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May 31, 2008
birthday weekend!
My birthday festivities continued today (we celebrate birthday weekends, not just birth days) with all kinds of fun surprises. Audrey and Todd took me out to breakfast where we ran into my cousin Michelle and her new husband Chris.
Todd arranged for Nana to watch Audrey this afternoon so we could go see a movie.
Nana brought these sunglasses for Audrey and she loved wearing them.
Making things even better, Erinn and Kieran met us at the movies.
Afterwards everyone came back to our house for pizza and ice cream cake.
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Posted by jill at 09:13 PM | Comments (0)
May 30, 2008
Happy Birthday, Mama!
It's a big day, therefore it's a big post. Get ready to scroll.
Today is Mama's birthday and Audrey couldn't wait to celebrate. Of course her favorite part of celebrating is helping unwrap the presents, and Jill was happy to let her assist.
For quite a while Jill has been talking about visiting the Chicago Botanic Garden and despite a forecast of T-storms, I decided to risk it and surprise her with a visit. The skies looked a bit gray, but it seemed like my gamble was actually going to pay off. Of course it started to rain when we were about 10 minutes away...
Because of the rain we tried to stay indoors as much as possible, taking in the beauty of the outdoor gardens at a quicker clip than we would otherwise have liked. There were plenty of fun things to see indoors, like the mermaid outside the library where I once took a class on rare books.
Audrey had a lot of fun discovering things in the greenhouses when she wasn't busy trying to push her own stroller.
Our evening plan worked out a bit better as we visited the East African restaurant Jill has been longing to check out since it opened. This was a great choice as the food was excellent and we went early enough that we pretty much had the place to ourselves.
Audrey entertained herself by reading the menu. When the waitress asked if we wanted to get anything for her, Audrey pointed at the line for tea. I think her grandmother got her hooked on the stuff.
After dinner we walked along the Riverwalk and Audrey quacked at the ducks. Along the way we ran into some fun fiberglass sculptures, chairs shaped like frogs and playhouses shaped like ladybugs.
After playing in the ladybug houses, Audrey was ready to head home for bed, but not before a quick trip for a birthday treat at the cookie dough shop. A good time was had by all.
Happy Birthday, Mama! We love you!
Posted by Thrillmer! at 09:05 PM | Comments (1)
May 29, 2008
knit wits
Our Thursday morning walking friends were sick today so instead Audrey spent a good 40 minutes pushing the swiffer.
Jack's birthday is on Saturday so Audrey and I stopped by today to wish him well and give him presents.
Audrey got to wear Emma's good tutu.
This evening Susan came over and gave me birthday presents: knitting needles, lots of yarn and a knitting tutorial. I've always wanted to learn and am excited to make Audrey and Todd knitted items!
Posted by jill at 10:46 PM | Comments (0)
May 28, 2008
can you hear me now?
Over the last several months Audrey has taken to using any nearby object as a telephone to pretend to call "dada!" I caught her in the act today with a black bean during lunch. She has also used shoes, stuffed animals, pasta, bagels, cheese, cups and her hand, among other things.
Posted by jill at 10:35 PM | Comments (1)
May 27, 2008
memorial day
Yesterday while Audrey napped, Erinn and I shopped and then Erinn came to the house to visit with Audrey. Audrey was excited to talk kitties with her aunt Erinn.
Erinn always holds Audrey like she holds her cats. The cats don't like it either.
Kieran joined us a bit later with their dog Mac.
Audrey was brave if Mac wasn't paying attention to her...
... and then ran away when he turned her way.
Posted by jill at 11:37 PM | Comments (0)
May 26, 2008
spaghetti dinner
Posted by jill at 04:28 PM | Comments (0)
May 25, 2008
new plantings
Audrey shows off the flowers that she and Grandma Channamom planted yesterday.
Today Audrey ran around the yard and played with her friend Colin from across the street.
Posted by jill at 09:19 PM | Comments (0)
May 24, 2008
undocumented fun with Grandma Channamom
Todd and I attended the wedding of friend/Todd's co-worker Rebecca to her sweetie Mike today.
Channamom babysat Audrey and it sounds like they had a blast. Audrey helped shop for and plant flowers in the window box on the front of the house. Channamom was unable to teach Audrey to say "Channamom" but did teach her "mm-mm good". THANK YOU CHANNAMOM FOR EVERYTHING!!! Unfortunately we didn't take any pictures of Audrey with Channamom.
Here is the only pic we did take of Audrey today.
Posted by jill at 11:27 PM | Comments (0)
May 23, 2008
lemonade parade
Audrey and I had fun with Sara, Jack and Emma at the bookstore today. There just happened to be a poorly attended storytime going on when we arrived so we joined in. The theme was parades with instruments for the kids to play. It ended in a parade through the store to the cafe for strawberry lemonade.
Posted by jill at 10:36 PM | Comments (0)
May 22, 2008
baby in a bowl
#2 in a series of Audrey in receptacles
Posted by jill at 08:22 PM | Comments (0)
May 21, 2008
a tragic story of a girl and her stick
As soon as we went outside this morning Audrey excitedly ran straight for her favorite stick. She tripped and fell on the driveway, landing on the stick, causing a few scratches on her cheek. After crying it out and cuddling with me and meow for a bit she was back on her feet and poking things with the stick again.
Audrey's newest boo boo is just above the left corner of her mouth.
Posted by jill at 09:19 PM | Comments (0)
May 20, 2008
mr. pointy
Audrey had more time today with her favorite outdoor toy.
What could be more fun than poking things with a stick?
This is an interesting new move of Audrey's. It is like she is trying to take flight.
Posted by jill at 08:28 PM | Comments (2)
May 19, 2008
happy birthday, susan (aka "nunu")
Today is Susan's birthday! Audrey and I went out for Thai with Susan and Jeremy. Audrey was in quite a good mood. She wore her cat ears to the restaurant and repeatedly exclaimed "meat" before, during and long after eating turkey for dinner. Afterwards we came back to our house for cupcakes decorated with farm animal sprinkles.
Posted by jill at 10:17 PM | Comments (0)
May 18, 2008
say my name, say my name!
I shot some video the other night with our digital camera, there was no way I could pass up recording this!
Posted by Thrillmer! at 04:36 PM | Comments (1)
May 17, 2008
a girl and her cat
Posted by Thrillmer! at 10:53 PM | Comments (3)
May 16, 2008
tgif
Audrey and I had another lunch date with Sara, Jack and Emma today. There were plenty of crayons to go around to keep the kids occupied, at least for a while. Jack and Emma must have really made an impression on Audrey today. Between lunch and bedtime she said "Emma" probably 100 times with a few "Jacks" sprinkled in with no provocation.
After lunch Audrey played with the bubble wand that Grandma Channamom gave her on Wednesday and her favorite stick that she seems to find every time we go outside.
At dinner we let Audrey run wild with her apple rather than cut it up.
Todd and I are very excited by a development today. Audrey started saying her name. We have been working with her on this for months and until now could only get "Dree" or "Mae".
Posted by jill at 08:32 PM | Comments (0)
May 15, 2008
behind the blog
It's a rare behind-the-scenes look at what goes into creating this highly entertaining blog. For those who haven't had the pleasure of visiting our home, the girl really does have a camera pointed at her 24/7. Sometimes two cameras. I really need to get someone to videotape me taking a shot of Jill snapping photos of Audrey, that would be awesome.
Posted by Thrillmer! at 11:10 PM | Comments (0)
May 14, 2008
lunch with grandma Channamom
We didn't get to see Channamom on mother's day so Audrey and I took her out for lunch today. We stopped at Channamom's office so Audrey could meet her co-workers. Then we were off to lunch at the park district golf course. It pays to have a grandma who cuts all of the checks for the park district employees - Audrey got extra helpings of strawberries and oranges and got to meet the golf course dog.
In addition to feeding Audrey her first french fries, Channamom gave Audrey her first bite of lemon. Initially Audrey thought it was "yum" but once she really got a taste she changed her mind.
Looking at the flowers at the golf course.
Posted by jill at 10:35 PM | Comments (1)
May 13, 2008
baby mean-face
When Audrey gets mad at me and Todd she makes a face that I call her mean face. I caught her doing it at me at breakfast this morning. It isn't her true mean face, as she is trying not to smile.
Audrey wasn't all crabby at breakfast this morning. She was more than happy sharing her milk and bagel with one of her meows. Also not pictured is Audrey making the cat dance by holding it by its ears and bobbing its head back and forth.
Posted by jill at 09:57 PM | Comments (1)
May 12, 2008
flower child
Audrey is fascinated by the flowers that are blooming everywhere right now. She loves to smell them, just like in her Pat the Bunny book. She is getting better about being gentle and not destroying every bloom she sees.
Posted by jill at 10:06 PM | Comments (0)
May 11, 2008
Happy Mother's Day! 2008!
What do you do when you want to show that special gal in your life that you appreciate what a wonderful mother she is to your daughter? Well, if you're a super sensitive and thoughtful fellow you take what worked last time and run with it again...except this time breakfast in bed featured waffles that weren't vegan, much to Jill's delight. And strawberries and whipped cream and chai. And chocolate donuts, oh yeah!
Mama shows Audrey some of the things they will make from her new Fun Dolls book.
Audrey enjoys a baby sized waffle after eating a strawberry, stem and all!
It looked bright and beautiful outside when we heard Audrey stirring from her nap, but by the time we got the girl dressed and ready to explore, the sun had disappeared again. She put on a brave face but it was just too cold and windy for our sick little girl. Maybe next year we won't have to spend Mother's Day indoors. Hope you enjoyed it, Mama!!
Posted by Thrillmer! at 08:10 PM | Comments (0)
May 10, 2008
lunch with Nana and Papa
As if we needed an excuse to get out of the house and away from the workmen, we made plans to celebrate Mother's Day a little early with a certain grandmother. Time was in short supply, but we managed to sneak in a nice lunch and a trip to the bookstore before the girl's naptime. A good time was had by all...until we arrived home to find the handymen still hard at work.
Some pre-lunch posing at home
Audrey and Papa share secrets at the table
The girl refuses to cooperate with the staged shots
Nana gets in some story-time before we head home
Posted by Thrillmer! at 09:33 PM | Comments (0)
May 09, 2008
beans between the toes
Audrey is such a trouper. She is not feeling well again with a constant runny nose that I believe might be due to allergies. She also didn't sleep well last night or get a good nap today due to the lateness of the handyman. She was so tired she was slaphappy. Luckily Susan came over and helped entertain Audrey while we were stuck at home while the work on the house was being done.
I didn't take any pictures today but here is one from a recent trip to the bookstore.
Posted by jill at 10:20 PM | Comments (0)
May 08, 2008
baby in a box
Posted by jill at 04:53 PM | Comments (1)
May 07, 2008
bunny bunny bunny
Audrey had an unexpected playdate today. Our neighbors needed me to watch their 20-month old for a few hours. Audrey and Colin were sweet together. They bonded over Cheerios and watching bunnies in the yard.
Posted by jill at 09:03 PM | Comments (0)
May 06, 2008
uck uck
After storytime at the library this morning Audrey and I walked around our neighborhood pond, quacked at ducks (it is more of an "uck uck" from Audrey) and stopped at the playground. Audrey had so much fun going from swinging to climbing to sliding to riding on the motorcycle, tucan and car and back to swinging.
Back home Audrey did some yard exploring.
Posted by jill at 10:22 PM | Comments (1)
May 05, 2008
big bugs
Audrey and I spent our day looking at the Big Bug sculptures and enjoying the weather at the arboretum with Sara, Jack and Emma.
Posted by jill at 10:00 PM | Comments (0)
May 04, 2008
seventeen months
Another month has swept by, how on earth are you seventeen months old already, Audrey? Because you surely won't remember this I want to let you know that as of today you are in the process of gaining four new teeth. The points of your canines have broken through up top while the bottom cuspids are showing but aren't quite there yet. We don't even try to count your words anymore, you throw out new terms daily; currently "ribbit! ribbit!" is one of your favorite things to say. At dinner tonight you impressed us by repeating after mama your numbers one through ten AND all twenty-six letters of the alphabet (though let's be honest, some of those need some more work).
Today was a fun day. It started off a little slowly, once your parents were showered and ready to face the world you decided it was naptime several hours before you typically go down for a nap. Our neighbors Kim And Katharine stopped by to give you a push car that Katharine had outgrown, which was extremely nice of them to do. You were all too eager to get in for a ride and we met up with lots of neighbors out enjoying the beautiful day.
While you were napping your parents tried to get in some much needed yard work, managing to dig up a number of weeds and mushrooms. Once you were back in the picture the two of us planted the daffodil bulbs we picked up weeks ago during the ACS's Daffodil Days.
We finished out the day with some fun in the backyard as some of the neighborhood kids joined you as you wandered through the grass and slid down your slide. They were impressed to see how well you're walking now.
Top all that off with some dinner, a bath and a trio of stories and you were off to dreamland again. I realize we didn't do anything earth-shattering to mark the occasion, but we really did have a fun day quietly celebrating the seventeen months of pure joy you have given us. Love you!
Posted by Thrillmer! at 08:13 PM | Comments (0)
May 03, 2008
rock
Mike ventured out today and he and Todd visited the comic book store and saw Iron Man. Before they left, Audrey and Mike had a little jam session.
Posted by jill at 11:31 PM | Comments (0)
May 02, 2008
feeling better
Yesterday after her second nap Audrey's fever was gone and she felt much better. Susan came over to visit and brought some much-needed coffee. We walked outside, visited the dogs next door and played in the back yard.
Posted by jill at 03:00 PM | Comments (0)
May 01, 2008
return to IHOP
Sara saved Audrey and I from a big grocery shopping trip yesterday when she invited us to meet her, Jack and Emma for lunch.
Audrey has had a little cough and I was blaming it on all four cuspid teeth coming in at the same time. This brings the teeth total to 16! But she woke up from her very short nap yesterday crying and with a fever. She did not sleep well last night and is on her second nap already today. Even though she obviously doesn't feel well she is still in good spirits and was having fun screaming "baby" (as she is often known to do) in a high pitched voice this morning.
Posted by jill at 12:51 PM | Comments (0)