Art School

Painting....Although more intrigued about the water changing different colors than actually putting paint onto paper.

We've all been there.

Non-toxic...right?

The Princess & the Pea

Mommy continues to firmly tell her to plant her little tush back on the chair, and to quit standing up

Mommy realizes she is still too little to accurately see her own masterpiece because of her shortness

Mommy creates a make-shift booster chair out of multiple chair pads from around the table.

Audrey sits still for 25 minutes, painting, not trying to stand up once.

Audrey loves having "Art School"

Mommy is finally able to enjoy "Art School"

Introducing Miss Ellie Lu

With open arms we joyfully welcomed

Ellie Lu

September 12th at 6:18am

Weighing a perfectly healthy 7lbs & measuring 20.5" long

A blessing to many including her Daddy, Mommy

&

Big Sister Audrey

Audrey-Pie

1 month old

2 months old

21 months old--today

My Dearest Audrey,

You have grown so much, you have learned so much, you have so much personality and have brought SO much joy into my life. How could it be that just a few short months ago you were a tiny newborn who I adored looking at? I could have studied your face for hours.

Your face is still my favorite sight. I adore looking at you even more now that I know you so well, my precious. I used to whisper to you all the time, "Do you know how much I love you?" I think you know now, but in case you have even the slightest doubt once your little sister arrives I want you to know that the spot in my heart for you will never be replaced, filled, or forgotten. I have a hard time understanding what it will mean for my heart to expand even more with another child. I know it will happen since I already love Ellie so much. We will all have to make room in our hearts for little sister. She already has such a huge advantage having you as her big sister. What a gift to her! You loving her could never be a better gift. I am so excited for us all to meet her, but I'm more excited for Ellie to meet you and to get to know you as well as I know you. You could not have been a more precious love to me in the past 21 months. We'll get through the next few months together, welcoming home baby sister. This could be one of our very last days together, just the two of us, so I wanted to thank you, sweet Audrey, for making me love being a Mommy so much more...

I'll Love you Forever,

Mommy

These are a few of her favorite things...

Audrey is such a silly girl. We've discovered she, so far, really doesn't need anything expensive to keep her happy. It's actually quite the blessing, as we are well-aware how much the toy industry is making off of many parents. From time to time Audrey will play with certain toys she owns, but for the most part it doesn't last long and she requests going right back to one of her favorite things... Although Audrey's birthday is 3 whole months away, I thought I would get a head start on mentioning a few items she would really appreciate as a gift...

Water. Really truly, just water. She daily asks to play with water. "Audie pour it?" she asks when we're near the sink. On occasion I let her sit up near the sink to play with the water. She would pour water back & forth all day if she didn't need to eat & sleep.

And oh does this girl loves ice! Let her roam in a bucket of ice at a friend's birthday party or give her a cup with a few ice cubes and you've got at least 20 minutes of uninterrupted time to get stuff done around the house.

Each additional ice cube gives you 10 more minutes...

"Audie like pouring water"

Any counter top will do. Just make sure your standing with her, please.

Again, more water.

Creek water...

Hose water...

Any box, really. Big or small, any size will do.

Audrey loves boxes to sit in, to sit on, and on many occasions to put on her head as a hat.

Any type of shoes will do. Not even new shoes. Actually, especially not new shoes. Just any shoes she finds laying around the house. Elmo slippers...Mommy's high heeled shoes...Too big hand-me-down shoes...Too small out grown baby shoes...Daddy's big work boots...

Trying to balance, let alone walk across the room, in Daddy's work boots is quite the skill when they come up past your knees.

Simply turning on the radio.

There is a frequent request for "Moe mu-sick?" in our home. Usually refering to turning on the radio, we've also discovered that she enjoys dancing to any type of music being played.

On this particular occasion she was dancing to our friend Nan's jimbay drum while Daddy accompanied on guitar. She has got quite the moves.

Anything she can pretend she's riding. The side of the tub, a big pillow, and most definitely brooms. Oh how this girl loves to sweep. We could be onto something here...encouraging her to clean the house for Mommy, perhaps?? So this is my reccomendation for a gift for Audrey...

Cleaning tools, please.

People, especially her Daddy.

Since Aaron has been gone a lot recently, on swat operations overnight, Audrey has really missed seeing him. Each morning that he has been home lately she runs to him and says with the sweetest little voice:

"Daddy's home!! Up on Daddy?!"

Then she lays her little head down on his shoulder and hugs him for 5 or so minutes.

It is a very precious sight.

Here she is with Mommy, just sitting near me watching while I put on make-up.

She is also a very big fan of other people in her life: Her "Grammas & Grumpas", her uncles & aunts (who she knows by name & often talks about...this mornings example: "Where Uncle Mike go? Uncle Mike is silly!") Her little cousin "Choey" = Chloe, and all the dogs in her life, Lucy-Puppy, Poco, Skidder, Shane, and "Diver".

She also likes seeing and asking about all of her neighbors and thanking the garbage man for taking our "stinky garbage" each week.

Audrey is definitely a people person. It's probably no wonder she speaks so well & has such a large vocabulary, besides the fact that her mother is constantly narrating the world around her, she would much rather be around people than to sit and play with toys.

So in case you still can't think of a good gift to get Audrey, let's recap:

Shoes, Water, walking anywhere, and giving her time & attention.

She is a pretty simple girl, if only she could keep her "want" of things to a minimum in those teen years... I wonder if handing her a cup of ice would work then too?

And no, not to throw it at her Mom...

Dear Ellie...

Dear Ellie,

Would it be possible for you to decide to come out soon, please? I am getting really anxious to meet you. If it's not too much to ask, I would really appreciate if your Daddy could be present at your birth. So don't you plan on coming out too fast, little girl, because lately Daddy has been a few hour drive away from us... Does it make me nervous? Of course it does, my little sweetheart. So how about you come in the next three days...do you think you could work on that? Daddy has to leave again on Monday, and I know he would probably not mind too terribly if he missed his week-long training. You must be pretty comfortable in there, Miss Ellie Lu. However, as much as your Mommy has gotten used to uncomfortable sleep, back & hip ache, and constantly staring at the calendar through out the day wondering when your birthday will be...I'd trade it all just to hold you. I love you dearly.

Love,

Mommy

PS You are really going to love your big sister. She's ready for you!

Life on the Farm

Aaron's parents live on 7 acres. What a great place for a kid (and grandkid!) to grow up on! Audrey's favorite things are

1. Animals

2. Being outside

3. Walking around

So, of course, she loves when we go visit Grandma & Grandpa "out on the farm!" There is so much to see and explore and so much room to walk around and visit all the animals. We always have fun saying hello to Grandma's horses & the cow, we like sitting on the stone donkey & cart, swinging on the porch swing, wandering through the beautiful rose garden, and of course pretending we're riding on Grandpa's tractor. She would stay out there all day just walking, walking, walking if we let her. I decided to bring my camera out with us on our latest visit to the farm to capture all of Audrey's favorite spots.

"Hi Cow! What you doing Cow? Mooooo!"

Very eager to give Mommy a handful of rocks!

Audrey's little Donkey friend.

Tractors are "too loud!" that's why we wear ear protection, just like Grandpa.

Even when the tractor isn't running.

"Can you hear me????" -Audrey

Cooling off in the water trough

Any kind of water will do, when you love splashing in water.

Even a dirty bird bath.

Mommy with her girls ;)