Thankful Thursday

Well, we've got another week of potty training under our belts and there has definitely been improvement.  Whether it's in my attitude or her skill, though, remains to be seen.  I keep joking that I, in fact, am the one that's getting trained!  Seriously, keep praying for us in this area.  I never thought it would be this much of a pain or take this long (yeah, I know.  Can you say "unrealistic expectations"?!)

Here is this week's list:

1.  A visit from my Aunt Jill from Richmond.  She and my mom came out and we had a nice time catching up, complete with lively, hilarious entertainment provided by AJ.  She even assigned us all instruments and we put on a mini-concert.

2.  Military men and women and their families.  I usually only mention them on here around Memorial Day or Veteran's Day or when I'm bragging about my Dad and grandfathers.  However, they really deserve so much more recognition than that.  I had lunch on Tuesday with a friend I haven't seen in nearly six years. Her husband and I went to high school together and he is now a pilot in the Navy stationed near Afghanistan.  Listening to her talk about the struggles they face brought to mind how blessed I am to have families willing to go through what they do.  He, like so many others, has missed months and months of his baby girl's life that he will never get to make up.  Despite the pictures, emails, and videoed story times, she's never truly known her Daddy and it's sad.  Pray for these precious people who are sacrificing so much.

3.  Cartoon snuggles.  A few times in the past couple of weeks I've brought Audrey back upstairs to watch a couple of minutes of TV in our bed while I finish getting ready.  What inevitably happens, though, is I end up lying down too and we snuggle and catch up on what's happening with Elmo, Big Bird, or Telly.  A girl needs to stay informed, after all.  She always reaches out and holds my hand or puts her arm on my arm or lays her head on my head while we're watching.  Love it.

4.  A Twix candy bar.  I had a full size one today for the first time probably since college.  I think they're my favorite.  Definitely in the top three with Kit-Kat and Butterfinger.  

5.  Sticking with my summer theme again, this week's song is Diamond Rio's "How Your Love Makes Me Feel."  Be forewarned that it's cheesy and the pictures of the band are even worse, but it's definitely on my summer playlist.  I still remember being a teenager and singing this song at the top of my lungs on summer nights driving home from David's house or church.  I had the sunroof open, the windows down, and was trying to look as cool as I could in my parents' Buick.  It's a fun song that will always remind me of those sweet summer evenings.

The News at Nearly 25 months

I missed the goal of updating about our active girl right around her second birthday, but better late than never.  I posted a few developments in her birthday letter and of course you know from an earlier post that we've been consumed with potty training lately, but there are always more stories to tell in our house. Her imagination is blossoming like I can hardly believe.   She LOVES to dance and jump and sing.  Her favorite (and basically only) shows are still Little Einsteins and Sesame Street with the occasional Sid the Science Kid.  She struggles with sharing and whining, but just when I think I can't stand it another minute, she'll take my breath away with something so sweet and smart.


Here are a few quips and stories of the last three months:

• She likes looking through pretend "'noculars" (like jamoms, this is an adorable sounding word we're not correcting).  Whether it's the letters in her bathtub or her milk cup or even her own little hands, she loves peering through them.

• I didn't realize it, but I go through a checklist before we leave the house naming the things we need to take with us.  She's picked up on this and will now ask, "Got phone, Mommy?" or "Got my drink, Mommy?"  It came in really handy a few weeks ago when she said, "I need my shoes, Mommy!"  Sure enough, I was about to take her out to the store redneck style.  

• There were a few weeks that she was obsessed with boo-boos.  Every small scratch or bruise on her become a huge deal.  One night while we were giving her a bath, David asked her about one on her knee.  I sighed loudly and he looked at me like, "What?  What did I do?"  For the next thirty minutes before we put her to bed, we must have heard her tell us about that boo-boo one hundred times.  It really got comical when we were reading a Bible story and one of the characters was crying.  Audrey knowingly proclaimed, "She crying because she so sad because she has boo-boo like Audrey."  

• Speaking of boo-boos, she'll kiss herself when she gets one or kiss you when you get hurt.  It makes it "Aaaaaaaaallllllll better."

• She has such an encouraging spirit.  Whether it's cheering on an ant she sees crawling around outside ("Good job, ant! You can do it!"), complimenting the picture I drew ("Wow!  You did great!), or yelling at Daddy through the window while he cuts the grass ("Yay Daddy!  Good job!"), her sweet soul loves to praise others.  One of my favorite mental pictures of her was when I was vacuuming the rug in the dining room.  I looked up to see her jumping up and down and clapping for me.  I couldn't hear her words over the vacuum, but I saw her little mouth saying "Yay Mommy!  Great job!" That'll make even the most mundane housework better.

• She's also pretty good at coaching herself.  So often while on the playground or while at story time waiting to get her hand stamped, I'll hear her whisper "Go! Go on! You can do it!"

• She has a magnetic zoo board she likes to play with.  One day while we were playing we were reviewing the sounds all the animals make. She explained, "Mommy, this is a regular wolf.  Regular wolves say 'Hoooooowwwwwlll', but big bad wolves say 'huff and puff'."  Thanks for that important lesson, kid.

• While driving down the road, she was drawing on her doodle pro in her car seat.  I asked what she was drawing and she said, "Daddy, Audrey, and a penguin."  Why not?

• She's started to say something or someone is "the best ever" a lot.  I'm "the best Mommy ever" and she's my "best daughter ever" as she likes to tell me frequently.  I agree on both accounts.  

• A couple of months back she had a little cold and I was wiping her nose for the millionth time.  I finished and she patted my face and said, "Aw.  You so patient, Mommy!"  You have no idea what a struggle that is sometimes, kiddo!

• She had a tiny scrape on one knee where she'd bent down to play on the concrete while outside.  When David came home she showed him and he asked her what happened.  She answered, "That's where Grandmom messed me up."  I thought for sure David's mom had jokingly said something to that effect to Audrey so after we finished cracking up, I sent her an email about it.  Turns out she had said no such thing, but thankfully thought it was hilarious too.  

• Heading to the park one afternoon she excitedly told me we'd see gooses there.  I explained that when it's one you say goose and when it's more than one you say geese.  "For instance", I told her, "Mommy is a silly goose but Mommy and Audrey are silly geese."  She nodded and then shouted, "And Daddy is a stinker!"  Don't know where that came from (honest!) but I agree!

• We were in her closet picking out her clothes for the day and she saw her teddy bear on the shelf.  She explained to me that it was her bear from when she was little.

• David accuses me of turning her into a dork, but I try to use big vocabulary words or synonyms a lot around her.  For example, instead of asking her to repeat "Please get me more drink" let's try "Please refill my beverage" or rather than "Yummy!" I'll substitute words like scrumptious or delicious.  When she catches onto a new word and uses it on her own, it always takes us by surprise and cracks us up.  For example, after chugging down half a sippy cup of juice, she takes it out of her mouth and exclaims, "I was parched!" The other day after struggling with a toy she yelled, "I am so frustrated!"  I love it!  

• While changing her awhile back, I was telling her she was my baby.  "No I not" she told me.  "You aren't?! Then who's baby are you?" I demanded.  "Jesus' baby" she answered confidently.  Can't argue that one.

• We work hard on instilling an attitude of appreciation and gratitude in her, which is often futile at this age.  Still, we hope it's sinking in somehow.  One evening when we were leaving the park, she began to whine that she didn't want to go.  I told her that she didn't need to whine and cry.  She needed to thank me for taking her and be grateful we went.  She said, "I caaaaaaan't.  I'm too busy whining and crying to say thank you."  Yet another parallel between our relationship and my relationship with Christ.

• I walked into the kitchen to find her messing with the one childproof lock we own.  "What are you doing?" I asked.  No joke, she replied, "I'm putting this on right so I don't get in there."  Aaaaand that's why we didn't bother childproofing.  

• She recently moved up to the two year old class at church.  When we went to pick her up after the service, they had her "artwork" outside in the hall against the wall with her bag on top like the big girl that she is.  Yup, I cried.  Then I laughed because all the other kids had used multiple colors and scribbled all over the ark.  Audrey, on the other hand, had taken the blue crayon and colored in a little bit of water under the boat.  That's my girl, ever the controlled realist.  

• One particularly stressful morning, she was sitting in her highchair whining and fake crying up a storm.  I said, "Audrey, you need to find your whining button and turn it off."  There was a moment of silence as she looked for it and then, "Moooooommmmmyyyyy!  I caaaaaaaaaannnnn'ttttt fiiiiiiiind it aaaannnnyyyywwwhhheeerrreee!!!!"  *Sigh.

• I've explained to her that she is not to get on her rocking horse by herself.  She needs a grown-up there to help her, mainly because it's so close to a table and the spindles on the railing I worry about her falling off and getting hurt.  Anyway, I was - ah-hem - indisposed one morning and I hear a strange sound coming my way.  She had dragged the horse all the way into the bathroom so I could supervise her riding it.  

• Her Leapfrog laptop asks questions and one of them is "Who's your best friend?" One day out of nowhere she answered, "Charleigh."  The next time I heard her answer that she immediately followed it with "And Grandmom and Granddad my friends too."

• The past couple of days we've used the portable potty in the back of the car.  I try to face the woods or pull somewhere private (but not too terribly secluded) so we don't have an audience.  Today before we went into the library, we were facing a bunch of trees, the breeze was blowing, and it was cloudy and sprinkling.  As if she could hear my thoughts, she looked out and said, "Oooo.  That's a little spooky, Mommy."  

• I can't remember if I shared this one already or not, but it was too good to pass up:

        AJ: "Where's heaben?" (heaven?)
        Me: "Well, we aren't exactly sure, honey.  Somewhere above Earth, but we don't really    
        know.  The important thing is that's where God and Jesus are and all the people that 
        died believing Jesus is Lord.  One day you'll have to decide for yourself whether you 
        believe that...." Etc. Etc. Etc. 
        AJ, with confused look, pointing to her head:  "Where's heaben?"
        Me:  "Oh.  Your headband is in the kitchen."  


More to come, I'm sure!

Thankful Thursday

Boy oh boy have we been busy these past few weeks.  Actually, it feels like it's been kinda nuts since the beginning of May.  It started with David traveling at the beginning of the month and his 30 days of celebration/gifts, then Mother's Day, then we went on our trip (was that just in May?!), then there was his party, then Audrey's 2nd birthday, then Father's Day, then her party, and then 4th of July.  In the past three weeks alone I've hosted a baby shower dinner and a birthday party, gone to a wedding and a family reunion, and had at least eight to ten dinner and play dates.  And then there was the whole "is our house about to go on the market? We'd better get busy!" stress.  Once we decided not to sell and our calendar slowed down, we immediately began potty training.  Not really the break we needed.


Speaking of, I think I wrote my Potty Party post a little too soon.  We seem to have hit a plateau of sorts where we either take her every 45 minutes or she has mini-accidents, holds it, tells us, and then finishes on the potty.  Not a huge deal at home, but when we're out, she has trouble relaxing on the uncomfortable public potties. I don't want to go into great detail, as the memory is still painfully fresh, but let's just say I was NOT a happy camper as I was cleaning up the mess on the Barnes and Noble bathroom floor after our fourth trip to it in 45 minutes.  Um, offer her praise and encouragement?  Hardly.  I was too busy trying to keep my breakfast down.  (It's totally different when it's not in a diaper.)  What. A. Day.  


So, pray for us as we navigate the tail-end (pun intended) of this new skill.  How funny that I thought this would be easier than slapping a diaper on her!  I know it will eventually be more simple and I know we're less than a week in and I know I have to be patient.  I know it has to be done and I know (now) that normal kids take longer than three days to get 100% trained and I know she's actually doing great at it.  I KNOW.  Trust me, I've gone over this with myself and God several times today in my guilty mommy moments.  I was just hoping maybe she'd be an overachiever in this area.  I would totally trade her knowing a few letter sounds and rhyming words if she could have this down pat already.  I can't stand being trapped in the house and going out is a serious undertaking right now!


ANYWAY, I guess I should shift to today's list in hopes that my attitude will shift along with it.  Just be praying that by next week, her improvement in this department will be at the top of my list!


1.  Two of our favorite shows - The Marriage Ref and The Closer - returning.  Brian Regan was on the The Marriage Ref the other night and we nearly woke Audrey up we were laughing so hard.


2.  This invention:  http://www.buybuybaby.com/product.asp?SKU=111261&  We went out and bought it tonight to use in the back of our SUV.  The disposable liners sold me.  We didn't get it because I'm a germaphobe (although I do feel better for that reason too), but because I can't take four trips to the bathroom in 45 minute simply because she's not comfortable enough to go.  That, and because there isn't always a convenient potty nearby.  (Really, Gymboree and Learning Express?  You don't think it appropriate to have public restrooms?!?!)


3.  The book The Help.  If you haven't read it, you should.  It was an eye-opening history lesson.  Now I just have to decide if I'm going to see the movie or leave it as is in my mind.


4.  The sweet sound of the rain outside to lull me to sleep tonight.  I LOVE a good rainstorm and have promised myself that during every one that falls during Audrey's nap these next few weeks, I'm going to try my hardest to lay down and catch a wink too.  I feel luxuriously spoiled just thinking about it. 


5.  Returning to my summer theme from a few weeks ago, here is another seasonal favorite:  Seals and Crofts "Summer Breeze"





Make sure you're all caught up on the posts below and the photo gallery.  I've been working hard at updating lately, so enjoy it while it lasts!

It's Potty Time!

*Warning:  This posts contains words like pee-pee, poo-poo, underwear, and potty.  Proceed with caution.*


This past Saturday kicked off an important undertaking in our household:  the beginning of the end of diapers.  That's right, we decided to start potty training our two year old.  I'd read several articles/e-books, researched some methods, and talked to her pediatrician and our friends trying to glean every bit of good advice I could.  While we had occasionally mentioned it here and there, we'd never explained it much to Audrey nor had she ever even sat on a potty before.  We began talking it up on Wednesday and read her a couple of books I bought on the subject.  On Friday, she and I took a special girls' trip to the mall to pick out some big girl underwear.  We told everyone who would listen - friends, family, and complete strangers alike - that starting on Saturday, Audrey was going to get to use the potty!  I let her come home and watch her new Elmo's potty time DVD.  She was excited, we were half excited, half dreading it.  But what choice do you have?  It's gotta happen sometime.  I'm not going to let my kid be the one that smells like pee-pee in first grade because they haven't gotten it down yet.  Or maybe that'll be just the motivation she needs.  Who knows.


SO, bright and early Saturday morning I woke up and drove to get David and me some good breakfast from our favorite local spot.  I figured we'd need the carbs and the treat for ourselves.  After we ate, we went in her room to get her up.  We explained that today was her big day and described all the cool stuff that was going to come along with it.  She ate breakfast and then we went upstairs to show her the "Potty Party" decorations we'd put up in her bathroom.  We let her open a present: a drink and wet doll named Annie.  We showed her how it worked and then immediately started clapping and making a big deal when Annie went pee-pee on her potty.  No doubt Audrey thought we were nuts, but she quietly took it all in.  We asked if she wanted to try to go potty on her new potty seat.  She said she did, so we took off her diaper and sat her down.  Almost immediately, she went pee-pee and we clapped and cheered like crazy, which embarrassed her nearly to the point of tears.  We settled down, went over the wiping, flushing, and hand washing routine and let her put a sticker on her sticker rewards chart.  Then we let her choose and put on a pair of her big girl underwear.  We'd read a lot about the bare bottom method, but decided we'd start off trying underwear, especially since we were expecting some company that weekend.  I thought maybe the incentive of keeping her new britches dry would help.  


We settled in for some serious play time.  Part of this method is that you stay home for three days and are basically glued to your child so you can catch them in the middle of accidents and whisk them to the potty.  Another thing I'd read that we were trying was to get her to tell us when she needed to go instead of taking her on a set schedule.  You're supposed to say, "Tell us when you need to go potty, okay?" one hundred times a day for the first three days.  (Talk about being a nag.)  The idea behind it is that the child likes to be in control, and that way it puts the responsibility on them to let you know.  Of course, this makes for a lot of accidents at first (18-20 that first day, in fact), but as they learn to hold it, it gets much better.  When she did have an accident, we'd say "Yuck, your underwear is wet now.  You have to tell us before you go pee-pee in your underwear, honey" or "Pee-pee belongs in the potty, Audrey" or something to that effect.  Never did we scold or shame her and we didn't have her help us clean up, mainly because there were only three to four times I can recall that the floor even got wet.


We also liked giving her "Pop Quizzes" and asking her if she was dry so we could use the opportunity to praise her and to make her aware.  We called a few family members to brag to them about her achievements, though she didn't seem as into that as I thought she'd be.  And, of course, there was the sticker rewards chart.  Truthfully, though, she grew tired of that by the end of day one and we moved on to letting her choose one M&M every time she went.  It worked wonders.  Like me, she's motivated by chocolate.  


At first she'd go a little, hold it in and tell us, and then have trouble letting it go when we got her to the potty.  Running the faucet and reading a book usually helped distract her enough until she relaxed again.  She even pooped in the potty on day one with no problem because I think she was so wrapped up in the book we were reading.  


By day two, she was down to 8-10 accidents and on day three, only 4-5.  Of course, I was taking her a little more without her saying she needed to on day three, but I was proud of her for how well she could hold it!  If it had been awhile and I knew she just didn't want to stop what she was doing, I'd explain we needed a quick break and off we'd go.  I'm not sure how that's going to work down the road when she's in the care of someone else, but it's working for us now.  I'd call going from 20 to 10 to 5 accidents definite success.  If I have to remind her to tell me/ask her five times an hour and then make her go try occasionally, then I'm good with that for now.    


On day four, we even ventured out to the library and the grocery store, meaning we had to deal with public restrooms for the first time.  She had one damp accident at the library because she started before she told me she needed to go (almost always the case at this point), but she did a great job in both public potties and we were SO excited to be out of the house.


So, we're not home free yet, but we're getting there.  We still keep her in diapers and naps and night, despite what one author recommended.  Granted, her one suggestion if your kid always wakes up with a wet diaper was to go wake her and take her an hour after she went to bed and then wake her up an hour earlier in the morning to take her.  Um, no thanks.  Clearly that lady does not value sleep as much as I do.  Until we put Audrey in her toddler bed (the next big task?!), we're keeping her in diapers.  I have no doubt that she's smart enough to understand my explanation of diapers being for sleep time and underwear being for awake time.


We're so proud of big girl and how quickly she's picking this up.  It's a hard thing to learn, no doubt and she's been amazing.  Of course, we're also a little proud of ourselves for keeping our sanity.  I won't lie, it's been a long, tough three days of being stuck indoors and on constant vigil.  I started annoying myself with how much talk and questions about potty there was coming out of my mouth.  I have given new meaning to the term potty mouth!  Ha!


I sent David a message today that read: I'm on day three of being stuck in the house potty training our daughter and I'm feeling a little abandoned today.  I know, I know.  You had to go to work so we can pay the bills, eat, and afford other such frivolities.  All I ask is that you not judge me for the amount of chocolate I've consumed today, which may or may not have included some of her reward M&Ms. HURRY. HOME.  


His reply:  I think a thorough quality control sampling of the reward M&Ms is very responsible parenting.


At least one person in this house is trained well. ;)  


After we cross the potty training finish line, I think we'll use some of the money we're saving from diapers and have a serious date night out.  What do you want to bet it takes me half the evening before I quit telling David to let me know when he needs to go?!

Photo Gallery SERIOUSLY Updated

There are SEVEN new photo albums in the gallery for your viewing pleasure: David's 30th Birthday Extravaganza, A Trip to Alabama June 2011, Audrey's 22nd - 24th Months, Audrey's Second Birthday/Party, Audrey's Two Year Professional Photos, 4th of July 2011, and Lara Lynn's Shower/Meeting Annabelle.  SEVEN albums, people!  Whew!


Do enjoy.  It'll be awhile before you get any new ones after all that!  And my apologies to your bosses for the lack of work you'll get done today.  

To Sell or Not to Sell?

About two weeks ago, David and I started seriously considering putting our house up for sale.  We knew we wanted to move in a year or two, but several things came up that were making us consider whether we should push that timeline forward.  We researched our fingers off and spent almost all of last Saturday driving around our desired new location trying to come up with neighborhoods we liked so we'd know where to look.  We contacted a realtor and started asking questions about selling.  We crunched the numbers and then looked around for spare change in our couch to add to the numbers we were crunching.  We prayed that doors would open if they were supposed to and close if the time wasn't right.  Finally, after about ten days of wondering and losing sleep, we made an appointment for the realtor to come out and do a "Competitive Market Analysis."  That's just a fancy way of saying, "Here's what I'd ask for it.  Can you swing it?"


Bottom line:  We can't swing it.  Well, we could if we scrapped together every penny we have, borrowed more than we should, and then were content to sit in a new house with no A/C eating ramon noodles in the dark.  Who needs a savings account when you're a single-income family with a young one anyway, right?!  Uh, we do.  So no, now is not the right time.  


The good news is that I'm totally and completely okay with that.  I'd always thought we'd wait until Audrey was closer to school age before we moved, so I'm fine reverting back to that plan.  Besides, the idea that we might not have one more Christmas in our current home almost brought me to tears.  Of course, we may not be able to get as much house for our money when it is time to buy, but at least we'll come closer to what we need for ours.  Let's just hope the neighborhood we're in holds steady until then.  I'm thinking of starting a "For pete's sake, keep your houses and yards up so the Sinyards can actually sell one day" campaign.  It probably wouldn't fly, though.  The title is way too long and it would never fit on a button.

I'm awfully glad to have it settled for now.  Looking for a new place was exciting, but the limbo was getting annoying.  We'll revisit it next summer and go from there.  Until then, I'll just enjoy all the hard work I've done lately.  Between Audrey's party and the prospect of moving, I sorta turned into Psycho Suzy and have been cleaning/organizing stuff like crazy in case it was about to go on the market.  I expect all my frantic hard work will last a solid 3-4 days.  Which reminds me that when it is time to look for a new house, my #1 criterion is going to be a built-in robot maid.  It may actually be easier to find than a school district I feel comfortable putting Audrey in.

Audrey's Second Birthday Party

Audrey's birthday festivities started early this year as we celebrated with David's mom's side of the family in Alabama on June 11th.  There were several other family members that had June birthdays, so we spent the day honoring AJ and them the way Southerners do best - with lots of food and cake.  She got her own miniature Publix cake with a lavender rose on it and soaked it up with a grin as we sang Happy Birthday.  The day only got better as she opened her presents - a slide from Grandma and Pawpaw, Play-doh and tools from Great Aunt Pat, Great Uncle Keith, Katie, and Cameron, a sand and water table from Grandmom and Granddad, and dress-up clothes from Great Aunt Barbara, Great Uncle Don, James, and Kimberly.  We thought she'd never go down for a nap, but she finally did and we restrained ourselves from playing with all of her stuff.  After she woke up we let her visit for a few minutes before loading up the car.  As we were leaving she said, "This is the best birthday party ever."  I thought her Great Grandma was going to melt.  

On her actual birthday, David took the day off of work and we played ourselves silly.  We gave her her present first thing after breakfast - a toy kitchen.  She loved it!  She just stood and stared at it for a solid minute.  Then we ate plastic waffles, cupcakes, and practiced setting the table for the better part of the morning before heading down to the neighborhood pool.  She's still not a huge fan of the water, but she enjoyed sitting on the steps and playing with some toys.  After lunch and nap, we headed out to Hobby Lobby to grab a few more things for her birthday party and then over to the pet store so she could look at the animals (cheapest zoo around.)  As we were driving home, we passed the hospital where she was born and out of nowhere I started to cry.  I couldn't believe that two years to the minute earlier I'd been in the labor and delivery room having her.  Now she was in the backseat talking loudly and excitedly about the birds and turtles that she'd seen.  I asked her what she wanted for her special birthday dinner and without missing a beat she exclaimed, "Pizza!"  Fortunately, I'd planned on that being her answer.  We ate that, played some more, and then at 7:29, we sang Happy Birthday and let her blow out the two candles on her miniature cookie cake.  After she'd fallen asleep, I went in to check on her and cover her up.  I prayed over her and asked God to protect and bless her as He'd done this past year.  I called David in with me to watch our "little" girl sleep.  We went to bed with full, thankful hearts that night.

The following Saturday we woke up early and got ourselves dressed and ready.  We got Audrey up and finally, after several days of asking "When my party is?" we got to answer her with "TODAY!"  The Noah's Ark themed biggest two year old party of the year was finally here!  David set up the tables and chairs outside as I fed her breakfast and then I went to the store while the two of them played.  I picked up her balloons and cupcakes and came home to finish setting everything up and get her dressed (a light blue A-line dress with a Noah's ark and her name embroidered on it.)  Stuffed and wooden animals, real sunflowers, rainbows, and pictures of Audrey decorated the downstairs.  We'd transformed the china cabinet into a gigantic Noah's Ark scene made of felt and the handmade centerpieces held little porcelain arks with pictures in them.  There were two banners, a window cling scene, and an animal-themed dessert table.  Months of planning, shopping, and creating finally came together.  The poor girl was so excited she didn't know where to look first.  

Family arrived early to visit and play and by 11:45, all of the guests were there and the hot dogs were on the grill.  We ate around noon with a two year old's dream menu:  hot dogs, chips, fruit, and goldfish.  We threw in some potato salad for the adults.  Everyone ate and played before I finally gave in to Audrey's begging and let her open her gifts.  She got so many fun new things!  I'm not sure who was more excited - her or us.  She was lured away by the promise of cupcake and as I sat in her highchair I knew it would be the last birthday she'd have sitting in that seat.  She blew out her purple #2 candle and scarfed it down.  Everyone helped themselves to cupcakes, ice cream, animal crackers, gummy bears, and zebra cakes.  She played with her cousins and friends a little more before I snagged her for a few pictures and people started heading out.  She was asleep in my arms before I laid her down in the crib around 2:30, again realizing that after her 3rd birthday party she may be done with both the crib and naps.  *Sigh.*  When she woke up (rather, when I had to wake her up at 4:30), she played with her cousin Annelise, Uncle Brian, and Aunt Kim who were up from Savannah before they had to leave and we went out to dinner.  What a great day.  Such a sweet celebration with our loved ones for such a sweet girl.    

I've just now - a week later - put the house back together and caught my breath long enough to reflect and write about all of it.  Hopefully I'll get my act together to post pictures in the next few days.  I'll let you know when they're up, but in the meantime, have a great 4th of July anddon't miss her birthday letter below!

Happy 2nd Birthday, Audrey! (Belated post)

I'm not even going to attempt to top last year's birthday letter, but I do want to try and write AJ a note each year, so here goes.  Below is an attempt to capture a little of what I'm feeling about and for our not-so-little Little One on her second birthday.


Dear Audrey,


As I was preparing your photo slideshow for your birthday party, I was surprised that it didn't seem as emotionally difficult for me this year as it did last year.  Obviously you've grown a tremendous amount, but the physical evidence wasn't as staggering as the first twelve months.  It's when I stop and think about the mental, emotional, and spiritual leaps and bounds you've made that I realize how much you've changed.  


A year ago you were barely talking.  Now I put you down for nap and relish the silence for a moment as I close your door.  By the time you wake up, though, I'm antsy about how quiet it's been and can't wait to hear your voice and what you have to say.    


A year ago you were barely walking.  Now you're walking, running, jumping (boy do you like to jump!), dancing (see previous parenthesis), and climbing stairs with ease.  Although you still need an adult with you, despite your insistence otherwise as you holler out, "Mommy!  I'm climbing the stairs without a grown-up!"


A year ago your menu was relatively limited, you hadn't yet mastered utensils, and you were still using a soft sippy cup.  Now you can just about hold your own in a mexican restaurant with your Daddy and I, which is really saying something.  


A year ago you didn't know the alphabet.  Now you can sing it, recognize and name all of the upper and lower case letters, and know all the sounds they make.  You can even spell your name and know a few rhyming words.  


A year ago you couldn't say the name Jesus.  Now you are beginning to pray to Him, sing about Him, and learn His word through songs and books.  Your heart is a sponge for Him and I'm pouring as fast as I can.    


I could go on and on about the changes and strides you've made over the last 365 days.  Each of them are astounding alone, but when you add them all together, well...maybe this year IS as emotionally difficult for me to grasp!  You are slowly becoming a little girl right before my eyes and I can't do a thing to stop it.  Most days I don't want to.  I miss aspects of you being tiny, but this stage is fun and exciting too!   Your imagination is flourishing, your vocabulary is close to most adults' I know, and your heart....oh, that I could protect its sweet innocence forever.  


Lest you read this one day and think you were indeed the perfect child, I must confess you've got a flair for drama.  You tend to be OCD about the placement of things and you can get awfully whiney at times.  Just when I'm about to go over the edge during one of your noisy complaint sessions, you'll do something like share your last goldfish with me or give me a giant leg hug and my blood pressure returns to normal and my heart hurts for how much I love you.


Of course, you're also becoming bossy and nosey, but don't let me or anyone else tell you those are bad traits.  Being a knowledgeable leader will get you far in this world.  Just make sure you use your powers for good.  


I can't begin to detail the changes you've brought about in your Daddy and me over the last year as well.  Raising you has brought us closer together and closer to Jesus.  We know we need each other and Him now more than ever as we bear the overwhelming responsibility of raising you.


Most of the time, though, the load is light.  You're a good sleeper, a good eater, and a quick learner.  You're obedient, though not to a fault.  You test the limits just enough to keep my praying knees calloused.  


You're thoughtful.  You're cautious.  You like to be in control of yourself.  You're equally comfortable dancing in front of  a crowd or nestled in my lap watching the action.  You're curious.  You deliver a great punch line.  You're my best shopping buddy and my favorite dress-up doll.  You are an encourager and a cheerleader.  You sing a good song, dance a fast dance, and play a mean toy drum.  You're so intelligent.  You're super adorable.  You're so YOU.  And I love learning just what that means.  


Here's to the next 365 days, Love.  May we both become better and stronger through them.  Happy Birthday, Sugar.


I love you,


Mommy 
xoxoxoxo