Audrey: 6 months (January)

Isn't she so beautiful?

Audrey got two teeth within a week of each other. Poor little thing! She has had a few days of crankiness, but it has got to be so painful to grow teeth! In spite of these two developments, she loves to coo and "talk" and will laugh right along with you as if she's in on the joke. She is very sweet natured and quick to smile. As my Dad says,"That little girl smiles with her eyes."

She is eating real food twice a day and really seems to enjoy it. She likes peas and prunes, but isn't too thrilled with carrots or bananas. I usually strip her down to her diaper to feed her since it makes such a mess and I can't keep food from getting on her clothes.

We went to the park this week since the weather has been PERFECT. I usually keep Audrey in the pouch or stroller so I can be more hands on with Devon, but I put both of them in the swings at the same time and had a blast. Audrey liked it more than Devon, but she is pretty easy going at this age. Check out those gold glitter shoes. Love it!

I have been working with Audrey to get her sitting up on her own and she is doing a great job! She can only sit for 15-20 seconds before she starts to tip over, but she is getting stronger every day.

Audrey is a pretty independent baby and will play on her mat with toys for 15-20 minutes at a time without fussing. This has been a lifesaver so I can get ready in the morning, prepare a meal or play with Devon one-on-one. She does like to be part of the fun when we are playing toys in Devon's room and especially likes toys that play music or "crinkle".

She loves to be rocked to sleep, but really enjoys being in a swing and snuggling with her blanket. She holds the silk ribbon lining with her fingers and holds it to her face while she sucks her thumb. Where could she have inherited THAT from? ;)

This is the first picture I have seen that I look SO much like my Mom. We have the same face, cheek bones, smile, eyes, etc. I don't know how I didn't notice it until now.

Audrey got to meet Granny Great (my Dad's Mom) for the first time and they loved each other! Granny would take Audrey and hold her in a way that would have that little girl asleep within a few minutes. I call it the "Granny grip". I tried it, but she just wiggles. I guess I don't have the touch for the "Granny grip" so I guess she'll just have to come and visit again ;)

Snuggle bug!

Audrey is definitely a Mama's girl. It seems that the moment she realizes that I have left her alone with her Dad she cries and cries ... and cries until I get home. It only makes sense that she wants me because I am with her 98% of the time and she is used to me, but I think it's good for both of them to have that time together even if it's stressful ;) Make no mistake, she is enamored with her Daddy. I will be holding her and he'll walk by and smile at her. She coyly smiles back and buries her head into my neck, only to peek out at him a moment later. He tends to have that effect on the ladies ;)

On this particular day I just could not get it together. I was planning on staying home with the kids instead of going on an outing, but it was what I call a "Murphy Day". Anything that can go wrong .... will. The kids got up earlier than usual so it became a not-going-to-do-my-hair-or-make-and-stay-in-my-pajamas kind of day. I'm allowed one a month .... and I took it ;) We didn't eat breakfast until 9:00 and the breakfast dishes didn't get done until after dinner. (That will also let you know when I got the lunch and dinner dishes done). The kids were sort of cranky, I was sort of cranky, I had mountains of laundry to do, the house was a mess, yadayadayada. Anyway, this was us around 2:00 in the afternoon. Same hair, same expression and both in our pj's.

Audrey loves to watch Devon and is enamored with him. He has continued to surprise me with what a thoughtful brother he is when he brings her a toy, a blanket or papash without me asking him to do it. She is also in love with our big cat, Sampson, and her eyes widen and follow his every move.

Audrey celebrated her first Xmas with us this year and it was such a nice day. She sat in her swing chewing on a toy watching all the paper and lights. It was so nice to have a new baby in the house and it will be even more fun next year when she will be a bit older and able to join in the fun.

I love to breathe in the scent of her skin right after a bath and twirl her hair into little curls. I often "cover her in kisses" and tickle her face by brushing my hair on her cheeks. This gets her so excited she pumps her arms and legs like crazy! She is such a happy, sweet and soft little girl.

The End.