My sweet, sweet girl

So, it's been awhile since I posted.  Nearly a full year.  I think I needed some time to step back and enjoy where we are. Who we've become.  I'm sure I'll regret not writing things down but, we've spent some wonderful moments together since last November.  First of all - my sweet, sweet girl is BIG.

She talks, she laughs, she sasses, she loves.  Man, does she love.  This girl, this girl loves her pups (Cha-ee and Minn-ah), her Momma and Dada, her 'guys' (aunts, friends, everyone really), her babies (I had no idea that girls loved babies so young!).  I suspect my dad is her favorite person in the world.  She loves to sing, and dance, and twirl, and jump.  She is fearless.  She is the sweetest thing I have met.  Bathtime is her new favorite part of the week.

She is opinionated and stubborn.  She demands that you read to her and that she turns the pages.  She hates bananas.  Heaven forbid you offer her a banana.

Little Miss loves shoes.  Tries to dress herself and is happy to pull around her little wagon.  She answers to Lulu, Audra, Monkey, and Baby.  She calls herself baby.  She will conquer any playground put in front of her.  She loves to buckle things - the carseat, the shopping cart straps, the stroller or high chair.  She is excellent at peek a boo.

She gets excited when we turn onto the street of her daycare provider and yells 'Icky!" for Vicky.  She loves the boys and daycare and carefully watches the babies.  She will carry any purse she sees.  She's inquisitive. Want's to know 'where'd they go?' about her pups, her toys, everything and everyone she sees.

This Momma?  This Momma feels like the luckiest person on the planet each and every day.  I adore her (can you tell?).

This post?  This post doesn't even begin to do her justice.  But, we'll try our hardest because she deserves nothing but the best I can give her.

It's been awhile...

Hope you're well.

We sure are.

More soon.

Soo big!

I can't believe that a) November is almost over b) my baby is 8 months old c) Christmas will be here any minute.

I have lots of obligatory pictures to post but, for those that haven't heard - Audra is on the move.  I got a video of her about 2 weeks ago.  The army crawl is still pretty much the same.  I think it's because she can't get any traction on our floor and that she's always had really strong arms.



She also has an excellent pivot point with her belly and can turn fairly quickly.  Last night, I put her on the floor while I picked up her room a bit.  I turned around and found this.

While I'm talking about her being on the move, might as well show you this - no one is safe in our house.  Poor Minnie needed a haircut so badly that she couldn't see the small child sneaking up on her.

 I'm the terrible mother that didn't take a picture of my baby in her pretty dress on Thanksgiving.  Instead, I took a picture when she passed out in her Exersaucer.  Dan and I were trying to finish getting ready to head to his aunt's house and I found girlfriend like this.

Another abnormal napping spot on Thanksgiving.

I love that the older that she gets the more her personality is shining through.  I think this picture gives us a good glimpse of the future. I call this picture 'blatant refusal to do what Mommy wants because I know I Daddy won't make me do anything I don't want to.'

 My mom and sisters came to visit after Thanksgiving and Audra put up with a lot of shopping.

She's so inquisitive right now.  As long as she has something to do, she's happy.

We also met Santa over the weekend.  I love that she's more confused as to why some strange man with a long white beard is holding her than upset about it.

Sorry this is so picture heavy and discombobulated!  

Jamie

Thirty days of thankful - Day 2

I'm thankful for co-workers that understand me.  Yesterday was a tough day and they let me vent and understood what was bugging me.

Thirty days of thankful - Day 1

I'm thankful for my sweet little girl. - she means everything to me.

Oops

I'm a terrible blogger/mom.  It's been almost 5 months since my last post.

Oops, hope you'll forgive me.

Maybe you'll forgive me if I give you this : Audra's 6 month pictures.  The password is cute (because she is).

(3rd?) Cousins

We went to a party for my uncle and a wedding in Cedar Rapids last weekend and got to stay with Mike and Kirsten and their daughter Lila!  It was so much fun to watch Lila and imagine Audra being her age in two years and getting to spend so much time with them!  Thanks again Eddins family for letting us crash at your house!  Hope to see you again soon!

Two months old!

Dear Audra,
You are 2 months old (and 4 days) and I can't imagine my life without you.  At the doctor's last week you weighed 10 pounds, 4 ounces and were 22.5 inches long.  Your height has Mommy confused.  When you were born, they told me you were 21 and 3/4 inches long.  At 2 weeks you were 20 inches long and now you are 22 1/2.  I'm going to say you've gained 2 1/2 inches in the past 2 months because I can tell you're getting longer very quickly.  Your 0-3 month sleepers are getting tight in the feet but you're nowhere near filling them out.  The doctor's office said your height puts you in the 58 percentile for your age and weight is 38%.   Your head is 38 cm at 33 percentile which is silly because you can't wear any hats :)  They're all way too big.  I suggest your head grows soon because I bought you cute sun hats for the summer!  You're still nursing most of the time and at Mommy and Me last week they said you take 3 1/3 ounces in 40ish minutes.

Daddy puts you to bed most nights with a bottle of formula.  Lately, his favorite song to sing to you is "Hush Little Baby" and when you cry he just sings louder.  It makes Mommy's heart melt to see him rock you in your room.

This month we thought you might have reflux and tried to put you on meds for about 2 weeks.  Mommy decided they weren't really helping so we took you off of them and now you're just taking gas drops.  Most days we do really well until about 6 when your tummy starts to hurt and we need to work those bubbles out.

Right now you love to be snuggled (you're sleeping on my lap as I type this).  You also love to bounce when being held, the sound of water and the bathroom fan, watching your mobile in the crib.  You smile and talk more and more each day.  You've giggled a few times in your sleep and I can't wait to hear you do it again.

Mommy starts her new job one month from tomorrow so I'm trying to savor this last month with you.  I've loved being home with you each day and will miss you enormously when I have to leave.  I love you my sweet baby girl.

Love always,
Mommy

Love her

Katie thinks she looks like me!

Finally someone does!  Although, maybe this is why...

Love her (Audra and Kage).

It's been awhile...

April

Checking out the crib

Baby burrito

First week home

First doctor's visit

Minnie makes sure that we're good parents

First bath

Hold me 

Meeting Titus

Napping with Dad

Give me another bath and I will fight you

Our week at Grandma and Grandpa's - borrowing a swing

Whoosh, Dad is back from his business trip.  Let's nap.

One month!  With Sammy

One month with Katie's afghan

May

Disregard the terrible face, I love my gym and my chucks.  Also, my aunties are awesome.

After the March for Dimes

Baptized!

Getting so big

Hanging out in my crib, watching the circles

Saw Moose (Molly) run at the state track meet.  Now, I'm exhausted.

Mom needs to take more pictures...

Audra's two months tomorrow!  She smiles, coos, and accidentally rolls from front to back.  We'll be back tomorrow with an official 2 month post.  Promise.  Now, we need to get ready for her two month doctor appointment...

You're gonna miss this

You're gonna want this back

You're gonna wish these days

Hadn't gone by so fast

These are some good times

So take a good look around

You may not know it now

But you're gonna miss this

And into March...

Be sure to read the February post first!

Here's March in a nutshell (or so far)!

Shamrock shakes are back.  I love them.

SBG already takes after her mama.  Here's approximately 1/16th of the laundry I did for her.  And yes, I only washed the stuff that was up to 3 months in size.

My mom came for the girls state basketball game, AHS, my alma mater, made it to the finals and won!  Go Knights!  We also went to dinner with her, Mary and Jeff for Danny's birthday.  Sorry there's no pictures for this update but there is fabulous news.  Remember how I said I broke my camera?  As a joint gift for Danny's, mine, and SBG's birthday (all which will take place within a 5 week period) my parents bought us a super nice DSLR camera.  We are beyond lucky - and promise to take lots of pictures to share with you all!  Instead of pictures from this, how about one of the first pics with the new camera?

Titus James was baptized and Jon and Christina asked Danny and I to be Godparents.  Danny took his role as Godfather seriously by making sure the day was well documented.

And finally, on a SBG note, we have 19 days until our due date.  We're very excited, Danny calls almost everyday and asks if she's decided to come or not yet :)  I finally packed a hospital bag and we've installed the carseat bases in both of our cars.  Come as soon as you're ready Little One!  Mom and Dad can't wait to meet you (and to share your name with everyone)!