Christmas

What a magical Christmas we had. My parents arrived on the 23rd. A short while after going to bed, we receibved a text message and a voicemail etting us know that my cousins Justin and Karen welcomed their new twins, Seth and Lucia into the world a bit earlier than we had expected. They are healthy and set to come home in a few days. What a blessing!
We woke up on Christmas Eve and I did an early morning photoshoot, while my mom headed out for a massage ( her bday present from us).
We put Audrey down for bed and began assembling her toys and setting up the living room for her christmas morning.
When she awoke, my parents brought her downstairs to enjoy all her new toys.
Many of her gifts were wonderful garage sale finds that we found during the summer months: a baby play station, a grocery store. Our friend Steve gave her a kitche that his kids had grown out of.
We did buy her a barbie ATV. She is still trying to get the hang of pressing the button and steering. The morning was long, but fun, filled with a fire interruption, which is no longer a surprise for any of us.
We then headed to Jim's family's house at 1 pm ( after naps) to enjoy a meal and more gift giving.
Although it was a wonderful christmas, spent with family, we were missing Harry.He spent the holiday in the hospital with numerous health issues.
It was the first Christmas that i can remember that he was not sitting in my driveway at 6 am ready to drink coffee, eat bagels and open gifts.
We are praying for his recovery.
We are thankful for this wonderful time of year and all that God has blessed us with.

A change of plans

Last week, Audrey spiked an incredibly high fever.
We visited the ER via the ambulance and a 100 mph ride prior in her dad's emergency vehicle, with our nephew Parker in tow.
The diagnosis: febrile seizure.
This is now Audrey's 3rd febrile seizure, a seizure that happens when the body's temperature elevates or decreases at a rapid pace.
Needless to say, Jim and I were feeling helpless and not so hopeful.
Nobody wants their child to go through such a scary endeavor.

My sister in law and BIL picked up their son, who I think we traumatized for life, at the ER. And, Jim and I headed home with a kiddo that had a fever still hovering at 103.5 degrees.

The following morning, we woke to find hives on our little girl's body.
I immediately got dressed and we took her to the emergent care at our pediatricians office.
There, we found that she had quite a red and pussy throat. She was swabbed for strep. It came back negative.
They sent us for blood work. It came back with elevated levels of her monocytes, or what looked to be MONO.
I know what you are thinking, what 16 month old gets mono. Right then, our 16 month year old was the only one.
SO, we went home and worked to keep her fever down. We called all of our close friends and family to be sure to share the news, as they may have contracted the illness. We had the whole world surrounding Audrey Joy Salter on its hinges.
AND THEN, the fever broke. But, a strange speckly rash appeared on her back.
We had an appointment scheduled with our primary care Pediatrician...and man oh man, are we glad that we kept it.
at first glance, he assured me that Audrey did not have mono, but that the fever and rash were due to a viral infection called Roseola. febrile Seizure is a common side effect of this virus. Our dear friends the Natales son, Lathan, was now sporting signs of the very same illness.
This was Jim and Stacy Salter's last straw...the one that broke the camels back.
The only way we are going to work to ward off any more illness and ER visits and febrile seizures and ear infections and whatever else comes with getting sick, is to make a life change FOR Audrey.
So, today, after putting it off for 2 days, I called the daycare and let them know that the best decision for Aud is to pull her out of the program and allow her some time to build her immune system to where it should be. We have had a sick kid for 9 months, since the 2nd week of daycare. They can't help it. It is the nature of caring for little kids in a daycare setting. Sickness happens.
I am scared to be a full-time mom. I wonder to myself, am I too selfish for this.
Am I good enough to be the one to teach her how to sing her ABC's, and go on the potty and can I really make those handprint wreaths and turkeys. The answer is: Yes.
God is giving me an opportunity in all of this. An opportunity to watch my little girl grow up more closely than I was before.
It might seem like a change of plans for me, but it is exactly what the plan was from the beginning for him.

ahh how fast life goes

Life in the Salter house seems to speed up and sometimes never slow down. that can be a good thing...sometimes not!
Our blog obviously comes last...although getting it out for me in therapy.
Audrey is no longer a baby anymore it seems.
She is making her move to Tods at Kindercare! She LOVES her friends there!
She is learning something new everyday...and we are often surprised with a snip-it of a song or a new word!
Her favorite word right now seems to be NO! She is also kissing everything!
When we say, give me a kiss...she loudly obliges with a MUAH! She kisses her friends at school too!
What was a tool of discipline as counting to 3 has taught Aud how to count to 3! PS: this form of discipline doesnt work for our girl!
She is certainly a dare devil, afraid of nothing! I think that comes from Jimmy.
She has 18 teeth! I have no idea how she gets them so fast! She occasionally gets herself in trouble by practicing using her little choppers. We think we are over the hump with biting, but sometimes we get a surprise!
We opted to have tubes put into her ears 3 weeks ago. The surgery was quick and she seems to be doing well. Audrey has had a constant ear infection since 7 months and this was our best alternative...especially since they seem to be the fever culprint.
she loves to sing and dance...taht is all me! That is my kid...and when she does it, I get choked up sometimes...lol! I have no idea why!
she watched herself in her mirror in the car and sings whatever is on the radio.
She is loving Dora the explorer lately. We like Dora too!
We are excited to have 2 new playmates in January.
My cousins are expecting twins, 1 boy, one girl...so Audrey will have family kids close to her age.
she loves to play outside.
we found an incredible dumpster deal! Our neighbor decided to set his princess trike to the curb, which has a handle for me to push...what a find! she loves it!
She also loves her pup-pup ( molli). Thank God Molli seems to at least tolerate her.
As for Jim and I.
Jim is busy with work. Busy is good. He has had a great year and I am so proud of him. He is always busy with the fire station. But, lately I have seen what he does in a clearer light and it make me admire him more than just sometimes feel like I am competing for the station's time. LOl! What he does is wonderful and I thank God for people like him who get up free of charge and put out fires, help with accidents, and so many other unnoticed events.
My photography business is going well! It seems I am busy at least 2-3 days a week.
AND, I am teaching at Yellow Breeches Middle School usually 2 days a week. That and my Thursday DeHart days are keeping me busy.
The best parts of my day are right now. Audrey is sleeping closely on the couch next to me, where she just fell asleep and I can reflect on the glory of it all.
I wouldnt change a thing!

I listened to HIM today

I feel like I am floundering.
Please nobody say, "I told you so!"
I am floundering in my faith.
I am floundering in my good health habits that I set out to keep up with.
I am floundering with many things...but most of all...
I am absolutely floundering when it comes to a job.
for me....job equals status.
I have SOOOO many jobs:
excluding the job of Mama...which is my 24/7 job that I don't feel I flounder at, I have
1.DeHart, my dad's company. I can't get the darn Telxon to work. I don't understand the state minimum for cigarettes, I don't like to explain to customers that the Arizona Ice tea they chose is the most popular and there wasnt enough for them when we picked and packed the delivery truck. I don't know how my dad manages 140 customers. I love doing it, but I flounder at it.
2. Benchmark. I wish that the field of higher education looked like it did 8 years ago. Schools are afraid of outside services. They report to someone, who reports to someone else and they have to cover their butts. I wish I could go into every potential account and make them understand why Benchmark is a great resource for every graduating career seeking human alive...but alas....I can't. I havent given up on my plight...but I am floundering.
3. Just So Stacy....I refuse to flounder. I am just getting started and that means learning and classes and shadowing...and as you can imagine life with a 1 year old...my time is limited.

BUT TODAY, I walked into a classroom for the first time in 14 years and Guess what, despite not understanding how the TV and VCR wall Combo worked and then realizing it was never plugged in or even hooked up for that matter....I DID NOT FLOUNDER!
In fact, I swam laps.
I left there with a reminder in my heart that there was a reason I went to school to teach. I LOVE TO TEACH!
I taught Home Ec, and although i am a horrible ironer( is that a word) I felt confident and excited.
I prayed on my way to drop off Audrey at Daycare: "Lord( I know we havent talked alot lately) but please watch over my daughter...so I dont have to leave my sub position on my first day to care for one of her typical head wounds or hand wounds, or fevers, or sniffles.
When I dropped her off and got back into the car, I prayed again: "Lord, remember me from earlier( lol, he always remembers me...I am loud and he cant forget me...thank goodness) Lord....I am handing my day over to you and the kids that I teach over to you and all that comes my way, I am handing them to you...because I trust you.
I made it through a short day, and instead of calling my mom the first second I walked out the door, I thanked God for listening....or should I say speaking to me and letting me hear him for once.
I am excited about whatever God has in store for me. I would be so excited if he takes me right back to where he placed me so long ago.
It was me who took me off that track. I have no regrets. I learned so much and experienced so much at Campus Door. I met amazing people and I feel like what I learned there I will use for the rest of my life....wherever God decides to lead me.

When you love something you run after it

So that is exactly what I have decided to do.
Ever since my kiddo was born, I have fallen in love with photography.
I love to capture every aspect of this little girl;s story that God is enfolding right out in front of me.
My pictures tell the story of her life and I hope that when she looks back on them she can see her ferocious love of life.
I have prayed about it....and prayed again...and God knows that I have thrown myself into every job under the sun since leaving Campus Door and becoming a mother....but God keeps placing the same idea under my nose everytime.
So, I am listening to him....and so far, so good.
I have offered a number of free photo shoots with folks that I know and the end product seems to keep getting better.
I have signed myself up for photography classes at our local community college.
I have taken a number of online photography tutorials now....which by the way are free and actually very helpful. It is like having a teacher all to yourself.
So ladies and gentlemen, as my friends will tell you, when I want something bad enough I throw my hat in the ring
Here is my hat....www.justsostacy.com and I am ready to learn and grow and capture other peoples happiness one shot at a time.
When God throws the same ball at you twice...you should catch it before it rolls out of play. Check out my blog coming soon!

Catching Up

I dont know how you other bloggers do it? How you manage to parent and work and still keep up with a blog? LOL! I miss this place.

Let's see, here is a brief recap of our last few weeks.
Audrey turned 1!
we celebrated with family. She got alot of great cards and gifts.

She was a bit overwhelmed as the center of attention( this surprises me...since Jim and I will both fully admit that we love to be the center of it all)
She didnt really love her cake.

She was zonked mid way through her celebration!

A few weeks later, my folks had their annual picnic. This years theme was a luau.
Audrey managed to catch the spirit and enjoyed some time in her hula skirt.


More recently, we attended my home churches 150 yr anniversary celebration. We got to see old friends. Audrey enjoyed the singing and lunch.

Later that day we made our way to the Coolidge Hollow Peach festival, where we ate yummy peach shortcake and ice cream!

what a fun time we have been having.

A Letter to my Daughter on her 1st Birthday

Dearest Audrey,

Happy 1st Birthday, my most beautiful girl.
This will be my 1st of many birthday letters to you. Someday, I hope you'll appreciate the gesture...a public proclamation of my love for you and my celebration of what each year has brought to your life and mine.
This year has surely been the most challenging and most rewarding of my life.
Nobody could have prepared me for the journey you have brought me to.
It doesn't seem possible that that tiny little person you were just 365 days ago has turned into a walking, talking, sippy cup drinking-out-of little blondie.
I have probably paused at least 100 times during the last 12 months to stare in wonder and reflect on how one tiny little cell developed into such a grand little person.

I worked so hard to make something out of myself professionally and personally, yet you have become and will always be my greatest masterpiece, my symphony.

I have so many hopes for you, great hopes that may seem minimal to you right now, but someday you will understand the importance of them: That you would be honest and have a heart that understands and loves other people, compassionate; that you would be governed by love and fairness and know and embrace the person that God has molded you into; that you would maintain a sense of silliness that I already see inside you.
Don't rush through your life like I feel I have often done. Don't pass others on your way to where you are going that may need your help along the way.
Be slow to anger or offer a word that might hurt another. I have struggled to keep my opinion in check and wish often that instead of being disparaging, I would realize so often that what I am critical about in others is usually something I recognize as a fault in myself. Know who you are, even the not-so-great parts and don't be too hard on yourself.
Appreciate now that you will probably be taller than most of the boys and will probably spend most of your life in the back row of pictures. But go ahead and wear high heels anyway. I have always envied girls who are tall and still can pull off a nice pair of heels.
This year has gone by faster than a wink, and I can't wait to see what your next year has in store for you and the rest of us who love you and center so much around you.
I will end this love letter by saying Thank you. Thank you for every sleepless night( Your dad is 100 times cuter with a sleeping baby in his arms), for every ounce of spit-up on my work shirts(I probably looked better in the second or third outfit anyway), for every snotty tissue I ran through the wash( I got better at checking the pockets), for every smile, for every first, for everything.

Always Yours,

Mom

Beach Baby Beach Baby there on the sand

Well, we are back from our first week long beach vacation. We traveled 3 1/2 hrs to Dewey Beach, Delaware. We = Me, Audrey, Jimmy, My dad and Mom, Jim and Val and Lathan Natale.
Our beach house was set right in the heart of Dewey Beach, just a 5 minute walk to the sandy shoreline and a 45 second walk to the local bars....not what we expected.
Also, right next to the road...no seriously, right on top of the road....
HOWEVER, we settled in and despite the small surprises, we set out to enjoy ourselves.
It was one HOTTTTTTT with a Capital HOT week!
But, we enjoyed time on the beach and boardwalk during our first few days there.
My mom and Dad were kind enough to allow the Natales and Jim and I to go out for a kid-less dinner in Rehoboth and a little shopping time; although during our child-break our conversations centered most frequently on our kids. What can we say, we love them!
Val and Jim and Lathan headed home on Tuesday.
On Wednesday, we rested.
On Thursday, rented a pontoon boat and headed out for a crabbing trip on the Ocean City Bay. Audrey HATED the lifevest. For the first 5 minutes I was pretty sure we were going to need to turn around, but once the vest came off and we dropped anchor, she was quite pleasant.
Friday, we spent the day at the bay beach and went crabbing. Jim scooted around on his raft. Mom and Audrey sun-bathed. Later that night, we headed to the Rusty Rudder for a much needed SEAFOOD FRENZY!!! I am still stuffed!
We tried family pictures later in the evening, but Audrey WAS NOT having anything to do with it....her pleasantness finally wore out it's welcome!
PLEASANT is something Audrey typically is, but sometimes PLEASANT TURNS to CHAOS..TANTRUMS...LOONINESS!!!!
I am trying very hard to navigate this change in my daughter. Sometimes, it can be a bit trying...but I'm...trying.:)
To say that that made me a bit edgy on vacation would be an understatement.
I want to be a good parent! I want my family and friends to believe that I am a good parent!
I forget sometimes that my mom, who is laden with advice just wants to be helpful, and not judgmental.....SOOO I am having mixed feelings about my behavior on vacation and many regrets.
I feel like I need a vacation after my vacation.
I feel like my mouth should be the one washed out with soap.
I feel like I am the child sometimes trying to lead my own child.
I feel like my husband puts up with alot of my bitterness.
I feel like God is up there shaking his head back and forth and wondering what in the heck I am doing.
And despite it all....I think I AM a good mom.
Just sometimes...I'm not the perfect wife, or daughter, or friend.
So I feel like I should include an apology to my vacation-mates for my snappiness and bad example.
If you never want to go on vacation with me again, I would completely understand and yet, just like I love my daughter even when she is chaotic...I hope you will too....love me.

Late night with Audrey Salter

She must be in training to take Conan's spot or maybe Jimmy Kimmell, because Audrey will not go to bed before 9:45 pm. She does whatever she can to stay up as late as she can. Around 8:45 pm, she begins to throw herself on her side or back, like she belongs on a fainting couch, and laughs and hides her eyes. I have to admit, it is actually very cute and she thinks it is even funnier when I throw myself on the floor and mimic her. She thinks it means that I want to wrestle so she gets in a few superplexes and body slams.....yet still....no going to sleep.
Do you think there are people who are actually born to be night owls? If she goes to bed before 9 pm, she still wakes up around 3 pm and searches all over the room with her eye to find some type of food source ( aka the bottle). If she goes to bed after 9 pm, she stays down until 7:30 am or later.
Sleeping in general has become quite a touch-and-go for us.
I chalk this up to what seems to be an ear infection that never quite goes away and a new tooth coming in literally every other week....she's up to 8 and the 9th one of working it's way down. Needless to say, I again break every mommy rule in the book and I lay with her in the spare room. If I can lay next to her and prop her up in a boppy pillow, and it means that she doesnt get drainage into her ear...guess what....I'm doing it!
I am really good at breaking mommy rules...and I am sure more than one person is shaking their head and saying "you will pay for it!"
I try my best!
She is on a schedule, but it's flexible. she can fall asleep anywhere and it is usually around the same time, once at 10:30 am and once at 3:30 pm.
She eats table food....when she wants to. She much prefers her bottle.
She sleeps when she is ready...and it works for us.
No matter what, here is what matters most:
I have a genuinley happy kid who enjoys wagon rides, being outside in her swing, watching her fishies, teasing her puppy dog, sitting in her little tikes tug boat, watching the kids across the street catch fire flies, splashing in her pool, pressing her face against the front door glass, banging pots and pans in the kitchen...and I love her for all those reasons.
It's 10 pm and her daddy has finally put her down. I will carry her up the steps and place her in her crib and maybe,. just maybe, we will get some sleep! :)

Lake Tobias

Last weekend, Mom, Jim, Audrey and Aunt robin and I headed to Halifax PA to enjoy a morning at Lake Tobias Safari and Zoological Park.
We got there quite early....in fact we were the first in line.
We got our tickets to the Safari Ride and enjoyed seeing emus and Elk and Deer and Buffalo. We even fed the animals crackers.
After our ride, we enjoyed the petting zoo and animal exhibits.
It was a wonderful, inexpensive trip; well worth the day! We loved it!
We cant wait to go back in the fall and see how much our new little animal friends have grown and changed.

Niagara Falls and Camping

Over Memorial Day weekend, Jim, Audrey, my folks and I headed to Kent, NY.
My dad has had a camper at North of The Ridge Campground for the past 15 years.
We made sure we had our passports, including Audrey's, and we made our way across the border to Canada to visit Niagara Falls. This was Jim's first trip to the Falls and Audrey's 2nd vacation.
We strapped Audrey in our backpack and headed to sight-see.
Audrey did great!
She enjoyed watching all of the people.
We took turns carrying her around. As you can see, we got some great shots during our vist.



That evening, we visited Browns Berry patch, one of our favorite spots for ice cream and entertainment.
Our friend the self feeding goat was there and we got our picture taken in some of the cut outs.

The next day, Jim and I headed out on the boat with my dad.
For 6 hours, we enjoyed the calm water...but we caught no fish.
While pulling into the dock, Jim noted that he could see fish from the walkway of the dock. One minute after saying it...Jim leaned in and caught a fish with his bare hands. quite funny!





We had a great time with my parents. We enjoyed the campground and sights.
We cant wait to do it again.

The Sillies

Audrey is such a happy kid! I am so thankful for this fact! She is full of energy, always on the go, always babbling away! If Audrey isn't happy, it can only be one of three things: She's hungry, she's tired....or she isn't the center of attention. LOL!
There is no getting around a crawling child that wants your attention. If she needs us, she finds us and lets us know that she is hoping for some attention.
I promise....she gets plenty of attention!
As she learns new things everyday...she often gets the sillies. Her smile widens, her grin is toothy and she blows air in and out of her nose so that she makes noise.
You can't help but smile with her!

Springtime

The flowers are in full bloom....and the Salter household is quite busy.
Jim has started church softball and the race track has opened.
Audrey has started swim classes at the Y.
She is doing great!
I am super excited that she is at ease in the water. She has even gone under twice.
I am keeping busy as well, as always.
Tomorrow marks my first official Mother's Day.
Audrey turned 9 months old today!It is hard to believe that she has been on the outside as long as she was on the inside now.
She is crawling all around the house, pulling herself up. It seems that every day she has the start of another new tooth....so far she has 6 through and 1 new one on its way!
Life is good.I am so blessed to be this little kiddos mom! She is the light of my life!

WOW.....it's been awhile since I blogged

Perhaps it is because the Salter household has been so busy.
Our little La-La is on the move.
She started out slow, but has certainly picked up the crawling pace. We are so proud of her...and yet...so afraid of what being on the move entails....a much more watchful set of parents.
She is loving magazines, especially when she can rip them apart.
She likes to pull herself up on the sofa, but hasnt yet decided that she wants to move from one place.
She is drinking out of a cup and likes straws; thanks to Gammie!
Today, her 5th tooth made an appearance.
I went to daycare last week to discover that she was in the toddlers room.
I now know what they meant by "don't blink"!

A trip to the Emergency room

Audrey had her first trip to the emergency room yesterday.
After her fever spiked to 104.9, she became stoic and unresponsive for 5 minutes.
Jim and I rushed to the hospital with his lights and sirens signaling and we made our way into the emergency room, where Audrey was assisted by 5 wonderful nurses who made her their first concern.
After a bout of blueness around the lips and eyes, she began to shake and shiver, as she faught off the temperature break.
Her skin became purplish with pink spots and it took 30 minutes to stabilize her and calm her.
Then, we sat through a few attempts at collecting blood ( chubby babies don't have visible veins)which eventually led to a heel stick and finger stick to collect the blood.
Our visit also included a chest xray and a urinalysis.
All forms of illness were ruled out, including rsv, swine flu, etc...
It turns out that Audrey has a viral infection that first displayed itself as pink eye and have coursed though other places in her body: her ears and throat.
She is taking Amoxycillin, and alternating tylenol and motrin, as well as continuing on her pink eye drops.
What a horrifying experience!
We are so blessed that Val came to the hospital to bring us food and then she headed to our house to let out Molli and also grab Tylenol for Audrey.
Even in the craziness, it is easy to find the blessings.
We are contining to monitor Audreys temperature and hope that her nose and chest clears of the congestion.

I am trusting God that she will never have to go back.

Being Sick...stinks!

In the last 2 months, we have had the stomach bug, first cold, and now PINK EYE! Ugh!
with this dreaded illness comes a 104 fever. Being sick just stinks!

I have camped out in the spare bedroom with Audrey over the course of her illnesses.

There is nothing worse than the helpless feeling you have when your kid is sick. I find myself checking her temperature every few minutes.

Her cheeks are rosy red and her little eyes are watery.
Still, she maintains her trooper attitude most of the time, smiling through her runny nose and in between her naps on the couch.

She doesn't really like the nose suctioning or the eye drops.
The tools of my mommy trade.

all this and her two top teeth are poking through and aggravating the already yucky situation.

If only I could click my heels and make her well.

Family Picnic

We decided to head out again to Children's Lake to enjoy a family picnic, with Molli in tow.
I packed Peanut Butter and Jelly, chips, fruit and drinks.
Daddy and I enjoyed our dinner. You and Molli took in the fresh air and other people at the park.
We had a wonderful time1
It is days like this that remind me how lucky I am to have the blessing of you and your daddy.

Hello Spring...we're so glad to see you!

Dear Audrey:

The weather outside is no longer frightful....and spending time outside with you has been DELIGHTFUL!

We went for a wagon ride/walk at Children's Lake.
I brought some stale rolls to feed to the ducks.
We sat on a blanket and laughed and giggled and enjoyed some time....just you and I.

I think that the ducks were full, because they didnt seem to want to eat our rolls.
I did manage to get some great pictures of you.

You are my sunshine!

Love,

Mommy

Goin' to School...and coming home

After much research, a few interviews and 2 daycare visits, we found what I believe is the next best thing to staying at home with mommy....for now.
Since I started "working" as a contractor for Campus Door, I need a few hours a day to work without interruption each day.
I chose KinderCare. It is exactly 6 minutes from our house.
Audrey has really bloomed there in her first week.
She is in a class with 4 other babies, sometimes more.
Her teacher's name is Miss Beth and the helper iS Drenda Kate.
When I pick her up each day, it seems that she has really enjoyed herself.
Yesterday, she painted 4 leaf clovers with her hands and feet.
Beth had to give her a bath because Audrey got a little too crazy with the paint.
When I arrived, they had pictures for me to enjoy. Seems so small perhaps, but those pictures, that gesture matters.
It matters to me that I get a note everyday that says what Audrey did, how long she napped, if she pooped. It is the next best thing to being there.

And, at 2 pm, when it is time to pick her up, the rest of my day is all hers.
Today, we went right to the park. We swang on the swings. We made a loop around the fields and enjoyed the sunshine. Then, we came home and took a tour of the neighborhood in the new wagon with Molli in tow.
The nights seem to go fast. By 7 pm, Audrey is ready for a bath and to unwind.

You know; when we walk, I take in the shadows of her little hands swinging around as I push her in her stroller. I study the smiles that she gives when she realizes that I am watching her from across the room, I trace her face with my finger while she sleeps.

When my mom says that Audrey doesn't look like Jim and that she looks like me, I wonder if it is because she is reminded of the outline of my face when she traces my little girls cheeks as she falls fast asleep.

You really never get to go back and do it again.

Hitchin a ride

Months ago, I decided to buy Audrey her first wagon.

I did a lot of research to find the right one for her.

I finally decided on the Little Tikes convertible wagon. It has all the bells and whistles; cup holders, a side that folds over and makes the wagon into a bench, lots of storage.

I think it is a perfect "tool" for trips to the park, walks around the neighborhood, maybe a visit to the zoo.

Yesterday, Jim spent a few hours putting Audrey's new wagon together.


Then, we bundled her up and plopped her in...and away we went around the block.
She loved it!

Today, we went on a walk together as a family. Molli ran alongside of us on her leash.But, for the last half of the ride, Molli hopped in with her little sister and rode along.

I hope that this newly budding friendship stays in tact.



We cant wait for more springtime fun and lots more wagon rides.

Tutu Cute!

Dear Audrey:

As you grow older, you have become accustomed to mommy's occasional impromptu photo shoots. This weekend Gammie, Pop, Aunt Robin and I dressed you up in a tutu and threw strands of pearls on you and began taking some shots.



You didn't mind it much at all...in fact, we decided you liked the feel of the pearls between your tiny little toes. You are such a princess! Gram did make you a little angry, so I have posted the outake:



Hannah also wanted to get in on the pictures. She loves to give you kisses.


Pop also thought it would be funny to throw his hunting hat on you. You sorta looked like a trendy superstar.

You had your 6 month appointment last week. You are 27 1/2 inches long and 19 lbs 12 ounces. You are one big LITTLE lady! The Doctor says you are right on track. We are thanking God so much for your good health and good personality! You are laughing so much. Giggles fill the walls of our house. It is hard not to laugh with you. You think Mommy is funny when I dance around the house. You roll around in your walker and like to look out the window or watch Maya at the basement door. You like to watch the fishies in the aquarium that Gram bought you. I like to watch your eyes explore the world around you.

Soon, I will be going back to work. A year ago, I would have never thought that I would want to stay at home with a baby. i thought for sure I would always have that pang to be a corporate woman..that was before I met you. I could spend every hour of the rest of my life just soaking in your face.

I am so grateful that I can work from home and at least enjoy the largest portion of your life.

Now, it comes down to finding the right person or people to care for you.
That is a hard task for my heart. I am placing it all in Gods hands...he will put us in the right spot or put the right people in our path.

Loving you with all of my heart,

Mommy