change is constant

I can't keep up with all of the changes going on around here. People always talk about how fast children grow...I guess I am understanding that more now. I used to think it was so silly when people said "she's growing up so fast...blah, blah" Now, I say things like that all the time....ALL the time....I've turning into one of "those" people who says the phrases that everyone else does
.....


She's getting so big!
She's a bundle of energy!
They grow up too fast!
She's climbing the walls.
She's all over the place!

I'm working on some new phrases, but until then, don't be surprised if you hear one of these...because guess what? They really are true.

Things that I am loving:

1. Audrey learned to say "earring" and "necklace" today. Earring comes out perfectly...necklace sounds more like "eddace" or "nennace" but it's so cute. She also prances around in her purple dress up shoes.





2. She liked the foamy soap from Bath & Body Works. I learned this because she stuck her hand in the "potty" and we had to have an immediate wash. She was fascinated with squishing the soap around in her tiny little hands.

3. When the credits roll on any of her "oovies" she immediately starts saying "bye bye" and dances around in front of the tv and says "button" over & over. She is wanting to push the button to turn it off but she knows she can't touch it unless we're holding her.

4. She's started making this high-pitched two syllable "woo" sound whenever something happens that she likes....when she dumps out her blocks for example.

5. I love how, whenever she is trying to climb off a chair (still an obssession...) or does something she knows she needs help with, she just sticks her little hand out and expects help immediately.

6. She gets so excited to brush her teeth. She asks to do this a lot during the day and it also helps me get her upstairs for bed...I just ask if she wants to "brush teeth" and off we go....Tonight I brought her up to do this and I set her on the bathroom counter. There was a baby hairbrush there and she picked it up, stuck it in the faucet and tried to stick it in her mouth.... :)

7. It is also cute how she lets me clip her nails...although I try to do this while she is brushing her teeth to keep her still longer.

8. She loves to be outside....





Things that are scaring me

1. She can open our french doors to the back yard. The other day I had unlocked them to let Charlotte out. I closed them back like I always do and was working in the kitchen. Audrey walked over to the doors like she does all the time and said "outside." I told her that we couldn't go outside right now...and then I stood there and watched as she reached up on her tiptoes, pulled the handle, opened the door and walked into the backyard. I can't believe my baby is big enough to escape.....

2. Also, our little escape artist has proven that she can get her leg over the side of the crib. I walked in her room yesterday morning and she was bouncing around as usual...and then all of a sudden she just slung her little leg right up there....she started pulling with her arms...and if I hadn't been there she most likely would have been in a heap on the floor. Auuugh! I am not ready for this much independence. She isn't even 18 months yet.... and I had just read the day before about how all these babies were breaking their collar bones, legs, skulls, etc from falling out of the crib. What to do? Well, I sent Ryan out to get a toddler bed b/c I did not want to get one of those crib tents...But I'm not ready for her to be in a toddler bed...that adds more baby gates, and worries about her getting out of bed during the night...not to mention getting her to stay in it during bedtime. Long story short...we don't know what we're going to do. I may end up with one of those crazy crib tents after all.... Any & all suggestions are very welcome.

Part big girl, Part baby
She is so proud of those big girl pajamas....and she still gets her bedtime bottle. It isn't going to hurt her and she'll grow out of it before college (at least that's what all the "books" tell me)