One Year Old!

HAPPY 1ST BIRTHDAY, AUDREY!

At one year old, Audrey is a sweet, strong-willed girl. She is also inquisitive and a big talker. She says "da" all day long, which seems to mean this, that, and "I want it". She is a fast crawler, but although she can "cruise" on the furniture, she has no interest in walking. When we try to make her walk holding our hands, she will only do it side wise with her right foot leading at all times. Audrey loves music and will find her toys that make it so that she can dance. She has started raising her feet, rocking back and forth, and clapping when she dances. Audrey also loves to eat just about anything. She is allergic to dairy and soy products. She has four teeth and weighs about 25 pounds. Audrey has a very funny habit; she loves to rub her nose with any type of tag (from a blanket, burp cloth, toy, clothing, etc) while she sucks her bottom lip. She has never taken a pacifier or sucked her thumb so this seems to be the way she soothes herself. She sleeps through the night from 6:30 pm until 6 am and is either woken up by her sister or wakes her sister up!

We love you, Audrey! We had no idea what joy you would bring into our family!

Party!

This weekend we went to the record-release party for our favorite kids' artist, Mr. Ray, and we had a blast!

Ellie getting her face painted

and doing some coloring.

They had characters from some of his songs there, which Ellie was terrified of. Audrey had no idea so we took her picture with them!

Ellie and BFF

Mr. Ray and his band, including special guest Bobby Bandiera (who plays with Bon Jovi). We see Mr. Ray once a month but he is alone during those shows. It was so different seeing him with a band. Ellie loved the drums!

Dancing queens

The girls with their new CD in front of the guitar

We waited in line to have our new CD signed. We've met Mr. Ray many times and he has talked to Ellie on every occasion. She is always shy though and this time she couldn't even look at him! The first time we ever saw her blush was when he told he she looked beautiful in her fancy dress at his show one night. Adorable!

Ellie, BFF, and Mr. Ray!

Audrey's first birthday party!

This weekend we had Audrey's first birthday party! It has been rainy for the past two weeks, but the skies cleared for a few hours on Saturday, giving us a respite from the rain just in time for her garden-themed party at the park. We had lots of friends and family join us in the celebration. Since it was on Saturday morning, we served bagels, donuts, fruit skewers, juice, and coffee. We also had flower cupcakes and dirt cake with gummy worms, which the kids loved! Audrey enjoyed a banana muffin (dairy, soy, and egg-free!). The kids "goody-bag" was a shovel and a tin pail with a seed pack inside. The shovels were a big hit and the kids had fun digging up the dirt and real worms!

We had a wonderful time and the kids loved running around the park. We can hardly believe that Audrey will be one year old in just a matter of days!

Some of the party-goers at the park

Mimi and Boppa celebrate with Audrey

Audrey and Ellie


Ellie had such a good time playing with her friends!

Lori and Audrey


The birthday girl eyes her muffin while we sing



"Hmmmmm, what is this?"



"This is so good! You've been holding out on me! More please!"















All these presents for one little girl!

Strawberries

On Sunday afternoon, Ellie and I went strawberry picking at a local farm (the same place we go pumpkin-picking every October). The weather was nice and there were plenty of strawberries ripe for picking! We thoroughly enjoyed the fruits of our labor for dessert!

Ellie strawberry picking at 3 1/2 years old, June 2009.

Ellie strawberry picking at 2 1/2 years old, May 2008.

And don't worry, Audrey and Lori were having their own fun back at home.....

Pierced ears!

For Ellie's recent half-birthday, she received a set of earrings and today she had her ears pierced! She has been so excited waiting for this day. Our pediatrician did it, which worked out well since it was a familiar place and face. After the first side was done, Ellie cried and said that it really hurt, but the pediatrician didn't give her the chance to really think about what was coming. She just told her to hold still and then did the second ear. Ellie was upset at first, but it only took her about 5 minutes to calm down and realize that she finally had pierced ears. She hasn't stopped staring in the mirror since!

In the waiting room beforehand with an anesthetic cream on her ears

A big smile right before it was done

And another big smile a few minutes after!

Pretty ponytail perfection