Oh Christmas Tree!

Our Christmas decorations were all about child-proofing this year......

A Little People nativity set from Oma and Opa!

Our tree which is out of reach from tiny, exploring hands.....

and the view of the tree in the dark.

I must say that this tree was SO much easier to decorate than the huge one we usually haul up to our living room.  Maybe this guy will become our yearly tradition???? I'm sure I'll appreciate how small it is when it's time to stow it away for the year.  Can you believe there are only 3 weeks left till Christmas?  We are counting down the days, here!

My First Year of Mothering-What I've Learned

I've thought a lot about this post that past week, but I don't have a lot of time to compose it.  Take it with a grain of salt!

Sleep:

1) Be sure to put a nice fluffy rug by your baby's crib.  You'll likely sleep there many a night....No matter how many "expert baby sleeping" books you read.

2)  Never ask a mom how her newborn is sleeping.  I realized this AFTER I asked many a mom this exact question.  If baby is sleeping well...it's a great question.  If not...well, the mom may feel a bit judged and totally annoyed with you if your baby is sleeping well and hers is not.

3)  It's easy to become VERY angry with someone who is innocently snoozing while dealing with a screaming infant in the middle of the night  (i.e.-hubby)

Cuteness:

1)  You really will believe that your baby is the cutest ever.  You may even look up contests to enter their image in while they are sleeping (oops...my secret is out).

2)  Seriously, there is nothing cuter than a baby in footie pajamas.  Okay...well, maybe a baby taking a bath....wait, a baby bundled up in winter gear with chubby cheeks.....no...a baby snuggling with a puppy...and the list goes on forever.

LOVE:

1)  Nothing will make you angrier with your spouse than child rearing....and nothing will make you fall more in love with them....I recently learned that my husband sings "Jesus Loves You" to my daughter every night before bed.  Melt my beating heart...although, I'm pretty sure the same organ turns to ice EVERY time he asks me where her shirts are stored.  REALLY?  I've showed him a million times (I love you, Joel!).

2)  I fall a little more in love with my daughter every morning when she wakes up.  Her hair is disheveled, her diaper stinky and her hugs...AMAZING.


Facebook:

1) It's impossible NOT to go crazy posting photos of your little bundle of joy.

2) Try not to post too many status updates regarding your lack of sleep.

That's it for now...anyone have anything to add to the list?

Grandpa and Audrey

Who's that funny man wearing two pairs of glasses?

Grandpa!

This is our life:

1) Mom came to visit.  It felt like we had a mini-vacation.  We were able to go on 3 dates and run errands sans baby!  Come back, mom!

2) While mom was visiting we went to "Les Miserables" which was showing in our town.  I was pleasantly surprised at how well it was preformed.

3) Audrey is trying to walk.  Yippee! and Here comes trouble!!

4) I'm trying to do CrossFit Workouts at home.  It's not the same, but still challenging.

5) Audrey points to the camera every time I try to snap a photo of her.  This is partly why I haven't been writing.

6)  LabCorp successfully drew Audrey's blood yesterday.  It only took four people...

7)  Audrey's turning into a little pistol.  Yesterday, I put her in her crib and she started screaming and banging her fists on the mattress.  Whooaaa.  I'm not ready for this!

8)  I'm ready for Christmas vacation.

Crickets Chirping

Do you here those crickets in the background of this blog?  Me too.  I'm hoping to update, soon!

Scaredy Cat

Do ya like my outfit?

Oma and Opa gave it to me.

I look cute, right?  Yeah, yeah.  I've heard it all.  I'm done smiling for the camera now that I'm ONE.

Thank you Oma and Opa!  I wore this outfit EVERY day until it became a little too dirty to wear.  It was OHH so comfy and I loved the sparkly cat!  Thank you!!

Family Pictures!!

I was tempted to post about 100 pictures in this blog, but I wanted to save a few good photos for our Christmas cards.  I MAY have chosen the best one for our blog and facebook, but you will have to see when you receive your holiday greeting card!

What's New?

1) Last week I didn't get any sleep.  Some of this was due to the fact that Audrey was sick and other times it was b/c I just couldn't fall into dream land.  FRUSTRATING!  I'm doing much better now, though.  Thank goodness.

2) We didn't take Audrey trick-or-treating this year.  We figured we didn't need the candy and she goes to bed early anyway.  Are we the meanest parents ever?

3)  I'm loving CrossFit.  Anyone want to finance a few more months of classes for me..ha ha.  I wish.

4)  I've decided I can only drink one cup of half caff. per day.  No more full cups of coffee or I will never sleep.   When did I get so old?

5)  My mom is visiting this week.  Yippee!!

Audrey's First Birthday Week

This is how my birthday started out....with a big frown

It escalated to a cry....

and a temper tantrum.  Mommy had lots of fun plans for me, but I wasn't up for them.   I was teething my first molar, ya see.

I did have fun meeting dad at the park on my first birthday.

and strutting my stuff in my birthday tu-tu.  

wahoo.  It's not often a girl gets to wear a sparkly sweater and tu-tu.

I cheered up later in the week when Oma and Opa came to visit

They brought cake

and lots of toys and cuddles!

I loved the cake and their visit!  Come again!

Notes from the author:
1) Audrey's birthDAY wasn't much fun.  I planned on waking her up with a song and recording her reaction.  She started the day screaming...I'm pretty sure she ended it that way, too.  I almost joined her :)

2)  She cheered up later in the week (I think she was teething on her birthday?)  and so did I...thankfully!

3) Oma and Opa came to visit.  I learned all about teaching math using manipulatives.  I wish I would have learned math with manipulatives!

4)  Audrey hates sherbet.