Born an Engineer

We were at Paul's parents house looking through old photos when we came across this beauty. Guess who? Part of me has always wondered when Paul became interested in all things mechanical. Now I know. He was practically born that way. Can you tell where Audrey gets her cheeks?

Cute to Ruggedly Handsome....I love him.

Hair Cutting and Gift Giving

It was my Dad's birthday last week. He is hilarious...I love his guts! I will cherish this picture forever (Thanks Kim!). I know everyone says this but he really is the best Dad in the whole world. Maybe some of his parenting skills will rub off on me!

This whole Christmas thing is driving me nuts. Every year I have the hardest time finding my husband the perfect gift. In years previous I have crashed and burned in this category! Literally. It will be forever burned in my memory. If I were less of a person I might just get him a gift card...but I'm not!! I've been researching. We will see if it pays off.

I cut my babies hair today. I know what you're thinking...she doesn't have any. Well she did. It may have only been a small thick tuft in the back of her head but I assure you she had some. I was so proud of her dark brown hair that it may have clouded my judgment. She grows hair like a champ in that one spot. I finally decided that it was probably not the best look for her. It had to go! She has a very short attention span so she wouldn't stop moving her head back and forth. It might look worse than it did!

Moving on...

In honor of the season we watched the First Presidency Christmas Devotional a couple weeks ago. If you haven't seen these videos you should! They are awesome. I promise you won't regret the time it takes.
Anyway...I, like the wise men and shepherds so long ago have a desire to give a gift to the Savior for his birthday. I assumed he would want what Pres. Monson wanted for his birthday last year, "lift up the hands which hang down and strengthen the feeble knees". So I'm on a mission to do just that. Wish me luck!

What will your gift be this Christmas?

3 months

My Beautiful Baby is growing up. I can't believe she is already 3 months old! My sister Lisa made her this beautiful dress out of some of my mom's vintage fabric. Isn't she beautiful! Thanks Aunt Lisa, you're awesome. All of the little girls at church are going to be jealous.

Part of me just wants this little baby to stay little forever and yet I love each new smile, sound, and movement. She is slowly gaining control of her hands (her new favorite toy is my hair). She smiles like it's her job (when there isn't something interesting like a camera around), and still hates tummy time.

I started voice lessons last week. I love singing again. Paul is finishing his second to last semester of school for his bachelors degree. He'll be glad when it's over. He got a job offer in Texas and we'll be heading there next year.

We enjoyed spending thanksgiving with Paul's family and can't wait for Christmas. I love this time of year. Being wrapped up in a blanket with someone you love watching a movie with a cup of hot chocolate is a must. If you haven't already done it, you should!

2 Months

Halloween is a week away! I'm so excited and to be honest it really doesn't add up. I'm still living in an apartment so the opportunity to scare kids who come to my door is really non-existent. I'm no longer a kid... I might have been able to pass for trick- or-treating a year ago but now that I'm a Mom it kind of feels wrong. My brother and I used to talk about trick-or-treating till our nineties, we would die doing it. The ultimate Halloween treat left on someones doorstep. They would probably never be the same after witnessing such an event, but we thought it would be the best way to go. I guess it wasn't in the stars because I stopped at 19. I had a good run.

It's just too bad Audrey isn't old enough. I did have a thought as I was driving to my parents house the other day that maybe I could take her to be the decoy. Maybe next year.
Paul doesn't understand he says it would be easier just to buy my own but you don't get the variety like you do when you get a piece from each house. Lucky for me I'm living close enough to my parents this year that I might be able to get a little scaring in.
Pictures will be posted...

As for Audrey...
I can't believe it's been 2 months. She is my best little friend.

Rough Morning

Paul decided it would be wise for us to invest in a video camera to document Audrey's life. I've never really been into video cameras. I remember hours and hours of footage taken at my uncles farewells and homecomings. Since then I think I've changed my mind. I think the key is short videos. This one is my favorite...I could watch it over and over again. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

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!