm missing, so keep checking back for my tardy updates.  She keeps us on our toes, for sure!

I'm having trouble with the picture gallery, so if you really want to see the latest album, leave me a comment and I'll email you the Facebook link.  I'll let you know when they're updated on here.  

I'm Here! And I'm Still Thankful!

Well, I think that might have been a first:  I missed a Thankful Thursday post last week and didn't even post a follow-up a day or two afterward explaining my absence.  My brother actually called to make sure everything was okay. :)


Frankly, we've been busy and when I did have a spare moment, I just haven't felt like writing.  It wasn't that I didn't have more than enough to be thankful for, but I kept procrastinating until suddenly I had missed a whole week and it was time for another Thankful Thursday post!


So here is a quick update from the last two weeks:  

• Our yard sale went very well and, though exhausting, was worth all of the effort.  
• On St. Patrick's Day we wore our green, went on a green nature walk, grilled out kabobs with green peppers, and AJ had a little cookie with green sprinkles - fun & simple.  
•  We ran a 5K last weekend (and despite thinking we were going to have to walk, we did actually run the whole thing thanks to David's superman lungs and determination!)  At one point during the race, Audrey was sitting in her jogging stroller and began clapping and saying, "Good job, people!  Good job, everybody!"
• I'm still doing Bible Study and our small group is still in session, so those are keeping us busy.
• David's work schedule has slowed slightly, but will be picking up again the week after next so I'm trying to soak it up now!
• We're car shopping for David.  And no, I am not MAKING him get rid of his Mustang GT.  He came to that grown-up, big boy decision on his own.  I've kept my mouth shut even though I cannot drive it (it's a manual) and we can't fit a car seat in it.  Audrey is almost two for pete's sake and it's just that time.  I feel slightly sorry for him of course, but it's not like we're shopping for minivans for the guy.  If you're in the market for a Mustang, let me know!  

And now that you're all up to speed, you can relax and enjoy this week's list:


1.  New friends.  I'm discovering that the older you get, the harder it is to meet new people.  My circles seem to be getting smaller these days, so I'm working harder at expanding them and it's paying off!  The past few months have brought us quite a few new friendships that we're very excited about, especially when it means more playmates for Audrey, too.


2.  How much joy blowing bubbles brings to Audrey.  Watching her do her adorable toddler run through the backyard as she chases them is a mental picture I hope to remember for years to come.


3.  Wardrobe switch-outs.  I don't care if we're all freezing our booties off (because it will get chilly at least one more time), I'm so done with bulky sweaters and turtlenecks.  My pale, out-of-shape body says otherwise, but I'm going for it anyway!


4.  My precious niece, Annelise, who will be TWO on Saturday.  What a big girl!  I pray God's gracious best for your life, sweet girl.  I hope it's a super fun, gorgeous day for you all. We love you!


5.  This week's song is "Bright Lights" by Matchbox Twenty.  On last week's episode of Parks and Recreation, there was the funniest probably-had-to-be-there-but-I'm-sharing-anyway line after a Native American put a curse on the town's harvest festival.  He said "If there are two things I know about white people, it's that they love Matchbox Twenty and that they are scared to death of curses."  I don't know about the last part, but the Matchbox Twenty thing was hilariously true.  It took me way too long to choose this week's pick from all of their hits!

Thankful Thursday

1.  Not being a first-time mom of a six week old anymore.  I went to visit a friend this week whose baby boy is six weeks old.  I listened to her and was subsequently reminded of how difficult those early weeks and months are, especially when you're totally new to the game.  The serious sleep deprivation, the crazy hormones, the constant worry, the continuous crying because it's the only form of communication...it was enough to make me want to go home and go to bed!  Would I do it all over again?  You betcha.  Do I treasure a lot of those memories?  Yup.  (I got to hold him for about 45 minutes while he slept and was reminded of how sweet those early days can be too!)  Am I glad that IF there is a next time I won't be so blind-sided?  Absolutely.

2.  Adults in silly costumes who dance by the road as a marketing tactic.  The Statue of Liberties for the tax company (see how well it works? I'm not even sure of their name! Liberty Taxes, maybe?) have been there for weeks and are starting to annoy me, but today I saw a guy advertising chicken wings in a chicken costume that made me laugh out loud.  (By the way, do you really think a chicken would be advocating that you eat chicken?  At least try to be realistic in your dress-up.)

3.  Complete meal foods.  Examples: spinach and ham calzones, chicken pot pie, spaghetti with meat and veggie sauce, and brunswick stew.  You get a carb, a vegetable, a protein, and often a dairy in one dish.  Throw in some applesauce and I feel like I'm a half-way decent nutrient provider to my child.

4.  A trip to the dry cleaners.  Why on earth did that make the list?  Well, because I took several sweaters that I have no intention of wearing again until at least October.  So bring it, Spring.

5.  I felt like going 80s for this week's TT song.  Check out the video for the hairstyles if nothing else.



The yard sale is on for this weekend, so say a prayer for good weather, lots of customers, and decent profit!

Thankful Thursday

1.  Legs with which to walk and run.  As David and I were huffing and puffing through a jog at the park a few days ago, we saw a woman in a motorized wheelchair and were reminded how blessed we are.  That'll make you quit griping about the soreness in your calves or how big your thighs are.

2.  Leftovers.  A night off from cooking, no pots and pans to scrub, and the great feeling of resourcefulness/lack of wasted food.  What's not to like?

3.  Prayers from a tiny, soft voice.  We have started asking Audrey if she would like to pray after we say our prayers at night.  She usually just whispers, "God is great, God is good, daily bread, amen."  I'd say she has a way better grip on the attitude of prayer than I do.

Another sweet prayer moment happened on Tuesday night.  We visited a good friend who recently had her second daughter and took them a meal.  My hands were full with carrying the food in, so I didn't carry Audrey or hold her hand as we walked up the path to their door as I usually would on uncharted pavement.  She tripped and fell and scraped her hand a little.  She was totally fine and I just dabbed it off.  However, as 20 month olds have a tendency to do, it was brought up repeatedly for the rest of the day, especially after she saw the new baby's "boo-boo" on her belly (the umbilical cord stump).  It was all that was mentioned the whole way home.  When we prayed that night, I asked Jesus to heal Audrey's boo-boo.  As I was saying that, I heard her whisper, "Baby boo-boo belly".  I have no doubt she was saying a prayer for her tiny new friend!  So precious!

4.  The side road near our house finally being reopened after a six month closure (they raised it up and replaced a bridge).  Of course, it took me all this time to remember to use the detour, so it'll take another six months before I take advantage of it, but hey, it's available!

5.  We were supposed to have a yard sale this weekend, but have post-poned it due to the rainy forecast. In honor of the weather, this week's song selection is "Rain King" by Counting Crows.



Have a great weekend and if you think you'll be in our area next weekend and want to stop by the yard sale, leave me a comment or send me an email and I'll get you the details.  It's going to happen rain or shine next weekend, so pray for dry skies!