4 YEARS

A little more than four years have gone by (I'm a little late writing this post), and it feels like it has been ages since we brought Audrey home from the hospital, it's hard to remember the times before she was in our lives. She is such a joy.

Without her, I'd never know the intense (and sometimes overwhelming) sense of love you could have for a child. She is my crazy one, but life would not be the same without her. I used to go places, and be thankful for the quiet, although I still enjoy those times, most the time I'd rather be with her. Walks are nice by myself, but SO much better with her. The non-stop chatter/singing can get to me at times, but it's too boring if I go too long without it.

I love her inquisitive mind, and thought process. I love that she has such compassion for people, and wants to do right. She is highly social, and will literally approach ANYONE to say hi or ask questions. She has a confidence about her that I hope will never go away.

Most of all, I love seeing the Holy Spirit work in this little girl's heart, as we learn more and more about what it means to be like Christ, and recognizing that we are so far off and need Him.

Our first born child....crazy, loud, funny, opinionated, lover of music and people. God has given us a wonderful child. I am so glad I get to call her my daughter.

Yabba!

Tiny Talk Tuesday

Audrey is the talker in this house. She's ALMOST 4 and has much to say.

In talking about China....
Audrey: Is China FAR away?
Me: Yes, VERY far away.
Audrey: Do you have to go past Outer Space to get there?
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Watching the women's gymnastics, on the uneven bars...
Babysitter: Look at what they are doing!
Audrey: Yeah, I can do that!
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Me: Mommy and Daddy are going out tonight for Aunt Becca's birthday.
Audrey: I want to give her four matches because I think she is VERY special.
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As her friends were leaving her party...
Audrey: Mrs. B. make sure you tie the balloons around their necks so that they don't blow away!

Happy TTT!

Birthday Girl

Audrey's birthday isn't until next week, but we had a few of her friends over today to celebrate. I can't believe my little girl is turning four!!

We had a great day. Albert and I stayed up late last night decorating the house, ladybugs and butterflies (of course). She was in awe this morning as she came downstairs to her surprise.

We had a beautiful day and we were able to spend much of our time outside. Audrey enjoyed her day, and even ASKED to have quiet time as she jumped at the opportunity to play with her new toys without interruption.

Tiny Talk Tuesday

Audrey is the talker in this house. She's ALMOST 4 and has much to say.

While buying a birthday card for me...
Audrey: This is for my Mommy's birthday.
Store Clerk: Oh that's nice, are you going to get something special for her birthday?
Audrey: Yes! We are going to get her earrings and a new ring!
(what a thoughtful girl....however, she might want to inform someone, *ahem*Daddy, of this idea)
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It has been insanely busy around here recently, so that's all I have even though my girl makes me laugh daily with her silliness.

Happy TTT!

Girly-Girl

I seem to only update my blog when there's Tiny Talk Tuesday posts , but there's so much more that goes on with my little girl. She is truely a little girl.

God's provisions were seen a while ago when a family from church gave us BAGS of new dresses for Audrey. They were gorgeous! Some were fancy, others more casual, and some in between. She has been wearing a dress daily. I had bought 1 short and tank outfit the beginning of summer, and am so thankful that I resisted the urge to buy more. The girl wears nothing but these dresses, and it's even better when she gets to wear a "fancy dress". She has become more and more girly than I ever thought she would.

Some girls seem to take to the doll, make-believe, dress-up thing a lot sooner, so when she wasn't into her dolls and didn't care what she wore, I just assumed she wasn't the girly-girl type. She loves bugs, getting dirty, and will try most any 'daring' activity. This was all fine by me. However, things changed the day of the dresses (she had also gotten a fancy dress for her doll). That one act of kindness has CHANGED my little girl. Don't get me wrong, she still loves her bugs, dirt, and adventures, but the girl does it all in a dress, and might even include her baby doll(s) in on the activity. Suddenly, her little dolls (Katie, Ellie, and Chloe) have a special place in her make-believe world.

She loves picking flowers for anyone, really, anyone. She has often picked up a flower laying on the ground and given it to a complete stranger. "Is that nice that I gave that flower to that lady, Mommy?" My hope is that it has cheered them up, it certainly makes me smile.

The excitement of such small things, is so precious. Every morning she opens her closet and gets to choose from the assortment of dresses. Her face lighting up is priceless.

I love my little bug-lovin girly-girl.

Tiny Talk Tuesday

Audrey is the talker in this house. She'll be 4 this month, and has much to say.

Audrey: Baby Chloe is not feeling well (another baby doll).

Daddy: Do you think she might be sick because she ate stickers?

Audrey: Yeah, that's why, but she wants them in her mouth.

(I should have taken a picture of this, the baby's mouth was STUFFED with stickers)

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Audrey: When I get married, I want to walk down the aisle playing an instrument.
(bagpipes maybe?)

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Commonly heard in our home...
Audrey: Mommy, I need to go for a walk, I have too much energy.

(we often have to go for walks to get some energy out if we've had a low-key day/week)

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Recently Asked questions...

Do birds peck?

Is Heaven up?

How did God put babies inside Mommy's belly? (daddy got this one)

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Spending the day with Grammy...(I called during nap time)
Me: (pause) Hello?
Audrey: Hi! Hi, Mommy. I need to sleep. (click)
(I found out later she had picked up the phone in her room, and Grammy walked in, so she quickly hung the phone up)
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Me: I need to run to fed.ex to drop off work.
Audrey: That's a great idea! I would like an apple juice box
(guess we've stopped at the neighboring Star.bucks a little too often when doing a fed.ex run)

Happy TTT!

11 Months

Just one more month and my baby isn't a baby anymore! Where did that time go? Could it really have happened so fast?
Liam is getting into everything, EVERYTHING! As I said last month, he no longer has the perspective of things eye level, he needs to reach all that is UP. We have quickly latched the cabinets that are not appropriate for little hands that don't know better, and gated the steps. It certainly doesn't keep those little hands from finding things he shouldn't touch or climb, but it helps to ease some of the burden.
He's an expert raspberry blower, sister teaser, smiler, charmer, bookcase emptier, and Momma snuggler. We have enjoyed watching him as he plays so differently than his sister. One game in particular is so fun. He will take any object and make it a "fetch" game for himself. He throws the object than quickly rushes to grab it, just to do it again. In the kitchen he will take a pot lid, grab the handle on the top, then push the lid around the kitchen floor wherever it may go. This type of game will keep him occupied for quite sometime.
We are continually working on sign language with him. He has yet to be consistent with anything other than "so big", but we continue to work with him. He seems to think blowing raspberries are appropriate for most types of communication.
He's such a fun boy. We are always thankful that God allowed him to be apart of our little family.