Independence Day Greetings

Well it's already late morning of the 5th of July here but I would just like to wish everyone a happy Independence Day. I really wish that I could be home to celebrate with you all. Poppy just sent me all the pictures she took in June and I just have to say that A is growing up really fast and she really is a cute little girl. And just by looking at some of her pictures I can already tell that she has an awesome personality and I just with that I could be around to witness it. I can't wait to get home, I also can't believe how fast time is flying this deployment. I guess when you have something to look forward to coming home to, time passes by much faster. Well, that's all I have for now, here is a picture of A's personality I was telling you about...

... I think this is so funny. Have fun everyone!

Slacker mommy

I have been awful at taking pictures. Audrey's grandma and Papa were here and I only got 4 pictures. I really am a slacker.

Audrey with her ponytail.

Isn't she sweet?

She has been standing (with support) really well. She loves her

leapfrog table. She is getting brave and only holds on with one

hand sometimes.

She was pulling up on it at one time but it tipped on her so she is

scared now.

We have been trying to get used to a sippy cup and Audrey just

doesn't do well with tipping it to drink. She is the master of the

straw though. It is so cute to watch her drink from a straw. She

really goes to town. The only straw cups I can find are big ones

though and she can't hold them. Anyone know of any small straw

sippys?

Happy 4th of July!

Watermelon

Audrey had her first taste of watermelon today. It was a giant mess but so cute. She liked sucking all the juice out of the pieces.

Miss Independence

Audrey doesn't like me to feed her anymore since she figured out she can do it herself. I read an article about self feeding and it recommended letting your baby have bigger pieces and to let them bite off what they want and they are less likely to choke. I thought we would give it a try. She likes peaches if they aren't pureed. She ate a half of a peach by herself and some peas too. She is getting so big. I took lots of pictures to make up for my recent slacking. She was super cute.

Here is when she first started. She wasn't too sure about it yet.

She is getting better here.

And here she is really going to town. This cracked me up.

Loving her dinner time.

Audrey didn't want to go to sleep after bath tonight. I think it might have been because we came home to a broken AC and its 105 outside so it is HOT in here. She was in a good mood so I let her stay up and play. She JUST went to bed and its 9:30. Maybe I can sleep in tomorrow. =)

Here is her at 8:30. Usually she is in dreamland by then.

Video evidence. We had loads of fun tonight.

Oh and R.I.P. Michael Jackson. I am heartbroken. Audrey and I danced to Billie Jean and Thriller as a small tribute. Very sad.

Fun with baby = not many pictures

Audrey has been loads of fun lately so I haven't been doing a very good job taking pictures. She is at the age where she thinks everything is funny so I am having a great time making her laugh. Her favorite is when I sneeze or when I kiss her all over.

I finally figured out that her issues with fruit were more about texture than about taste. If I cut it up into tiny pieces she digs right in. It is so cute watching her chase the peach and banana pieces around on the high chair tray. She is very patient and determined when it comes to food. =)

Audrey won't pull up anymore because her table flipped on her so she is scared. She will still pull up on my hands and if we do this close to her table she will let go of my hands one at a time and move to her table. I am hoping she forgets about her tipping incident and decides to try again.

She is still strictly an army crawler/roller. She can't coordinate getting her bum and her head off the ground at the same time. I blame Tony for giving her his big head. ;)

A good weekend

Here are a few highlights...

Audrey delaying bedtime in her exersaucer.

Snarly face in her jumperoo.

Eating peaches and bananas. Finally!

Her new cell. I gave her my old one without the battery. Its clean, I washed it. (Thanks for the idea Niff)

Watching daddy on tv.

For T...

You are the best man I know. You are so strong, yet so loving and considerate. You are missing your very first Father's day (and so many other firsts) and you are doing it without complaint. You really are my hero. Even though you are half a world away, you are still very involved in our lives. You never miss an opportunity to call or write and let us know how much you love and miss us. We can't wait for you to come home and make our family truly complete.

Audrey is so lucky to have such a wonderful daddy. I make sure that she knows it every day. She watches your videos at least once a week and she loves looking at her daddy book and talking to the pictures. She is already a daddy's girl.

I remember how proud you were when you first saw her on the ultrasound and the way you used to feel her kick and talk to her in my stomach. You were already a good father. And then she was born and you were so proud. Seeing you with our newborn baby girl was the greatest thing in the world. You were so amazing that first week we brought her home. You took such good care of us. I remember how proud you were when you finally got all of the "cheese" off of her. It was so cute. Then on R&R....it was amazing how you could make Audrey squeal in delight. It was a sound that I hadn't heard before and haven't heard since. I know that you haven't gotten to spend much time with Audrey yet but you have definitely made the most of the time you have had. It is obvious that she knows how much her daddy loves her and that she loves you just as much.

We miss you and are counting the days until you come home. We love you very very much and are so very proud of you.

Happy Father's Day!

The traveler...

Audrey has become quite the traveler lately. You really never know where you are going to find her. This is how I found her yesterday morning. I just turned my head for a second.

Tonight we went out to eat with Beth and the girls. Audrey was super sleepy from water day at daycare today so it didn't go so well. She wasn't necessarily cranky but she wanted to be held and was not wanting to sit in her high chair. Oh well. I have a nice to-go box for my lunch tomorrow. She took a power nap on the way home so she was not feeling bedtime which was fine with me. We had a blast rolling around on the floor and squealing. Audrey rolled to her exersaucer and tried to pull up on it so I had to put her in. She had a big time in it.

Audrey's first day at her new daycare

Today Audrey started a new daycare. It is a home daycare so she is with kids of all ages and she loved it. When I picked her up today she was smiling and they said she was "the best baby they have seen in a LONG time." She slept, ate, and played well. Way to go Audrey!

Also, I have to share my Etsy find. Check out this sweet onesie I got for Audrey.

I am absolutely in love with Etsy. I am going to buy an "ism" book from my friend Nessa too. They are so neat. Check out her Etsy store.

I also got a shopping cart/high chair cover on sale. I am soooo impressed with it. The workmanship on it is amazing. I can't wait to use it. I got the groovy guitar fabric so that I can use it for baby #2, even if its a boy.

A good day for pictures

Audrey was full of smiles and giggles today, I got tons of pictures. The diaper ones are from this morning and the dress ones are from this evening. She has been loads of fun today. =)