AbraLouise's Xanga

Life Update with Pictures.

Fri, 29 May 2009 01:23:57 GMT

Yesterday I managed to write enough, so I thought I would just share what has been going on with pictures...

We have been going to the park. Swing is always Audrey's choice of play.

We have been shopping with cousin, Jonathan, for birthday supplies.

We have been going to a lot of cook-outs. This picture shows what happens when Andrew watches her and wants to play cornhole while Audrey naps...(notice the man-made guard up, mower and all to "help" keep her safe. Oh, and a missing shoe.)

We often like to lay out on the back deck and play inside the colorful tent.

We go to softball games to cheer on daddy, Grandpa, and Uncle.

We have been going to graduation parties like Uncle Dale's and Uncle Justin's. Which are a wonderful time to spend with family.

We sometimes hang out with our cat, Iree. Best buds since birth.

No matter what we do during the day, the evening always ends with a bath. And since she is such a big girl now, it is in the big girl bath!

I'm Back.

Thu, 28 May 2009 01:26:02 GMT

Has it really been more than two weeks since I last posted? Oops. I Feel like a total loser. Sorry. I don't even have an excuse. I will just blame it on the warm weather. We have been staying very busy, trying to be outside as much as possible. Plus, I will just admit it, I keep my other blog updated way more. Not just with Audrey stuff, but life in general. Well, mainly mom stuff. Oh, and a rug a really want. Nothing too spectacular, so thank you for reading it, if you do. Actually, I haven't even blogged on my other site much lately either. I probably have lost all readership due to my blog disappearance. But I am going to try to be back. Really.

Here are some tidbits of my life lately...

I took Audrey to the pool for the first time today. She LOVED it. And it makes me happy, because I plan on spending a lot of summer time there. I felt so blessed to be able to sit with my sweet baby girl as she splashed around and looked up at me just to make sure I was still there. And of course I was and always will be.

I planted my garden about a week ago. Even if I have no success with actual vegetables, I feel like it was a success because the plants were growing like crazy in the house. So, we'll see what happens.

I painted a piece of furniture that I keep all my crafts in. It looks awesome, what can I say. I also painted picture frames like the one that my diploma hangs in. I figured I needed to make the frame look cute and actually hang that very expensive piece of paper.

I am still trying to keep up with making Audrey's baby food. I spent almost two hours last night stocking up. THAT GIRL CAN EAT. She is at three meals a day. Oatmeal in the morning, veggie AND fruit at lunch, and another veggie AND fruit at dinner. Oh, and did I mention, nursing in between all that? I think she eats something every two hours. But I am not complaining. She is finally sleeping through the night. Uh-huh, that's right. 10+ hours a night. Without interruption. I almost didn't blog about it, because I don't want to mess up the streak. It has been 8 days straight of blissful sleeping. We didn't even have to do anything to get her in routine of it either. I am so thankful.

We have been going to garage sales on Saturday, which I LOVE. Andrew actually suggested it last Saturday. And he said "We should do this every Saturday." [Good, I have documentation of it now]. I agree.

Okay, I think I have done enough writing on this post. I wish I could post some pictures for you, because that is the only reason you ever look at this blog, right? (Ha, jk, sort of). But the pictures get uploaded on the other laptop, that is no longer a laptop because it is ghetto-fied (I won't go into details, but some of you may recall when I spilt tea on it last year) and has to be hooked up permenantly. Maybe tomorrow I will post pictures. So stay tuned.

First Mother's Day

Mon, 11 May 2009 20:07:06 GMT

There is nothing better than being a mom. Really. I get to spend ALL day with Audrey and I couldn't ask for anything else I would want to do. In fact, if I am ever away from her for a couple of hours (like garage saling on Saturday), I just can't wait to get back to her. I miss her so much during that short time I am away. If I am having a crumby day, Audrey can change that with her smile. She is just so happy. It melts my heart.

On my first Mother's Day we were able to spend time with Andrew's mom. She is always so sweet to share memories of Andrew when he was little and has kept some wonderful things of his that she has passed on to me. Yesterday I got a lot of vintage items from her- so exciting!

(BTW- her little vintage dress she is wearing came from the Country Living Fair I attended last fall, I have been waiting to put that on her!)

We honored and remembered my mom by visiting her grave. Each year we write notes to my mom and put them on a balloon and release them. We were joking that when we get to heaven she is going to have them all there. We also like to watch to see which balloon "gets to her first." I think my dad's might have won yesterday.

It was the first time Audrey visited "Mimi's" grave.

In the afternoon, Audrey spent some time with her cousin, Harlie.

In the evening, Andrew and my brother, Isaiah, made dinner for me and Alaina! It was so sweet! They made from scratch (which I have never done) Spinach and Cheese Ravoli with Strawberry Salad, and the most amazing Italian dessert.

Look at that presentation? They did awesome!

Not only did I get that fabulous dinner, Andrew got me a Magnolia tree for Mother's Day! I have always wanted one and he remembered that! My mom had one in front of the house, so it brings sweet memories.

I am just so blessed.

Playing Around.

Sat, 02 May 2009 00:39:05 GMT

We have been meaning to get Audrey's "6 month" pictures taken by our good friend, Stephanie (the one who took my preggo shots and newborns pics), but haven't gotten to it yet. So I decided to play around this morning and take some of Audrey in her pink tutu. They actually turned out beautifully. (Please don't think I am lame if you also read my other blog and facebook, because these pictures are going to be there too. )

I plan on doing more shots tomorrow--so much fun!

Nothing But Sunny Days.

Mon, 27 Apr 2009 14:33:41 GMT

We have had incredible weather. Which means lots of shirtless days (for Andrew and Audrey of course) and diaper only time. I love it. We have spent time grilling out, hitting up garage sales, golfing, going to softball games, and just relaxing.

Audrey and our cat, Iree seem to really like each other. If you ask Audrey "where's the kitty cat?" She looks around for him. It is so cute!

Each morning we read books together. Daddy gets his time in on the weekends.

Lovely day at church.

Audrey watching her Aunt Hannah play softball with Grandpa. If you look really close, you can see evidence. Evidence of an ice cream cone Grandpa was feeding Audrey while I walked awhile for a short time. I caught him in the act!

I spent some nice quality time this weekend with some of my close girlfriends! All friends since middle school! This summer we will be spending a week together in South Carolina for Stephanie's wedding (girl in the middle with the striped shirt)--can't wait!

6 months.

Mon, 20 Apr 2009 00:52:21 GMT

Can I just be really lazy right now? And tell you to head over to my other blog to view some super cute pictures of Audrey as a big o' six month old. Yup, I am going to make you work for it. So go to whenbabysleeps.blogspot.com. Please feel free to leave me a happy note. :)

And in case you were wondering. I am lazy because my weekend has been crazy busy. But in a really good way. Andrew was out of town on a fishing trip on Lake Erie all weekend, so I had to find lots of things to do with Audrey. And it went like this...

Friday: (Wait, can I even think back that far- no I can't, moving on to Saturday)

Saturday: Breakfast and small group time at Cracker Barrel, then the Indianapolis Zoo for four hours, then a bonfire. Day started at 8am and did not end until 9:30pm. We were not at home all day. And remember, minus Andrew.

Sunday: Church, Homeward Bound Walk (walk to raise homeless awareness and donations) in the pouring rain while holding a very heavy storm umbrella. Oh, and my baby in a sling for the 5k walk. Then spent time with family. Day started at 8:30am and did not end until 9:30pm.

Okay, fine. I won't make you work for all the pictures.

(I kind of just surprised myself. I actually wasn't that lazy. I think I was motivated to upload because of all the cuteness to share.)

What Do I Do All Day?

Fri, 17 Apr 2009 02:29:49 GMT

I get asked quite often- "So what do you do all day?"

Well, sometimes I do laudry like this. (BTW, the lighting makes it look like she is completely bald, I assure you, she is not, she does have a tiny bit of hair. Tiny.)

And sometimes I make cute things for my daughter to wear like this hat and flower or headband. (Okay, I didn't actually make it, I just sewed on the flower, but still.)

(Is that expression not priceless? Audrey was telling me "Ma, just let me be. Here you go again, gettin' me all dressed up to pose for pictures!")

And sometimes we just play. Like with cousin Jonathan. Or other fun friends.

I love what I do every single day. I am thankful to be home with my sweet, little girl.

Easter Weekend.

Tue, 14 Apr 2009 14:08:00 GMT

It was a busy, but a good weekend. And I think I will just let the pictures do the talking...

Audrey is borrowing a toy from a her friend, Ava. She is becoming quite the musician now playing on the piano!

We went up to Connersville for Easter. Audrey was able to visit with her Gampa, Gamma, and Aunt Suzanne.

And she obviously looked oh, so cute on Easter...

We were also able to visit with Audrey's great-grandma "Nana." When we went out to dinner, Andrew made sure she was still in the know about the Pacers game (Nana is a fanatic) by showing her how to watch a play-by-play on her phone. It was adorable.

Easter evening we visited with my dad and family. Audrey got some bunny ears in her basket. She went for the "bunny in headlights" look while wearing them.

Quick Update. Just So You Know.

Sat, 11 Apr 2009 01:21:25 GMT

I'm really tired. I mean, really tired. We have had people over at our house everyday this week since Sunday, except for Wednesday, and not then only because I had to tutor that evening. But I thought I should let you all know that the breast ultrasound went fine today. Not exactly what I expected, but fine. The doctor at the radiology clinic thinks it is a clogged milk duct based on the exam. He thought it was too big to be cyst. Which I found rather interesting since my personal doctor thought it was a cyst. For some reason, I don't feel like it is a clogged milk duct. I have had one before and it doesn't feel like that. It doesn't hurt. But, if that is what the doctor says, then I will wait it out. For a month. He also said if it doesn't go away in another month then I should come back in for a reexamine. Oh, and he found a small nodular next to it, which he suspects is related to the clogged milk duct. I am okay with hearing all this, I just wish it was a 100% sure thing, you know. I don't like having to 'wait' for things to change.

Okay, falling. asleep. as. I. type. Going to bed.

Update and Fun Stuff.

Fri, 10 Apr 2009 00:52:51 GMT

I went to the doctor today for my breast exam. Things are looking optimistic. Doc is pretty confident that it is a cyst [so not a clogged milk duct or dense tissue as I maybe thought]. BUT to be certain I am going in tomorrow for a breast ultrasound. Hopefully it will just confirm what the doctor thinks. If they aren't for certain, then I will get a biopsy. So, keep praying please.

On a more fun note. Audrey had her first taste of real baby food this week. I made homemade, organic fruits and vegetables for her and froze them. Like so...

She had squash as her first meal. And absolutely loved it!

And in case you are wondering what the bib says...

Courtesy of her Aunt Suzanne. The bib is big. But I want to get a lot of use out of this one, if you know what I mean.

Oh, have a mentioned I painted her toenails? Yes, I painted my almost 6 month old toenails. And I will do it again very soon. Simply adorable. I mean, she has to get ready for sandal season, right?