my excuse

so, I decide to make my blog private and then I hardly write. You'll have to forgive me. Things are still great here in our household. We've all been busy. Tyson is working and taking classes for grad school. Audrey is busy climbing on everything and pushing more teeth through and I have picked up a very time-consuming hobby this summer. I'm addicted to reading! I decided it was time to really utilize my local library card and I have taken it seriously. This summer I've already read 8 books (200+ pages each) and I just started a 3 book series (The Mark of the Lion series by Francine Rivers) a few days ago.

So, like most libraries in the world, you can check a book out for 2 weeks. I've read most of the books in just a couple of days so I've never come close to turning them in late or having to deal with late fees.

Until today.

The book I'm reading is due today.

so, I thought to myself, "No big deal, I'll just renew it!"

Nope, I can't. Because someone else is waiting to read it. Apparently, 5 other people are waiting to read it!

As I was talking to the nice worker at the library, I told her about my situation and how I was not done with the first book, but the second book was now available for me to pick up (I had to request them from other libraries in the area) so there was no point in getting the second book because I hadn't finished the first. I was about to turn in my copy of the book I wasn't done reading, when the library worker's face lit up.

She proceeded to tell me, in kind of a quiet voice, "You could just not turn it in on time. It's only a 5 cent late fee per day, up to a dollar. That way you don't have to be put on the waiting lists for both of the books again."

WHAT?!? was she giving me permission to cheat the system? ...or is the library desperately in need of a few extra nickels? either way, I decided to keep the book and also pick up the second book.

all that to say...I've got my nose stuck in a book during the times I would normally be writing blog posts. so that's my excuse. :)

and now the couch and A Voice in the Wind are calling my name!

I'm glad I gave in

This afternoon Audrey decided that she didn't want to take a nap. I tried (unsuccessfully) for about an hour to convince her that it was, in fact, nap time, so she should be tired. Once she convinced me that she wasn't tired and I gave in, we had SO much fun just playing and giggling. She was in such a great mood! so I captured some of it with the camera. enjoy!

(this is her new look: "I'm checking you out," and then she starts giggling)

and after all that she's now taking a nap at 5...we'll see how bedtime goes tonight!

going private

After much thought, consideration, and conversations with many friends/new mothers, I have decided to make my blog private. I know most of the people that read this are family or friends anyway, but I no longer want it all out there for just anyone to read.

So...if you would like to continue reading our blog, please send me your email address and I'll add you to my "ok" list. thanks!

she already loves purses

As a mother, I now carry a diaper bag with me everywhere I go. I have two that I love and both are functional for different reasons. Both bags are kind of large so I don't really like having to carry a purse, also. And if I decide to just carry a purse, it has to be a large one, so I can also fit some stuff in it for Audrey. so, all this to say: I have a lot of cute, little purses that I no longer use and it makes me sad.

so...a few weeks ago I ventured over to Arkansas to spend the day with three of my best friends. I left Audrey with her Nana and Papa for the day and as I was about to head out the door, it hit me! I could carry whatever bag/purse I wanted and all that had to fit in it is my very slim wallet, some gum and lip gloss. amazing! So, I quickly looked through my small collection of purses and chose the smallest one possible:

After I returned home that night, I quickly changed everything back to my regular purse, but somehow, my cute, tiny, little white purse hasn't made it's way back into my closet. :)

that's right, Audrey thinks it is her purse. She puts it over her head and sometimes even loops it through one of her arms and carries that thing around with her all day. Greaaaaat...she's only 14 months old and she already loves purses. We could be in trouble.

a shirt with a message

I usually don't try to push people to do things, but this is a really great cause.

please check out this website: http://www.cafepress.com/esthershouse




My friend, Zach, designed the shirts and all of the profit goes directly to an orphanage in Malawi, Africa.

I, for one, always wonder what I can do to help, and this is a very simple way. I wear clothes every day and this shirt has a message that needs to be spread. So, I might as well wear clothes that help spread a message. I bought one. and I would love it if you would, too. and take the time to pass this info on.

thanks!

our little dancer

Audrey got an adorable little puppy for her birthday that talks to her, teaches her colors and body parts and sings songs...it's so much fun! (pictured below) She's usually pushing the different buttons so fast that she doesn't get to hear a whole song, but hey, that's the attention span of a 14 month old. This morning, Tyson was holding the puppy and started pushing some of the buttons and she started "dancing" and I finally caught some of it on video! We're still trying to decide which one of us she got her moves from. :)

the precious little things in life

Audrey is growing up so fast (she's already 14 months old!) and there are so many little things that she's doing lately. Almost every day brings a new thing so I worry I will forget about them if I don't write them down. I was telling a friend a while ago that it's difficult to describe the things she's doing now. Most of what she's doing involves certain sounds and facial expressions and I don't think the words exist to describe them. I know this list won't mean much to most of you, unless you've been around her lately and have experienced these things firsthand...so this list is for me, so I don't forget.

-the way she pats my shoulder with her little hand when I'm holding her

-the look on her face when I get her favorite snacks out of the pantry

-her reaction when daddy walks through the door after work

-the way she leans her forehead in close to mine and smiles, then she leans back and comes in close again, the second time her smile turns into a giggle

-she's a hoarder, she carries as many things in her hands as she can, when she comes across something else interesting that she wants to hold, she takes a few seconds to look at the things currently in her hands and chooses which item to leave behind


-when she's sad and wants me to hold her, she'll stand in front of me and hold both of my legs, and look up at me with the most pathetic little face...how can I resist?

-the times she walks toward me with a book she wants me to read to her. even if her attention span only lasts for 2-3 pages, it's so sweet

-the sound she makes when she's holding her sleepy bear and she's sucking her thumb, right before I lay her down for bed. and she will not make the sound unless she's holding her bear and her thumb is in her mouth

-the "give it back" game she plays with us (and Walter)

-she LOVES toothbrushes

-When we get back home from our morning walks, I sit on the living room floor and stretch. When I reach for my toes, she touches my toes and smiles at me. When I lean forward, she gets low on the ground turns her face toward me and wiggles her way in close to my face and giggles.

-she could be outside all day and be happy

-the way she dances/bounces naked outside of the tub until we pick her up and put her in and then when she's done, she runs around with just her hooded towel over her head after her bath and we have to chase her down to dry her off, then wrestld her put on lotion and then her pajamas


-the way she pats her belly (or sometimes her chest) when we say "Audrey, where's your belly?" and then the adorable little grin that shows how proud she is of herself for knowing

-the way she shakes her head "no" at certain things she knows not to touch, but she still looks at us to see if we're paying attention. if we're not, she'll take that as permission to touch what she knows she's not supposed to

-when I ask her if she wants her milk, I better have it for her soon because once she hears that word, she doesn't wait very patiently

-when she is eating a new food, she always takes the first bite out of her mouth and looks at it, then puts in back in her mouth, then chews and swallows it. every time.

-the way she squeals with excitement and then other times growls with excitement

-the way she inhales (very loudly, almost like she's gasping for air) and smiles and tightens her face into a super-cheesy smile when she's really excited

-she says hi to me at least 112 times a day and each time it makes me smile. it never gets old.

*sigh* Life is so sweet.