smarty pants

Its just been amazing to watch Audrey the last month, it seemed like overnight her brain just clicked into a different gear and she is just turning into a toddler.

Its hard to explain in words, but she observes and learns so quickly Chad and I can't keep up she amazes us everyday with the new things she does.



For example, we had never given her a fork before (ok, I know we might be slow in this area, but the girl didn't start eating solids until about 7 months) but the first time we handed her a fork, BAM she was using it like an old pro. She could even spear her little bits of corn onto her fork and then put it in her mouth.

Same thing with a straw cup, not a sippy straw cup, but a cup with a straw (like at a restaurant) first time trying a straw, she just drank it like it wasn't new to her.

Books and Puzzles, she takes her books and flips through the pages and points at various things and makes random proclomations about the subject. Puzzles, she attempts to put back together, she is still working on this one. We have this one toy that is a shape sorter type thing. We showed her once and she picked up on it right away.

She tries to dress herself, like she went into their dress up room, and she took a crown and was trying to put it in her head.

I don't know, maybe all of this is normal for a one year old, and since I still think of Audrey as my little baby, it just blows my mind that my baby girl is growing and learning seemingly overnight!

Going Public! My photoblog!

It is with great excitement, anticipation, and nervousness that I am ready to "go public" with my new photoblog I have been working on!

Click by KM

I recently decided to jump in and offer Holiday Mini Sessions and I got a quick, positive response and have at least 2 shoots everyweekend for the next 3 weeks! Yipee! So many fun subjects!

Please follow my new blog and I hope you enjoy!

First Hair Cut!

Ah yes, the time finally came where I had to set my selfish hold on Audreys hair go in favor of my daughters vision. That's right, we have Audrey her first little hair cut. Really just a bang trim.

Here is the before.



It was just getting to be too much. I either had to have it in one of those rubber bands all the time or she was constantly tilting her head back to peek through the bottom of her bangs.

I waited until AFTER her first birthday for fear that it would look just horrible, so we did it the next day...But in retrospect, I think she looks super cute with her new do. And if I do say so myself. I did a pretty good job for someone with no experience in cutting 1 year olds hair (Brynn has never had a trim)

I sat her in her chair, and put an icecube in her tray and while she played with it I slowly carefully trimmed those first little locks off....we took about an inch and a half off the front, I tied a ribbon on it and put it in her little memory box.

Here is the after!

Happy Halloween!!!

I LOVE Halloween! And its just so much more fun through the eyes of a child.

on Thursday we carved pumpkins. Carving pumpkins is one of those things that you REALLY look forward to, but then while you are doing it you realize: this is WORK! and its really not as fun as you had hoped it would be. Maybe when the girls get older and can actually seriously participate it will be more fun.

Here are the pumpkins from the discount grocery store --oops I mean geniuine patch pumpkins *wink*wink*



Audreys "help" consisted of munching on the bits of pumpkin.





Brynns "Help" consisted of scooping out dads pumpkin (wait for it) ..... and then proceeding to dump it in mommys already cleanout out pumpkin....

In the end we got the cutest picture! Its a little out of focus, but it was getting late and the girls were restless. I should have used my flash....but still, its adorable!!!!!

Have fun tonight everyone!!!

12 Month Well Baby...

Audrey had her 12 month well baby visit today.  It was a nerve racking appt for me because I brought brynn so we could all get our flu shots, and Brynn, after the 3-4 dislocated elbows she has had and the one ear infection is DEATHLY afraid of the "D" word...I dont even want to type it for fear of her reaction. But now I am glad that she came along as an observer to see that the dr doesn't hurt you.

I told brynn that I needed her to be my big helper and tell audrey not to be afraid of the Dr. So when we picked Audrey up, Brynn goes "Audrey, the dr not scary, the dr nice."

Audrey is 22lbs (75%) 2'5"(75%).

She has and will take steps, but is not close to what I define as "walking"...something that an impatient mother like myself is eager to see.

Her words (that she uses in a proper context) are: Mama, Bye Bye, and Uh Oh.

the uh oh one is funny...she kinda hums it rather than a clear ". One day we were playing outside, and she had her little la cuca ratcha rattle thing (the proper name escapes me)...and she would squat down, place it on the ground and then stand up and say "uh oh" and then squat, pick it up, squat, put it down, stand up and say "uh oh"...repeat repeat repeat. Too cute!

One thing the Dr said that kinda irritated me, is she said I should start considering weaning..I did a double take "is this the set of Mad Men and its the 1960's? ...listen lady. I don't need you telling me sh** about how often and when I can nurse *MY* kid. My kid is thriving and in the 75th% thats all you need to be concerning youself with as far as that goes. but I just brushed her off and rolled my eyes.

The real fun came with the vaccines. Brynn watched me get my nasal spray and FINALLY calmed down about it and took her nasal spray like a CHAMP!

Audrey, was none-to-pleased about her 3 needles pokes (we did the flu, chicken pox, and I forget, but not the MMR, we are waiting a couple months...didnt want to load her up with vax today) the first two went in and she was pissssssed. Then we had to switch sides for the third, and I don't know how or what exactly happened, all I know is I got poked and scraped with the needle on the top of my hand. So the nurse had to quickly go change the needle out, meanwhile I am bleeding and nursing Audrey to try to calm her enough for the next needle. Wowzers.

Then Brynn and I went for IceCream since she was such a great helper. I could really tell at the end that *hopefully* she has warmed up to the (wispering) doctors office so next time it wont be as scary to her.

We all got our Flu shots (in case you are wondering, no we didnt get the H1N1 at this time).

Audrey is doing great! All in all, and exciting trip to the doctors office

Quick as a Wink, Quicker than you think...

(the title is from a Radio Jingle for Minute Stop in hawaii from when I was a little girl, but it fits perfectly)
Tonight, on the eve before my Daughters 1st birthday, I reflect on the last year. I remember where I was this time last year. I was laying in bed, 200+lbs. Feeling pretty hopeless. Despite being 2 weeks from my due date, I had decided that I was bound to be pregnant for.ev.er. I was planning on googling the number to Guiness Book of world records so I could call them and let them know I was going to be entering my submission for the first women who was pregnant for.ev.er.

ok, now that I look back on my mind frame, I relize how insane that was. But I was SO big and SO uncomfortable, and SO SO SO SO SO over being pregnant and swollen, plus, I had convinced myself that 10-23 would be the day for me, so I was a little disappointed to find myself laying in bed watching TV instead of huffing and puffing and pushing......that is......until 11pm hit.

I will spare you the long details, so I will just summarize:
- I was approx 2 weeks early.
- 4 hours from "I think I just had a contraction" to "look out bellow!"
- I have my babies Au Naturale
- When Audrey was crowning the nurse said "wow this is going to be a big baby" (hey, thanks lady!)
- When Audreys head was out the nurse said "This is a big baby! How early are you?"
- When Audrey was out and placed in my arms immediatly following birth the first words out of her mouth her "That IS a big baby" (alright lady, we got it!)
- You betcha I screamed...oh boy did I scream.
- She was 9lbs 10oz, 21inches.
- She was purple and covered in a ton vernix (that white sticky stuff, common in babies born before their due date)

but she was perfect.

I love this picture. I think it perfectly captures the love I feel for my little girl immediately. I will never forget hearing that first cry, feeling that tiny (ok, big for a 38 weeker) wriggling wet body in my arms for the first time, hearing her first tiny breaths as she nuzzled up to me looking for The Boob, and smelling that sweet baby smell of milk and heaven on her soft downy head.

The adjustment from 1 kid to 2 was HARD...damn hard. Harder than you can ever possibly imagine or prepare for. You can't even put it into words. Its just.hard. And every friend I have had since then that has made that transition has had the same findings...its just.damn.hard...so I know I am not crazy...

But I got through it.

Over the last year, I have watched Audrey grow and blossom into a beautiful lityle girl. She is so sweet. She is a firecracker...I think I am going to have my hands full when this little one gets older. She defitnatly likes to have a good time.  I just can't beleive how quickly this last year has flown by. Yesterday she was holding her head up and learning to roll, tomorrow we blow out her first of many many many many many candles to come in long span of her life.

My Nana believes that our spirits up in heaven pick out their lives. Like the little spirit Audrey said "you know what God, I think I am going to go for Chad and Kristin, that Brynn looks like fun, and she needs a little sister. And that Kristin, well, she takes way too many pictures, but I hear she is a fun mommy, and that Chad looks like a great dad."

Well, I don't know if my Nana is right, but if she is, I sure am glad that Chad and I have been blessed with this bright ray of sunshine that is our little Audrey.

I cannot, not even for one second, imagine a world with out Audrey. It simply couldn't be.

Last night I lay with Audrey in our bed nuzzled in my arms and next to her was Brynn, and Chad...well, Chad decided that it was too cramped of quarters, so he slept in Brynns bed (yeah, we have been having Brynn issues lately) and Brynn was patting my head like I was a dog and singing "the ants go marching" very quietly, and Audrey had her little arm wrapped around my arm with her soft, sweet breaths in my chest and I thought to my self "man, it doesn't get better than this" and I meant it.

So, Happy Birthday Sweet little Audrey. We love you.

Parent Teacher

Today I had Brynns first Parent - Teacher meeting at school!

It went well, she said that Brynn is a "model student" and that when there are new kids, she sets Brynn and another little girl up with the new student to show that new student how things work, how to follow rules, what to do etc etc etc.

She said that Brynn is a sweet girl who gets along with others well, she has her favorite little boy and they are two peas in a pod (this is the same little boy brynn informed me was her boy friend - eep!)

Brynns developement in colors, numbers and letters is great. Her vocabulary is great, they are working with her on her "y's" sometimes she says her "y's" as "n" or "Ls" as in "Lellow"

They are also working on normal 2 year old challenges of cleaning up after herself and just general cleanliness.

She said that she thinks Brynn will be ready to move up in class before she turns three. The next classroom is when the child is 3 year olds and potty trained and "ready"

Oh, and she mentioned Brynns hair...well, its always in her face and she wont keep a pony tail in, so she is constantly doing the hand swipe across the face so she can see. So, I think there will be a hair cut in our future. But I am just so scared! But more and more I think its going to be necessary.

I wanted to include a cute picture of my cutie who is doing so well, but unfortunatly, the girl doesn't like her picture taking...so I give you this:

San Fiasco

This weekend we visited SF with family. It was a GORGEOUS day!

We started off with a trek across *the bridge*.


guess what *I* am doing in this picture (teehee)...hey, a girls gotta eat!


Did I mention it was a gorgeous day?

This is at fishermans grotto, we ate clam chowder in bread bowls, and got this yummy "scary punkin"

We went to Pier 39 and checked out hundreds...and I mean HUNDREDS of Sea Lions...or harbor seals...In any event...there were so many of them, it was crazy they were all climbing on top of each other yellling and yelping at each other. kinda reminded me of WalMart on black friday.



all in all, it was one of those trips that turn into fun family memories!

Post on Toes

Well, not exactly, but it was a cute title!

Have I ever mentioned that I am a super slacker mom when it comes to dressing my kids and shoes and that sort?

Yes, I admit, I keep my kids in footed sleepers everyday all day for as long as possible before it becomes socially innapropriate. I have never been the kind of mom to dress my girls all up. I just find it unneccesary and I like to take advantage of how easy it is to just keep them in their comfy jammies.

But the other day Audreys baby sitter asked me to start bringing Audrey in shoes since she is getting real close to walking. So that ended my keep-em-in-their-jammies-no-maintanence-kids streak. So we headed down to T-Get and got some Robies knock offs. But is it not amazing how much older my "baby" looks with shoes on?

as for my 2nd set of toes: ms. brynn. Today was "Dress in Orange" day at Brynns school. I found these super cute orange pumpkin socks at the $1 at Target.

note to brynn in 5 years: you want to know why there sre not as many pictures of you or al the pictures you don't look at the camera? Well that is your choice, it is not because mommy didn't take pictures of you or try hard (because, I HAVE)....this is as good as it gets:

A Look Back

FALL IS HERE! I am an HEAVEN! And what better way to bring the Fall Season in than a trip to the pumpkin patch?

Chad and I were looking back at pictures the other night and I frequently go back to see what I was doing on this date this time last year (since I take pictures almost daily, its easy to do)...its just a little quirk I have.

Well we looked back at 10/03/08 and I'll be darned:

Lets fast forward to 10/03/09:

Its amazing how much has happened in the last 12 months...I subtracted about 60 lbs from my body and added a beautiful happy girl to our family!

We had a great time at the pumpkin patch. Brynn was like crazy excited, she didn't know where to start, she was darting back and forth and running (and tripping) all over the place.

Even Audrey had a great time, she was kicking her legs like crazy all excited at the sights and all the BIG orange "Balls"

We didn't get a pumpkin at said Patch, but we will go back to get one. It just got really cold and windy toward the end and we kinda rushed out of there. So thats it, pumpking patching 2009! The Holidays (and the New Moon movie) are upon us! Let the countdown begin!

What is "WhaPaw"?

answer:
What Chad wanted to do to to the lady that went up to Audrey and said "SOMEBODY needs their bangs cut"

"WhaPAW!"

don't you be talking about my daughters crazy ass hair!

 

sabbatical

I am sure no one has noticed....heck, I am not entirely sure that anyone really reads this boring blog besides the first few sentences in google reader before they say "Meh, moving on". But, I haven't really been on the world wide web lately...ok, ok, I lie...I have been sneaking onto Farmville on facebook here and there but other than that, I have really not been on the internet. Which means I haven't posted much here!

I have always loved the idea of sabbatical...I can remember some of my college proffessors going "on sabbatical" and going to europe or whatever. Can accountants go on sabbatical? I guess Maternity leave is kind of like Sabbatical, except you don't sleep and are totally overwhelmed the whole time (at least I was)

I digress...

just want my imaginary (and maybe real) readers out there to know I am taking a little internet break to get a grip on 3Q09 and the rest of my crazy life, and hopefully my 09 blurb book which is sitting at around July at the moment and needs catching up.....Could be a few days, could be a couple weeks.

PS: if you read my blog, could you please "follow me" as in click the "follow me" button, just so I know I have real readers? Is that narcasistic? maybe.

The Dark Side...

Brynn.



every gorgeous (if I do say so myself) blonde toddler has a dark side.

brynn is no exception.

she is really polite, minds her P's and Q's and is really an affectionate little girl....but everyonce in a while, out of no where, her dark side will come out of left feild and sock you right where it hurts...the following was this mornings drive to school:

Mommy "I LOVE you Brynn!"
Brynn: "NO! I like DADDY! I HATE YOU!"

nice. real nice.

I explained to her that she is not allowed to use that word to anyone, and if I hear her say that to anyone else (or me) again she is going straight to the clinker (time out - at our house its immediately facing what ever wall is nearest to the location of the crime until a sincere appology or calming down occurs)

she immediatly appologized.

I know she got it at school. lately she has been coming home talking about "best friend" "I like daddy so I can't like mommy" "A and N are my best friend" "Mommy you like daddy, I like audrey"

I know that she is just learning about relationships and how they all - for lack of a better term - "relate" so we try to explain to her that she can (and should) be friends with EVERYONE. But the "H" word will simply not be tolerated!

Audrey is 11 months!

I know I say this every month, but I can not believe another month has gone by. My baby girl is 11 months old and I am mailing out the invites to my baby girls first birthday party tomorrow.

On one hand I am really sad that my baby is not going to be a baby for very much longer...in just a short amount of time, my sweet baby crawling across the floor giggling will be replaced with a whining toddler kicking and screaming on my floor. I will miss those late night cuddle sessions when she is small enough to fit snuggly in my arms, I will miss the times when just a little nini will give the whole house peace and quiet.

On the other hand, I look forward to watching Audrey continue to grow and learn new things. among the following:

Standing and Walking...I don't think she will be walking by her first birthday, maybe standing, but not walking. I know she CAN do it, because she has taken a few steps independently when she didn't know it, but she chooses not to. Thats quite alright with me, she can take her time, but I DO look forward to watching her toddle around the house with her sister.



Talking....right now, she can say, Mama! (her first word, BTW) and Dada but I look forward to little conversations with my baby girl!

playing...Audrey is already alot of fun to play with, but its been my experience that the older they get, justwhen you think it can't get any better, your kid starts to play a fun new game, activity, or "make believe" world and it just makes the whole parenting gig pay off.

speaking of game play, Audrey loves to play peekaboo. she takes a blanket, book, etc and covers (or thinks she covers) her face until someone says "wheres Audrey" and she willl drop her "cover" and crack up and then do it all over again. In the picture below, she is using a plastic bowl to play peekaboo...so adorable!

Sleeping through the night: I have heard this happens at somepoint...I know my time is coming.

Ending these Mr. Bear Photo shoots. I have to say, I know they are super cute to look back on, and on picture they look super easy...but these bear pictures are the biggest pain in the a**. Most of the time, you plop her in front of the bear, and she instantly rolls around to give the bear a kiss or something, or she will crawl away to get off the couch. Its very.very.very. difficult to get a good shot, and I have to admit, I am SO excited I only have one more to do...ever.

So happy 11th month my sweet baby Audrey! This time next month, I will be telling you about my ONE YEAR OLD AUDREY!

All in fun...

For a little laugh....things that irritate me:

1) John Gosslin...SUCH a Juice Bag.

2) One-uppers: I tell you my girl said her first word and you say "oh really? MY baby has been talking for a few months now...I can't get her to shut up!" And we all know someone that can pump "10 oz on each side" ;)

3) Traffic, further more that section of the freeway with no on or off ramp nor anyother thing to look at or yield to, yet everyone for WHATEVER reason decides to slow to about 35 at that portion of the free way...GAH!!

4) Over-sharers...no offense, but I don't need to know when you and your hubby DTD last, nor do I want to know what your dinner is now doing to your digestive track, nor do I want to know every flippin moment of your day, and every thought that has crossed your mind.

5) When I have my fussy baby in my arms, and my whining toddler at my heals, and I am behind you and your 100 items in the check out line while I only have a gallon of milk....let me. go. ahead. of. you. .... and for gosh sake: DON'T TAKE YOUR TIME WRITING A CHECK!

6) Jason Stathom..............................ok, you got me, I am TOTALLY joking...Jason Stathom could never irritate me..infact, he can do what-ev-er he wants [to me]..*swoon* (chad and I are watching the transporter right now, I couldn't resist)

7) The Trend to "team this" and "team that" especially those tshirts Jennifer/angelina, Eric/Bill, Jacob/Edward, kanye/taylor, linsay/sam, ...GGGGAH!!

8) ants

9) when my husband does one chore like cleaning the living room, and thinks he is set for the week. As if that covers it.

10) Chocolate - so good, so rich, so smooth, so yummy, yet makes your a** big...why do the best things in life make your a** big? -- Babies, chocolate, deep fried whatever, my job.

11) Initiation Fees - your telling me that its gonna cost you $106 to "innitiate" me into your Gym? what do you have to do beyond enter me in your damn computer and give me that scanner pass? Really? Really?

12) Thomas The Train.

13) Dirty Feet - Actually, lets just say dirtiness like a blanket statement. abidadaGAH!

14) When I am reading Perez Hilton and Chad reads over my shoulder asking me to slow down my scrolling or "who is that?" -- Chad, really, read it your self later.

15) The Two Faced.

lil princess

Brynn is totally inlove with Princesses. I don't know where it came from because she has never seen any of those movies. But she loves them, and wants to be one (well, she really is already a princess)

Because we love to spoil out girls, we went and bought her some pricess jammies (she doesn't know they are jammies) and a princess crown so the trandformation is now complete!

Look at her admiring herself as the crown is placed on her head!



Twirling pink pricess...check out those heels!

And its only a matter of time before I have two little princesses click clacking their plastic heals around our house.

Heard recently at our house...

While playing in the backyard yesterday

Audrey: MAMAMAMADADADAABITIDOTADADADADADA
Brynn: What are you talking about Audrey?

~~oOo~~

driving home from school

Brynn: Where is thomas? (one of brynns BFFs) I want Thomas right now!
Mommy: Thomas is with his Mommy and Daddy.
Brynn: ok, Thomas come over, Thomas's Mommy and Daddy [can] come too.

the weird thing about T & B...is I have talked to her mom on numerous occasions, and they seem to both request each other simultaneously. almost like they have this little *connection* they are going to be great buddies (well, they already are)

~~oOo~~

chad was taking the girls shopping at costco, and they had gogurt samples. Brynn ate hers and Audrey was still working on hers.

Brynn: I want some [of Audreys gogurt]
Daddy: No Brynn, thats Audreys.
Brynn: I want share! (as in, I want Audrey to share)

just because

posting just because...

My view ALOT lately (spending lots of time and $$ at both our local big box home improvement stores...) ...check out my curly blonde beauties!!!

Brynn checking her blondspot


Life has been great lately...the girls are AWESOME as always. Seriously. they are great.

Brynn is sucha sweet heart and a great daughter and sister. She is so polite too. Always says her please and thank you and your welcomes. And everyonce in a while she will say "GOOD JOB MOMMY!"...like after I pee successfully on the potty....or if I put my dishes in the dishwasher...or if I eat all my dinner. Its pretty funny that she picked that up from her dad and I...not a bad thing to pick up from your parents!

Audrey is so much fun. She likes to be chased, and thinks the whole family is in a constant game of catch and tickle....If you walk in the room, she will crack up and start running away looking over her shoulder as if to say "please don't get me and tickle me!"

I have had first casualty in the garden...I planted some some pink hydrandia in the yard, and its dieing...I need to get a how to book on gardening because so far...I am blowing it.

and now I leave you with....
an office prank......

when the boss is away, accountants will play!!!!!

Mission Unaccomplished...

The countdown has begun! My baby girl turns 1 in 6 weeks!!!! Say it ain't so!

Step one is to get a picture for the bday invite. This afternoon at sunset I put on a really cute dress and we headed outside!

I was still wearing a pencil skirt and work top, but I didn't let that stop me. I was rolling around in the grass, jumping, squating, laying sideways, you name it in the name of photographing my little cutie...who, was really not into it.

I don't think I get the *one* shot to use yet...but I did get some cute ones.