Dreams

Audrey hasn't been sleeping very well lately which means two things: I have had two nights worth of short but very obvious dreams and have also SOMEHOW managed to convince myself that going back to work is a terrible idea and I must find a way to teach 2nd grade from home.

In my first dream Audrey and I were waiting in line for ice cream cones when we happened to see a mile-high tidal wave heading our way. My brain instantly raced for ways to save my 6 month old daughter from said tidal wave --blowing in her face so she'll hold her breath, covering her nose and mouth with my hand -- and my mom even offered to let us stand behind her house so we were partially shielded, but to no avail. The tidal wave was coming. (Perhaps ambiguous, but can someone say the first day of school??)

In my second dream all of the members of my school leadership team were coming to my house and I COULD NOT get ready in time. I kept coming up against very pressing matters and by the time everyone reached my house I was not showered and ready. It had been impossible. (Perhaps less ambiguous. I promise to be showered on the first day of school...)

There are still 7 days until I go back to school. I wonder what is in store for me tonight!

Audrey, enjoying some zzzzz's in the car.

One of Those Moms...

I never thought I would be one of those moms. The moms who have dirty toys around the house and the high chair full of caked-on baby food. I always thought having dirty toys and a dirty high chair was disgusting and couldn't see why parents didn't do a better job tidying up after their tiny tot.

Well. Now I understand. It is impossible to keep Audrey's toys clean. I'm not talking about the rattles and the stuffed animals. Those are easy to wash. A quick toss in the dishwasher or washing machine and DONE! No. I'm talking the play gym that Audrey adores sitting in. The one with 16 million detachable toys and a mirror (she takes after her mother and adores looking at herself for hours on end...). This convertible of baby toys has what seems like a million nooks and crannies for slobber/baby food/spit up to fall between that even the most diligent baby wipe cannot defeat. The moment I clean the little baby mirror Audrey's slobber finger swipes across leaving the slimiest of smudge marks... It never fails! If I were to really clean it I would have to completely disassemble the darn thing and put it together every 15 min. I can tell you, that is not a good use of time.

The high chair is another story. Even though I spent my days feeding other babies growing up I never really paid attention to how much babies LOVE to get food EVERYWHERE in their high chair. I don't think the little strap that holds Audrey in will ever be the same now that colored foods have entered her diet. Again, it would be possible to scrape and clean every nook EVERY time she eats but I have found 6 month olds do not enjoy sitting idly by while you scrub a high char down with a q-tip.

Now, I'm not complaining about any of the above, I'm just stating my reality check. Baby toys/high chairs are slimy so when you go to the second hand store and see someone's used treasure... don't judge!

This morning, when I woke up, I looked like this! (Forgive the morning hairdo...)



This evening, as I prepare for bed, I look like this!



Must be time to go back to school. I have my "Back to School" haircut :) And Audrey doesn't have her constant tug/chew toy anymore! My head thanks me from my daughters fierce grip!

GRRR!

A couple of weeks ago I spent an afternoon organizing all of the photos we have printed off since Audrey's birthday (Probably 1000 photos or so). They were in a large pile in the living room basket. Then over the weekend I worked very hard preparing material for some hair bows. I had to iron in the sides and then coil the material so the creases would become permanent.

In an effort to tidy the coffee table Scott balled up my tightly coiled fabric and tonight, in an effort to fill a new frame we bought for Audrey's pictures he jumbled up my photos.

Did I mention that in an effort to fill the frame he accidentally leaned on the glass and it broke?

It's a good thing he's good lookin'.

Early

Audrey failed to mention she was going to wake up 3 hours early last night when she went to bed. Scott and I stayed up to watch a movie, something I would have reconsidered had she revealed her desire to rise with the sun. I can fully acknowledge that in a few weeks I will be awake at this time every day WHILE working (BOOO!) but someone needs to let my little sweetpea know it is still summer vacation!

3 Month Photo Shoot

For my birthday my dad and Anne gave us a photo package where we have Audrey photographed every 3 months. Due to scheduling conflicts we are just now able to see the results from Audrey's 3 month appointment (her 6 month appointment is tomorrow...).

In our unbiased opinion, she is absolutely SPECTACULAR! If you live in Colo. Springs and want a referral, just let me know!





























Thank you, Jonathan and Lindsay!

Snuggle

My little girl used to be a snuggler. When she was a newborn in the hospital they laid her down on my chest and she snuggled. When we brought her home from the hospital she snuggled For my three glorious months of maternity leave she snuggled. The 5 weeks I went back to work she snuggled with her grandparents and with Scott and I when we got home from work. The first month of summer vacation she snuggled.

When Audrey snuggles she burrows her head to the side and her whole body goes limp. You can nuzzle her red hair with your chin and give her soft kisses on her cheeks and head. She gets so warm and her little mouth opens as she breathes (she's a definite Rosebrough mouth breather). You can lift her little arms and they fall right back where they started. If something wakes her up she purses her lips and looks side to side before snuggling back into position.

The first few weeks of summer vacation I sat in the rocking chair twice a day to snuggle and rock my precious daughter. It's summer vacation and there's nothing better than catching up on some daytime television while we snuggle and rock. My practical side told me I would eventually have to stop snuggling Audrey for her naps. She will have to go to daycare in the fall and as much as I love snuggling her for hours I can't expect her daycare provider to give up her life. I made the decision it was time for Audrey to nap in her crib by 5 months because I read (and my dad told me) that at 6 months things become a little more difficult. 6 months is the magical phase where sleeping in a crib can become a big deal if things aren't already established.

I put on my big-girl mommy britches and helped my daughter learn to sleep in her crib. The first couple of days I noticed the void but learned to really enjoy having "nap time" as a time to get things done.

Then, a friend of mine captured this photo.



Here is my precious daughter, who fell asleep as I was cooking dinner one night. Head to the side, arm tucked up under her cheek. I realize: Now that Audrey naps like a big girl our snuggle time is almost obsolete. She is getting so big that when she's awake she either wants to be

a. eating
b. playing
c. rolling around
d. being held and bounced on a lap

Snuggling is now a rare occurrence in our household.

Tonight as I was feeding Audrey before bed she fell asleep. I gently lifted her up to my shoulder and just snuggled her. She's big enough to put herself to sleep in her crib but I'm not big enough to let her go.

This blog serves as a reminder Audrey Lynn. When you are 16 and we are arguing over boys and clothes and allowance and extra-curricular activities I want you to know that I will snuggle you for the rest of your life. You don't have to fall asleep from exhaustion. I'm always here.

And you'll always probably by my little red-headed mouth breather :)