Audrey Catherine is 5 1/2!!

I look at her and I just don't know how we got to be so lucky. There is something very special about this girl. She is a true ray of sunshine, one of the best things we've ever done. I just know she is meant to do something great in this world. Sometimes it feels like I'm raising my very best friend. I just couldn't live in a world without her.

Audrey is always happy. She has a strong sense of right and wrong. She is so animated and excitable. She is caring, thoughtful, and such a little lady. She is so polite and very concerned with being "classic." She still loves to use big words and I adore listening to her speak to other people. She is respectful and considerate. I am so proud of her kind heart. She curtsies to people when they open the door for her, lol. The other day we got a package in the mail. She said, "Could it be a new toy, perhaps?" :) She says things like, "I'd be delighted to!" and "Oh my, that is filthy!" I have to write these things down!





She is extremely creative. It brings me such joy to watch her take random objects and create something new. It does drive me crazy- the messes, the disorginization, the finished projects I'm not quite sure what to do with. She cannot keep her room clean for more than a day. But, it's a small price to pay in the name of creativity. I really hope that her future teachers understand and embrace this part of her. I love listening to her sing...she sounds like a little Liza Minelli. She reminds me of Kristin Wiig in Bridesmaids, when she's drunk on the plane, "...down by the rivaaaahhhh!!" LOL

She has a hard time focusing. Chris and I will joke, "Look, squirrel!" because sometimes she's SO easily distracted, lol. Maybe that's typical for a 5 year old, but she can be very forgetful. She still has incredible attention to detail, a fantastic long-term memory, and she will sit and complete tasks that take a good amount of time (building, creating, reading, drawing.)

She loves to learn new things. She wants to take classes on everything so that she can "find my perfect fit." She has been working hard on counting (to 100, skip counting) and sight words. I think she'll do great in school, but she will have to work at it (FOCUS!)






She's such a Momma's girl, my little shadow. She loves being a role model for her little sisters, although Abigail can bring out the worst in her, lol. When Audrey cries, I know it's because she has truly had enough. I hope she'll always let me be there for her.

She starts school in a little over a month. All day, everyday. Her endless supply of energy will serve her well! I'm hoping she'll be zonked out at bedtime each night (it takes her awhile to fall asleep now...she's so restless!)

She's constantly making me proud to be her mother. From her outgoing personality to her sweet and loving nature, Audrey is a living dream.

Preschooler

My goodness. Sweet Abigail Mae is all ready for preschool!



I am so excited for her. I do have some apprehension about throwing her into school, 4 full days. We really like this school, mostly because they get to change classes for each subject. I think it's a great concept for little kiddos who need a lot of movement during the day.

It's difficult to say how she'll adjust. I know she's more standoffish than Audrey. I love that she'll be learning math and science and even Spanish- but to me the most important part of preschool is social preparedness. I hope she'll make some good friends and learn to be a cooperative and kind person.

She has regressed a bit with her potty training. She's fine when we're out in public. But when we're home she is too busy, too distracted to stop what she's doing. We have to remind her to go and physically take her away from whatever she's doing. Fingers crossed that she gets back on track very soon!

She is such a sweetheart. I am going to miss spending so much time with her. In the mornings I sit on the couch with my coffee and I hear her footsteps coming down the hall. She quietly peeks around the corner to see if I'm there. When she sees me, she runs and jumps on my lap and we have the best snuggle time before anyone else wakes up (she's now the earliest riser!) I know she's ready for all the excitement of school, but I'm really going to miss her :(


She starts the same day I go back to school for the teacher work week, but soon she will go in for a couple hours one day to test it out. Go out and be great, Abigail! We love you!!

Independence Day

What a gorgeous day it was! Audrey and Abby were so excited about "American Day." They put on a show for us at breakfast...they just sang (about America, of course) and danced around, waving the American flag, lol.

We spent the day at Grandma and Grandpa's house. I was determined to get a good picture of the girls before they changed into their swim suits :)






Audrey and Abigail are RIDICULOUS in the pool with their mad swim skills. Audrey learned how to swim to the deep end. I love how she swims underwater! Abigail is incredibly advanced for being 3. She definitely tries to keep up with the big girls. She can touch the bottom of the shallow end on her tip toes. She'll jump into the pool and make her way to the stairs. She likes to throw in her diving rings and retrieve them herself (if anyone tries to help her, she gets SO mad! lol) I remember at 3 1/2, Audrey would swim around in her ring. Just last year at 4 1/2 she would venture without it, barely being able to touch in the shallow end. I think she graduated to the noodle last year. Abby wants nothing to do with those! I love her determination. We definitely watch her at all times, though!

They are so fortunate to have access to the pool. I don't really put a lot of stock in swim lessons. They've gained confidence and learned to trust the people swimming with them, so they aren't very hesitant about taking risks (especially Abigail.)


I took special 9 month pictures of Annie. What a sweet little honey she is!



















This time next year we'll be chasing around a 21-month old! Maybe we'll be brave enough to stay out late for fireworks, lol.

Anne Elizabeth is 9 months old!

Wow, what an amazing baby she is! She's so happy, she has the best routine and she just radiates with joy.










Impossible!













The past week has been rough :( She caught a cold and it is taking forever for her to get over it! Stuffy nose, runny nose, coughing, sneezing, blah. And she sounds SO hoarse, it's just sad when she talks or cries.

She's pulling up to stand and crawling EVERYWHERE. I have to be super vigilant about where she is and her surroundings at all times.

She sleeps beautifully. All night long and nice long naps (although the past week has been different due to being sick.) She takes amazing naps at Grandma's house, which is wonderful because then I get to enjoy pool time with the big girls!

She is eating all kinds of foods and still drinking a mix of formula and breast milk. She's wearing 6-9 months (they're getting snug!) but mostly 9-12 months. She's been upgraded to size 4 diapers (whoa!!) Her wellness check is in a few days and I'm excited to see how much she weighs and how tall she is. We're getting rid of the infant carrier soon!

She's totally over her stranger anxiety, but has full blown separation anxiety, lol. It's almost endearing. It's like, "Oh, you ONLY want ME?? Ok, come here my sweet baby!!" LOL. She cries when I leave the room but if someone distracts her long enough, she does just fine. I've been thinking about what she'll be like at daycare. It does hurt my heart that I'll be away from her...I mean, who will give her a million kisses when she wakes up from her nap?! Ugh- leaving her will be the hardest part about going back...but I'm trying to focus on the positives. She'll brighten other people's days, she'll have more people to love on her...she'll get to make little friends and have new experiences. My sweet baby will love her "school" and she'll adjust just fine!

Audrey at 9 months:











Abigail at 9 months:











Annie is just amazing. We love her so much. Hard to believe that she's been here with us for so long! This time last year I was blissfully pregnant and LOVING it. Now I get to see and kiss her sweet face all the time. I am so grateful for our little angel!

Summertime is busy time

So much going on! Is it a coincidence that I've developed a slight eye twitch? Audrey is done with dance, but we're not slowing down around here!

We joined the Y and signed the girls up for swimming lessons and beginning gymnastics. The girls have gotten SO brave in the pool this year with a big help from Aunt Dawn. She spends hours with them out there. They both swim UNDER water now! They trust her and have so much fun with her. I am so thankful for that because I usually have Annie in my arms! The more time they spend in the pool, the more daring they get (jumping in, having underwater "tea parties" LOL!)











The girls are taking gymnastics together, too. They really like it! It's so fun to watch them. Abigail is so funny- she likes to do everything by herself- she tells the coach that! Love that girl!








Poor sweet baby!


Abigail had her last day of soccer on Tuesday. I have loved watching her enjoy herself each week. I'm super proud of her listening skills (some days were better than others, lol!) We're signing her up for another session and we'll continue to do so as long as she wants to play.





The girls are really into drawing and coloring. Audrey likes to take it step further now with scissors and glue and stickers (and other random items like baby q-tips, lol.) She made herself an office in the back part of our kitchen where she can do all the creating she wants! Abigail has gotten so good at drawing! She now draws happy faces :)


Audrey's is on the top. Aunt Sarah gave her some Frozen stickers. She made this all by herself! Abigail drew the bottom picture. It's her, dad, and mom :)

She amazes me every day and is really maturing. This age is so challenging! She definitely needs so much of my attention and patience. She tries so hard to use her words and have good manners. Bedtime is so simple now, she actually ASKS to go to bed! She loves to snuggle ("nuggle") and be held ("pick me up, please!") She really enjoys working on puzzles and she's so good at them! 24 pieces are too easy, 48+ pieces are perfect for her. I love how she focuses on putting them together and when she invites me to help :)






I finally got the call about going back to school! It was looking iffy, with budget cuts and enrollment issues, but I'm going back to Gatorland! Not sure of which grade yet, probably upper. Can I just give a shout out to my wonderful husband? Through all the waiting, he said he'd fully support me if I wanted to stay home another year. I love and appreciate him so, so much for that. Not knowing was starting to drive me a bit crazy, but having that as an option really helped to alleviate my stress.

SO, I registered our sweet Audrey Cate for school. I don't know who is more excited...me, her, or the office staff! They spoil her rotten and she just eats it up. My heart is so happy that she's going to be a gator. She is going to thrive there!




I love her short hair! It matches her sassy personality!







Annie is getting her top 2 teeth at the same time, pulling up to stand, and has the worstest cold with the sneezes and coughs :( But more about her in her 9 month post!

This summer is going to FLY. So many great things going on and to look forward to. I'm thankful every single day!