Audrey's Special Day

I sit here typing one handed. If you have ever done it you know that it's definitely not efficient. Audrey woke up from her nap with a stomach ache so I resort to comforting with one arm and typing with the other.
Last week was Audrey's baby blessing. I was the first time I have orchestrated and event of any kind. I told Paul I should have delegated it to his Mom. She's much more experienced in these things. Overall I was surprised it went as well as it did. We almost didn't have plastic plates, cups, or forks....Paul's parents came through for me there.
I was so happy two of my older sisters were able made the drive to see her and spend time with me. It's been a long time since I've seen some of my nieces and nephews, you would thing I'd been gone for years. They are all growing so fast. It meant so much to me that my Mom took time to make Audrey a beautiful blessing dress. She looked like a princess!
I love this set of pictures. Audrey has three cousins around her age. Audrey still hasn't acquired the art of sitting and by the look of her face she's not to happy about me making her but someday she will thank me for documenting this moment. It's makes my laugh. They are all so cute!

Update

I love the Fall. I love wearing a light jacket and smelling the crisp air. I love the holidays and I love spending time with family. I wake up every morning a love that I am here where I grew up even if it's not permanent, I'm soaking it all in one day at a time.
I've decided that I'm going to start voice lessons again. This time going in with thoughts of what I can take away to start teaching. Over the last couple years I haven't been anywhere permanent enough to start teaching but that's going to change soon enough. Lately I've missed the joy that singing brings to my soul. It makes me so happy to learn new music. Secretly I've been slowly teaching Paul. Nobody knows this but he actually sang with me in our ward in Texas which he never would have done before. I think he's slowly warming up to my side of the world. The side that doesn't involve complex thinking...just a little bit of Country and Rock n' Roll.
Audrey is growing so fast. I feel like if I blink I might miss something cute.
She thinks she's so big, she doesn't just want to lay on my shoulder. Instead she tries desperately to hold her head up like a big girl and look around. She loves to stare at her Daddy, when he gets home her eyes follow him everywhere he goes. She laughs in her sleep, kind of makes me wonder what she's dreaming about. She loves to cross her legs like a little princess. She's still learning how to smile but when she does it accidentally it the cutest thing I have ever seen! She grunts all the time. I think it's her way of communicating. She smacks her lips when she's hungry and cries when she has a tummy ache.
When I lay her down she sticks her legs up like this. Someday she's going to have some nice abs! Notice the Thunder Thighs...this was a month ago I think they are still growing! Plain and Simple... I love her guts!

Audrey's Many Faces (1 Month)

Audrey's Adventures

I will spare you the crazy details this adventure but I wanted to get something rough down for now. I had Audrey on the Thursday the 25th. We spent two nights in the hospital before we came home to our apartment in Texas. I was a little overwhelmed because there was so much that needed to be done before we moved that Sunday. Paul's brother and his wife were our heroes. They fed us that evening and Paul's brother came over in the morning to help Paul finish picking up the house and packing the car. I tried to put on my games face as we got in the car Sunday afternoon and made our way back to Utah. I know your thinking this may sound crazy but you do what you have to do. Paul started school on Monday and we had to be back as soon as possible. We knew we would be a couple days late but we finally made it Tuesday evening. Audrey is such a good baby and slept through most of it, although I don't think she likes her car seat anymore. My delivery went better than planned, but as we left I wasn't sure if I was actually going to make it that far. Paul gave Audrey and I a blessing before we left and I know that is what held us together.
My parents have taken us in and have been so great to let us stay here until we find an apartment. It's been nice to have my little sisters hold Audrey when I want to take a shower and be able to take a nap whenever I want. I have a feeling when I leave here I'm going to miss being spoiled.

These pictures were taken a couple days after we got here. These are for you Merian!

Miss Audrey

I love how people in the south use the title of Miss in front of peoples names. I used to love that the woman at the security gate to Paul's work used to call me Miss Emily. There was a woman in my ward in Texas (My third Mom) that called this little one Miss Audrey in the womb and I loved it! Hence the title.
Audrey was born on the 25th...almost a week ago. As I hold her I feel like I'm dreaming. I love being her Mom! I keep thinking that someone is going to come and take her away and say "just kidding". Fortunately for me that hasn't happened yet.
Paul is in love with his little princess. She already has him wrapped around her little finger.
I'll post details about the week later, but for now I just wanted to show you how beautiful she is. Someone please pinch me!





Thanks to my sister Lisa. She only had an hour and she made magic with these photos!

Pregnancy

For those of you who haven't seen me lately. Audrey is growing, and hopefully we will meet her on Tuesday

Texas Wrap Up!

There are a lot of things I have missed over the past few months. It seems like every time I sit down to write the words leave me and I am left alone with the computer and an empty brain.
Today is a little different. There are a few really exciting things that are coming up in the near future and I thought that I might do one last post before all the craziness starts.

Paul finished work today! I am so proud of him and the hard work that he has put in over the last eight months. He said his final presentation went pretty well. You have to know Paul to know what that really means; Translation: "I'm AWESOME and everyone was wowed by my proposals". He has learned so much and I know that knowledge will help him through these next two semesters.

This Picture:
Paul's family came out at the end of June. Really it was a breath of fresh air for me. I think I let out a few tears when I saw his Mom. It had been a while since I had seen one of my Moms. While they were here we had a birthday party for Paul. He wanted Pumpkin Pie. I know weird...considering it was June. My Mom always made me my favorite so we continue on with the tradition. Isn't he good looking?

This next week is going to be filled with preparations to leave. Packing everything, shipping everything, Moving furniture, cleaning house, cleaning our car (I think there is 8 months of beach sand on my floor mats), and getting ready for our hospital trip. I'm pretty sure my Doctor is going to strip my membranes on my Thursday apt. I'm only assuming considering he said he would cause me a little more pain and we would get things moving. Usually when Doctors say a little bit of pain they don't really mean a "little" bit of pain. Then if I don't have the baby by Tuesday I will be induced...but only if things look like they are progressing. There's a third option if things aren't progressing but I try not to think about that one because I don't want Paul to leave me.
After meeting Audrey which is what I'm most excited about... Paul will pack up the car while I recover for a few days and then we will make the 28hr drive back home so that Paul can make it back for school.

It will be the 1st adventure we have as a little family unit. I will be documenting every moment so that someday she will be able to share that she became a Texan and moved to Utah all in one week. It's going to be a pretty good story!

This Picture: At the end of July my ward gave be the most beautiful Baby shower. Most of them have only known me for 8 months and they have been so kind to me. I hope to keep in regular contact with them because they have become my greatest friends.

Side shot will be coming next week.