fast times with the wagon!

The Radio Flyer has had a revival in our house lately! The latest trend is Audrey and Brynn pusing eash other in the radio flyer all around the house! of course, Audrey needs a bit of help in the steering department.

So cute. This evening, After the bath, I went to go grab some clothes for Audrey, and I came back into the room and she was gone...I found her hanging out inside the wagon nakey. She loves that thing!

Sistahs

While packing for our trip, I decided to use an older diaper bag I had. As I was going through it I found all kinds of memorabilia from Brynns teeny baby days. An old name tag from Brynns first Mommy and Me class (5 weeks old), old pacis, size 2 diapers, and endless Dr Office paperwork.

You know how each Drs visits you come home with a bunch of paperwork? Like your receipt (ours is like 3 letter size pages big), and usually a document with the current visits stats and milestone information.

Well, in the bag was Brynns 6 month well baby check sheet. I remembered that I had Audreys in my other diaper bad and grabbed it to compare.

Once again the differences in my babies is Minute (Minoot? Miniut)...someone help me with that word please....

Brynn: 17lbs, 11oz -- 25.2 inches
Audrey: 17lbs, 9 oz -- 26.2 inches

Pretty neat huh? Despite the fact that they where nearly 2.5lbs different at birth (Brynn: 7lbs, Audrey: 9lbs7oz) they are (where?) practically the same size at 6 months old....pretty neat.

Cute Story

Chad just called me with this story and I had to write it down.

So, Chad was dropping Brynn off at school and Audrey off at the babysitter this morning, and while they were all in the car Chad was driving along and it went like this:

Brynn: "TALK!.....TALK!"
Chad: Whats that?
Brynn: TALK! *brynn jibberish* TALK!
Chad: Follows directions and starts talking to Brynn
Brynn: TALK! *more jibberish* .....TALK! AUDREY, TALK!

Chad looks back at the girls and Brynn is talking to Audrey and holding a white bear in front of Audrey and telling Audrey to "Talk" and then speaking baby talk to her. Chad said Audrey was CRACKING up at this.

Oh I wish I could have seen that. So cute. Good Times.

Five.

I was standing in line getting a Latte at work on Wednesday and the Barrista asked me how old my Baby is now. I started to answer "Four Months" until I realized what the date was March 25th! Holy Crap! Not only is she FIVE months old, I totally went through the whole day of 3/24 without once realizing it was her 5 month birthday...and for those who dont know me, that is very much unlike me. I am usually all over dates and birthdates (even the monthly ones)...that is a perfect example of just HOW crazy life has been for our family lately.



My sweet Audrey is Five Months old, hard to believe its already been 5 months, yet, hard to believe there was ever a time that she hasn't been in our lives. I just can't say enough how happy I am to have BOTH of my girls filling my house and my life with happiness, laughter, and endless joy (and maybe a few meltdowns here and there)



This month Audrey continues to blossom into a happy, outgoing little one. She is so quick to smile at anyone that will stop to say hello. She has developed this cute "baby talk", but everything she says sounds like she is shrieking in delight as if she is trying to say "YEEEEEAAHHH!!!!"



As you see from this picture above, she has a new accessory: a hair clip! This girls hair is out.of.control. Chad and I are always cracking up because her hair on the top of her head literaly stands straight up most of the time. I can't imagine how curly its going to be when she gets older, and with Brynn we made the mistake of never putting anything in her hair, and now she refuses to let us put anything in her hair, so I am starting as early as possible with Ms. Audrey so she will get used to it.

We have NOT started any foods yet. She is going to have to stick to the Boobie Juice for just one more month. There are a few reasons we waited, prob the biggest being I am not looking forward to having to deal with spoon feeding her, nursing is just too easy and convenient for me.



Lets see, whats new with Audrey. Well, she is sitting for longer periods, she has started scooting but only in her sleep so we will find her in all kinds of arrangements in her co-sleeper.

She LOVES the water. Loves loves loves. I can't wait to take her to Maui (ONE MORE MONTH!) and take her in the ocean!

She also likes to roll all over the place, She loves her excersaucer, loves checking out the trees, peoples faces, the dog.

She had her first Cold/Flu, poor girl, so we have had a rough couple of weeks here sleep wise, but she seems to be back on track the last couple of nights. We set up the pack n play in Brynns room, which will mean at some point we will want Audrey sleeping there, but I just don't see how that will work logistically. But its okay, everything will fall into place.

Here comes the sun...

For the last two weeks, it has been POURING rain and no sun, just icky weather. And when it gets like that in our area, folks get squirly real fast...can't imagine what we would do if we lived like in Buffalo NY or something like that.

So yesterday, the first day of absolutely beautiful weather, we went to the Zoo...and by Zoo I mean local play ground...but it looked like a zoo! I swear, everyone and their neighbor decided to take their kiddos to the park.

But it was a good kind of busy. The kids where all of similar age and size and taking turns, it was really the BEST day ever! We have some of the best parks in our area, and Brynn is now the perfect age where she is old enough and skilled enough to cruise the structures on her own, so we didn't have to follow her too closely. She had a blast! Audrey enjoyed being out in the fresh air checking out all the kids running around like wild monkeys.

Ode to Brynn

Brynns Wordle....fits perfectly!

Brynn is Two

My first born, Brynn turned 2 on Sunday...we had a big party with about 20 little ones and their owners :-)



It was fun, but it was alot of work. Good thing Audreys birthday isnt until October, because I dont think I can throw another party for awhile. Chad turns 30 in June, but all he needs is a big beer and a couple of buddies to shoot the breeze with and he is happy.

My sweet Brynn....um, excuse me.....hold on, she is having a meltdown, I will be right back.....................

1 hour later...

That sucked...where was I? Oh yes, my SWEET Brynn.

Brynn really is a sweet girl. She loves her mommy and daddy and sister dearly. Always willing to give a hug and a kiss on demand, and if you sneeze she will say "you okay?"

Her vocabulary is amazing, her independance is amazing, I don't want to toot my own daughters horn, and be one of *those mommies* but her teacher at preschool was saying how Brynn is more advanced than some of her older 2 year olds in the class as far as vocabulary and other things goes...I of course can't take credit for it, its just how she has developed at her own pace.

She has mainly 2 & 3 word sentences and even a couple 4 word sentences. She knows all of her basic shapes, and even some letters. She doesnt know her colors because she calls all colors "Yellow." She eats beautifully with a fork or spoon and cup. She likes to talk to people on the phone, she also, however, likes to hang up the phone. She can "count" to seven, but I dont think she knows what she is doing other than saying the words in order.

She is nearly fully potty trained, we got home and school down, now mommy and daddy need to get up the nerve to take her out for the day in panties. But I am just really nervous about that. Chad and I said if she can make the whole week at school in panties (we have 2 days down, 3 to go) then we will do it.

She is just a very goofy silly girl. Is very friendly with other children. At school, when I pick her up, she goes around to hug all of her friends, yet doesnt despair if she gets rejected by a grummy toddler classmate, she just shruggs and moves onto the next friend (I have only seen her get rejected once, about broke my heart, but she didnt care)

Ahh yes, but its not all sunshine and lollipops in this Brynns world. And I would only be lieing to myself if I only wrote only the good stuff...so without further ado: Brynns bad side. :-)

She is your typical toddler, thats for damn sure. I would say she started her terrible twos at about a quarter passed midnight of her 1st birthday. LOL!

This girl needs sleep. Just like her mommy, if she is even 30 minutes behind on sleep she will make your life a living hell. She's got a whine that will make your eyeballs jitter, and tantrums that make your house shake.

She is very smart and has plenty of tricks up her sleeve...knows how to get away with stuff with her daddy. I am on to her games, but her dad is just wrapped around that little pinky tight! As i type, an increadibly over-tired Brynn is staying up past her bedtime because Chad fell for the tricks and refuses to listen to me. *rollseyes* He will have to learn the hard way.

But all in all, she really is a sweet girl, with a big warm heart and smile that matches

(although its nearly impossible to catch on camera.)

edited to add: forgot. she is 29lbs. just so I remember to put it in my book :)

Its Official!

Audrey rolled today! We got it on video too! Chad said it was "more of a roll" than what he saw, so I am using my *mommy-thority* and calling today the official first roll.

Here is the neat thing...I checked my "records" and Big sister Brynn rolled at 4 months +5 days, and Audrey rolled at 4months + 6 days!

I swear these girls are consistent. They were both born 10 days before their due dates (11 if you count the day of their birth as a day...I never know whether or not to count it)and both rolled at nearly the same time. Pretty interesting considering the age range at which babies roll (or anyother milestone for that matter) is so broad.

Anywho, i am proud of my girl! Growing so fast!

Pinch me

Pinch me, I must be dreaming.

For 9 months we waited, watching you grow in my belly, feeling your tiny kicks, we couldn't see you or hear you, we could only imagine what you would look like, sound like, feel like in our arms.



Then you came, your dad and I's world changed as we would have never imagined, yet, you fit right in and our lives got just a bit brighter. No one can ever prepare you for the strong love you feel for your children. Over the months we watched you transform from a tiny baby, into a crawling baby, then from baby to toddler in just a few steps.

And tomorrow you turn two. Crazy.

I look back at the baby stage with such nostalgia....and then I have a day like today when my 4 month old woke up at 4am in the morning...for the day...and my Brynn peed on the floor while watching Elmo.....and I think to myself: maybe this kids-getting-older thing isnt so bad after all!
:-)

One Year Ago TODAY!

Speaking of Audrey...one year ago today I got this:


isnt it neat? One year ago, I found out my life was about to get a little better, and today, exactly one year later...She turns 4 months old!

Audrey 4 Months old!

My sweet Audrey turned four months old today. Quite amazing that only 4 months ago, I was sitting around fat and uncomfortable waiting impatiently for her arrival, only to be surprised with labor that evening...

(note to self: please ask your children why they choose to come in the evening hours when mommy needs SLEEP! Why couldn't they have started labor in the morning hours after mommy has a good nights sleep and is well rested and ready for said labor??)




Audrey is getting to be so much fun. She is hilarious, and has such a loud, and happy disposition.

She discovered a few things this month.

One thing she has discovered are her hands, which she will hold in front of her face inspecting followed by a all you can eat hand munching session. Its almost impossible to get a picture of this girl with OUT her hands in her mouth. She is also a finger sucker. She actually sucks the same fingers Chad did when he was a baby.



The other thing she has discovered is her VOICE! Last month, we had some Aghoo-ooo-oos...This month, she has become quite the talker. I sooo wish there was a way to express how cute her little baby talk is, but some things can not be duplicated in picture and words.



One night, we were reading books to Brynn before bed and I brought Audrey in bed with Brynn and layed her next to Brynn and Audrey turned to her sister and was TALKING TALKING TALKING. Chad and I were in TEARS with how cute this was! It was so funny!

Which leads me to another thing she has discovered: Brynn! And not just "oh, look! There is a blob in the distance running around like a crazy Hyena" she actually looks at Brynn and watches carefully at what she is doing/saying/breaking(had to throw that in there *wink*). She laughs at her sister and gives big'ol smiles when Brynn comes and kisses her. Its pretty cute! I cant wait until they can play together.

In the milestone area, Audrey has rolled from back to front ONCE! But I was in the other room, so I hesitate to call it until I see it with my own eyes. Chad saw it, but we have had no action since then.

She loves to sit, and I think she will be sitting independently in the next few weeks....I sit her with the boppy wrapped around her booty and she can sit like that for a while.
We have a Bumbo seat, but I don't like those, it just looks so unnatural and I would *think* that it would actually go against the learning-to-sit process.

Not like I am in a hurry or anything, I am certainly enjoying this squishy baby who cant get into any trouble phase. I know from experience once this kid starts moving, my somewhat peaceful existence with just a toddler and non-moving baby (if you can even call THAT peaceful) will be over.

That's about all I can think of...oh yeah, Audrey is NOT sleeping through the night, but it doesnt feel draining at all, but I would like to work on it now that we are at the 4 month mark...we wont be doing any type of baby food until 6 months, she is I think 16lbs?, and wearing size 2 diapers and 6 month clothes.

Brynn is turning TWO on Sunday which is just unbeleivable...for some reason, I am having a hard time with the age TWO mark...her turning one was exciting, but TWO makes me a little sad that that phase is done and over with, despite the fact that I have SO MUCH to look forward to as both girls get older, its still a little hard to let go.

No Turning back...

Today is Brynn's first day of preschool.

Some people look at me cockeyed when I say Brynn is starting preschool, so before I go on....yes, preschool. Why now? Well, I felt that Brynn was not being stimulated at her babysitter. Brynn is a very busy toddler, who loves playing with kids her age and needs constant stimulation.
At her old babysitter she was almost the oldest one there and a lot of toys for younger kids and I know that they watch a lot of TV there. Is her babysitter super awesome? Absolutely, that is why Audrey goes there, but I just think that Brynn has reached the top of that level...if that makes sense. Am I one of those crazy moms that expect her daughter to read by 32 months and complete trig by 4years? No, I simply want her spending her day with her peers in a place where the activity level matches Brynn's busy-ness and curiosity of the world. okay. enough of that.

ahem.

Today was Brynn's first day of Preschool!!!!

It was pretty exciting for me and Chad, Brynn didn't know what was going on...but she could sense it was something super exciting! She kept saying "I wan Go! I wan Go!"

Before we left, I got one picture...and of course, its of the back of her head as MOST pictures are these days...but at least you can see her cute backpack.


So Chad and I pull up to the school, and as we get out Brynn instantly runs up to the gate as if she has been doing this for a million years. Chad and I, being the *high tech* parents we are both busted out our cell phones for one last picture of our Brynni before she passes through that gate into "schoolhood"...notice the picture: Back of her head. *sigh*

When we got in Brynn seriously went in there like she owned the place, she took off to play, Chad and I were the stumbling, shy, nervous grownups not sure where to put stuff, how to do things. The teacher must have thought we were funny.

Once we (Chad and I) got settled and comfy, we called out to Brynn who was off on the other side of the room. "Good Bye Brynn! We love you!" she barely pulled her eyes off of what she was doing (pretending to clean a play kitchen) and gave us a half ass wave as if to say "yeah, whatevahs, I am busy"

Chad and I looked at each other and shrugged....we started walking away from the school, and I kept looking back at the glass door, I guess I was expecting Brynn to realize we left and come running banging on the door screaming "Mommy NO! NO! Please mommy!" lol! I don't give Brynn enough credit. I seriously turned to look back like 5 times looking for Brynn with no success....I started tearing up and Chad just laughed.

So now the countdown begins before I can pick her up....Brynn will have so many firsts today. First home packed lunch (see pic below) first "naptime" on a cot in a room full-o-kids. First circle time, book time, art time whatever else they will do. I so wish I could be a fly in the wall and watch her interact, learn, play, and yeah, probably have a fit or two.

Here is her lunch: PB&J sushi, Cheese, tomatoes, grapes, and some expensive milk. :-)

Brynnisms....

With Brynns ever expanding vocabulary, I have a feeling 2009 will be filled with many new Brynnisms...toddlerspeak, if you will.

Questions:
Brynns new thing is questions. all.day.long.

"Mommy! Wha-a you DO-in?"

Seriously, I hear this one all day. Unfortunatly, the answer is usually "Cleaning, what are you doing?"

"Where we/you goin?"

This one is usually only in the morning when she can tell Chad is getting ready to go.


"Allison"

Yesterday, we went over to Macys housefor a play date...Brynn and Macy have been BFFs since like 4 months old. They do call each other by name. Actually, Brynn will request "Macy" on a regular basis. But for whatever reason, yesterday they girls where calling each other "Allison" Macy started it and then Brynn picked it up. It was so odd. Allie (Macys mom) and I couldnt figure out WHO is Allison....neither of the girls know an Allison....

"Ow-sai?"

Outside. Brynn knows that Outside requires shoes and lately, a hat. So yesterday afternoon, Brynn was just wearing a shirt and nothing else. And she went over to the front door and put her hand on the knob.

Brynn: "Ow-sai?"
Mommy: "We need to stay inside right now"

So she goes and grabs two sepereate shoes. One strappy sandle number and one tennis shoe and Brings it over for me to put on her feet. So I comply. So now she is walking around with one sandal and one tennis shoe. She walks half naked over to the door knob

Brynn: "Ow-sai? Go?"
Mommy: "I am sorry Brynn, we cant go outside its cold!"

She then finds a beenie hat and brings it over for me to put on her head. I again comply. She now walks half naked with two different shoes on and a beenie hat over to the door knob and looks at me hopefully.

Brynn: "Ow-sai? Go?"
Mommy: "Oh Brynn, I am so sorry, its raining right now, everything is WET, we have to stay inside"
Brynn: "ugh"

But just the site of her with her naked Booty, and those unmatched shoes and too small of a hat on was priceless.....