Audrey's 1st Day of Kindergarten

August 19, 2013...the beginning of a new phase in our lives.  Audrey's 1st day of Kindergarten.

 



 

For months, no years, I've been preparing her for this day. Reading books, learning colors, shapes, letters, numbers, rules, social skills. Audrey was excited and ready for this day.  However, I hadn't prepared my heart enough.  I'm not sure you could ever prepare enough as a mommy to send your baby off into the "real world".  Sure, she had been going to preschool, but this was much different.  This meant my baby was growing up.

 

I wanted for her day to be very special.  Certainly, Audrey was nervous, but her excitement overshadowed that emotion.

 

So we began the day with cinnamon rolls with a candle for the birthday girl and sang a special "first day of school" song.

 

 

Her lunch was packed with extra special love and a note.  

 

A goody basket was ready for Ms. R. 

 

Audrey was all smiles ready for this day to begin.

 

Addison wasn't all that happy about her sissy being gone all day.  Now she wouldn't have her playmate all the time.

 

Fortunately, Corey was off work and able to go to school with us. That was good because I knew I was going to need moral support. :)

 

Mommy and my big girl ready for school.

 

Ready to go! 

 

We arrived at school at the same time as our friend Lydia.  She will be in the classroom across the hall from Audrey.  Hopefully since both of them will be there together it will help them be brave.  These two girls are such good buddies.

 

 

Into the school we go! Audrey found her cubby and put her lunchbox and backpack up.

 

Then she found her seat and began playing with the playdough that was put out for them to use.  She gave Corey, Addison and I hugs, kisses and a wave. She had tears in her eyes but was still smiling.  So no sobbing for Audrey. 

 

That can't be said for Mommy!  I had to rush back to the car so I could make it there before the tears started to fall.  Then I sobbed like a baby.  Goodness, I was not prepared for how difficult that would be.  I knew that things would change drastically for us since I was used to having my babies with me most of the time, but that got to me more that I expected.

 

Corey went on to work while Addison and I went back home to wait anxiously for 2:45pm to arrive so I could get Audrey.  Addison whined for Audrey most of the day because she missed her.  I dove into house chores and work to pass the time.  (I was quite productive!- Haha!)

 

Finally, it was time to pick up Audrey.  She climbed into the car full of smiles and details about her "awesome" day.  I was so glad the she enjoyed it.  But I was very glad to have her back in my arms.  Then I had to prepare to take her back the next morning.

 

We are looking forward to a wonderful year.  I know Audrey is going to learn so much.

Audrey's Kindergarten Open House

Last night we went to Audrey's Kindergarten Open House.  She was a little nervous, but excited to see her school, teacher, and classroom.

 

Mommy was emotional at this bittersweet milestone in Audrey's life.  I blinked and now she is a Kindergartener.

 

Her teacher is Ms. Rhodarmer.  It is her first year teaching.  She seems like a very sweet person and is energetic and enthused about teaching. (and look how cute she is!) Audrey really liked her. I think they will have a wonderful year.

 

Audrey got to sit in her desk and check out her cubby and other things in her classroom.

 

Audrey is excited and ready for Monday!  Mommy...not so much.  I'm praying I can keep it together at least until I get back to the car. :)

Audrey and Addison- Spring 2013

I dressed these dolls up in their beautiful ballet smocked dresses and took them out to the UA campus for some spring photos.

 

In these pictures Audrey is almost 6-years-old and Addison just turned 3-ears-old

 

 

I love this one of my two girls.  This sums up their relationship.



 

Love her precious smile!

 

My sweet girl is growing up so fast!

Addison~ 3 years old

 

My precious Addison...

 

3-years-old!! How can it be?  Was it really that long ago that I held your perfect little blue-eyed self for the first time?  I have no idea what we would do without you. You bring so much silliness and laughter to our lives.

 

You are outgoing, loving, silly, and full of mischievousness.

There is never a dull moment with you around.  You are fearless to try things yet won't watch Disney movies or other shows that have "mean people" in it because it scares you.

I love how you give us big squeezes and kisses. And you have to have your belly and back rubbed every night with "scratchy" on your beloved blankie before you can go to sleep. Yes, you are a little spoiled.

 

Here are some other things I want to remember about you:

 

* You wear a size 2T/3T clothes

*Weigh 27 pounds

*Are 36" tall

*Wear size 7 toddler shoe

*Are potty trained (except occasionally at night)

*Love to watch Barney, Max and Ruby, and any show that sings and dances (Wiggles, Sing-a-long)

*Enjoy playing outside and getting wet/dirty

*Do really well riding your tricycle and can even ride Audrey's bike

 

* Love your big sister and try to do everything she does

*Enjoy preschool (your friends are Ella Grace and Addi Belle)

*Love, love, love to sing and dance

* Always carry blankie, Care Bear, baby and Pep

*Don't like sodas (they are "spicy")

*Still like to snuggle

*Enjoy listening to books

 

There is so much about you that I hope I never forget. These pictures really capture your personality. The expressions you make are always so entertaining!

 

You, Little Bit, are a wonderful blessing to our family.  May you never forget how special you are to us!  I love you around to Jupiter and back!

First Sleepover

These two little sweeties had their first "sleepover" together last night.  I made them pallets in Audrey's room.  They were beyond thrilled. Audrey lasted about 10 minutes before she was snoring.  Addison wanted to have a little more fun at the sleepover so she just played by herself for another hour before calling it a night.

I'm sure this was just the first of many fun, giggly, sleepovers that these two will share. 

Addison- 2 1/2 years old

 

Oh my precious Little Bit!  As you remind me often, you are "gettin' a big girl".  And indeed you are!!  It seems like I blinked and you are no longer my baby.

 

At 2 1/2 years old, you:

* weigh 26 pounds (such a tiny thing)

* are 36.5 inches tall

* wear size 2 T shirts and 24 month pants (and those are too big in the waist)

* wear size 6 toddler shoes

* always say the funniest things. Your daddy and I are always laughing at you.

* have perfected the terrible 2 tantrums and defiant/strong-willed behavior

* are scared of EVERYTHING- the dark, sleeping with your door closed, "mean" people in movies, fireworks, just to name a few

* are a little daredevil even though you are scared of other things

*ALWAYS have a song in your heart.  I love to stand just outside of whatever room you are in and listen to you sing. Many times you add your own words. 

*make my day when you put your little arms around my neck and say "I love you".

* LOVE playing with your baby dolls

*always carry around blankie, baby doll, and Care Bear

* are not a fan of chocolate (milk, cocoa, etc)

* enjoy eating all fruits, popcorn, chips but you don't eat very much of anything.  You aren't all that picky, you are just a very light eater.

 

* like to watch Doc McStuffins, Bubble Guppies, Blues Clues, and Barney

* are learning to be such a big helper to mommy

* know all of your colors and shapes

* are learning to identify letters and numbers

* remember EVERYTHING

* are potty trained- you picked up on that very quickly!

* show all your emotions with your eyes, they are so expressive

* love going to preschool. You never cry when I leave you and are such a good helper to your teachers.

 

Precious one, I love you!  You are the apple of my eye!  I'm so glad that I get to be your mommy.

Audrey- Age 5 1/2

 

This little lady is growing up in a flash!  Somehow, it seems that overnight my "preschooler" lost that baby look and is now a beautiful young girl. 

 

Not only in looks, but also in personality and quirks this precious child reminds me so much of myself.  Sometimes that makes me smile and other times that makes me worry.  (yes, a trait she got from me, too!)

 

Since I will always want to be able to reflect back on these times, I wanted to update and the 1/2 year mark, also. 

 

About Audrey:

 

* Weighs 36 pounds

* Is 42.5 inches tall

*Wears size 5/6 girl clothes

* Wears size 9 toddler shoe

* Still loves Lambie and Doggie- they go everywhere with her

*Loves to swing

*Loves dancing around and is really enjoying her ballet and tap class

* Has learned to like coloring and art

* Can read some sight words and 3-4 letter words

* Knows all letter sounds

*Can count to 100 with very little assistance

*Does simple addition and subtraction

*Can have quite the sassy mouth

*Loves to eat spaghetti, fruit, candy, chips

*Hates eating cheese (except mexican cheese dip), and any pasta other than spaghetti

 

*Is a tenderhearted child and easily gets her feelings hurt

* Worries about everyone and everything

* Loves listening to me read to her...especially Junie B. Jones books

* Watches Bubble Guppies and Doc McStuffins

*Is a great helper

*Is a daddy's girl

*Enjoys going to Grammy and Grandaddy's house

*Always asks to go eat at Logan's or Fantail

*Has fun visiting Bass Pro Shop

 

This sweet girl is teaching us many things about being parents.  I adore her and love every minute that we get to spend together.

Paci, Diapers: Mission Complete!!

Oh happy day!! This momma is doing the happy dance because we said good-bye to the paci and diapers (except bedtime).  Ok, so I have shed a few tears over these huge milestones because it means that my baby is growing up.  But I am happy that I don't have to keep up with pacies and pay a fortune for diapers! 



 

Beginning in June, I started encouraging Addison to use her little potty.  When we were at home, I would leave her in a shirt and big girl panties.  She only had 2 or 3 accidents and realized that she wasn't all that fond of being wet, so she started telling me she had to potty or just going on her own with Audrey's assistance.  I couldn't believe how quickly she caught on!  My first trail with potty training Audrey was so frustrating and took FOREVER...but Addison caught on quickly and was a happy girl to get to wear big girl panties like her sister.

Now the paci...that is a whole different story!  This girl L.O.V.E.D her a paci!  I'm pretty sure it bordered on an addiction problem. haha.  I was so tired of having to keep up with pacies and fetch them all the time.  So I began snipping the end of the pacies a little bit.  The first night I did it was TORTURE!! Corey was at work and Addison screamed and cried about her "broke" paci for hours.  I refused to give in, though.  The next night went a little better.  I left the pacies that length for several nights, then snipped them again.  This went on for about 3 weeks getting shorter and shorter.  I noticed that she wasn't fond of them as much anymore.  So one night I just hid the paci to see if she would request it at bedtime.  She didn't!  So from that point on, I made them disappear.  About a week after the paci "disappeared" she asked about it.  I told her it was broken and in the trash and she was too old for it. 

Now I will say that I have kicked myself more than once for saying good-bye to the paci because since the paci went away, my child who was a great sleeper REFUSES to sleep- nap or bedtime.  (sign)  Hopefully, one day that will pass and she will learn to love sleep again...because her mommy certainly does!

Mommy Confession #217

Usually I post about the fun, happy, beautiful things going on in our lives. And it is so easy to make things seem just honky-dory around here.  But in all honesty, I'm a mommy to a 5-year-old and a 2-year-old, a work-at-home mom who's husband works a lot...so IT AIN'T EASY!  All that said, here is my confession:

** I really don't want Addison to give up the paci!!!** There, I said it! Why, you ask?? Well, for several reasons...

1) It is just so easy to give it to her when she's whining.  She LOVES that thing.  And when there is drama, fussing, fighting, and crying between the siblings (like there has been of most of the time lately) it just makes me not go insane quite as quickly when I can plug her up with the paa-paa!

2) When she has the paci in her mouth, I know what is in her mouth.  This kid puts EVERYTHING in her mouth!! And I do mean- EVERYTHING!! If the paci isn't in her mouth, then the old cereal off the floor, the bouncy ball, the little Lego, the bug, her shoe, a crayon, paper, a blanket...(I could go on and on) is in her mouth. YUCK!!!

3) I'm the one who has to put up with the screaming and crying when she can't have her paci.  As previously mentioned...Corey is at work a lot, so the time he has to endure the screaming and crying is very limited.  I'm not sure my ears, brain and nerves can handle it. (And poor Audrey will have to suffer too!) All these other folks that keep on about how she "MUST get rid of the paci now" isn't exactly volunteering to take care of her during the breaking process!

4) She's my last baby. Sorry excuse, I know.  But if I am being honest, then I must include this.  She looks so darn cute with the paci. (We do limit her use of it, by the way, to nap/bed time for the most part). And once the paci is gone, then it is one more thing that proves my baby isn't a baby anymore. :( (sniff, sniff)

So, there you have it.  My confession.  However, there is a plan in place to take away the paci for good once Corey comes back from his fishing trip. Because I'm not suffering through it alone. Haha!  So say a prayer that the detachment comes easy.  I'm sure I will post about the Operation: Goodbye Paci soon.

Addison- 2 Years Old

This is a bit late being posted...mainly because I forgot to hit that "publish" button waaayyyy back when I wrote this.

Little Bit,

You are now 2 years old. I know I keep saying this, but I just don't understand how time keeps speeding up. In spite of your "terrible-two" tantrums, this has to be the funniest age right now. You are so comical and your vocabulary has increased dramatically just in the last 2 weeks. It is unbelievable.

Here are some things I want to remember about this time:

You:

* weigh 23 lbs

* are 34 inches tall

* still have that papa (paci)

* always have your blankie and Care Bear with you

* wear size 18-24 month clothes

* wear a size 5 toddler shoe

* wear a size 4 diaper

* love to sing and dance. You really love watching the Cedarmont Kids Sing-a-long DVDs and sing and dance with them.

* love playing with babydolls and in the play kitchen

* pull out tons and tons of toys so it looks like a hurricane came through our house on a daily basis

* say "I DO IT" often. You are becoming very independent.

You:

* love Elmo

* enjoy seeing the cows at Grammy's house

* always want to eat bananas and PB&J sandwiches

* say "Mommy, I NEED You" when you are upset and come to me with those sweet arms up waiting on me to pick you up.

* wear your sunglasses upside down

* have learned to swing in a regular swing like a big girl

You:

* are so expressive with your eyes

* are scared of bugs and thunder

* love to play in the sand and water

* can count to 20 in English and 10 in Spanish

* can say your ABC's

* know most of your colors consistently

* do a good job putting simple puzzles together

* like to play "Memory" games

* know your shapes

* love "reading" books

* think you are as big as your sister and try to do everything she does

You, my precious child, are such a joy! You keep our family laughing and entertained. I am so thankful that God chose me to be your mommy! I love you, Little Bit!!