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!

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!