October Recap

October held a very strange combination of things.  From alpacas to Letter P Parties to pumpkin patchin' to gun ranging, we've had a lot of fun activities going on around here!

The month began with Audrey and I participating in a food drive for CIA (Compassion in Action service day) at our church.  I wanted to stretch this experience for her as much as I possibly could, so we started by walking around and counting the houses while she made tally marks on a notepad.  A few days later, we printed out fliers and stuffed them into people's mailboxes together.  On the first Saturday of the month, we took her little wagon and dragged it around our section of the neighborhood, looking for bags that people had left out.  As I suspected, there was not much participation.  And by "not much", I mean any.  When we were far away from the house, I texted David to run a bag of our donations down to the front of our neighbor's house just so AJ wouldn't lose all faith in humanity.  As we rounded our corner and she trudged along, I explained that some people might have already given to their church.  She was disappointed and then her eyes fell on the lone bag sitting by Ms. Gail's curb.  Bless her heart, she was so excited.  And we narrowly avoided a jaded three year old. :)  We took our donations to the food pantry and she helped the other volunteers and me sort the food and throw out the expired stuff.  It wasn't as super fun for her as I'd hoped it would be (because I think that it should still be all fun at their age so they develop a love and a heart for it), but I think she did okay.  As I mentioned in a previous post, she wanted to play "buy food for the food pantry" with her coins a few days after that, so I gotta pray it's somewhat sinking in!

Other fun firsts:  Audrey's first dentist appointment (she did great!), my first painting canvas party with some women from Bible Study, our first visit to an alpaca farm, Luke's first trip to a pumpkin patch, and Luke's first Halloween.  

We also celebrated my father-in-law's birthday with a fun trip to a local airport.  We watched planes take off and land, played on the playground they have there, and ate lunch at an on-sight restaurant.  He loved it and we loved watching him enjoy every minute of it.  

On top of all that, David and I even managed to squeeze in TWO dates this month.  The first was spent shooting at a gun range and then we ate dinner and the second included Christmas shopping and Bonefish Grill followed up by Five Spot yogurt.  Both evenings were divine.  Turns out that eight years of marriage and two kids later, I still really like the guy.  

In addition to two date nights, I also enjoyed two girls' nights out!  I did the Masterpiece Mixers painting class and the next week enjoyed dinner and dessert with one of my closest friends to celebrate her birthday.  What can I say, we were CA-RAZY social butterflies this month!

Audrey also stayed super busy with school activities.  She had picture day, her "Letter P Party" that I got to help with (see previous post), and Grandparents' Day.  For the latter, her Grandmom, Grandpa, and Grandma Gloria went to her school for a special program.  Her class and two others sang 4-5 songs then they all ate lunch and did the hokey pokey together.  I wish I could've been there to see it, but parents were not invited. :(  I did get to see some great video my Dad took for me and it was so precious!  At the end of the month, she had Mother Goose Day and dressed up as Little Miss Muffet complete with a bowl and spoon for her curds and whey.

We soaked up plenty of the gorgeous fall weather with lots of trips to the park and picnics outside.  Later in the month, we drove up to a pumpkin patch we discovered last year and did all the corny fall family fun stuff - picking out pumpkins, going on a hay ride, navigating a mini corn maze, eating BBQ and hotdogs for lunch, racing ducks, etc.  I live for those cheesy family memory-making days.  

We ended the month with a wonderful Halloween night.  The weekend before, we let Audrey paint her little pumpkin and then the evening before, we carved our big one.  The night of, I made "mummy dogs"  (hot dogs wrapped in strips of crescent rolls) for dinner and then we dressed the kids up in their adorable costumes - Minnie for AJ, Mickey for Luke.  Starting out it was a little slow and we had to walk quite a ways in between houses to find people that had their porch lights on.  At one point, David took Luke back to our place to get the van and come pick us up to find another neighborhood.  We decided to turn down one more street in ours and we ended up hitting the jackpot.  It wasn't that we wanted a ton of candy for our three year old, but we did want her to have the experience of getting five or six houses in a row.  We finally got that and she absolutely loved it.  She was so excited and talking a mile a minute as we parked the van and walked from place to place.  She kept commenting on how beautiful everything was and how neat it was that we were out after dark.  She thought the trees looked a bit spooky, and she sure was glad to see someone had left some lights on for us.  It was adorable.  Luke enjoyed watching all the action first from the stroller and then in my arms.  Everyone raved about how cute they were.  About 45 minutes into it, we decided we'd had enough and headed back home.  When we got there, David took Luke in and I took AJ to three more houses.  We got home around 8, handed out some handfuls of candy to the few trick-or-treaters who would brave our nearly dark cul-de-sac and steep driveway.  We let her pick one treat and she chose a blue tootsie roll pop (I think last year's selection was an orange one?) and ate it all the way...even the nasty center part that no one likes!  We got to read two bedtime stories in an effort to help her calm down and she told me it was "the best night ever."  She was asleep within ten minutes of turning out her lights - a rarity for her.  I think all the fun coupled with the fact that she probably walked over a mile up and down hills tuckered her right out.  

On the house/moving front, we don't have a lot of news.  The latest is that we did receive the loan commitment letter from our buyers' lender and that we did get an extension from our sellers.  We are still in the process of seeking an extension from our sellers' lender for the short sale again and we're also begging for a firm closing date from our buyers' lender.  The best case scenario right now looks to be around the week of Thanksgiving.  After this disastrous ordeal, unpacking boxes in our new house would be a perfectly acceptable way to spend the holiday!

Now, on a much funnier note, here are some quips, quotes, and other don't-wanna-forget stuff from this month:

• Audrey has an imaginary dog named Abraham.  Or should I say, she HAD an imaginary dog.  Apparently he died this month.  Not to worry, though.  She assures us he's going to come back like Jesus is.

• Luke cut his first two teeth this month!  The first (lower left) was on Saturday, October 13th and the second (lower right) was on Friday the 26th.

• When we were working on a hide-a-picture/I Spy book together, she found something really tough right away.  She declared, "I have eyes like a penguin!"  "Do you mean, eyes like a hawk?" I asked, laughing.  "Yup!" she said.

• Audrey asked me how long she was going to live with us and I explained that she would stay until she was grown up and out of high school or college.  She started crying and said, "No, Mommy!  I'll be too scared to live alone.  I want to stay with you and Daddy!"  I promptly answered with what any good parent would have said and promised she could stay with us forever.  Let's see if she still feels that way in ten or fifteen years! 

• We were driving down the road the other day and she saw a cemetery and shouted "My school!"  All you can really see as we pass her school from the main highway is a cemetery, so now every time she sees one she thinks it's her preschool!  What a weird association for the poor girl!

• When reading one of her Fancy Nancy books, she suddenly points to two words on the page and says, "Does that say 'Mrs. Glass?'"  It did!  She found out just by sight and then sounding it out. 

• Audrey asked who got up with Luke at night when he cried and I explained that Daddy and I took turns.  She said that we should give each other high fives in the middle of the night when we work as a team.  

• Luke's hair is getting thicker and longer.  The other day I noticed it sticking up a bit in the back and it melted my heart.  He looked like such a little boy with a tiny cowlick!

• When leaving the mall, Audrey begged David to pick her up, saying,  "Carry me, Daddy.  My legs are tired!"  Then, she added for good measure: "And I really like cozying up to you."

• We were driving down the road and talking about being patriotic and flags.  All of a sudden, Audrey busted out with the pledge of allegiance in its entirety.  Apparently they say it every day at school and she already has it memorized.

• Luke is getting such a personality...and a temper.  He will pitch quite a fit now if you take something away that he was playing with.  He'll also be in the middle of a huge tantrum and stop the second you pick him up and smile two seconds later.  He's a wonderful baby, but I do believe he's got just a touch of spoiled in him. :)

• Instead of saying "sweep it", Audrey says "broom it" and I don't correct her because I think it's adorable.

• One night we were talking with Audrey about how Luke was going to be her kids' uncle when she had children one day.  She got very upset and nearly started crying, saying that she thought he was going to their daddy.  She didn't understand that brothers and sisters don't grow up to marry each other.  We decided to table the discussion for another time.  

• One morning I was dancing in the kitchen and danced over to the table to take her a napkin.  I was holding a butter knife up in the air as I did so, and she strictly cautioned me that I "shouldn't dance with knives, Mommy!"

And, to close, my favorite:

• We had her parent-teacher phone conference late last week.  Mrs. Lindsy was very complimentary and said Audrey does really well following directions, participating, etc. She said the one thing she's trying to work on with her is "getting her to be three...and play more" because she's "quite the little adult."  Uh-huh. She also said she's gotten very good at rhyming words and will often rhyme in conversation. For instance, the other day, AJ told her that her hat was "itchy, itchy, b*****!" The teacher was cracking up about it and knew it was completely innocent. So, goals for us to work on: Drop the potty mouth. Act like a kid. Got it.

October 2012 and Halloween albums are up in the Picasa gallery!  Enjoy!

Easter 2012

Easter celebrations began on the Wednesday before Easter for us.  I took both kids over to my friend Kara's house, where she was hosting a get-together for the moms in our Bible Study group and their kids.  Kara did an amazing job making it a fun and meaningful time.  The kids made resurrection rolls, heard the Easter story, and then went on an egg hunt in the backyard.  They weren't the only tired ones after such excitement - I was exhausted by the time I got us all out there and back in one piece, including feeding Luke and diaper changes and hiding eggs and potty trips and so on.  He and I were both soaking wet with sweat after I carried him in the Bjorn the whole time.  Shew, it is no joke toting two around! I'm thankful Kara was willing to have us take over the place for awhile, though, because everyone certainly had a blast.  AJ was her quiet self (in a crowd of kids, she's usually very timid.  Give her a room full of adults and a chance to warm up and you can't make her be quiet), but I know she enjoyed it.


On Saturday, we hosted David's dad's side of the family.  They came over and we had a very simple sandwich buffet and hung out for a few hours.  It was the first time all of them had met Luke and the first time we'd seen them since Thanksgiving, so we really enjoyed introducing him and catching up.  Having lost two grandparents, I always cherish making memories and taking photos of my kids with their great-grandparents.  Those multi-generational moments are so important. 


On Saturday night we went to the Easter service at our church.  They offered several service times that weekend, but we thought Saturday evening would be the best option for us.  (I have no idea if we'll EVER make it back to a 9:00am service again.)  We dropped Audrey off at her class and then slipped into the theater, where they have a live feed of what's going on in the main worship room, but it's much quieter and low-key.  Because we weren't going to put Luke in nursery yet and we didn't want him exposed to the loud music, we opted to sit in there and watch it.  It was a good service and felt really nice to be back within those walls again.  I slipped out about fifteen minutes before it ended to go feed Luke in the van and then David picked up Audrey after it was over.  We chose the fine dining establishment of Five Guys for our post-church Easter meal.  It was priceless sitting there with two kids all decked out and quite the delicious choice.  


After we got home, it was bath time and bed time.  The next morning we laid out their Easter baskets and let Audrey open up hers and Luke's (since he was sleeping and couldn't have cared less!)  We let her dye eggs and then loaded up to go to Babies R Us to purchase our new jogging stroller.  (See pics for details.) We came home, did our own egg hunt in the back yard, ate lunch, and all took naps.  That afternoon we tried out the new stroller at the park and let Audrey work off some of her candy on the playground.  


It was a really wonderful Easter full of Jesus and family and fun.  Luke won't remember a bit of it, of course, but I think it was a great first one for him!  


Hope y'all enjoyed yours as well!  And yes, pictures are up.  Check 'em out!

The Biggest Party of the Year & A First Birthday Letter

Okay, faithful readers, here are the details you've been waiting for about the big day:

We woke Audrey up from her morning nap and got her dressed in her pretty party dress (black with white polka dots and pink butterflies at the bottom).  Everyone began arriving, and we kicked off with a laid-back lunch buffet.  BBQ from Jim N' Nicks (with sweet sauce from Sonny's), Grandma's Famous Cole Slaw, Grandmother's Famous Potato Salad, Pam's Famous Baked Beans, fruit, and chips.  We tried to mingle with everyone as we scarfed down the delicious food.  After lunch, we gathered in the backyard to do some group pictures.  My photographer friend, Camille, was there to capture everything that day so I didn't have to worry about it.  It was so hot and humid, but people indulged me and smiled through their heat strokes.  They probably only complied because I withheld cake until after pictures so they had to stick around.  We went back inside, got Audrey set up in her booster chair, and took several dozen pictures while she wondered what on earth was going on.  She didn't know quite what to think when we set the little cake in front of her.  She kind of dragged her fingers through the icing and gummed it a little.  I put some on my finger and then tried to give her a bite, but she just wasn't sure about the whole thing - not to mention all the people staring at her!  Thankfully, the party guests enjoyed their own slices of delicious cake (that was shaped like a giant #1 with butterflies and a caterpillar on it to match the theme) without hesitation.  We cleaned her up, changed her outfit (a light plaid swing top and white capris with butterflies on them), and began a marathon of gift opening.  She got a ton of wonderful new toys, some cute outfits, and a few gift cards and moolah.  We are so thankful to everyone for their generosity.  Once we cleaned up the aftermath, we took more pictures and passed her around.  She played with her cousins, practiced walking in between her aunts and I, and showed off her new toys.  I finally stole her away for a nap and she recouped while we packed everything up.  

I couldn't have asked for a better day.  At every personal event that I do, I always try to take a minute and soak it in.  It's so easy for me to get wrapped up in playing hostess or looking after Audrey or taking pictures (though thankfully I didn't have to worry about that this time).  But I've learned, after many events/parties that I felt like I "missed", that it's important to stop and reflect on what the event means...what all the hard work was for...what and who we're celebrating.  That moment came for me as I was holding Audrey's smash cake and everyone began to sing to her.  Behind me I heard the voices of so many friends and family that love her and I was overjoyed.  There were people in that room that stood by our side the day her Daddy and I were married, long before she was even a dream.  There were people there that paced the waiting room as she was born and held her minutes later, amazed at how gorgeous our little alien was.  So many of them worried when we worried, cheered her on as she reached each little milestone, and have lifted her and us up in prayer over and over again.  In that moment, time graciously slowed down and I was overcome with gratitude.  I joined them in singing for my precious baby girl and wished her all of God's best as I blew out her candle. 

The day was perfect and went by way too fast, just as her first year did.  I can't wait to see what this next year holds.  Pictures will take longer than usual since Camille has to edit them.  They'll be worth the wait, though, so be patient!

In closing, here is a letter I wrote for her that I hope she will one day read and treasure:

My Sweet Audrey (a.k.a. Sugar, Baby, Pumpkin, Baby Girl, Love, Honey, Sweet Girl),

I am overwhelmed with emotions on this, the eve of your first birthday.  I have thought about writing this letter many times over the past year, knowing that it was something that I wanted to do for you.  Of course, now that I’m doing it, I'm not sure what I want to say.  (One day, you’ll probably laugh at how unusual that is for me.)

Everyone keeps asking whether I can believe it’s been a year already.  For the most part, I can…though certainly not in a dreadful way.  Yes, we’ve had our long days (and nights), especially when your Daddy was away on one of his international business trips.  But really, it’s just felt like time has marched on at the same pace it always has.  I’m sure I’ll blink and you’ll be 5…then driving…then graduating…then getting married.  But for right now, you’re still my baby girl.  Even if you don’t fit in my arms like you used to.  Even if you are eating finger foods and drinking from a sippy cup.  Even if you can say “Mama” and “Da-da” and “Baby”. Even if you know where your eyes, ears, nose, mouth, and toes are.  Even if you are just weeks away from walking on your own.  On second thought, maybe it has gone by far too quickly.

When we brought you home from the hospital, I think we were in a bit of shock.  We’d done all that we knew to do to prepare for you: read books, taken classes, bought everything we could think of that you’d need and then organized it.  But we walked out the door on the afternoon of the 20^th as a family of two and walked back in on the afternoon of the 22^nd as a family of three.  We were exhausted and overwhelmed, but mostly we were head over heels in love.  We made you.  God gave you to us. And you were finally home.

One thing that stands out in my mind about those first few weeks was how much your Daddy and I laughed.  (I did a good bit of crying too, but I'll explain hormones to you later.)  Even during one of your many middle of the night feedings, we’d be cracking jokes and giggling in the dark.  Before you ever smiled your first smile or laughed your precious laugh, you brought us happiness like we’d never known. 

In the weeks and months that followed, we had our ups and downs.  I worried a lot about whether you were eating enough, sleeping enough, and, yes, even pooping enough.  Then, slowly, things started to shift.  You became a little less fragile, and I became a little less OCD.  I remember thinking on the 20^th of each month how much more confident I was becoming.  By your fifth and sixth months, you really started showing personality, eating solids, and sleeping through the night (again).  We’d settled into a groove and were having fun.  I did, and still do, run a tight ship with regard to your schedule, but I also decided to live life a little more.  There is hardly a corner of our county you haven’t seen or a parking lot you haven’t been nursed in. 

Even though I’m sad your Daddy had to travel so much this year, I think it bonded you and I in a way that wouldn’t have otherwise happened.  You knew you were stuck with me, and I knew I had to step up.  During those times, we proved to be the strong women we are.

I tried to make every holiday and major “first” this year a special one.  As your Daddy says, I love having you because it gives me something else to decorate.  The truth is, though, you were the one that made those times special for us.  The traditions we started – opening your own ornament and pajamas on Christmas Eve, eating green food on a green plate for St. Patrick’s Day, getting a Berenstain Bear book for almost every occasion – will only become more special in the coming years.  (Tomorrow we'll start a new tradition of singing to you at 7:29pm on your birthday.)  Even our nightly routine of bath time, playtime in the tub, pajamas, brushing your teeth, reading a story, doing a devotion, saying prayers, and nursing you to sleep has become a comforting ritual that I’ll remember long after it turns into me waiting up for you to make curfew. 

In addition to wanting to create new traditions and happy memories, I have so many hopes and dreams and prayers for you.  Above them all, I want you to know Jesus.  You see, Audrey, knowing Him is the only way you can ever have true joy and peace in your life.  He already knows you and loves you more than you can imagine.  He loves you even more than your Daddy and I do, which seems impossible. 

As much as I hope the absolute best for you, there will be times in your life that people will let you down (even your Daddy and I), but Jesus will always, always be there.  You are going to experience tough times and failure in your life.  You will be sick, lonely, hurt, angry, and sad.  Your heart will break, and mine will break right along with it.  You will make mistakes, and your response to them will determine who you become.  Occasionally, there will be times in your life that you don’t feel Jesus’ presence.  Times when you feel deserted and may even question whether He exists.  But He does.  And He loves you.  

I want you to learn the lessons you are meant to learn.  I hope you become strong in mind, body, and spirit, and that you gain and utilize the tools you need to make it through both the rough patches and the good times.  And, Audrey, I pray there are many, many good times.

The second prayer I have for you is that you meet a man who loves Jesus too.  Someone who loves Him, then you, like no one else and can lead you and your family down the path that God has in mind for you.  I can’t tell you how much it means to be married to your Daddy, who is my best friend in the world and reflects Jesus' love to me like no one else.  That foundation of friendship and faith has brought us through more than one storm.  I want you to find someone you can talk to, laugh with, cry on, and be a true partner with.

Beyond those prayers, I hope so many other things for you.  Here are just a few of those wishes and pieces of advice:  That you grow up to be considerate, kind, and gracious.  That you listen more than you speak, but when you do speak, that you speak with confidence, wisdom, and intelligence.  I want you to treat others the way you want to be treated, but when they don’t treat you with the same consideration, forgive them the way you’d want to be forgiven.  Don’t give your heart or your body away to every boy who flatters you.  Wait for the one God intends for you to spend your whole life with.  And even then, wait until you’re 30.  Maybe 40.  Be nice.  Remember the manners I will teach you.  Believe people when they tell you not to be in a hurry to grow up.  Respect your elders.  Be good to your body - not because you need to worry about how you look, but because it is the Holy Temple of God and it’s the only one you’ve got.  Manage your finances well and be smart about your spending.  When it’s appropriate, be satisfied with where you are…when it’s not, strive for more.  Set goals, reach them, and set more.  Laugh.  Don’t let fear, worry, or selfishness dictate your actions.  Instead, trust your instincts and let the Holy Spirit guide you.  Buy a good mattress...you'll spend 1/3 to 1/4 of your life on it.  From ages 13-25, you’ll probably need to apply less make-up and put on more clothing than you think you need.  (I’m sure your Daddy and I will help you with this.)  Always wash your face before you go to bed.  Think about the worst case scenario only long enough to have a back-up plan for it, then pray for the best possible outcome.  Choose optimism.  Don’t smoke or do drugs.  Invest in a good camera.  Work hard and be professional, no matter how menial the job may seem.  Spend lots of time with family and take care of them…they’ll be there for you when you need a kidney or bail money and you can’t say that about just anybody.  Travel and document your journeys.  Learn how to shoot a gun and protect yourself.  Work hard, play hard.  Get a good education, because no one can ever take that away from you.  Have a servant spirit and exercise it often.  Drive defensively and focused.  Don’t expect people to read your mind – tell them what you need.  Show up early…and remember that if you’re not ten minutes early, you’re late.  Don’t wait for a special occasion to use “the good stuff.”  Be a loyal friend to those that you can trust and let the others go.  Wear comfortable shoes, unless the uncomfortable ones are really amazing, then be sure to have a back-up close by.  Celebrate the milestones and victories in your life, both the big ones and the small ones.  Find something you love to do and then figure out a way to get paid for it.  That way, you'll never have to "work".  Remember that honesty is always the best policy, except when it’s not…I’ll teach you the difference.  Never underestimate the power of prayer, hugs, and good music.  Smile a lot. Cry when you need to.  But mostly smile.  You’ve got an amazing smile.

I have so much else to write, but it’s late and my typing is probably disturbing your sleeping Daddy.  There are countless other lessons I have to teach you…so much I want to share with you.  You have a lot to teach me, too, no doubt.  I hope we’ll both be open to learning from each other in the precious years to come. 

Both then and now, come what may, know that you are the love of my life.  Happy Birthday, Audrey.

Your Mommy
xoxoxo

Beach Trip

Last week, David, Audrey, David's parents, and I went to Destin, Florida for vacation.  Since David had so many frequent flier miles (the one perk of his many business trips), we opted to fly.  We were nervous about how Audrey would do on the plane, but it is such a short flight that we decided to chance it.  It turns out we had nothing to worry about.  She did great on the flight down and we got there and settled in with no problem.

Audrey didn't know what to make of all the new sights and sounds at the ocean.  The water was still very cold, so we only stuck her toes in it, which she wasn't a huge fan of.  She didn't want to crawl in the sand, but she did pick it up and play with it in her hands.  She never tried to eat it, thank goodness, as we'd planned for a whole week of repeating, "No, Audrey.  Don't eat the sand."  We borrowed a sun tent from my brother and sister-in-law that was perfect for keeping her in the shade.  She played under it with her little bucket of sand toys and was pretty content.  We buried her toes, dug tunnels, and let her splash in her bucket of water.  We pointed out airplanes and seagulls and passersby until she made it clear it was nap time.  

Even after several days of taking her out there, I wouldn't say she was crazy about the beach.  She just kind of tolerated it.  We learned later in the week that evening was a great time to go.  The sun wasn't as bright or hot and she loved holding our hands and walking through the sand.  We had some great sunset views and laughed as she would wave at the waves. 

Despite not being too sure about the beach, she loved the pool.  We bought a little float for her that had a shade canopy on it and she would lay her face down on the front with one hand dragging through the water and just chill.  I kept checking behind her sunglasses to make sure she was still awake!  It was so cute.  We pulled her around and made motorboat noises or helped her kick her feet.  I have a feeling we'll be spending a lot of afternoons this summer in our neighborhood pool.

When we weren't by the water, we were eating.  Or talking about eating.  I don't know if your family is like this, but our vacations largely revolve around food.  When we're consuming one meal, we're planning the next.  It's wonderful and I imagine Heaven is like that, in between all the praise songs.  I got some restaurant recommendations from a sweet friend who has a place down there, so we mixed up our usual chain restaurants with a little local flavor.  The best part of the meals, by far, was dessert.  We ate dessert every single night.  Most of the time it was sundaes from Shakes, a local frozen custard place, though we did add variety with some Krispy Kreme and Chili's.  I'll own it:  I gained 4.5 lbs in one week.  Not quite my record of 6 lbs on our 2008 cruise, but close.  And worth. every. calorie.

Thanks to his parents, David and I even managed to sneak in a little time by ourselves.  We played golf (he played, I rode), took some beach strolls, and had a nice dinner date.  We went for a couple of jogs together, which likely burned off at least four bites of one of those sundaes.  I was able to work on and launch my new blog and finished two books, which is more than I could have done in a month's worth of AJ's nap times. 

So, we had a wonderful week of soaking up family time, playing, and eating. Above all, we really enjoyed watching it through Audrey's eyes...even if she doesn't remember it, we'll never forget it.


Pics are in the gallery - enjoy!

Weekend Review

I'm pretty sure it's time for a weekend review, at least. It's hard for me to remember what day it is because of David's insane work schedule lately. His office was closed Friday, but he still had to work Friday night. He worked all day Saturday, Sunday night until about 1am, and got up this morning to start another crazy week. Please continue to pray that it lets up soon. Playing single mommy is wearing on me, and the workload is burning him out. It's been a really tough few weeks and we're ready for some relief.

Griping aside, we had a good weekend. On Friday we gave Audrey her first baby food - sweet potatoes. "They" recommend vegetables first so the baby doesn't get a sweet tooth. Our pediatrician says this is really a bunch of bunk, because breast milk is sweet. We decided that sweet potatoes would be a happy middle ground. She ate three or four bites like a champ and then all of a sudden decided she didn't care for them much. I guess her taste buds took awhile to catch up! Her face displayed her disdain for them and we captured it all on video and in pics, which I'll get around to updating again one day.

On Saturday, I got it in my head that the Christmas stuff needed to come down immediately. I dread this part every year and ask myself why I need so many holiday decorations. Then when I'm pulling them out the next season and loving every minute of it, I remember. Anyway, with David at work, I climbed into the attic and hauled down all the empty boxes and began packing things away during Audrey's nap time. Having not slept well the night before and since I did an intense workout that morning, I was regretting my decision pretty badly by mid-afternoon. But, at that point, I was committed. (Or maybe I needed to be committed.) I got most of it finished and it's now sitting in our spare bedroom waiting to be put back in the attic. I'm crazy, but I'm not crazy enough to lift those heavy boxes back up without his help! Although, I bet if I threw my back out, he'd have to take off work...Hmmm...

Anyway, Sunday was a little bit of a break. David's parents came over and watched Audrey while we went out to lunch. Afterward, we ran to Wal-Mart. Now I need to confess that I had previously made a New Year's resolution to quit shopping at Wal-Mart. You're thinking "Wow. Way to take a stand against the evil empire that imports 80% of its stuff from China and contributes to the insane materialism of our country." That too. But selfishly, I just can't stand the headache. The money saved is rarely worth the hassle, long lines, poor customer service, and shady clientele. I frequently find that I become an angry and (more) impatient person there, and it's better to avoid it if possible. However, I have really been wanting a dumbbell weight rack and figured that short of driving across town to a sporting goods store, they were our only option. They had just what we were looking for. Dang you Wal-Mart and your stupid tendency to stock everything under the sun. Maybe I'll just try to limit my visitations to once every couple of months.

SO, we came home after a brief break and spent a couple of hours hanging out before David had to go back to work. That night, after Audrey went to bed, I watched Julie & Julia. It was a very cute movie that almost made me want to learn to cook. Almost. (Earlier in the week, I watched The Proposal. That's the one good thing about when David works late or is out of town - I get to catch up on my chick flicks! Although I do stay up way too late watching them.)

And that was our weekend. Hopefully we can spend all of this next one with David. Hope your new year is off to a good start! More updates (and hopefully some less boring and more insightful posts) soon!

Audrey's First Christmas

...and what a first Christmas it was! The festivities started on Wednesday, the 23rd, as we drove to David's grandparents' house in Alabama to celebrate with his mom's side of the family. She was an angel on the long ride over. (The ride back, not so much.) When we arrived, she ate, then we ate, then we took pictures, then she napped while we opened gifts. Once she was up and fed, we began the marathon session of opening her presents. She quickly got into it, and entertained everyone with her commentary of each gift. She "made out like a bandit" (that one's for you guys, B&K) and we are so appreciative of everyone's generosity. We loaded up our car to the brim with toys and leftovers and trekked home.

On Christmas Eve, we lounged some and cleaned some and lounged around some more. It was wonderful to stay in together and not have anywhere to be. David and I ate our traditional Christmas Eve meal of tacos and cheese dip (I don't know why, but we've done that since we got married.) We dressed Audrey in her new Christmas pajamas and read the story of Jesus' birth and The Night Before Christmas. Afterward, we let her open one present - an ornament of her own that we'll send with her when she is grown - and hung our stockings by the chimney with care. We set out cookies and milk for Santa and then tucked her in.

Christmas morning came early, as the cinnamon rolls and sausage balls weren't going to make themselves! David and I got ourselves dressed and cooked breakfast, then got Audrey up and fed. We took her downstairs, where Santa had set out a LeapFrog table, some books, and a small toy truck. She loved all of it, but was most excited about the big red bow on top (of course.) We played, opened her stocking, ate, and then put her down for her morning nap while David and I opened gifts. I gave him clues that led him on a treasure hunt for his present (a new lawnmower!) He got me a camera lens filter, a book, and some DVDs I wanted (more on those later.) It was perfect.

That afternoon, David's parents came over with a sleigh full of gifts. (But rest assured, they "did not go overboard this year." Wink, wink.) Audrey was fascinated by more ribbons and bows as she opened more toys. While she napped, Mommy and Daddy were less fascinated by the bows as we tore into our stash! We ate dinner and enjoyed being amused by Audrey's babble and expressions. The most hilarious part of the evening came when Audrey gave her own special present to her Granddad...and her pants...and the carpet..... What a memory that will be! We fell into bed that night, tired and feeling unbelievably blessed as our favorite Gift slept soundly in her crib.

On Saturday, we went to my brother's house and celebrated with my side of the family. With an 18 month old, a 9 month old, and a 6 month old, it was intense! It was hard to keep up with everyone - just as one got finished eating, another would start or one would go down for a nap when the other was just waking up. We had so much fun watching them all and tried to take lots of pictures. I know next year it will be even crazier once they're all mobile! As had been the trend that week, Audrey got way too many toys and loved every minute of it. It was wonderful being with everyone and it ended all too soon when we had to pack up and rush home in time to feed her and put her to bed.

Now you would think surely we were finished, right? Alas, we had one more celebration the next day. On Sunday we went up to David's parents house and celebrated with his Dad's side of the family. We had brunch, played cards, opened more gifts, ate more food, and looked on as everyone gushed over our Baby Girl. David and AJ even got in a mini jam session on the drums. It was a great day and we loved seeing family that we don't get to visit with that often.

Thus concludes Christmas Extravaganza 2009. It is wonderful to stretch it out and not have to be multiple places in one day, but it's also a lot of work to haul a baby (and her massive amounts of gear) around. We calculated that we spent about eight hours in the car during the three trips we made. Not bad compared to others' drives, but still a lot considering we barely left the state. I am so glad we established a "Not leaving the house on Christmas Day" rule!

It was definitely worth it, of course, and we are very grateful to all of our family for helping to make Audrey's first Christmas so special. The traditions we started and the memories we made will last us for many years to come. I hope you and your family had as wonderful of a holiday as we did!

Thanksgiving Weekend

What a great Thanksgiving weekend we had! David got to take Wednesday afternoon through Friday off, so we really enjoyed having him around. (I mean really enjoyed. I am seriously missing his help today!) Instead of waiting until after Thanksgiving, I cheated a little and began putting up Christmas decor on Wednesday. With the amount of stuff I have, it always takes awhile and I knew this year would be even more time consuming than usual. Three days, 26 boxes/rubbermaid containers and three full size trees later, the house was decorated inside and out. It's insane, but I wouldn't have it any other way. I enjoy having my house look like "Christmas threw up in it" as my sweet friend LL says. :)

On Thanksgiving Day, we went to David's grandparents' house in Alabama to have lunch with his mom's side of the family. It was so good to see everyone and watch them interact with Audrey. The food was delicious as usual (David's grandmother makes a huge feast from scratch!) AJ did pretty well with the ride there and back, but she is always happy to get somewhere and get out of that car seat!

On Thursday night, as is our tradition, we decorated our tree while watching the Lighting of the Great Tree on television. AJ really liked all of the colorful lights, but isn't quite sure what to think about this monstrous thing in our living room with stuff hanging all over it. It's great not to have to worry about her messing with it yet, since she is still immobile. I'm sure next year will be interesting!

On Sunday, we went up to David's parents' house and celebrated with his Dad's side of the family. Audrey got to meet one of her great aunts and her second cousins on that side for the first time. More gluttony ensued and it was awesome.

So in summary: Lots of eating, lots of decorating, lots of enjoyable family time. We couldn't have asked for a better first Thanksgiving for Audrey.

Check out the Picasa gallery for pictures. I've posted her Fifth Month's album, an album from our trip to Savannah, one with her professional newborn pictures (finally!), and of course, an album from our Thanksgiving festivities. It took me the better part of two nap times today to get caught up, so enjoy!

Road Trip

We spent the weekend at my brother and sister-in-law's in Savannah and had a wonderful time. We got to check out their new house, which is very close to the beach, so we expect we'll be down again soon! It was adorable to watch AJ with her cousin Annelise, who is 3 months older. They were so cute babbling to each other in their secret baby language.

Annelise has grown so much. We saw her at three weeks and then three months old. Now she is 8 months and such a big girl. She is sitting up, eating solids, has a new tooth, and is only days away from crawling. (She manages to get there when they put an iPhone in front of her!) She is constantly smiling and hams it up for the camera, which made me very happy. Now if only AJ and her Dad were as into getting their pictures taken...

On Saturday we went to the beach at Tybee Island for a little while. It was Audrey's first time seeing the ocean. She almost slept through the whole thing, but I think she was impressed with what she did take in. There were even dolphins swimming through the water to greet her. I can't wait until she can jump waves and build sand castles with me.

Overall, Audrey did great with her first road trip. She had one hysterical pull-off-the-interstate meltdown on the way there and one on the way back, but otherwise she handled the car ride nicely. We were also nervous about how she'd sleep away from home, but she did great. She adapted well (must get that from her father) and was a sweetheart. It felt good to have conquered this milestone and know we can travel with her without major headaches. Although, I do foresee her spending a weekend at the grandparents while Mommy and Daddy take a short vacation on their own sometime. A girl can dream, right?

Pictures to come soon, but here is a sneak preview:

Audrey is not so sure about sharing her monkey with Annelise. We have to work on that!

Thanks again for the food and hospitality, y'all! We enjoyed the visit and can't wait to see you again soon!

Weekend of Firsts

Audrey went to her very first birthday party this weekend. Her little friend Madison, whom she loves to stroll around the mall with, turned one. Audrey was adorable in her party outfit, second only to the birthday girl herself. Despite the party falling during her usual naptime, she was a trooper and loved watching all the festivities. It was a great party and so good to catch up with friends we haven't seen in a while. It won't be long before it's time to start planning Audrey's Big Bash.

Another (not nearly as fun) new experience is that she has her first cold. It is pitiful. Her little nose is running, she's coughing, and she can't breathe all that well, which effects her eating. She doesn't have a fever, thank goodness, so we're holding off on a doctor's appointment. She is still sleeping great and even made it eleven hours straight last night. I thought for sure I'd be up all night with her, so I am so grateful for the rest. Especially since I think David and I are starting to come down with it. At least we can take medicine, unlike her. She just gets a humidifier and extra TLC...and Mommy constantly coming at her with a nasal aspirator, poor thing.

I feel so guilty because I'm sure she got it from nursery on Thursday. She could have gone with me to Bible Study (there is usually at least one infant in there) or stayed at home while her Grandmom kept her, but nooooo. I was determined to put her in the nursery even though one of the workers sounded awful when I dropped her off. I didn’t want to be an overprotective mom and I wanted her to socialize with other babies. Illness is not quite what I had in mind for her to gain from the experience.

SO, I think I've decided that I'm going to have to turn into one of those germaphobic mothers. At least until we get through this nasty flu season. She is too young for a flu shot, but unfortunately not too young for the flu. I don't want to raise a "bubble girl" as David calls it, but I also don't want to risk her getting something and making us sick, especially as we head into the holidays. I know kids get sick, but she is still so little and defenseless. She puts everything in her mouth, including her hands, which everyone is determined to touch. I didn't realize this until I became a mom, but now I know: unless you are family and/or have JUST scrubbed in surgery-style, you really don't need to be touching babies' hands. My apologies to the parents of little ones that I came into contact with before I knew this.

Anyway, who knows when we'll brave public nursery again. We miss church, but it's just not worth feeling miserable, losing sleep, and being stuck in the house with her all week. Or, worse yet, the chance of her catching something serious at such a young age. There will come a time that we can get back into the swing of things and this awful H1N1 calms down, but until then, we may be attending Bedside Baptist Church for awhile.