Taking Steps

Randall Oaks Zoo Again

Hello sheep.

Audrey and I stopped by the Randall Oaks Zoo this afternoon. We've been there once before in the spring. Even though it was hot, we had a great time checking out all the animals. It was fun to see Audrey make the connection from the animals we show her in her books and the real life animals in front of her.


Checking out the huge pig.


Audrey preferred to push the stroller herself.

Feeling more confident in her walking skills.

More interested in the other kids at the zoo than the ducks.

Walking on Sunshine

As promised, here are a couple videos of Audrey walking.




Besides walking, Audrey is picking up new things left and right. For instance, I have rhinitis of pregnancy, which basically means being pregnant makes me congested. So, I have been blowing my nose a lot. This has not gone unnoticed by Audrey.


What else is going on? Hair!

It's growing. Another year and we may be ready for a barette.

15 Weeks

Hard to believe, but I am 15 weeks along now, although I feel like I look like I'm further along than that! I had my monthly dr. appt. today, and so far so good. The baby's heartbeat was strong, my blood pressure and weight gain are good and in four weeks we'll have our first ultrasound--woohoo! Assuming the baby cooperates, we'll find out if Audrey is going to have a little bro or sis.

My doctor also brought up the possibility of inducing me 10 days or so early after he learned that I broke my tailbone delivering Audrey. I'm not so concerned about breaking my tailbone again (although I would prefer not to!), but I would like to avoid three hours of pushing only to have an emergency C-section, which I was 15 minutes away from with Audrey. Thanks to a smart nurse and some awesome bottom of the ninth coaching from Mike, we were able to avoid the operating room :-)

We have several weeks and months to consider that decision, however. In the meantime, I'll be thinking about getting started on the nursery!

And because it doesn't feel right to have a post without a picture, here's Audrey enjoying a couple of books while relaxing in her armchair. It kind of looks like she's reading to her dolls and stuffed animals.

Headband!

Audrey saw that I was wearing a headband today, so for once, she was happy to wear a headband too. And it stayed on her head for the whole day! Normally she rips them off before I can even finish putting 'em on.


Also, Audrey is a WALKER now! She still prefers crawling to walking, but she is becoming more confident and walking more every day. I no longer have to coax her to let go of my hands, and she doesn't cry when she falls. She is starting to explore on her own while walking, although she still loses her balance before she can get very far. I've been trying to get it on video, but I haven't been on top of this milestone like I have with some of the others. Hopefully I will have something to post in the next couple of days.

Tea and Gardens

Today Audrey and I met my mom, sister, grandmother and aunt at the Anderson Japanese Gardens in Rockford and then had lunch at Crumpets, a tea house in Genoa. For the most part, we try to keep Audrey to a routine--morning nap, lunch at 11:30, fun for a few hours, then afternoon nap. But some days don't fit into that routine, and that's good for Audrey, too. But I have to admit that I start these days with a little nervousness about how she will handle it. So far she has always dealt with the change in routine without any trouble, and today was no exception. No morning nap, lunch an hour and a half later than normal, and she handled it like a champ. I was so proud!

At 14 weeks, I'm already sporting a pretty obvious baby bump. Audrey loved seeing the fish swimming in the koi ponds. I think she wanted to jump into the pond with them.

Happy eating a pumpkin muffin at the end of a long lunch.

Wet 'N' Wild at Festival Park

Mike and I both had today off, so we decided to have lunch at a small cafe in downtown Elgin and then check out the Festival Park on the river. We remembered from walks on the river before Audrey was born that there was a playground and water fountain/park.

Lunch was great. The food was delicious, and Audrey was at her best--happy and content. We figured we'd walk to the park, check out the playground and maybe have Audrey splash a little in the water. We were unprepared for how into it she would be. Next time we'll dress her appropriately in swimsuit and swim diaper.

Surprise!

We surprised my best friend Kristy on Saturday for her 30th birthday. Her family threw a great party at their cottage on the Fox River in Wisconsin--tons of food, wonderful friends and family, and a party barge. What could be better? Happy Birthday KP!


Forehead kisses for Kristy.


Partners in crime. I was bummed I couldn't have a beer with Kristy on the boat.


Audrey loved being outside all day. We were generous with the sunscreen and adamant about the hat. Her skin today is pale and burn-free. Her mother, on the other hand, is a little red. I wasn't as thorough applying the sunscreen to myself.


Checking out the scene with Daddy.

Daddy's Home!

This is Audrey's typical reaction to Mike coming home in the evenings.

Shout out to the Grandparents

I just wanted to say THANK YOU to both Patti and my Mom who have been watching Audrey on Monday and Wednesday. I have had just the best time the past couple of days coming home for lunch and spending time with my Mom and Dad on monday and Patti today.(I even got to make Patti breakfast this morning. FYI - she likes her eggs over medium) I truly love being able to come home and get an update about what Audrey has been doing during the day and get the opportunity to play with her with the Grandmas. I have even started pushing my lunches to 4 O'clock so that I can have the opportunity to come home while Audrey is awake. Special thanks to Harold William Wetzel Jr. for cleaning out my garage.

Sunny Days

Coloring at home. Audrey spent more time throwing the crayons and seeing how many she could fit into one hand than she did actually coloring.


Learning to use a fork.


Hammock time at friend Noah's birthday party.

More of the same this week--we are really enjoying our summer despite a horrific Cubs season. Audrey loves getting to see both her grandmas every week, and I'm pretty sure they like it too. I'm waiting to hear the word "Grandma" come out of her mouth--she seems to be trying to get it out.

After Audrey showed us she could walk no problem last Wednesday, she has refused to do any more since then. Now we know she can walk, she's just still too scared and unsure to do it on her own. All in good time, but it's been causing a few sore backs here at home since she demands we hold her hands as she walks around the house or yard.

Growin' and Learnin'

We've been having some great days this June, despite the recent heat wave. Audrey continues to pick up new words (like Go Cubs Go) and sounds (rar for lion, wak wak for duck, ruf ruf for dog, woo woo for train, brum brum for car, etc.). Most exciting of all, today out of the blue she walked a dozen steps from our living room down the hall to our bedroom all by herself.

When I'm home we spend our days playing in the cool basement or outside in her wading pool. In the evenings we go on walks around the neighborhood with Sophie. Mike and I play our favorite game, "We would buy that house," along with our second favorite game "Sheesh, mow your lawn!"

Finally, I can tell Audrey's little mind and body are going through some big developments, because she has been sleeping a lot. I have really been enjoying the last week or so of sleeping in until 8, 8:30, even 9 a.m. a couple of times. I will be sad when this phase ends!