Celebrating the Season

Audrey got to partake in the 4th Annual Ugly Christmas Sweater Party. We'll just call her dress vintage...mom wore it when she was her age.

Nathan and Audrey

Eight Months Old

Go Hawks.

I know we are a few days late on this update, but we've all (well mom and dad) been focusing on the basement rebuild. And in our spare time, we are chasing around and laughing with our little 8-mo old. A little bit about Audrey today:

• She loves looking sideways and upside down: When she is sitting on your lap or in your arms, she's constantly trying to bend over backwards to get the better upside down view.
• She loves being surprised: Whether its getting out of the car seat and seeing Sark or a person walking by at a restaurant. It doesn't really matter. She gasps in surprise over and over.
• She likes obstacles: Crawling on and over everything she can. Especially mom.

• She's tough: Now that she's pulling herself up, she's trying to go a bit further and stand on her own or reach for things while on her feet. This results in a lot of tumbling and head knocking. But it doesn't phase her. There are also many instances where she will just crawl into a wall.
• She's getting the hang of eating solids...on her terms:  I've decided to let daycare take it on, sending some food there for her to eat. It's still just hit or miss, but she is getting the hang of it. She does seem to like feeding herself what is on our plate.
• She loves wearing her mom's clothes: Well, I love putting her in the old clothes my mom sent to us. I don't know how our parents did it - clothes with no easy snap diaper access? Those ones we don't even attempt on this girl. But these overalls she pulled off quite well!

• She loves her dog more and more each day:  Especially his tags he wears on his collar. And unfortunately he lets her grab them and put them in her mouth. Very gross. 

• She loves to laugh: The other night she spent well over five minutes, making a serious face and raising one arm up to a quick stop and then laughing so hard. Over and over and over. It had us all laughing so hard.

And in the Christmas Spirit, I think this Santa list is actually from Audrey - it describes her favorite things perfectly (especially #s 1, 4, 6, 9 and 10): http://theuglyvolvo.com/2013/12/10/a-ten-month-olds-letter-to-santa/

The Difference in a Month

Keeping Busy

A Bedtime Trend

With Audrey now pulling herself up, she makes it well-known when she is not ready to go to bed. 

Getting in the Holiday Spirit

And...her diaper bag

On The Move

And laughing at mom and Sark

A Minute With Audrey

Favorite Things

Clapping

Acting surprised (ie. gasping at everything) 

Slippers 

Pulling the bag in her diaper pail 

Laughing

Attacking Sark

Attempting to stand

Watching dad or Sark out the window 

Keeping an eye on mom

Making faces

Giving Thanks

We are so fortunate to have such wonderful friends here in Boulder and once again we all got together for a perfect Thanksgiving hosted by the Ballards. The food was great and the company was better.
With 10 adults, 6 kids, and 2 dogs - there was never a dull moment!

The kids living it up with Brittany the bulldog watching on.

Our family (Audrey's new favorite face)

Tired girl - the last to leave, she was a trooper!

We obviously have a lot to be thankful for, but mostly this little munchkin who warms our hearts everyday.

Surprise Visit

From Auntie Jessica!

Seven Months

Audrey is becoming quite the curious character as we hit the seventh month mark. With such a little mover, it was not easy to get pictures this month. There was a lot of this...

A little bit about her these days:

• She's stubborn: It's her way or the highway. She won't let us cut her nails, give her medicine or do anything that is too much in her space without a fit.

• She loves a game of peek-a-boo: It doesn't fail to get a laugh. We play it all. the. time.

• She's a ham: She's animated. And she's always smiling.

• She loves to clap: When she first started crawling, she would stop about every half a foot to sit up, laugh and clap. And she continues to clap whenever she has the chance. Especially if you clap and say 'yay' - she'll join right in.
• She's getting some hair...but it's so blonde that it's hard to see.
• She's loves getting her hands on anything she shouldn't: Her favorites are a phone, a Kindle or a cord she spots from across the room.
• She really loves tags: Any tag on anything instantly gains her attention and will keep it for quite awhile.
• She's strong: Now that she's got crawling down, she's working on pulling herself up. She can easily get up on her knees. And just two days ago she pulled herself up to her feet using my arm. Although she was quite unsteady, we know how the story goes...we have lowered her crib mattress.

•  She loves her dog: Everytime Sark comes into the room, she giggles and flaps her arms. And if they are both laying on the ground, she beelines it for him. Grabbing his ears or tail or patting his head or back. Luckily he just takes the abuse because she loves tormenting that dog. 
• She's smart: And it's not just me saying that. In one 10 minute trip to the grocery store, I had both the deli girl and the guy behind me in line to check out mention that fact. I'm sure she was very intently looking them both the up and down and taking it all in. 
• She's a mama's girl: She definitely gets excited to see dad and enjoys her time with him...when she's happy. But if she's upset or not feeling well (and we've seen our fair share of those days this last month, unfortunately) she only wants mom. I'm soaking it in!

The difference in a month...

Not a Fan

Audrey has been suffering from a bad cough for over a month. After multiple coughing fits resulting in projectile vomiting and multiple visits to the doctor, we decided to try some antibiotics. It has definitely had a positive affect - we have been cough free for a couple of days now. However, she was not a fan of the meds.

Not too excited.

No thanks.

Downright miserable.

But she survives. 

 And solid foods are not her favorite thing either. Most of the time she stares straight at us, with lips zipped up tight.

A rare occurrence where she's opening wide.

The gag

No spoon? OK I'm happy - hi dad!

Time to Get Cozy

Cold nights have arrived.

Downward Dog

Sleepy Time

Here is what we see on the monitor every time we put Audrey down for a nap. She will crawl around babbling and try to grab anything she can (even out of reach) before she finally just falls over to sleep. Luckily her sit and scream episodes at night have subsided.