Ugh.

I don't know if it's being sick (God, I hope it's because she's sick) or if it's because she's in a new room, but Audrey has had the worst time going to sleep the past few days (naps AND night time.) The first couple of nights we got her out of bed after a few minutes of screaming and let her stay up an extra hour. But this weekend I've pretty much let her fuss herself to sleep. And it sucks...I don't know what else to do. This is worse than sleep training was when she was 6 months old. I really hope this passes because I cannot stand to hear her so upset...but the kid needs her sleep!

Updates

First, Baby Burns!

Today I am 18 weeks. I had the quad screen done yesterday and scheduled the big u/s for 12/21. I've been having severe pain in my tailbone. On Thursday I could barely stand it...getting up and sitting down hurt so badly. Luckily the pain has subsided...Dr K. isn't sure what the cause is but he wrote me a rx in case it comes back and recommended a maternity support belt (since I'm already feeling pressure.)

I'm starting to feel small kicks and jabs, specially when I lay down at night. This is my absolute favorite part about being pregnant! BB has a nice heartbeat in the 160s and we're so excited to see him/her in a couple of weeks :) I just realized I never posted the very first sonogram picture:



And here's the bump:


I'm at the awkward phase where my maternity clothes make me look huge but none of my regular clothes fit! I weighed in at 134, so that's about a 6 lb weight gain. I'm sure the 34 will be soon to follow...

This morning we were supposed to have Audrey's 2 year pictures done...but on Thursday she came down with a cold and she still has a very runny nose. My good friend Stacy will be coming in a few weeks to take them. Check out her blog here: Stacy Hart One More for Love.

Her room is pretty much done! I love how it came out and I think she will enjoy it for years to come...








Not sure why this one became so blurry when it uploaded! She loves the "A" on the wall

Her room being done is a huge weight lifted...because there are so many other things to do! Design and send holiday cards, pictures with Santa, Audrey's 2 year slideshow, shopping & wrapping...I'm feeling motivated and checking the extended weather forecast for a snow day or two before the winter break!

The holidays are finally here!

I just LOVE this time of year! It starts right after Halloween with the anticipation of Thanksgiving break. Lots of time with family & friends, eating great food, the general feeling of cheerfulness.

I am especially grateful to be sharing these first experiences with sweet Audrey. She is so into the holiday spirit this year...the songs, the decorations, and even Santa. We spent Thanksgiving with my family then headed up to Woodbridge to celebrate with the Burns family. Audrey napped for about 30 minutes in the car but was an angel the whole time. She especially loved playing with cousin Teddy. He's 5 and entertains her so well!


Checking out Pop's tree


Helping herself to raspberries at Mom-Maw's.

She didn't eat any of the amazing food...maybe next year?

Next week a good friend of mine is coming to take her 2 year pictures. We're doing them a little early so we can hopefully use them in our holiday cards. I'm hoping to get her new bedroom ready by then so she can take pictures in there. It's been painted and most f the walls are decorated. I'm waiting on a couple of decals from Etsy and for Chris to assemble her crib. I'm so happy with how it's turned out so far!


She kept very busy with this foam block while I put together the closetmaid organizer.


She even tried to help


Trying to get to the hanging lanterns


Phew! All that work is exhausting!

On Saturday during nap time we put up the Christmas tree. When Audrey saw it she said, "Oooohhhh!" and clapped and smiled. She really loves it. I hung all of the kid-friendly ornament on the bottom and let her play with them as much as she likes. Her favorite is a small gold bell decorated with holly leaves.







Just looking at the tree makes me feel so nostalgic. Two years ago I remember sitting in the recliner right in front of the tree with my warming blanket (and a heating pad!) wondering when oh when I'd get to meet Baby Burns. Wondering if it was a Jack or an Audrey. Being very thankful to be on the verge of meeting our first baby. I'm not quite as pregnant this time, but I still have the same feelings. Only this time I get to watch her playing and dancing and singing around the beautiful tree. I love this time of year!

Wedding Weekend

Ryan and Mimi were married on Friday and it was a beautiful wedding. We went to the rehearsal on Thursday (the church was absolutely gorgeous) and then went to dinner at Logan's. Chris stayed with Ryan and the groomsmen while Audrey and I came home to rest up for the big day.


Audrey and cousin Nina at the church

Audrey slept the whole way to the church (over an hour) and was in great spirits when we arrived. She got to hang out with cousin Isabella during the ceremnoy. Thank goodness the church had quiet rooms. The girls could chat and we could still hear the ceremony.




At the reception the girls danced the whole night. It was such a fun party with great food, great music, and awesome family.




Audrey & Bella liked walking around the dance floor.


Nina led the whole time :)






They had a mother-daughter dance. It was so sweet!






Favorite!


Had to be carried off the dance floor

We had a wonderful time. Unfortunately most of my pictures came out blurry or my camera delayed so much that I missed a lot of good shots. So, if you're reading this, Santa, mama needs a camera for Christmas :)

Our lovely girl, a lovely big sister

I've been waiting so long to blog about this! On August 25th we found out we were pregnant. We had been hoping for another, but after speaking with my doctor in May it seemed like a long shot. We had decided that if nothing happened this summer I'd go back on Clomid next summer. Imagine our shock and surprise when I randomly took a test on CD 41. I kept saying, "Oh my God, OH MY GOD!" We told close family & friends right away. Obv I wanted to wait until after the 1st tri to announce it on the interwebz.

I shouldn't have been too surprised...after I finished nursing I began to have regular cycles (something that never happened pre-Audrey.) I assumed I ovulated as well but I never kept track- which was a huge difference from ttc the first time (taking temps daily, charting, OPKs- UGH!) My cycles were long which is why Dr K. said we'd probably need to get back on meds to conceive again. The look on his face when he walked into our first appointment was priceless and we totally high-fived, lol.

Baby Burns is due May 7th. I'm 15 weeks and feel great, even starting to show a bit. I was mostly exhausted during the 1st tri, but no morning sickness. On Thursday Audrey and I went to the doctor for a quick check up. We heard a nice strong heartbeat at 160 bpm. I go back in 3 weeks for a quad screen and then 3 weeks after that for a sonogram (right around Christmas!) It's definitely an exciting time for our family :)

Some pics of the day we found out:




Someone seems happy with the news! She missed all the excitement while she was napping.


I get to have another one of these?! Life is good.

Ahhhh, much better!

Looks like we had a serious teething situation on our hands last week! She also got a pretty bad cold (coughing, stuffy nose, scratchy voice.) When I was brushing her teeth last week she opened nice and wide for me to see 2 pointy back teeth sticking out. I'm happy to say she's back to being her wonderful self!

We didn't really celebrate Halloween this year, but we did go out for Grandpa's birthday which is the same day.








See? Feeling much better!


We went to Uncle Scott's last football game but didn't stay very long since it was getting chilly.

Since her birthday and Christmas are right next to each other, we ended up putting most of her gifts away and we give them to her throughout the year (I really hope that continues to work for the next 16 years!) This is the final toy from Gift Extravaganza 2009...an awesome train from Uncle Scott. She loves it and played with it all day. She kept singing her ABCs and saying "Choo choo!!"






We have a few busy weeks ahead...I'm very busy with school (grad class, report cards & conferences, training...) and Chris's brother is getting married in just 2 weeks! Then it will be Thanksgiving, then time to put up the Christmas decorations. I love this time of year.

I lied

So, the day after I write a glowing review of our favorite girl, she goes and pulls a "I'm not two yet, but here's a taste of the Terrible Two's!" For serious, I was about to pull my hair out tonight. First, I barely get greeted at the door, then I get an "I'm too busy for you" attitude when I try to pick her up and give her kisses (did she not miss me and think of me every minute I was gone? Psssh.) THEN she kicks and screams the whole way to the car as we're leaving grandma's. I GET IT, you love being there. You REALLY loved playing with Bella all day. But get control of yourself, lady! She calmed down in the car after a few good high-pitched screams (she hated me in those moments, I could just tell.) We get home and she's now completely clingy. Sure. Now that I have to make dinner, take care of the dogs, make the bed, etc, etc, etc, NOW you want me! I literally would hold her for a minute, put her down to do something, let her scream for a minute, pick her back up.

FRICK!

I don't get it. I couldn't get Katy Perry's song out of my head. "You're hot then you're cold..." Only my lyrics have a few curse words strewn in for dramatic effect. She managed to eat, then had a grand ol time in the bath. Phew, what a relief, my fun-loving, sweet girl was back.

Not quite.

The second I laid her down for diaper and lotion, she wasn't having it. Do you know how hard it is to diaper a child that won't lay down? Between her now famous screams (they sure do sound different in a large room, compared to the car) she kept saying (aka screaming) "I stuuuuuuuuuck!" And I just kept repeating (in my head) the 4 letter word that rhymes with it. It is seriously not fun wrestling a toddler. And let me tell you, she was world-class tonight, completely unpinnable.

Luckily she went to sleep just fine (at 7:00, because I was sure as hell neither of us would live to see 7:30.) And of course when Chris finally got home she looked like a complete angel as she slept.

She IS an angel...when she's not the devil.

Today Audrey Catherine is 22 months!

That's right people, only 2 more months until she's TWO!! And just so I don't forget, here's what she's doing at 22 months:

She doesn't have a "lovey"; however, she carries around figurines from MMCH (usually Mickey & Minnie.) Always one in each hand. She's knows all of the character's names (even Pete) and we don't go anywhere without at least two of them.

Words: she definitely repeats more and more and has even said a couple of full sentences ("Where did she go?" when I leave the room.) She likes to press the answering machine button and says, "No messages!" Other words are please, up, uh-oh, oh no, yeah, ok, no, stuck, 'Abba' = Yo Gabba, Hi, Bye (she stretches this out to 2-syllables 'Bye-eeee'), car, momma, dadda, eddie, dog, pig, cat, snack, milk, moon, book, baby and basically anything you ask her to say she will (if she feels like it.) Mostly she just babbles as if she's talking in complete sentences and it is SO funny to hear. Sometimes it sounds like she's singing and people in the grocery store always tell her she's a great singer, lol. Speaking of singing, she definitely tries to sing songs and you can identify them by her tone and a few real words. Her two favorites are 'Tick-tock, tick-tock it's time to fix the cuckoo clock!' and 'All aboard the choo choo train.'

She loves her dance class. She's by far the worst listener though, lol. She wants to be up all the time, moving, dancing, and singing. While we're all on the floor stretching and making "sunshines" with our hands, she loves the dance around in the middle and just grin at all of us. Oh well, she's the youngest one in class and every week she seems to get better and better. She's having fun which is all that matters to me! I'm taking her to get her pictures taken in her ballet outfit...she's so adorable!

She definitely asserts herself and will cry and kick her little feet if we take her away from something she's doing (jumping on the couch) or if we take away something she's not supposed to have. But this is pretty rare because we are very lenient about bringing toys in the car or into her crib (she falls asleep right away, no sleeping problems what so ever) and our house is very open and kid-friendly. She plays so nicely with her friends and cousins and she loves playing with the dogs. She's just so happy and content, it makes me happy just watching her.

No back teeth yet but I'm sure they're right around the corner. Her hair is growing in beautifully (the blonde curls are to die for!) and even though her diet hasn't changed at all, she's healthy (and pudgy in all the right places!) She eats toast, pancakes, oatmeal w/fruit, apples, bananas, yogurt, pizza (esp the crust), PBJ, and grilled cheese. We still offer her some of our dinner every night, but she always refuses.

She's still a stickler for routine...in bed by 7:30 and a 2-3 hour nap every day. She loves our family kiss and family hug. When you ask her to "be nice", she softly caresses your face with her hand and she gets the most thrilled look on her face. She gives high-fives and fist bumps (complete with an exploding sound effect!) She loves to read and we have so much fun pointing at and naming pictures. She's crazy fast at puzzles and loves to dump them over when she finishes. She is so good at playing by herself, she can sit and play with her toys for the longest time. Then she finds something else and plays some more.

She's just generally awesome, as all kids are at this age. It just amazes me to see how they are each developing and growing. She's very lucky to have so many friends and cousins around her age.

Time to start planning a birthday party! I'd love to hear what toys your toddler enjoys playing with or what you plan on buying for Christmas.

Happy 6 year anniversary

I feel very blessed to be happily married to my best friend. Chris is an amazing husband and a wonderful father. We have been incredibly fortunate and I can't wait to see what the future holds!

We started our weekend with dinner at the Iron Horse, a really nice restaurant in Ashland. A friend of Chris's recommended it and the food was excellent! On Saturday we stopped for a quick breakfast at Chic-fil-a, then chose new area rugs for the house. We took Audrey to dance class then headed to Belvedere Plantation. The weather was gorgeous and we had a great time!



Dad and Audrey checking out the animals

She did so well at feeding the goats! Must be all the practice she gets feeding the dogs!

She preferred to walk around

My favorite flower of the bunch!

She absolutely hated the pony ride...at least we got our $6 back


Her very first pumpkin!



Pumpkin picking is serious business...

Hugging her pumpkin (which she kept calling an apple!)


Favorite picture of the day, to be framed!





Before we left we bought an apple pie and a picture frame. Chris picked his very own pumpkin which I know he plans on carving into a creative masterpiece. Audrey passed out in the truck on the way home and took a loooong nap. Then we headed to Richmond for our anniversary dinner at Cheesecake!


She would NOT look at the camera!

Tired :)

It was such a great weekend. I wish we had Columbus Day off tomorrow, but it's a work day for teachers (not even a real work day, we'll be stuck in professional development classes all day!) Thanksgiving can't come soon enough :)